Leaving the Pewter Gym with Xiao Xia, Xia You pointed to the Pewter Museum of Science on the other side of the street: "The Museum here is very famous, it can be considered a major attraction in Pewter City. How about we go take a look together?"
"Okay." Since she had nothing to do anyway, Xiao Xia agreed without a second thought.
Walking across the street, the magnificent Museum came into view. After entering, Xia You bought two tickets and, together with Xiao Xia, walked into the main hall on the first floor.
The Pewter Museum of Science is divided into two main areas: exhibition and scientific research. Unfortunately, the scientific research area is not open to the public, so visitors can only walk around and visit the exhibition area.
The exhibition area is divided into two floors. The first floor is dedicated to fossil exhibits, with various display cases showcasing rare ancient Pokémon. The main exhibits are the skeletal fossils of Aerodactyl and Kabutops.
However, Xiao Xia seemed to have no interest in these fossils. She merely glanced at each display case before quickly moving on.
"I really don't understand why they display these scary things..."
The two then went up to the second floor. Unlike the first floor, the theme here was space, and the exhibits, in addition to historical relics and some meteorites that fell on the moon's surface, even included a model of a space shuttle!
When Xia You and Xiao Xia arrived in front of the model, an old man saw them stop and began to speak to himself: "It's been decades in the blink of an eye since humans first set foot on the moon. I heard that there are plans to go to the more distant Red Planet next. This kind of news related to the universe, whether true or false, always excites me!"
Xia You and Xiao Xia exchanged a smile, then leisurely strolled around the Museum a few more times before leaving the Pewter Museum of Science and finding a nearby restaurant.
Although this restaurant was not high-end, both the appetizers and the desserts after the meal were very satisfying after tasting them.
During this time, Xia You listened to Xiao Xia recount the story of how she met Ash and the unfortunate bicycle.
"You really should have seen its miserable state." Even now, Xiao Xia was still quite resentful, "I had just bought that bicycle not long ago, and I didn't expect it to be turned into charcoal by him after only riding it for one day!"
"So, you'll keep following him until he compensates you?"
"That's one of the reasons," Xiao Xia said with a smile, "My goal is to become a Water attribute Pokémon Master, and traveling everywhere is the best shortcut!"
Xia You smiled and agreed a few times. Although he had seen it in the anime, hearing it again from Xiao Xia, the person involved, was a different kind of feeling.
In the evening, when they returned to the Pokémon Center, they still didn't see Ash.
Xiao Xia couldn't help but ask, "Ash... he wouldn't have left here already, would he?"
"That's impossible," Xia You shook his head, "He won't leave Pewter City without defeating Brock. At the earliest tonight, at the latest tomorrow morning, I think he will appear and challenge the Pewter Gym again!"
And just as Xia You had said, after a night's rest, when Xia You and Xiao Xia were having breakfast in the restaurant, they saw Ash again, who was exhausted but full of energy.
"Ash!" Xiao Xia waved to him, "Where did you run off to yesterday?"
"Sorry for making you worry." Ash plopped down at the dining table and haphazardly stuffed some food into his mouth, "Yesterday, I met Uncle Takeshi outside the Gym, and there, I received special charging training with Pikachu."
"Uncle Takeshi? Charging training?" Xiao Xia was stunned, "But even so, an Electric-type Pikachu can't defeat Brock."
"How would you know if you don't try?" Ash was full of fighting spirit and said carelessly, "And today's Pikachu is completely different from yesterday's!"
"Oh?" Xiao Xia was noncommittal, "Is that really so? Then I'll be looking forward to it."
Wiping the corner of his mouth with a paper towel, Xia You suddenly said, "Good luck, Ash, but unfortunately, I won't be able to witness that moment."
"Why?" Ash asked curiously.
Xia You didn't answer directly, but instead asked, "Your goal is to participate in the Indigo Plateau Conference, right?"
Seeing Ash nod, Xia You looked at his Pokémon and said solemnly, "Then in that case, we are rivals, and I also have my own path to follow. It's time for me to head to the next Gym city."
"Huh? Are you leaving already?" Xiao Xia felt a sense of reluctance. Although she hadn't known Xia You for long, their time together had been very relaxed and happy.
And through a day of interaction, she could feel the man's gentleness, thoughtfulness, and humor.
Xia You smiled and said, "Don't be so sad. Kanto is very big, but our goals are the same, and we will meet again sooner or later. Perhaps in the next city, or at the next Gym, we will see each other again."
...
Upon returning to Vermilion City, Xia You went directly to the Sakuragi Research Institute.
"You've really worked hard on this journey." Seeing Xia You, Professor Sakuragi thanked him, "After you delivered the prototype, Professor Oak called me. He praised you for a long time over the phone, so much so that I felt a little embarrassed."
At this moment, Koharu walked in from outside with her schoolbag.
Looking at Eevee, Squirtle, and Charmander, she couldn't help but exclaim, "So you've already caught so many Pokémon?"
"Yes, the royal three families are complete. Next, I just need to catch one more to form a team." Xia You said, waving to the Pokémon that hadn't met Koharu, "This is Koharu, come say hello to her."
She touched each of their foreheads in turn, and upon seeing Kirlia, Koharu's eyes lit up. She walked in front of Kirlia and squatted down.
"Is this Kirlia's new look? It's so cute!"
Hearing Koharu's praise, Kirlia bowed to her, and her docile and quiet demeanor made Koharu cover her mouth in surprise.
Watching Koharu and the Pokémon in such a harmonious scene, Professor Sakuragi said, "Oh, right, Xia You, I've arranged a dormitory for you at the Research Institute, so you won't have to stay at the Pokémon Center anymore. And Sakuragi Park has already been built, so your Pokémon can be stored there from now on!"
"Sakuragi Park?" Xia You was startled.
Professor Sakuragi pointed out the window: "Look, it's that one."
Following the direction of Professor Sakuragi's finger, he saw a huge hemispherical dome building made of reinforced glass, sitting behind the Sakuragi Research Institute.
Its shape was like a transparent cover, and beneath the cover, one could see streams, ponds, hills, valleys, and a dense forest.