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Aimi lifted her head and looked at Roy.
Roy raised his hand, his palm gently pressing against Aimi's cheek.
His fingers curved slightly, his fingertips stroking her smooth cheek.
Aimi's body trembled slightly.
This touch was like a switch.
All the strength, all the composure, and all the "I'm fine" she had just shown collapsed in an instant.
Her lips trembled: "Roy..."
Aimi threw herself into Roy's embrace.
Her hands tightly hugged his waist, her face buried in his chest, her whole body huddled in his arms.
Facing her man, Aimi finally let go of her strength and allowed herself to be soft.
Roy didn't speak; he just reached out and held her.
One hand held her waist while the other rested on the back of her head, fingers running through her hair, gently stroking it.
After a while, Roy finally spoke.
"It's okay now."
"Future gym leader of the Fighting Spirit Gym."
Aimi's body moved slightly.
"All the things you were worried about have been resolved."
Roy's palm slid down from her hair and gently squeezed the back of her neck.
"You need to cheer up."
"Revitalize the Fighting Spirit Gym."
As he spoke, Roy held Aimi with one hand and pulled a poké ball out of his pocket with the other.
"This is..."
Aimi finally lifted her head from Roy's chest.
Her gaze fell on the poké ball in Roy's hand, her eyes filled with confusion.
"This is your father's Hitmonchan."
Roy handed the poké ball to her.
"The Pokémon Center has already helped it recover."
"Furthermore, I've registered it for you."
"Anthony has now lost his status as a normal Trainer, so his Pokemon need to be kept by his family."
"Now, you are Hitmonchan's master."
"Aimi."
Roy looked into her eyes and said word by word.
"Use it as the foundation for revitalizing the Fighting Spirit Gym."
Aimi reached out both hands and carefully took the poké ball.
"Thank you... Roy..."
Then she threw herself back into Roy's arms, hugging him tightly.
She held him for a long, long time.
Delia and Misty stood nearby, glancing at each other.
Both of them smiled at the same time.
...
After leaving the hospital, Aimi's mood was much better.
It was as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her, and her shoulders relaxed.
"Let's go."
Aimi turned to look at Roy, a smile appearing on her face.
"Roy, can we have tonight's celebration banquet at home? I want to tell my mother about us."
Roy nodded and replied, "Okay!"
The group followed Aimi towards her home.
Aimi's house wasn't far from the hospital, only an hour's drive away.
Aimi pushed open the gate to the courtyard and led the group inside.
"Mom, I'm back."
In the living room, the table was covered with dishes.
A massive spread, at least a dozen dishes.
While the presentation wasn't the exquisite work of a master chef, every dish radiated a kind of home-cooked warmth and care.
And the portions were large, clearly not meant for just one or two people.
Delia and Misty were both stunned.
Roy's eyebrows quirked slightly.
Aimi's mother, Ayano, was standing by the table, holding a plate of freshly cooked food.
She wore simple loungewear—a light gray top with dark pants—and her hair was casually clipped back.
Ayano's face today had a rare flush of color, and her eyes were brighter than usual.
When she saw Aimi and the others enter, Ayano's eyes immediately lit up.
"Oh, you're back!"
She set the dish on the table, wiped her hands on her apron, and beamed with a smile as bright as a New Year's celebration.
"Come in, come in! The food was just finished, eat while it's hot!"
Aimi stood at the door, completely dumbfounded.
Her mouth hung slightly open, her eyes wide as she stared at the massive table of food, her mind a complete blank.
"Mom..."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"This... you made all of this?"
"Yes," Ayano nodded with a smile, "What's wrong?"
Aimi stepped forward quickly and grabbed Ayano's hand.
"Mom, your body is so weak, how could you cook so many dishes?"
She was both distressed and anxious.
"I could have done it when I got back! How could you..."
Aimi's fingers tightly gripped Ayano's hand, feeling the temperature and pulse.
But she still wasn't reassured, so she used her other hand to support Ayano's arm, fearing she might not be able to stand steadily.
"Mom, sit down quickly, don't stand."
"Are you tired? Are you dizzy?"
Aimi paced around in a panic.
Ayano was helped into a seat. Seeing her daughter's frantic state, she couldn't help but laugh.
"Don't worry, don't worry, I'm fine."
She patted the back of Aimi's hand, her tone gentle yet firm.
"I really am fine."
"This afternoon, I saw Roy win the championship on TV."
"I was so excited at that moment!"
"I suddenly felt full of energy, like all my ailments had vanished."
"And since you said you were coming back to celebrate, I just..."
"I'm not tired at all right now, really."
Aimi carefully examined Ayano's complexion.
It truly was much better than before.
Aimi released her hand, still somewhat skeptical.
"Are you really okay?"
"Really," Ayano nodded with a smile. "Stop worrying blindly."
"Come, come, sit down. There are two more dishes, I'll go bring them over."
As she spoke, Ayano tried to stand up again.
Aimi quickly pressed her back down.
"Mom, you stay seated, I'll go get them."
"Sister Hanako, please help me look after my mom."
Delia smiled and walked over, sitting down next to Ayano.
"Leave it to me, you go ahead."
Aimi nodded and hurried toward the kitchen.
Misty also sat down, chirping away about Roy's championship victory.
A moment later, Aimi emerged from the kitchen carrying the final two dishes and placed them on the table.
"Alright, everything's here. Let's eat, everyone."
She spoke while sitting down next to Roy.
"Mom, I have something I want to tell you."
Ayano lifted her head and looked at her daughter.
"What is it?"
Aimi's face flushed. She glanced at Roy, then at Delia and Misty, and finally fixed her gaze on Ayano.
"Mom..."
"I... I'm with Roy now. I'm his woman..."
After saying this, Aimi's face turned so red it looked like it might bleed, but she didn't lower her head. Instead, she looked straight at Ayano.
Ayano was stunned.
The chopsticks in her hand stopped mid-air, her mouth slightly open.
Snap!
Ayano slapped her chopsticks onto the table and clapped her hands together suddenly.
"Really?"
She stood up from her chair, her face beaming with a smile like a flower in bloom.
"Really? Aimi? Is what you're saying true?"
Ayano's voice was trembling, not from weakness, but from pure excitement.
"You... you really..."
Before she could finish her sentence, her body suddenly swayed.
She tilted to the side.
"Mom!"
Aimi's face turned deathly pale instantly. She sprang from her chair and grabbed Ayano.
"Mom! What's wrong?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine..." Ayano waved her hand, still smiling.
"It's nothing, just got too excited and stood up too fast. I'm a bit dizzy..."
"Don't scare me like that, Mom..."
Aimi helped Ayano sit down, her fingers trembling.
"Wait, I'll call the doctor."
She turned to look at Roy.
"Roy, help me make a call. Call the family doctor who usually comes. The number is in the notebook under the coffee table..."
Roy nodded and rose to make the call.
Delia also came over and helped Aimi support Ayano.
Misty stood by, stomping her feet in anxiety.
Ayano was helped onto the sofa and laid down.
She was still smiling, repeatedly saying "I'm fine, don't worry."
But Aimi didn't believe her at all.
In less than twenty minutes, the family doctor arrived.
She was a female doctor in her forties, wearing glasses and looking very professional.
She was Ayano's regular family doctor, visiting once a month for check-ups, and was very familiar with Ayano's condition.
The doctor set down her medical bag and began examining Ayano.
Checking blood pressure, heart rate, listening to her breathing...
Aimi stood by, not daring to even breathe loudly.
Delia held her shoulder, gently patting her.
Misty stood behind them, hands clasped as if in prayer.
Roy leaned against the wall, his expression calm, but his gaze remained fixed on Ayano.
The doctor examined her for a good while before putting away her stethoscope.
Her expression was a bit strange.
"Doctor, how is my mother?"
Aimi asked impatiently.
The doctor took off her stethoscope and turned to look at Aimi.
"Ms. Ayano's body..."
She paused as if organizing her words.
"Is almost completely recovered."
Aimi was stunned.
"Huh?"
Her mouth hung slightly open, her eyes wide.
"Almost completely recovered? How is that possible?"
"During last month's check-up, didn't you say her condition had worsened?"