Pokémon: Dreams Come True Starting in Sinnoh

Chapter 408 Thoughts Under the Moonlight

The night, like a silk cloth soaked in ink, enveloped the entire city completely. The electronic clock in the Pokémon Center lobby had just struck two in the morning, and the incandescent light bulbs hummed slightly due to unstable voltage, casting a cool blue light on the tiled floor.

As night deepened, Xiao Guang sat on a bench by the window, gazing blankly at the bright moonlight outside. Bogaman slept soundly at her feet, emitting soft snores.

The loneliness in my heart did not dissipate with the passage of time; instead, it grew stronger with the night.

The celebration banquet was like a faded dream. She held the fifth Water Lily Ribbon Medal in her palm, the metal edge digging painfully into her skin, but she couldn't suppress the bitterness surging in her chest. Although she held the ribbon medal symbolizing victory in her hand, it did not make Xiaoguang feel fulfilled. Instead, she felt something was rapidly slipping away from her through her fingers.

After the grand celebration...

After the League Tournament...

The thought suddenly pierced her mind. She tightened her grip on her hands, no longer feeling the pain of the ribbon medal piercing her skin, as if she could grasp something that way.

But Bogarman, who was sleeping in her arms, was grumbling in his sleep. When he was awakened, Xiao Guang hurriedly let go of the medal and gently combed the fur on its head with his fingertips.

"I'm sorry," she murmured, her voice fading into the silence like a pebble falling into a deep pool.

da~

da~

A series of steady footsteps suddenly echoed through the quiet corridor. Xiao Guang instinctively shrank into the shadows of the sofa, not wanting anyone to see her like this. But when she could see who it was through the dim light, she unconsciously smiled and straightened up.

"So it really is here."

Ash scratched his slightly messy hair and said with an "I knew it" expression.

"Ash, why aren't you asleep yet?"

“I was thinking about some things to do later and had some trouble sleeping. I noticed that you left the room more than an hour ago and haven’t come back yet, so I was a little worried and came downstairs.”

Ash returned Dawn's smile.

Seemingly having discerned Xiaoguang's thoughts, he sat down next to her, resting his hands behind his back on the sofa, and muttered to himself, "And this isn't the first time~ It feels like it's become a tacit habit for us to chat at night when you're troubled."

"Hahaha......."

Xiao Guang smiled somewhat awkwardly.

Thinking about it carefully, it really is true. From before the trip started until now, there seem to be more than one or two times that I have been alone with Ash at night like this.

Why does it sound like she's always had a mental illness?

That's really true.

Click~

The sound of the bottle cap being twisted.

"Anyway, let's drink some milk to calm down first."

"...Thanks......"

Seeing that Ash had produced two bottles of milk from somewhere, Dawn snapped out of her daze, thanked him, and accepted them.

Xiao Guang took the milk; a little steam was still rising from the rim of the cup. Her hands trembled slightly as she looked at the warm liquid inside. The rising steam blurred her vision, as if something was surging within her.

The warmth of the milk flowed down her throat, spreading like a gentle stream throughout her body.

That's amazing.

Just moments before, she couldn't sleep and kept thinking about strange things, but in the minute that Xiaozhi came, she suddenly started to feel sleepy.

The feeling of peace instantly replaced the unease in my heart.

Are you feeling better?

"Mmm," Xiao Guang replied softly, holding the milk bottle in both hands.

"May I hear about your worries? But this time it shouldn't be about worrying about a big celebration, right?"

On the two most dazzling stages before the grand celebration, Xiao Guang won both times.

This is the best praise and encouragement for Dawn. At least Ash believes that Dawn will no longer worry about those things.

However, judging from the way she held the ribbon medal, Hikaru was probably still thinking about that same question.

"It's not a big problem," Hikari sighed, sounding a little self-pitying. "It just feels a little unreal. Thinking about how I've already qualified for the grand festival, and Ash, you'll soon be qualifying for the League Tournament, it feels like time has flown by. It'll be time to say goodbye soon..."

The current excitement is real, but the separation and loneliness to come are also real.

This feeling isn't unique to Hikaru; wait...

Perhaps it was because of Xiaoguang's emotions.

Before falling asleep, Piplup was also seen pacing alone outside the Pokémon Center, bathed in moonlight.

The cold moonlight, a lonely figure.

They all look just like her from the very beginning.

The pair of partners, influenced by each other, became increasingly mired in loneliness.

"Want to go for a walk?"

Ash didn't respond, but quietly pointed to the door of the Pokémon Center.

Dawn never refuses Ash's requests, especially when Ash makes a request for her sake.

.......

The streets at night seemed to be enchanted, all the noise vanishing in an instant. The streetlights stood brightly in the twilight, their soft light spilling onto the low buildings, making each brick wall appear warm and vibrant.

The streets were deserted, with only a few Bug-type Pokémon chirping softly from the bushes or branches on either side of the road.

The wind, carrying the fragrance of grass and trees, brushed against Xiao Guang's cheeks, bringing a touch of coolness to his restless thoughts. The night wind swept over the steps, carrying dandelion seeds that had been rushing around all day. The sound of the two walking was particularly prominent in the quiet night. The Pogaman in Xiao Guang's arms seemed to sense the wind blowing outside and couldn't help but sneeze, waking up the Enma who was lying in the bushes. It flapped its wings and flew into the night sky, scattering a string of silvery chirps.

The silence at this moment is the most generous gift of the night. The shadows of the trees along the street sway gently in the wind, as if playing a silent nocturne. This tranquility is the most peaceful moment in the city, and also the time when the soul most desires solitude.

Xiao Guang was already familiar with this atmosphere, but considering her current state of mind, she couldn't say whether she was immersed in it or felt a little distant.

She just looked at Xiao Zhi walking beside her, tilted her head, and thought to herself that she probably still liked him.

Unlike when I'm alone, when Xiaozhi is around, I feel that this peaceful night view is the best gift.

"Want to go check out the back mountain? When we were eating at the Pokémon Center, the TV said there might be a shooting star around 4 a.m. tonight. We've already been having trouble sleeping, so why don't we go take a look?"

.......

P.S.: Sigh, entering the workforce makes me so sentimental. What could have been a one-chapter piece ended up being stretched into two chapters because I focused more on the setting and the characters' inner thoughts.

Thank you all for the gifts. I'm so sorry for the long delay in updating. Although I had the time, I just didn't feel like writing when I was working, and even when I did, I couldn't write what I wanted to write. Now I have a car loan to pay off, and there aren't many non-tenured teaching positions available, so I guess I'll have to stay in the private school for another two years.

There shouldn't be any more long hiatuses after this. I'll try my best to update every two days at the latest. That's all!