"—It's just a child's joke, just joking," Penny said anxiously.
Ron smiled, not taking Vincent's childish words to heart, and turned to ask Froakie's opinion.
"Froakie, Froakie, Froak."
Hearing this, Ron turned his head and said to Vincent: "As long as you don't spin around while holding it, and are gentle, it's willing to let you hug it."
"Al—right!"
Even with his mouth covered, Vincent cheered in Penny's arms.
Penny released Vincent's hand, but couldn't help thinking about what Ron had just said.
He didn't deny it—did that mean—perhaps there was another layer of meaning—or—
"Teacher Penny, are you cold?" Jas was standing on tiptoe placing decorations on the snowman. Seeing she couldn't reach, Ron stepped forward and lifted her up, helping her reach a bit higher. From this angle, Jas just happened to catch sight of Penny's face. So while inserting leaves onto the snowman's face, she asked: "Your face seems a bit red from the cold. Pulling your scarf up higher would help!"
"Ah—" Penny hurriedly pulled her scarf up higher, then took Jas from Ron: "It is a bit cold. Here, let teacher hold you."
The fishing competition was also in full swing nearby.
Pam fished while observing Penny laughing and talking with Ron, and couldn't help but lower her head and smile.
"What are you smiling at?" Willy, concentrating intently nearby, hurriedly looked at Pam's fish basket. Seeing her count was far below his, he asked puzzled.
"Nothing," Pam said, lifting her fishing rod and pulling up a fish.
Time skipped ahead to the afternoon. The winner of the fishing competition was unsurprisingly Willy, but because Ron didn't participate, Willy still felt somewhat regretful.
After all, there were almost no true fishing experts in the small town. In comparison, Ron, who could catch rare fish, was second to none.
Crushing beginners wasn't fun—compete with those who know how to fish.
Thinking this, Willy squeezed through the crowd and gave Ron the keys.
Glancing at Caroline's family, as well as Haley, Emily, and others nearby, he continued: "Make sure to come back early. If you miss the Legendary Winter Fish, you'll have to wait another year!"
Taking the keys from Willy's hand, Ron smiled and agreed.
Willy's words sounded somewhat inexplicable, but no one had time to think about why Willy was saying these things. Everyone was preparing for the trip to Kalos.
"Take good care of yourself!" Emily chattered on endlessly.
Normally, Haley would be annoyed with Emily by now, but today was an exception. She responded again and again.
"And you, please take care of Haley. Next time I'll make you a beautiful hair accessory," she then said to Minccino.
"Minccino Min~"
"As for Sunkern."
Under Sunkern's expectant gaze, Emily rubbed its head: "Grow up quickly."
"Sun?"
Caroline, on the other side, was continuously thanking Ron. Watching Ron pack things into his backpack one by one, she asked apologetically: "Is it too much stuff? Sorry—"
Even without having been to the farm, just from managing the greenhouse, Caroline knew how busy the farming seasons could be. Perhaps afraid that the next opportunity to send things wouldn't come until next winter, by the time she realized it, she had already prepared quite a lot.
"It's fine." Ron waved his hand: "It all fits, no worries."
Not far away, Penny stood hesitantly at the edge of the crowd. She kept looking at Ron's face, but never stepped forward to speak.
On one hand, everyone had business with him, while she couldn't think of any suitable reason.
On the other hand, her shyness and bashfulness made her unsure what she could say to Ron.
Just then, Ron turned his head and looked at her.
The unexpected eye contact startled Penny into immediately lowering her head. Ron had just finished packing the last item, exchanged a few words with Caroline, and walked straight toward Penny.
"Are you here to see me off?" Ron asked.
Seeing Penny nod, he couldn't help but smile.
Having gone to Kalos several times, this was the first time someone had specifically come to see him off. He thanked Penny, then said: "Right, I heard you have a very large bookshelf at your home now?"
"Ah, yes, that's right." Penny was stunned for a moment, then said: "It's huge. Robin specially designed it. I even stacked my childhood fairy tale books on it, and it's still not full."
"Then if I see interesting books in Kalos, I'll bring them for you."
"Ah, that's not what I meant—" Penny immediately became anxious.
"I know, I just want to bring you some," Ron said, patting the snow that had accumulated on the furry hat Penny was wearing: "Go back. The snow is starting to melt. You'll catch a cold soon. I'm already very happy that you came to see me off."
Having someone see you off when traveling far away is ultimately different. It gives a sense of—belonging, like urging the traveler to come home soon.
The Indeedee nearby paused, then couldn't help but push its hat up higher, staring straight at Ron with both eyes.
"Indeed?"
It turned to ask the Sailor beside it.
'Didn't we see him off last time?'
"Ratta." The Sailor was still fiddling with his captain's hat, and couldn't help but think upon hearing this: "Rattata, ratta."
'We did, and he even watched us go home.'
"Indeed."
Indeedee then pulled its hat down, pretending to be profound: "Indeed."
It knew it!
They walked all the way to the seaside. Ron boarded the boat. Under Emily's reluctant gaze, Haley also walked on.
"Take care of yourself!!"
Haley also leaned on the railing, waving vigorously at Emily.
The small boat gradually sailed further away. Emily watched the boat disappear from her view, then couldn't help but reach out and wipe away tears that had somehow flowed out.
After a while, she smiled and leaned on Sandy's shoulder beside her.
"If you feel lonely, come find me in the desert," Sandy said.
"Then you'll have to reimburse travel expenses."
"Then don't come."
The two looked at each other, and after a moment, laughed together.
On the other side, as the small boat sailed further and further, Haley stared at the sparkling sea surface, then turned to look at Ron in the cockpit steering the boat.
"Where are we going first when we arrive in Kalos?"
"Let's head to Lumiose City," Ron said while steering the boat.
Lumiose could be considered the center of Kalos. As the largest city in Kalos, it was the shortcut to any other city. Therefore, if they wanted to take a shortcut to meet up with Abigail, Lumiose was the best option.
—
"I see, is this it?" Haley took out her Pokédex and looked at the map in her hands. Gazing at that dot several times larger than other cities, she couldn't help but exclaim: "Lumiose City is huge!"
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