"Hey… are you moved?" Whitney's voice came through the phone, thick with a heavy nasal tone.
"But you're not allowed to give up your journey just because of me, okay…"
Clearly, the little crybaby wasn't nearly as composed as she'd tried to act.
Peter smiled softly.
"Didn't you want to know what my favorite Pokémon is?"
"Huh? What is it?"
"Before, I wasn't sure," Peter said.
"But now I am. It's… Miltank."
"…Why?"
"Because," he replied gently,
"it looks like you."
On the other end of the call, Whitney's pink eyes brimmed with tears—yet a rosy blush quietly crept across her cheeks.
"And there's more," Peter continued.
"I've already decided on the path I'm going to take."
"…Mm," Whitney replied, her voice hazy.
"I'll aim to become a Normal-type Pokémon Master.
That way… our dreams can be fulfilled together."
…..
Silence fell on the other end of the line.
No one understood better than Whitney how desperately Peter longed for his dream.
And no one understood better how many years of preparation lay behind such a seemingly simple decision.
He had chosen a harder road.
Because of her.
Finally—
"Waaah—!"
The crybaby broke down completely, tears spilling over.
At the same moment, Peter opened the door—
And saw a broadcast van parked right in the center of the ranch.
The door burst open.
Whitney stumbled out and threw herself straight into his arms.
"I hate you! I hate you, I hate you!" she sobbed.
"I promised myself I wouldn't cry, but you're just too awful, Peter!!"
His shirt soaked through almost instantly.
Stiffly, Peter raised a hand and gently rested it on her pink head.
So she hadn't left at all.
Going out to "have fun" was just another lie.
After a long while, Whitney finally calmed down. Her eyes were red as she spoke seriously:
"You should still choose stronger Pokémon… Normal-types aren't easy."
She wasn't wrong.
Looking across every generation, the number of true Normal-type specialists could be counted on one hand—and most barely reached Gym-tier.
An Elite Four–level representative didn't emerge until Generation IX's Larry—and even he wielded Normal only as a secondary specialty..
But once Peter made a decision, he never regretted it.
Ruffling her hair, he said softly:
"Don't worry. I'll make our dream come true.
This—this is a promise between the two of us."
Whitney froze, then nodded blankly.
"…Mm!"
She wiped her face with her sleeve and forced a smile.
"Happy birthday, Peter."
Peter tapped her nose lightly.
"Today is the happiest day of my life."
-----
Several hours later, accompanied by Whitney and DJ Mary, Peter arrived at Goldenrod Airport.
"Why go all the way to Hoenn?" DJ Mary complained, glancing at Whitney's reluctant expression.
"Wouldn't it be easier to start in Kanto?"
Peter was about to explain, but Whitney stepped forward first.
"It's okay. I believe in you."
"Mm." Peter smiled.
The crybaby girl seemed to have grown up a little.
"Then… I'm going," he said.
He turned to leave.
But watching his back, emotion surged up uncontrollably. Whitney's vision blurred.
"Hey—Peter!"
She still couldn't hold it in.
Peter turned around and quietly looked at the girl he'd spent so many years with.
"You… you said you like Miltank. Was that true?"
Her trembling voice pierced straight into the softest place in his heart.
Instead of answering, Peter stepped forward and pulled her into his arms.
His hand rested on her head.
He felt her warmth, her softness, and breathed in the faint, familiar milky scent.
He gently lifted her chin.
Tears glistened on her slightly baby-soft cheeks.
Their gazes met.
Shyness flickered through Whitney's pink eyes, but she didn't look away.
She waited.
But instead of words—
Peter leaned in.
Her crying stopped instantly. Her chest rose and fell as her breathing quickened.
H-He's… going to kiss me?!
What do I do? Close my eyes?
Her thoughts spiraled—
And then a warm kiss landed on the tear tracks along her cheek.
Slowly, tenderly, Peter kissed away every lingering drop of her tears.
He smiled.
"I'm leaving now. I'll let you know once I arrive safely."
With that, he turned away decisively, leaving Whitney standing there in a daze.
Only when his figure disappeared completely did she snap back to her senses.
"H-Hey, DJ Mary … Peter didn't actually answer my question, did he?"
DJ Mary fell silent.
"…Maybe."
Internally:
I'm single and already stuffed from all this sweetness, and you're still hung up on whether he answered?!
One guy who doesn't know how to talk and solves it with actions, one girl who's adorably dense and emotionally slow—how does this even work?!
"When will love ever come for me…" DJ Mary sighed, dragging the confused Whitney away.
-----
At the airport corner, Peter watched them leave and finally let out a quiet breath.
To be honest, holding a girl like that—curvy, soft, and warm—there was no way not to feel something.
The reason he hadn't answered directly was simple.
If he said those two words—
He wouldn't be able to leave.
"…Strength."
Peter clenched his fist.
If he had Elite Four– or Champion-tier strength, he could keep that girl by his side forever.
He looked once more at the retreating figure—
"At most three years," he vowed silently.
"I'll come back… and take back what belongs to me."
"…My Miltank."
With firm steps, Peter entered the departure hall.
-----
Peter's first destination was Hoenn.
Since he'd chosen Normal-type as his main path, there was no avoiding the consideration of Slaking—a Pokémon with a base stat total of 670.
Speaking of Slaking meant speaking of its terrifying 160 Attack—and its infamous Truant Ability.
In the games, Truant forced Slaking to loaf around every other turn, unable to act—a clear balancing mechanism.
But this wasn't a game.
In the real world, Pokémon were beings of limitless possibility.
The Miltank at the ranch, with its acquired Early Bird Ability, was proof enough.
The anime was full of cases that broke free from rigid game mechanics.
That was exactly why Peter chose Hoenn.
Because there lived a Normal-type specialist—
Someone who specialized in training the Slaking line.
-----
Two days later
Petalburg City
As usual, the Gym Leader of Petalburg Gym, Norman, was busy working in the greenhouse behind his home.
He was widely recognized as the strongest Gym Leader in Hoenn, holder of the Balance Badge, and often regarded as a future Elite Four successor.
He was also—
The father of May and Max.
"Excuse me… is anyone home?"
Standing outside the Gym was a tall, upright young man.
Peter.
A woman with brown hair and blue eyes opened the door, smiling warmly.
"Coming~ Are you here to challenge the Gym?"
Peter recognized her instantly.
Caroline.
May's mother.