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"Mr. Ash, right? Your call is over there~" Nurse Joy pointed to the second phone on her right.
Perhaps noticing Dawn standing next to Ash, she winked playfully and added, "It's a call from the Hoenn Dancer!"
Nurse Joy heavily emphasized the four characters "Hoenn Dancer," immediately making Dawn, who was standing beside Ash, wary.
Sensing Nurse Joy's mischievousness, Ash's expression subtly shifted. He glanced at Dawn and quickly headed toward the phone.
"That guy, am I really that fierce?"
Ash's hasty departure made Dawn stomp her foot, and her small intention of going over to check on him vanished.
Glancing at Brock, who was heading to the restaurant to get some food, Dawn decided to give Ash some private space and, while she was at it, grab a portion for him too.
Meanwhile, Ash flipped the connection switch, and a figure instantly appeared on the dark screen.
"Long time no see, Ash, and Pikachu~"
Appearing before him was a girl with twin tails, her golden hair tied back with a light cyan bandana, and her outfit primarily consisting of environmental colors (green).
"Long time no see, May~"
Seeing the long-unseen smiling face, Ash couldn't help but smile too.
The girl before him was May, the companion who traveled with him in Hoenn.
Compared to before, May's bandana had changed from red to green, and her clothes were the same.
"Pika~"
Pikachu was also happy to wave its paws in greeting to the rarely seen companion.
"Speaking of which, May, how were you so sure I was here at Lake Valor?"
May's call came shortly after they arrived at the Pokémon Center; it was too much of a coincidence.
"Hmph, who told Ash to participate in Contests one after another? It allowed me to catch Ash's dazzling performance during my free time~"
May raised her head, showing her clean white canine teeth, adopting a posture demanding he confess honestly.
"It was because of Ambipom's..." Ash explained the reasons for his participation to May one by one.
"So that's how it is~" May suddenly realized.
She had wondered why Ash would suddenly participate in Contests; it turned out it was because of the mischievous Ambipom.
"Rumble~"
Just then, a rumbling sound came from Pikachu on the other side of the screen, interrupting May's thoughts.
Making the atmosphere between the two awkward.
"Pikachu~"
Pikachu scratched its head sheepishly.
"This... Ash, have you and Pikachu not eaten dinner yet?" As an experienced foodie, May certainly knew what that sound meant.
"Yes~" Ash explained, slightly embarrassed. "Because there were so many Coordinators coming to participate in the Wallace Cup, we only just finished registering for accommodation~"
So, it was understandable that Pikachu's stomach was rumbling from hunger.
"I'm so sorry for disturbing you then! Why don't you go eat first!" May apologized with a tone full of regret, signaling Ash and Pikachu to quickly go and eat.
As a foodie, May deeply understood the pain caused by hunger.
"It's fine, a little while longer won't hurt~"
"Huh~"
May seemed particularly surprised by Ash's answer. She seriously looked at him through the screen for a while and then said happily:
"If this were back in the day, Ash, you~ would definitely have run off impatiently to eat!"
"..."
Hearing this, Ash and Pikachu, who was on his shoulder, exchanged glances, both feeling speechless.
"Oh right, May, are you also planning to participate in the Wallace Cup?" Ash asked, knowing the answer, just to change the subject.
"Of course! The Wallace Cup ribbon is usable in multiple regions, and besides, I get to catch up with old friends!"
May was cooperative, blinking her eye in response.
Afterward, the two chatted about daily life, and only after a long while did they prepare to say goodbye.
"Ash, I'll be arriving at Lake Valor tomorrow, so I'll trouble you guys to pick me up at the pier~"
"Don't worry, we definitely will~"
"Pika~"
Ash and Pikachu readily agreed to meet May, whom they hadn't seen in a long time.
"Then I won't bother you any longer. See you tomorrow~" May smiled and waved.
"Bye-bye~"
"Pika~"
As the screen turned gray, Ash, carrying Pikachu who had climbed onto his shoulder, prepared to go back for dinner.
"Ash~"
Just as he turned around, he saw Dawn waving at them, holding chopsticks and a spoon.
"Coming~"
Ash immediately walked toward Dawn.
During dinner, Dawn's curious questioning was naturally unavoidable.
All of this happened under the watchful gaze of a certain Brock, who was enjoying the drama, but Ash easily smoothed things over... Time moved to noon the next day, and the trio waited by the pier on the shore of Lake Valor for May's arrival.
"Piplup, the person we're about to meet is a Coordinator Trainer who traveled with Ash!" Dawn squatted down and introduced her to Piplup.
Last night, Ash explained the situation to the two of them, announcing that May would be arriving at Lake Valor, so the trio arrived on time at Lake Valor Port to greet her.
"Miu~"
As the three waited patiently, a magnificent butterfly, primarily grayish-black with large blue eyes, slowly flew toward them.
Its gorgeous wings fluttered open and closed, and finally, it came before the trio and landed on Ash's head.
"It's Beautifly, how magnificent~"
Dawn couldn't help but praise it, immediately taking out her pokedex to scan it.
"It really has been a long time~" Brock couldn't help but sigh with emotion as he looked at the Beautifly on Ash's head. Ash also smiled slightly.
"Pika~"
No sooner had Brock finished speaking than the sharp-eyed Pikachu pointed forward, spotting a cruise ship slowly approaching.
"Hi~"
May on the cruise ship was waving continuously, signaling to the trio.
"Looks like she hasn't changed at all!" Brock couldn't help but remark.
"Yeah~"
Before long, the cruise ship arrived at the pier. May immediately stepped off the boat and greeted them happily: "Ash, Brock, Pikachu, long time no see~"
"So this is the 'Hoenn Dancer'! She's really beautiful!" Dawn stood frozen in place, watching May exchange greetings with Ash and Brock.
However, the person's outfit seemed different from the one in her dream, but she was still so attractive—attractive enough to make Dawn feel wary.
After exchanging a few pleasantries with Ash and Brock, May didn't ignore Dawn standing nearby. She enthusiastically walked up to Dawn, blinked her beautiful blue eyes, extended her hand, and introduced herself.
"Hello, my name is May, and I'm a companion who traveled with Ash in Hoenn and Kanto~ Your name is Dawn, right? Ash mentioned you to me last night! Please take care of me!"
"Hello, my name is Dawn Please take care of me too"
Perhaps May's enthusiasm extinguished Dawn's wariness, and she dazedly extended her hand and shook May's.
Ash, who was watching silently from the side, nodded in satisfaction.
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