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The sudden video call drained all the warmth from the room.
Kai and Erika exchanged a heavy glance both knowing exactly what the message meant.
This wasn't something they could simply ignore.
Unless Erika resigned from her role as Celadon Gym Leader, she had to follow the Pokémon League's directives.
And giving up her position just to travel with him… that wasn't realistic.
Kai exhaled softly.
He'd already gone through a separation like this once when he parted ways with Sabrina.
But experiencing it again didn't make it any easier.
Seeing Erika stay silent, sadness clouding her usually gentle expression, Kai took a steadying breath. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close.
"It's alright," he whispered. "You've already been away too long. The perfume shop, the Gym… they all need you. And compared to me, a lot more people depend on you."
Erika buried her face in his chest, holding him tightly.
It was the first time Kai had seen her show such a vulnerable, emotional side. Usually, she carried herself like a poised Yamato Nadeshiko soft-spoken, elegant, calm.
Her silence alone showed just how reluctant she was to leave.
Kai comforted her patiently until her breathing steadied. But after that, challenging the local Rustboro Gym was out of the question. Neither of them had the heart for it, and since Rustboro didn't have an international airport, Erika couldn't fly directly back to Kanto. They had to travel together through Petalburg, return to Littleroot Town, buy a ferry ticket, and take the passenger liner back to Kanto.
Throughout the journey, they walked side by side quietly.
Kai couldn't accompany her across regions. He still had his own Hoenn journey to continue. But at the very least, he needed to escort her safely to the port.
They crossed Petalburg Woods, passed through Petalburg City, and by the next evening reached the familiar little town of Littleroot once more.
The scenery hadn't changed—but their hearts had.
They had entered Hoenn full of ambition and excitement.
Now they were returning with reluctance and sorrow.
Since they missed that day's ferry, they checked into a small inn for the night, planning to head to the dock the following morning.
That night, Erika held onto him with a fierce, emotional intensity a silent mixture of longing and unwillingness to part.
Their feelings overflowed, and the world outside their room quietly faded away.
When the lights finally dimmed, Erika eventually drifted into sleep in Kai's arms…
But Kai could not.
The strong front he had shown during the day dissolved in the quiet darkness. Erika's reluctance matched his own she simply didn't voice it. He had stayed calm only so she wouldn't suffer more than she already was.
Now, with her resting beside him, he finally allowed himself to breathe.
A glimmer of moisture formed at the corner of his eye.
Just then, a gentle hand brushed it away.
Kai looked down and saw Erika watching him softly.
She had been awake the whole time.
She had only pretended to sleep so he wouldn't worry about her.
Their eyes met.
They smiled.
And they leaned in, holding onto that moment for as long as they could.
…
The next morning, after breakfast, Kai escorted Erika to the port.
They embraced for the final time.
"Go back to Celadon without worrying," Kai murmured. "I'll contact you every day. And don't worry my journey won't take too long. Once I'm done here, I'll come straight to you."
"I know." Erika kissed his cheek. "And I'll be waiting. I hope your battles go smoothly may you win every competition you set your eyes on."
She stepped onto the ship.
Even as she moved away, she kept turning back three steps, then another glance, then another until the ferry finally pulled away and carried her out of sight.
Kai stood at the dock without moving.
It felt as if Erika had taken a part of his heart with her.
Warm memories of their journey together lingered like sunlight behind his ribs.
Only after several long minutes did he quietly let out a breath and prepare to turn away—
"Kai!!"
A voice called out from the distance bright, lively, familiar.
He didn't even need to look to know who it was.
A girl with a side ponytail, energetic and radiant, jogged up the pier with a small backpack bouncing behind her.
"You're really here! Did you come to pick me up!?"
It was Misty.
But this time, she was alone neither Ash nor Brock was with her.
Just as they had agreed earlier, Misty had returned to Cerulean Gym for a short rest before traveling across regions to meet Kai here.
Before Kai could answer, she blinked and glanced around.
"Wait—where's Erika?"
Kai smiled faintly and explained the situation.
"Eh!?" Misty's eyes widened. "So she left just moments ago? I actually missed saying goodbye!?"
By pure coincidence, Erika's ferry had just departed and Misty's ship had docked immediately after.
Two paths crossing, yet never meeting.
Two different destinies passing each other by.
"I didn't expect to see you here," Kai said, patting her head affectionately. "I thought I was hearing things when you called my name."
"Hehe…" Misty looked up at him, cheeks warming. "I wanted to surprise you! I planned to message you after reaching Hoenn, but I didn't expect to run right into you at the port!"
Her words suddenly trailed off.
A realization flashed through her mind—
Erika had just left.
Which meant…
From this moment onward—
She and Kai would be traveling alone.
No Erika.
No Ash.
No Brock.
Just the two of them.
Oh my gosh.
Her heart skipped uncontrollably. This wasn't a dream, right?
Yes!!
She nearly cheered aloud.
As if fate itself had given her a perfect opportunity.
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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