Chapter 130: Departure
Xiu listened to Professor Oak's casual dismissal of the Viridian City event – "some competitions," "create some hype," "go home" – and felt slightly speechless. The Professor didn't even seem to know the details of the event he was attending as a special guest? This level of detachment is… something else.
"Professor," Xiu asked, trying to bring the conversation back to practicalities, "if we're both leaving for… however long this event lasts… what about the Pokémon here? At the Institute? The ones in the backyard paddock?"
"Simple," Oak replied with a dismissive wave of his hand, clearly having already considered this. "Just need to pop over and ask Delia to keep an eye on things. Have her drop by a couple of times a day to handle the basic feeding while we're gone. She knows the routine."
"Delia?" The name sparked a sudden, intense jolt of recognition in Xiu's mind, dredging up fragmented, half-forgotten images from his past life's immersion in the Pokémon anime. 'Delia… Ketchum? Ash's mother? Could it be?'
Professor Oak noticed Xiu's sudden stillness, the flicker of surprise in his eyes. "What is it, Xiu? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"No, Professor," Xiu quickly recovered, forcing a casual expression. "Just… curious. Who is Delia? You haven't mentioned her before, but you seem to trust her implicitly with the Institute's Pokémon?"
"Delia?" Oak chuckled fondly. "Known her since she was a little girl. Grew up right here in Pallet Town. Used to spend hours playing with the Pokémon in the backyard paddock when she was younger. Probably knows the residents back there better than you do at this point." He explained briefly, then asked again, "So? Are you coming or not?"
Xiu didn't hesitate this time— a chance to potentially meet Delia Ketchum? Even if Ash himself wasn't around (confirming Xiu's suspicion that he was in a pre-anime timeline), the opportunity felt too significant to pass up. Plus… "Are travel expenses covered?" he asked pragmatically.
Oak rolled his eyes. "We're invited guests, Xiu. Of course lodging and basic expenses are covered by the organizers in Viridian City."
"Then I'm going!" Xiu agreed instantly. A fully funded trip, a chance to see another major Kanto city, potential networking opportunities, and a chance to meet two, potentially three, legendary characters?[1] No downside. Especially since staying at the Institute meant constant, stressful work on Abra's condition. A change of scenery felt necessary.
"Good," Oak nodded briskly. "Pack your things. We leave first thing tomorrow morning."
"Tomorrow? That soon?" Xiu blinked, surprised by the suddenness.
"Why wait?" Oak retorted impatiently. "The sooner we get this over with, the sooner I can get back to real work."
Xiu was choked by Oak's abruptness but quickly agreed. The rest of the day passed in a flurry of preparations – finalizing Scizor's observation data, ensuring Abra's containment measures were stable, placating Happiny's needs, packing his meager belongings, and briefing Xiaoyuan via encrypted email about his temporary absence.
— — —
Early the next morning, Xiu stood ready near the Institute's front gate, backpack slung over his shoulder. Professor Oak joined him moments later, looking refreshed, carrying only a small briefcase. They started walking down the hill towards Pallet Town proper.
"My family home is actually in town," Oak commented casually as they walked. "Though I spend most of my time up at the lab these days, obviously."
He led Xiu towards a quiet corner of the town, away from the main road, where a few well-kept houses sat amidst lush gardens. "That one there," Oak pointed towards a particularly charming two-story house surrounded by vibrant flowerbeds, "is Delia's place. And that's her prize-winning flower garden."
Xiu followed Oak's gesture, taking in the idyllic scene. As they approached, he saw a woman tending to the flowers, dressed in simple casual clothes, holding a watering hose. Even from a distance, there was a warmth, a kindness, radiating from her.
By the time Xiu reached the garden gate, Oak was already chatting easily with her.
"…so, just need someone to handle the basic feeding rounds, morning and evening, while I'm away for a few days," Oak was explaining.
"Of course, Professor, no trouble at all!" the woman replied, her voice warm and friendly. She turned towards Xiu as he approached, offering a welcoming smile. "And you must be the new assistant I've heard about?" She nodded politely.
Face to face with the legendary Delia Ketchum, Xiu felt momentarily starstruck, tongue-tied. He managed a jerky nod and a mumbled greeting. "H-hello, Mrs. Ketchum… uh, Aunt Delia! I'm Xiu."
"Such a polite young man," Delia beamed, her smile genuine and infectious.
Xiu just stood there awkwardly, feeling incredibly out of place, listening as Oak and Delia finalized the arrangements for the Pokémon care. Their conversation was easy, familiar, clearly reflecting a long-standing friendship built on mutual respect, more like neighbors than Professor and assistant.
"Leave it all to me, Professor," Delia assured him finally. "You two have a safe trip!"
"Where's Ash, by the way?" Oak asked casually, glancing towards the house. "Still asleep?"
Delia sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes with affectionate exasperation. "Well~ you know Ash. Probably stayed up late watching battle videos on TV again. That boy…"
They shared a knowing chuckle, then Oak took his leave. He led Xiu away from Delia's house towards another, slightly larger house nearby, this one looking older, filled with history. "This is my ancestral home," Oak explained briefly.
"I don't use it much now, so it needs cleaning." He didn't go inside, instead heading directly towards a separate garage structure at the rear of the property. "Just need to grab the truck."
The rolling shutter door of the garage was already rising automatically as they approached, revealing the familiar blue-black pickup truck inside.
"Stop gawking, get in!" Oak called, already climbing into the driver's seat. "We need to get going!"
Xiu quickly hopped into the passenger side, tossing his backpack onto the floor. "Why are you always in such a hurry, Professor?" he complained good-naturedly.
"Want to make it to Viridian City in time for a decent lunch," Oak retorted, starting the engine.
As they backed out of the driveway, Xiu noticed the garage door automatically closing behind them with a soft mechanical whir. "..."
The truck smoothly navigated the quiet streets of Pallet Town, then turned onto the main highway heading north.
"Professor," Xiu asked, watching the familiar Pallet Town scenery recede rapidly through the window, "how long does it usually take to get to Viridian City from here?" He felt a flicker of curiosity, his internal map of the Kanto region based entirely on potentially inaccurate game or anime representations.
"Depends on traffic, road conditions," Oak replied casually, focused on driving. "Usually three, maybe four hours? Longer if there's Pokémon-related road damage, or," he added grimly, "other… unforeseen troubles."
'Three to four hours?' Xiu did a quick mental calculation based on their current speed. 'That means the distance is… easily close to 200 kilometers?' His perception of Kanto's scale immediately shifted. This wasn't a region you could just casually walk across in a few days, as the games implied. It was vast, the distances significant.
Professor Oak, perhaps noticing Xiu's sudden silence, glanced over. "Something wrong?"
"No, Professor," Xiu quickly deflected, realizing his internal calculations might seem odd. "Just… never really traveled much outside a major city before. Feeling a little… nervous, I guess."
Oak chuckled sympathetically. "Understandable." He seemed to accept the explanation. "Well, relax then. Enjoy the scenery. We have nothing scheduled today except arriving in Viridian City. Once we check in, maybe I'll take you around, show you the sights. You've been working hard lately," he added, his tone surprisingly considerate. "A little downtime might do you good. Help you relax."
Xiu glanced over at the Professor, surprised by the unexpected offer, the hint of genuine concern. Perhaps Oak's gruff exterior did occasionally hide a kinder impulse.
'Or perhaps, Xiu thought cynically, keeping his assistant relaxed and happy was simply… good management.'
[1] Delia, Ash, and possibly Giovanni