A month passed.
Saturo had finally made up his mind.
Even if he wanted to apologize to Growlithe… he wasn't sure how. Words felt too small, too uncertain. So instead, after a lot of thought, he decided to give him the gift he had prepared earlier.
A Fire Stone.
He had ordered it from Silph Co.—partly because it was the best place to get one, and partly because of his connection to Steven Stone.
The details of that… could wait. That was a story for when they met again.
He didn't want to force anything.
Even if Growlithe had never trained, even if he didn't want to fight unless it was for him or his brother… that was fine.
Saturo would ask him.
If he wanted to evolve or not.
It didn't have to be about battles. Traveling together, staying safe—that was enough.
That choice… would belong to Growlithe.
Saturo carried two journals with him, tucked deep inside his bag. His grandparents had placed them there quietly, without telling him.
Maybe they didn't know when they would meet again.
Maybe they did.
James had been visiting less and less.
The man who used to come every Tuesday…
had simply stopped.
He also had two journals with him ofc they were hidden in his bag by his grandparents
Who likely didn't know when would be the next time they meet and seeing James coming by less often to the point where the person who dropped by every Tuesday
Just stopped contacting
Saturo still carried the two journals.
Hidden deep in his bag—placed there quietly by his grandparents.
Maybe they didn't know when they would meet again.
Or maybe… they did.
James had been visiting less and less.
The man who used to drop by every Tuesday without fail…
had simply stopped.
No calls. No messages.
Nothing.
So Saturo went to the Pokémon Center.
After a short wait—and a brief exchange with Nurse Joy, who had become a familiar face thanks to how often he showed up.
She looked at him, smiling.
But there was a faint vein visible on her forehead.
Nurse Joy:
"So… what's up, little guy? I thought you might not show up today."
Saturo:
"Why so?"
Nurse Joy: (smiling… barely)
"Even experienced trainers don't show up five times in a single day just to check on their Pokémon."
Saturo: (grins)
"Well… isn't that their problem?"
She sighed, then tilted her head.
Nurse Joy:
"So tell me—are you planning to become a Pokémon Breeder… or a Trainer?"
Saturo:
"Yes."
She blinked.
Saturo (continuing):
"I'm even planning to do an internship when I'm nine."
From the side, Cynthia leaned in.
Cynthia:
"What's that?"
Saturo paused.
Internships.
The worst part of becoming a trainer.
Most kids worked at small gyms or Pokémon Centers—organizing, cleaning, helping out.
But the bigger the place… the bigger the reward.
Blackthorn's Dragon Gym in Johto?
Finish an internship there, and you might earn something as rare as a Dratini.
Of course…
That also meant years of exhausting labor.
Working around powerful Dragon-types.
Dangerous. Grueling.
His choice… was still undecided.
Nurse Joy:
"Oh… here I thought I'd get another promising young trainer."
Saturo:
"Are they okay?"
Her expression softened.
Nurse Joy:
"Yes. But Growlithe is… more aggressive right now. Stress. After everything you three went through."
Saturo nodded and opened the door.
A blur of orange—
—and pink.
Something slammed into him.
He hit the ground.
When he looked up, he saw Growlithe sitting there, tail wagging.
And Cynthia—who had clearly been riding him.
Saturo let out a small breath.
"…We never named you, did we?"
Growlithe turned his face away.
"Woff…"
Saturo smirked slightly.
"How about… _______?"( drop your name)
Growlithe paused.
Then—
His expression shifted.
"Woff! Woff woof!"
(Don't think I forgive you for leaving me here.)
Saturo blinked.
No dramatic reunion.
No anger.
Just… that.
Honest.
He crouched down slowly.
"I want to ask you something."
From his bag, he took out the Fire Stone.
"I got this for you. Back when I was in Hoenn."
GROWLTHE tilted his head.
"Woff?"
"It's okay if you don't want to fight," Saturo said quietly.
"Really. Traveling… staying safe—that's enough."
Before he could continue—
THUNK.
Cynthia smacked the back of his head with a pan.
"Let him speak, will you?!"
GROWLTHE barked in agreement.
"Woff!"
Cynthia immediately crouched down, grinning.
"OHHHH who's a good boy?"
GROWLTHE wagged his tail proudly.
"Woff woff."
(Thank you mistress .)
Not that kind of "mistress"—just respect.
Then—
Arcanine reached out.
Touched the Fire Stone.
For a split second—
silence.
Then—
A burst of blinding white light flooded the entire room.
The air shifted.
The ground trembled slightly.
The small Growlithe… began to grow.
Larger. Taller. Stronger.
Six feet. Seven.
The light faded.
And in his place stood a towering Arcanine.
Majestic. Massive. Radiating heat and presence.
Cynthia:
"Ohhh… so fluffy…"
Arcanine lowered his head slightly, letting her touch him.
Saturo stepped forward, arms open—
—and immediately got a half-powered Flamethrower to the face.
"HEY—HEY! That's favoritism!"
Cynthia: (smug)
"Looks like even your Pokémon likes me more than you."
Arcanine barked.
"Woff!"
(Yeah. Deserved.)
Before either of them could react—
He grabbed both of them by their collars.
Lifted them.
And tossed them onto his back.
Then—
He ran.
Faster than before.
Wind tearing past them.
Cynthia:
"WOOOOOOOAHHHH!!"
Saturo: (from behind, grumbling)
"Why do you get to sit in front?"
Cynthia:
"Because it's ladies first."
Arcanine barked loudly—
"WOOOOFFF!!"
—and pushed his speed even further.