Chapter 7: Farewell and Departure – First Stop, Hoenn!

"Hello? So, how do you feel? Touched? But don't even think about giving up your journey just because of me..."

Whitney's voice was thick with emotion and nasal tones—it was clear that this crybaby wasn't as carefree as she tried to appear.

Ather smiled slightly. "Didn't you want to know what my favorite Pokémon is?"

"Hm? What is it?"

"I wasn't sure before... but now, I am. It's… Miltank."

"Why?"

"Because… it looks like you."

"..."

On the other end of the line, Whitney's pink eyes welled up with tears, but her cheeks turned a rosy red.

"And... I've decided on the team I'll raise."

"Mm..." Whitney's voice was fuzzy, muffled by her emotions.

"I'll aim to become a Normal-type Pokémon Master. That way, both of our dreams can come true together."

"...." There was a long silence on the other end.

No one knew better than Whitney how much Ather had longed for his own dream. And now she understood that this seemingly simple decision was backed by over a decade of preparation.

He… had chosen a more difficult path for her...

Finally—"Waaah—!" The crybaby couldn't hold back anymore and burst into tears.

When Ather opened the door, he finally saw the broadcast van parked in the middle of the ranch.

The next moment, the door burst open, and Whitney stumbled out, rushing into his arms.

"You jerk, you jerk, you jerk! I wasn't planning to cry! Ather, you're such a bully!!"

His chest quickly grew damp as her tears soaked through. Ather awkwardly raised his hand and gently placed it on her pink-haired head.

So… she never left. All that talk about going on a trip was just a lie to fool him...

After a long bout of sobbing, Whitney gradually calmed down. Her eyes red, she spoke seriously, "You should still pick stronger Pokémon... Normal-types are hard."

She wasn't wrong. Across generations, standout trainers of the Normal type could be counted on one hand. Most top Normal-type users were only at the Gym Leader level. The only Elite Four member was added in Generation 9—Larry—and even he held a dual role...

But since Ather had made his decision, he wouldn't turn back.

He ruffled her hair gently and said, "Don't worry, I'll make our dream come true. This is our promise."

Whitney blinked, then nodded adorably. "Yeah!"

She wiped her face with her sleeve and smiled. "Happy Birthday, Ather!"

Ather tapped her nose lightly. "This is the happiest day of my life."

———

A few hours later, accompanied by Whitney and Walnut, Ather arrived at Goldenrod Airport.

"Why go all the way to Hoenn? Isn't traveling around Kanto good enough?" Walnut glanced at Whitney's reluctant face and asked.

Just as Ather was about to explain, Whitney stepped forward and encouraged him, "It's okay. I believe you'll succeed."

"Mhm!" Ather smiled. He noticed the crybaby girl had matured a lot. "Well… I'm off then?"

With that, he turned and began to leave.

As she watched his back, emotions welled up in Whitney's heart, and her vision grew blurry. "Hey, Ather—"

She couldn't stop herself from calling out to him.

Ather turned around and quietly looked at the girl he had spent so many years with.

"You... you said your favorite is Miltank. Were you serious?"

Her choked voice poked at the softest part of Ather's heart. He didn't answer directly. Instead, he stepped forward and pulled her into a hug.

His hand gently caressed her head as he took in her warm scent, unique and milky.

He lifted her chin softly. Her slightly chubby cheeks were covered in shimmering tear trails.

Their eyes met. Whitney's pink eyes sparkled with shyness, but she didn't look away. She waited for Ather's answer.

What came instead was his gentle face moving slowly toward hers.

Whitney instantly tensed, her crying stopped, and her chest heaved with nervous breaths.

Oh my gosh, Ather's… going to kiss me?!

W-What should I do? Do I close my eyes?

While her mind raced, a warm kiss landed—not on her lips, but on her tear-streaked cheeks.

Bit by bit, Ather kissed away every tear, then smiled. "I'm leaving now. I'll let you know when I arrive safely."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Whitney stunned as she watched his back fade into the crowd.

Only when his silhouette disappeared completely did Whitney snap out of it.

"Hey, Walnut, I just realized... Ather never actually answered my question, did he?"

Walnut was speechless. "Maybe..."

But inside, she was screaming: I'm single and even I feel full watching you two. And you're worried about whether he answered your question?!

Seriously, one guy is all action and no words, and the other is a clueless, adorable airhead… and somehow sparks still fly?!

Walnut sighed, dragging the confused Whitney away. "When will love ever come my way..."

From around the airport corner, Ather watched them leave and let out a small sigh of relief.

To be honest, holding such a soft, curvy, and adorably dumb girl like that—how could he not be moved?

The reason he didn't answer her directly was simple:

If he said those two words out loud… he wouldn't be able to leave.

"Strength…" Ather clenched his fists. If he had the power of a Champion or an Elite Four, then maybe—he could keep that girl by his side forever...

He took one last glance at that retreating, milk-bouncy figure.

"Give me three years. When the time comes, I'll return to claim what's mine… my Miltank!"

With that, Ather strode confidently into the boarding gate.

His first destination: the Hoenn Region.

Now that he had chosen to specialize in Normal-types, the powerhouse Slaking, with its base stat total of 670, was a must-have.

The Slaking line was known for its monstrous 160 base Attack and its unique Truant ability.

In the games, Truant forces the Pokémon to loaf around every other turn, essentially making it unable to attack half the time—an intentional balance by the developers.

But in the real world, Pokémon are full of unlimited potential...

Even that Early Bird Miltank from the ranch was proof of that—and the anime has plenty of examples of Pokémon defying the game's logic.

That's exactly why Ather chose to go to Hoenn.

There was a Normal-type specialist there—someone who raised the Slaking line.

———

Two days later, in Hoenn's Petalburg City.

As usual, Norman—the Petalburg Gym Leader—was busy in the greenhouse behind his gym.

He was the strongest Gym Leader in Hoenn, holder of the Balance Badge, and widely seen as a future Elite Four member.

He was also the father of the Advance Generation's heroine: May.

"Hello, is anyone here?" Standing outside the Petalburg Gym was a tall, well-built young man—none other than Ather, who had traveled from Johto.

"Coming~" A brown-haired, blue-eyed woman opened the door. "Are you here to challenge the gym?"

Ather immediately recognized her—wasn't this May's mother, Caroline?

.....

[300PS= 1Bonus chapter]

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