"Hmm?? You're not that uncle??" Hearing the voice, he turned to look, only to find a familiar figure.
"Uh... My name is Flint!" Although he was indeed an uncle, he had already introduced himself. It was still a little awkward that his name wasn't remembered.
"What did Uncle Flint mean by 'you can't blame them entirely'?" Misty asked confusedly.
"Because they are a group of pitiful children!"
Upon hearing this, Flint walked over and sat on a bench by the road, looking up at the sky. He gave off a weathered feeling. Misty didn't know why this uncle's demeanor had suddenly changed.
"Actually, Brock yearns for a life outside Pewter City. He also wants to travel outside, just like you," Flint said.
Hearing this, Misty's expression changed. She had been a little angry before, but now she seemed to suddenly understand something.
"Is it because of his younger siblings?" Girls were generally more emotional. Thinking it might be because of his younger siblings, her heart immediately filled with sympathy.
"That's right. Because he has nine younger siblings to take care of, he can't leave!" Flint answered truthfully.
"But, don't they have parents?" Hearing this, Misty couldn't help but frown and ask.
"Their father is a very irresponsible person. He said he wanted to become an excellent Pokémon trainer and left Pewter City, and there's been no news of him since."
"And their mother, perhaps disheartened by her husband's departure, also left not long after. So all the children in this family were left to be cared for by the eldest son, Brock."
As Flint spoke, Misty might not have noticed, but Ash could hear deep self-reproach and shame.
"So that's how it is... These parents are really irresponsible!" Misty, unaware that the Flint in front of her was Brock's father, spoke with her straightforward personality, unhesitatingly denouncing the couple.
But Flint didn't seem angry. Aside from feeling even more ashamed, he actually felt a reduction in guilt upon hearing Misty's denunciation.
In fact, Ash didn't think much of what he heard earlier, but when Flint mentioned his wife, Ash really wanted to laugh.
He couldn't help but want to say, Uncle, you don't have to bear all the responsibility yourself. Your wife doesn't think that way.
Although it was a very distant memory, Ash remembered that in a Pokémon side story, when Brock returned to the Gym after his journey, his mother, who had been away for years, also returned.
And after returning, she even brazenly tried to change Pewter Gym into a Water-type Gym, and Flint was completely helpless. If Brock hadn't returned at just the right time, Pewter Gym would truly have been changed into something flashy and useless.
When he was a child watching the anime, he didn't think much of it, but as he grew up, Ash genuinely felt that it was perhaps because there was no concept of a "tea art master" back then.
She also left Pewter City for Pokémon training, but like Flint, she also failed to achieve success and eventually returned to Pewter City.
From the current perspective, Brock's mother was truly a "tea art master," and his father, besides being irresponsible, was also a complete simp.
But all in all, "tea art master" is "tea art master," and "simp" is "simp." One is willing to hit, the other is willing to take it. But ultimately, what makes the couple most unforgivable is their irresponsibility towards their children.
Even if children in this world were more mature and independent, Ash still didn't agree. Although Ash himself had never seen his father since childhood, his mother deeply cared for him, and Hanako never considered her husband irresponsible.
And after Brock's mother returned, Flint always believed that his wife's leaving home back then was because he had left first, feeling guilty inside, which was why he let her redecorate Pewter Gym.
Fortunately, these two parents weren't completely hopeless. Perhaps out of guilt towards Brock, only Brock could keep them in line.
But Brock's trust in these two parents was even less than that of his younger brother Jiro. When he went on his journey, he even entrusted Jiro with taking care of the Gym rather than his parents.
"He usually has to manage the Gym, cultivate and care for Pokémon, and also take care of nine younger siblings."
"And the younger siblings also know Brock's hardship, which is why they came out to protect the Onix that Brock worked so hard to raise." Flint seemed to be defending the children, but he actually hoped Ash could understand.
"So that's how it is! Hmm? Uncle Flint, were you there at the time? Otherwise, how would you know?"
Misty nodded upon hearing him, then was a little surprised. He knew so much, did he also watch the match?
"Ah?? Oh! Hehe! Yes! I was indeed watching at the time. I was curious about your match with Brock, which is why I came. You two were just too focused to notice me, hehe!" Flint scratched his head awkwardly, changing the subject.
"Uncle Flint knows a lot about Brock's affairs! This wouldn't be something everyone in Pewter City knows, would it?"
Ash chuckled faintly upon hearing this, then his eyes fixed on Flint as if he could see through people, making Flint uncomfortable.
"Uh... This... is... yes! You'll know all these things if you just ask around." Hearing Ash's words, Flint realized he had said a little too much.
"So that's how it is. But this is Brock's family matter. However, a Pokémon battle is a Pokémon battle. Once a match begins, its outcome cannot be stopped by anyone," Ash responded calmly.
"While Brock's experience is indeed regrettable, once on the field, a Pokémon trainer should respect the battle."
"I won't blame the children, nor will I blame Brock. If things are really like this, then those parents should truly feel ashamed." Ash said to Flint, without holding back.
"If I were those parents, knowing all this, I would immediately go home and apologize to Brock, begging for his forgiveness."
"Ugh!!!!" Brock gave a faint groan. The pupils beneath Flint's knitted cap suddenly trembled. He had been so ashamed by Ash's previous words, but now his heart pounded.
Yes! He, this irresponsible father, for so many years, has returned, yet he doesn't even have the courage to admit his mistake. He clearly knows Brock is having a hard time and can't even pursue his dreams, yet he's still here arguing with others!
"Misty, let's go!" Ash didn't say anything more, speaking to Misty beside him.
"Huh? Oh, oh! Okay!!" Misty didn't know what was happening. She just felt the atmosphere had become strange and dared not say anything more, following Ash as he left.
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