Chapter 242: The Visitor
"No problem, Professor," Xiu agreed without hesitation. Professor Oak rarely made direct requests of him, and as his assistant, fulfilling such requests was part of the job.
Besides, Xiu's curiosity was piqued. He knew Professor Oak was up to something, but Oak offered no further explanation, and Xiu knew better than to press. He'd find out soon enough.
They set off on foot towards Pallet Town proper. Xiu, despite spending most of his time at the secluded institute, had made occasional trips into town for supplies and was a vaguely familiar figure to the residents.
Professor Oak, of course, was a local legend. As they walked, several townspeople greeted the Professor warmly, engaging him in friendly conversations, offering a smile here and a kind word there.
Xiu observed these interactions with a detached fascination. There was an effortless warmth to Oak's public persona, yet Xiu always felt a subtle sense of disconnect. I don't think the Professor is a hypocrite..., he thought; Oak seemed genuine as a person.
But there is something… different. As if Professor Oak operated on a slightly different plane of existence than the ordinary folk of Pallet Town. Or maybe it's just me, Xiu mused.
Their path led them to the southwestern edge of town, an area of scattered houses, each with its own small yard. Oak stopped before one such house – a modest, well-kept dwelling: the Professor's actual residence.
The yard, Xiu noted, wasn't overgrown, but neatly tended to and the flowerbeds vibrant. Madame Ketchum's handiwork, no doubt. The precise nature of the relationship between Professor Oak and Ash's mother remained an intriguing, unspoken mystery.
"In we go," Oak announced, producing a key and unlocking the front door.
Xiu followed him inside. He had only ever been in the garage before, to retrieve the pickup truck. This was his first time seeing the interior of Oak's home.
A wave of cool, stale air washed over him as they stepped across the door. The house was dim, curtains drawn against the morning sun, a faint, musty odor lingering in the air – the scent of a place long unoccupied. The temperature difference between the sun-drenched exterior and the shadowed interior was palpable, almost chilly.
"Our task for today, Xiu," Professor Oak stated, his voice echoing slightly in the stillness, "is to air this place out and give it a thorough cleaning." With that, he headed upstairs, leaving Xiu to survey the ground floor.
An assistant's work is never done, Xiu sighed, though he didn't particularly mind. He began by opening windows, letting in fresh air and sunlight, gradually dispelling the gloom and the chill.
Dust motes danced in the sunbeams. Large pieces of furniture – sofas, armchairs, a dining table – were draped in white dustcloths. Lifting a corner of one, Xiu sent a cloud of fine dust billowing into the air. Definitely been a while.
Soon, Professor Oak reappeared. "Ready to begin, Professor?" Xiu asked. "Any specific instructions? Areas to focus on, or avoid?"
"Just a general cleaning will suffice, Xiu," Oak replied. "Living room, kitchen, the main bedrooms upstairs."
They set to work, cleaning the living room, dusting the furniture and polishing surfaces. Xiu noticed a collection of framed photographs on a decorative shelf.
Most were in black and white, clearly quite old. One picture, in particular, caught his eye. It depicted a young woman in a long, floral-patterned dress, standing beneath a tree laden with blossoming flowers.
She was turned slightly away, looking up at the falling petals, a soft smile on her lips, though her eyes seemed to be looking directly towards the camera. Professor Oak must have taken this one, Xiu surmised, noting the care with which Oak himself wiped the dust from this particular frame, his touch more a caress than a cleaning motion.
His wife, surely. And judging by the age of the photo and Oak's demeanor… likely no longer with us.
Xiu studied the image. The woman was… pleasing to the eye. Not stunningly beautiful in a conventional sense, but possessing a gentle, captivating beauty. Even in the faded photograph, her warmth seemed to radiate. It would take a woman of considerable character and grace to capture the heart of someone like Samuel Oak.
Other photos in the collection depicted Oak at various stages of his career – receiving awards, posing with other prominent researchers. There were even a few very old, black-and-white snapshots of a much younger Oak, gangly and grinning, dressed in a Bug Catcher's outfit.
What struck Xiu as odd, however, was the absence of the woman from any other photos. No wedding pictures, no family portraits with a younger Oak. Just that one, solitary, poignant image. He suppressed his curiosity and continued cleaning.
They worked efficiently, moving from the ground floor living areas to the upstairs bedrooms, excluding only the utility room and a locked basement. By the time they had finished, nearly mid-morning, the house felt lighter and brighter, the stale air replaced with the fresh scent of polish and sunshine.
"Alright, Xiu," Professor Oak said, surveying their handiwork with satisfaction. "I need to step out for a bit, run a few errands in town. Someone may be stopping by later. If they arrive before I return, just let them in, will you?" He offered no further explanation and promptly departed.
Left alone, Xiu found himself with unexpected free time. He wandered back outside, drawn to the vibrant flower fields bordering the Ketchum's next door. Unlike most Pallet Town residents, who cultivated vegetable gardens or fruit orchards, Delia's yard was a riot of colorful blooms.
As he approached the fence line, he saw Delia herself, wearing a wide-brimmed sunhat and a cheerful floral dress, kneeling amongst her flowerbeds with a small trowel in hand, diligently tending to her plants.
"Good morning!" Xiu called out with a friendly smile.
"Why, Xiu! Good morning!" Delia straightened up, one hand shielding her eyes from the sun as she smiled back at him. "Thank you again for the fruits you brought back from Viridian City. It was such a thoughtful gesture."
"My pleasure," Xiu replied. "Glad you enjoyed it. Sorry for the delay in getting it to you; things were… rather hectic."
"Oh, not at all, dear, not at all," Delia said, waving a dismissive hand.
They chatted for a few minutes, exchanging pleasantries. Just as the conversation was about to turn, to her son Ash, a sleek black car pulled up on the road in front of Professor Oak's house.
"Ah, it looks like Gary and Daisy are back," Delia remarked, a fond smile on her face.
Xiu looked towards the car with a flicker of interest. Two figures were emerging – a boy and a slightly older girl, both with an air of quiet confidence. He might not have recognized the girl, but the boy… there was no mistaking him.
Oak Shigeru. Gary Oak. Ash's lifelong rival, Professor Oak's grandson. One of the important characters of the story... Xiu felt a twinge of curiosity and anticipation.
In some ways, he mused, observing Gary's expensive clothes, his air of casual entitlement, he's the one with the true protagonist template. Wealthy family, powerful connections, and a world-renowned grandfather…
If I'd had that kind of start, I'd probably just be a pampered playboy...