After watching the two walk away, Auron asked Serena, "What about you? Where are you staying?"
Serena's situation was different from Simon's. Simon and Lena had come to the capital with their father, and they had a house here.
As for Tim, even if he didn't have a place, temporarily renting one or even buying one outright wouldn't be a problem for him.
But as for Serena's family—although her parents were both Coordinators, they were mainly based around Vantora. They weren't familiar with the capital.
"A hotel, where else could I stay?"
Serena smiled gently. The four of them had made plans together—they'd taken the same flight this morning. But everyone else had a place to stay, only she didn't, so she had to stay in a hotel first and wait until school started.
"How about—"
"How about you stay at Auron's place first? His house is pretty big."
Before Auron could finish, Jace interrupted.
"Here's what we'll do—you come home with Jace and me first, then I'll help you find a safe hotel. How's that?"
After speaking, Auron shot Jace a glare. What kind of suggestion was it for a girl to stay at a male classmate's house in a different city?
"Yeah, yeah, that works. Auron's pretty reliable."
After being glared at by Auron, Jace realized he'd spoken without thinking and hurriedly agreed with an awkward laugh.
Serena looked at Auron with a radiant smile. "Okay, I'll listen to you."
"Hey, hey, you're neglecting friends for romance here! I don't have a place to stay yet either."
Seeing that several people had already made their decision, Tim was displeased. Here I am, a whole living person standing right here, and you're treating me like I'm invisible?
One sentence made both Serena and Auron blush a bit, but Auron quickly recovered and retorted to Tim, "Look, you can stay at a hotel too. It's not like we're not helping you find one."
After speaking, a smile curved at the corner of Auron's mouth as he asked, "Speaking of which, haven't you considered buying a place here?"
Tim also complained helplessly, "Money doesn't just blow in on the wind, you know. Housing prices in the capital are insanely expensive, and places near Skyspire are even more ridiculously priced. I might as well just rent a small apartment at school once the semester starts."
Auron nodded. That made sense—he was thinking the same thing. After school started, he'd rent a small apartment at school.
Although Skyspire University was a top institution with a limited number of students, dorm rooms still housed two people each.
Dorm assignments were basically done by department, and since he wasn't in the same department as anyone else, there was no way to pull strings even if he wanted to.
What if they assigned him a roommate whose vibe didn't match his? That would be difficult going forward. Better to just rent a small apartment outside.
Anyway, Skyspire had these apartments for rent, and since Grandma was a professor at Skyspire, she could definitely help Auron rent one right when school started.
"Alright then. Want to come check out my place first?"
"Sure, let's go."
With Auron's suggestion, Tim readily agreed. He had nowhere else to go right now anyway. Besides, with Jace already being a third wheel, adding one more would make two third wheels—they could keep each other company.
Just like that, laughing and chatting, they all arrived at Auron's home.
Sometimes location really mattered. Like Auron's house—whether going to the Pokémon Battle Center or the research institute, both were quite close. Even the commercial street where they'd eaten hot pot wasn't far from here.
"Have a seat. What do you want to drink?"
After putting down his backpack, Auron asked. No one was home right now—everyone had gone to work—so it was just Auron and his three friends.
"Cola!"
"Same!"
"I'll have orange juice."
"Got it."
Auron went to the fridge in his room and grabbed three bottles of cola and one bottle of orange juice. Couldn't help it—Mom and his grandparents didn't allow drinks to be kept in the downstairs fridge.
"Hey, want to go to the backyard and let all the Pokémon out to relax?"
After handing the drinks to the three of them, Auron suggested.
"Sure!"
With that, the four of them headed to the backyard together, each carrying a drink.
After arriving in the backyard, Auron released all his Pokémon, and Jace, Tim, and Serena followed suit, releasing all their Pokémon too.
Watching the Pokémon happily playing on the lawn, Auron was pondering—should he give the Silver Bottle Cap to Crobat or to Corphish?
Giving it to Crobat would raise her aptitude to the maximum. Giving it to Corphish was because Corphish currently had the lowest aptitude among Auron's Pokémon.
Although aptitude didn't determine everything, better aptitude made training easier.
"Tsaa~"
After a joyful cry, everyone only saw a green shadow flash by before Auron was tackled to the ground.
"Tsaa~"
The delighted Tsareena directly hugged Auron's face and planted a kiss on his cheek. This action immediately broke Serena's composure.
Serena's eyebrows shot up immediately, and she glared at Tsareena with puffed cheeks.
"Haha, Tsareena, get up quickly. There are so many people here."
Tsareena released her grip, allowing Auron to get up smoothly.
But after Auron got up, Tsareena still sat in his lap, showing no intention of getting down.
Now Serena really couldn't take it anymore. She quickly signaled with her eyes for Milotic to slip into Auron's arms and push Tsareena out.
Milotic looked at Serena, then at Auron, and immediately showed a troubled expression.
Isn't this making things difficult for me? How am I supposed to slip in there and push Tsareena out?
Serena shook her head in disappointment, then turned her gaze to Cloyster.
Cloyster: ???
Cloyster looked at her own body somewhat incredulously, then at Serena, showing a puzzled expression.
Serena sighed, then looked hopefully at Darmanitan.
Darmanitan didn't disappoint Serena. He nodded and charged toward Auron.
But Tsareena just gave him a cold look, and her ability Queenly Majesty activated.
Darmanitan was immediately frightened into freezing in place. Then, uncontrollably, two hearts popped out of his eyes.
He admitted it—he was smitten with Tsareena.
Seeing Darmanitan like this, Serena hung her head in pain.
Seeing her trainer like this, Milotic couldn't take it anymore. She finally mustered her courage and prepared to charge at Auron, determined to push Tsareena off him.
But unfortunately, she failed before even succeeding. She hadn't flown two steps before Tsareena's vines tied her up completely.
And Tsareena, being considerate of Milotic being a girl, very thoughtfully tied a bow on Milotic's body.
Because Serena was behind Auron, he didn't notice this exchange between trainer and Pokémon. He was just patting Tsareena's head, trying to coax her down first.
But just because Auron didn't see it didn't mean Jace and Tim didn't. The two had been trying not to burst out laughing at first.
But after seeing how easily Tsareena tied up Milotic on the spot, they managed to hold it in, afraid of suffering collateral damage.
Tsareena shook her head, then hugged Auron from behind and gave Serena a smug look.