Early the next morning, Eva set off for Kyoto with her ID card to prepare for officially becoming a regional Doctor.
Axel and the others watched her leave, then returned together to Emberpine City.
Compared to Petalglen, Emberpine City felt more like the roots of both families.
Even though the houses were small and the neighborhood was old, staying there felt much warmer than in Petalglen City.
"Emberpine City has developed really well lately. Old Aulus really wasn't lying."
Standing on Gyarados's back, Dawn looked at the thriving scene below and couldn't help but sigh.
"Look over there. A few decades ago, that place was still wasteland. Who would've thought it would turn into such a big Friendly Shop now."
"They always said the west side of Emberpine City would never develop. Turns out I had pretty good foresight. See? So many malls have moved over here now."
Axel glanced in the direction Dawn was pointing and couldn't help wanting to complain.
Forget a few decades ago, just a few months ago, that place was still empty land.
It was only after he and Eva began to rise that Emberpine City changed its development strategy, shifting from expanding eastward to westward.
At this rate, Axel felt that in a few more years, Emberpine City might even connect with Petalglen City and completely merge into one.
———
At the entrance of Axel's neighborhood—
Aside from the main road being cleared, the side roads along the green belts were already packed with all kinds of broadcast vans.
A crowd of reporters carrying cameras and equipment stared excitedly into the distance, while also interviewing nearby residents.
"Sir, we've heard that Axel's family will return to their old home in Emberpine City today. Is this information accurate?"
"You're talking about Axel? He's definitely a very upright person," An elderly man cupped his hand to his ear and shouted back at the reporter.
"He was a good kid since he was little. When he was three years old, I could already tell he had the potential to be a trainer."
Reporter: "..."
"Sir, I'm asking whether Axel's family is returning to Emberpine City today."
"Yes, yes, I'm very familiar with his uncle and aunt. Every time I visit, they treat me like a VIP."
"Thank you very much," The reporter sincerely thanked the old man, then turned to find someone else to interview.
On the other side, the entrance of a stall selling hand-grab pancakes was also packed with reporters.
"Come, come, come! Take a look! I grew up in the same courtyard as Axel. I've got plenty of exclusive secrets!"
"Hey, tell us quickly!"
"Brother, tell me privately, I've got money!"
"Handsome, let's talk somewhere quieter. We can have a candlelight dinner and take it slow?"
To get firsthand information about Axel, some female reporters were even resorting to charm.
Seeing things spiral out of control, the pancake seller almost choked on his drink, "Cough, cough, no rush. As long as you buy a pancake, you can come over and listen."
"I'll buy! Two servings!"
"Three! I want three!"
"Bro, one giant deluxe pancake for me. Those who haven't bought yet, line up behind me. I want to hear the news!"
"Who says I'm not buying? We're all buying!"
Almost instantly, the stall was surrounded by reporters. The young vendor worked frantically with Machamp and Infernape, making pancakes nonstop until everyone had one.
"Wow, this is good. No wonder, it's made by Axel's friend."
"Yeah, it's good! Now can you tell us about your past with Axel?"
"Of course," The vendor recalled those years with a sigh.
"Back then, I was two years older than Axel. But one day, his dad found him a very straight wooden stick…"
"From that moment on, he became the king of the kids in our courtyard."
"Sometimes we built sandcastles together, sometimes we played with sandbags…"
The reporters' eyes lit up as they scribbled notes, "Are you saying Axel showed talent as a Ground-type trainer from a young age?"
"No!", The vendor shook his head firmly, "Everything before was just buildup. What I really wanted to say is that when we were kids, Axel would pee while I mixed the dough."
"Only with these dough-mixing hands could I make such delicious pancakes."
As soon as the vendor finished speaking, all the reporters crowding the stall froze.
"Ugh!"
"What the hell, beat this guy!"
"Damn it, I even paid extra just now!"
———
"Are we still going down?", In the clouds above the neighborhood, Gyarados slowly came to a stop.
Looking at the frenzy of reporters below, Axel instinctively took a step back.
To him, this scene was a hundred times more terrifying than dealing with Kyurem back then.
So many reporters, was this something a twenty-year-old could handle?
"Of course we're going down. How can you not go home when you've got one?"
Axel had underestimated Dawn's attachment to home. With a single order from the old man, Gyarados let out a roar, preparing to descend from the clouds.
"Wait!", Axel quickly patted Gyarados's big head, "Open a spatial passage and send my parents and Uncle Graham and Aunt Stacy straight into the neighborhood. Looks like there aren't many reporters inside, and they're mostly legitimate ones. A few interviews wouldn't hurt."
"What about you?", Dusk looked at his son with concern, "Meeting up with classmates to hang out?"
"No," Axel shook his head. Most of his classmates were in college now, all busy being crushed by academics. No one was as free as him.
"While you were gone, I often went to Dragon Lake Park with Gardevoir and Pheromosa. Now that I'm finally back, I'll go take another stroll."
"Oh right, Uncle Graham, do you want me to bring back some fried skewers tonight?"
Uncle Graham froze for a moment. He clearly didn't expect Axel to still think of him like this with Dawn and his wife present. When he came back to his senses, he quickly laughed.
"Hahaha, yes! Tonight I'll have another three hundred rounds with your dad."
"Alright, I'll bring some of what you and Aunt Stacy like. Mom, Dad, just send me a list of what you want to eat, I'll bring yours back too."
Watching Axel and Gardevoir fly off into the distance, Dusk suddenly sighed.
"In-laws, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."
Eva's parents were both taken aback, "What is it?"
"All these years, Axel was able to grow up thanks to you. Compared to you, we as his parents have really failed in our responsibilities."
"I remember you used to have a grudge against Team Rocket, right? Now I see some of them might have followed Axel, but that's not enough."
"Compared to them hunting you back then, they've paid far too little."
"When you have time… make me a list as well. We'll have Solgaleo and Lunala make a trip to Kanto."
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