"Brother, I missed you so much!"
Red turned his head and saw a scruffy Ash rushing over, trying to throw his arms around him.
Seeing this, Red silently released a blue glow from his eyes and used his psychic power to block Ash's overly enthusiastic hug.
"Go take a hot shower first!" Red said speechlessly. "I even pointed out the shortcut to Saffron City for you. How did you still end up looking like you got lost again?"
"Exactly! It's all Ash's fault for insisting on running into the forest to catch new Pokémon. Not only did he get spun around in circles, even our travel map got blown away by the wind!" Misty complained, recounting the hardships of their journey.
"That really does sound like your travel style…" Red said helplessly. "I'm heading to the Saffron City Gym later anyway. I can take you there on the way!"
"Awesome! I can't wait to get the Gold Badge!" Ash shouted excitedly, practically ready to dash straight to the Gym for the challenge.
"Alright, alright. Ash, I know you're fired up about earning badges, but let's properly wash up first!" Brock urged. Trainers were already coming and going around them, and some pretty girls were whispering about how messy the three looked. Brock, who longed to encounter romance, was completely devastated.
"I'll be waiting for you at the private battle arena behind the Pokémon Center!"
Red waved and temporarily parted ways with Ash's trio before heading to the private arena in the backyard.
"Come out!"
Red tossed two Poké Balls, sending out Milotic, whom he hadn't seen in a while, along with Thousand-Year Gengar.
The moment Milotic appeared, it excitedly flopped onto Red, affectionately rubbing against his cheek and nearly knocking him to the ground.
"Boss, I missed you so much!"
Thousand-Year Gengar looked at Red with a tearful face.
"You have no idea how perverted that Professor Oak is. From morning till night he keeps performing his so-called Pokémon senryu for me. I can even dream about him reciting senryu in my sleep!"
Thousand-Year Gengar vividly reenacted Professor Oak's "abuse," describing the horror of being sent back to Professor Oak's Laboratory these past two days.
From Gengar's account, Red roughly understood the situation. It was nothing more than Professor Oak being fascinated that Thousand-Year Gengar could speak human language. He believed the essence of Pokémon senryu should be embodied by Pokémon themselves, so he constantly pestered Thousand-Year Gengar to study his latest creations, leaving it with no personal freedom at all and giving it genuine psychological trauma.
"Alright, alright. For now, you and Milotic can stay by my side," Red said helplessly, telling Thousand-Year Gengar to stop complaining.
To check whether Milotic had been slacking off recently, Red instructed Thousand-Year Gengar to act as Milotic's training opponent. For fairness, he let the two Pokémon battle freely while he observed from the side.
Milotic struck first with Water Pulse. Thousand-Year Gengar countered with Shadow Ball to neutralize it, then slipped into the shadows to search for an opening.
Milotic didn't stay idle. It directly used its psychic power to cast Hypnosis, attempting to locate Thousand-Year Gengar's position.
Sure enough, under the interference of Hypnosis, Thousand-Year Gengar was forced to reveal itself. Immediately afterward, Milotic fired off an Ice Beam. Seeing this, Thousand-Year Gengar quickly used Psychic to redirect the Ice Beam back at Milotic.
About to be hit, Milotic remained calm. It casually flicked its tail and used Splash to leap into the air, avoiding the attack. Using the frozen ground, it slid forward to boost its speed.
Half an hour later—
Freshly bathed and well-fed, Ash's trio arrived in the backyard and found Red, who had already recalled his Pokémon and was preparing to leave.
"Since you're ready, let's go!"
A blue glow flashed in Red's eyes as he used Teleport to bring Ash's trio directly to the entrance of the Saffron City Gym.
"The Saffron City Gym specializes in Psychic-type Pokémon. Ash, you need to be careful!" Brock reminded him. Psychic-types held a significant advantage against most Pokémon, especially those that could synchronize their mental power with Psychic trainers.
"Don't worry! I may not have psychic powers, but I've got courage! Hehehe… no need to praise me!" Ash laughed foolishly, mistakenly thinking he looked impressive.
"This is so embarrassing!" Misty covered her face in shame.
"Yeah, let's pretend we don't know him!" Brock blushed and deliberately avoided making eye contact with Ash.
"...?" Red looked at his younger brother speechlessly. How was he still like this?!
At that moment, a figure suddenly appeared before them. Red recognized him as Sabrina's father, who walked up warmly to greet him.
"So it's Red, my worthy nephew! I didn't expect you to come to the Saffron City Gym so soon. Thanks to you, Sabrina went to assist with the Silph Co. incident last night. It helped improve many people's impressions of her. Thank you so much!"
In Sabrina's father's view, Red alone was more than enough to defeat Team Rocket, and there was no need to specially notify Sabrina to assist. But since it was Red's request, Sabrina had rushed to Silph Co., defeated numerous Team Rocket members, and restored her reputation in Saffron City.
"It's nothing. I brought my younger brother to challenge the Saffron City Gym today!" Red said, pointing helplessly at Ash, who was still grinning foolishly in the distance.
"Ah? That fool— I mean, this passionate young man is actually your brother? Just one look and I can tell he's a genius destined to become a Pokémon Master!" Sabrina's father froze for a moment before showering Ash with exaggerated praise.
"No, no~ I'm just a tiny bit worse than Red. I'm not as amazing as you say, uncle!" Ash said with a 'shy' expression, looking so smug it was as if his nose had grown longer.
"Hahaha! Passion is also an essential quality of a Pokémon Master. Since you've come to challenge our Saffron City Gym, I'll be your opponent!" Sabrina's father declared.
"Huh? Isn't the Gym Leader of Saffron City a woman named Sabrina?" Brock asked in confusion. He pulled out the "Detailed Guide to Kanto Region Gym Leaders" and pointed at Sabrina's cold and elegant photo, drooling foolishly.
"There Brock goes again…" Misty sighed, covering her face.
"Sabrina and her mother recently went shopping to relax. During this time, I've resumed the position of Gym Leader!" Sabrina's father explained.
"Alright! Pikachu and I have been waiting for this!" Ash exclaimed excitedly. He could finally challenge a Gym.
Everyone followed Sabrina's father into the Pokémon battle arena of the Saffron City Gym. To ensure Sabrina's heart would no longer remain cold, the arena had been specially redesigned. Sunlight now poured brightly onto the field, creating a warm atmosphere—completely different from the previously gloomy, temple-like style.