The soft morning light spilled through the curtains, painting the room in golden warmth.
Alex sat on the edge of his bed, still thinking about the dream from the night before — about her, the Eternal Goddess who had visited him in the garden of light. Her kiss still lingered faintly on his forehead, and the words she spoke echoed in his heart.
But today wasn't a day for reflection.
It was a day for goodbyes.
He exhaled softly, glancing at the clock. A full week had passed since he'd arrived in Cerulean City — longer than he had planned. Between Misty's reunion with her sisters, his Gym battle, and all the time they had spent together, the days had slipped by in a blur of laughter and warmth.
Tomorrow, he would set out again — this time with Delia and Misty by his side.
But today, he wanted to make the most of the time that remained.
"Alright," he murmured, stretching his arms as he stood. "Let's make today special."
---
Downstairs, the Water Flower Sisters' house was already filled with the sounds of morning. The scent of fresh tea drifted from the kitchen, mingling with the faint echo of Pokémon splashing in the indoor pool.
Daisy, ever the elegant one, was arranging flowers in a vase. Lily was scrolling through her PokéNav, humming to herself, while Violet was sketching new costume designs for their next show.
When Alex walked in, all three looked up at once.
"Morning, Alex!" Lily greeted, her usual bright grin lighting up her face.
"Morning," he replied warmly. "Looks like everyone's busy today."
"Busy? Not really," Violet said, setting her pencil aside. "We just didn't expect you to wake up so early. Didn't you say you were planning to rest more before leaving?"
Alex chuckled. "I was. But I realized something — it's my last day here. So, I figured I should spend it with all of you."
That made the sisters pause. For a heartbeat, the room went quiet. Then Daisy smiled softly, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear.
"You really are too sweet sometimes," she said. "But… we'd love that."
Lily's eyes sparkled. "Then let's make it fun! We can go sightseeing — there's a small park by the lake, and a new café that opened nearby."
"And don't forget the aquarium," Violet added quickly. "It just reopened, and I heard they have a rare Water-type showcase today."
Alex smiled, watching their excitement build. "Sounds perfect," he said. "Let's do it all."
---
They spent the morning strolling through the park, sunlight reflecting off the lake like dancing diamonds. Daisy kept walking beside Alex, asking about his journey and research, her voice soft but full of interest.
At the café, Lily tried to feed Alex a spoonful of her parfait, laughing when he pretended to refuse and then gave in. Violet sat quietly at first, then surprised everyone by offering Alex a hand-drawn sketch of him with his Pokémon .
In afternoon, they reached the aquarium. Inside, the glowing tanks shimmered with the colors of the sea. Pokémon like Milotic, Lapras, and Kingdra drifted gracefully through the water, their presence serene and timeless.
Standing together before one of the largest tanks, Alex smiled. "You know," he said, "watching them like this makes me realize how peaceful this world can be."
"Peaceful," Daisy echoed, her eyes soft. "Maybe that's why I like being a Water-type trainer. The water reminds me that even strength can be calm."
Lily leaned against the railing, glancing at Alex with a playful grin. "You're going to miss us, aren't you?"
He laughed lightly. "Of course I am."
Violet crossed her arms, looking away just enough to hide her small smile. "Then make sure you come back," she said quietly. "We'll be waiting."
......
That evening, after spending the day laughing and chatting with the Waterflower sisters, Alex leaned back on the sofa and let out a soft sigh. His gaze drifted toward the window, where the fading orange light of sunset painted the sky.
He suddenly remembered the promise he had made—to give each of them something special when the time came.
"Right… I still owe them those gifts," he murmured to himself, opening the system mall.
A vast list of rare and powerful items appeared before his eyes. Scrolling through the options, Alex began to think about each sister in turn.
Daisy, the eldest, always carried herself like a gentle leader. Her Gyarados was her pride and partner in every battle.
"Then this one's perfect," Alex said, purchasing a Gyaradosite—a rare Mega Stone that could push Gyarados's power to its limit.
Next was Violet, calm and composed, who had always wished for her Seadra to evolve into a Kingdra one day.
"For Violet…" He smiled faintly, selecting a Dragon Scale, the key to Seadra's evolution.
Lastly came Lily, bright and energetic, whose Seel was still small but full of potential.
"A Water Crystal should suit her best," he decided, choosing one that increased water-type attacks by forty percent.
With the items ready, Alex closed the system mall and made his way through the quiet halls of the Cerulean Gym.
He knocked lightly on each sister's door, one after another, presenting them with the gifts he'd chosen.
The reactions were almost immediate—wide eyes, stunned silence, and then warm smiles.
"Alex… these are so rare," Daisy whispered, holding the Gyaradosite in her palm as it shimmered under the room light.
Violet pressed the Dragon Scale to her chest, her voice soft. "You really remembered…"
Lily, unable to contain her excitement, hugged him tightly. "Thank you, Alex! Seel's going to love this!"
Alex only smiled. "You've all done a lot for me. This is the least I can do."
The sisters looked at him, their hearts swelling with warmth. In
Their affection for him deepened, silent yet unmistakable.