After dinner, the sky gradually grew dim.
Just like Cabo Poco where Sunshine Gym was located, Celestic Town was also a small place far from the big cities, blending seamlessly with nature. As such, one could even spot many Pokémon in the grass from afar.
As the sun began to set, the most common Pokémon in the Sinnoh region, Kricketot and Kricketune, had already begun their artistic performances.
A symphony full of natural charm resonated through the grasslands.
"This peaceful life… seems pretty nice, actually…"
Feeling the cool evening breeze brush against his cheeks, Aiden gazed up at the star-filled sky and couldn't help but let out a sigh.
"In that case, I'll stay in Celestic Town for a few more days."
At this moment, Cynthia, who had already finished her bath and changed into casual clothes, walked over to him without him noticing, elegantly sitting down with her legs crossed.
Aiden had to admit, this suggestion made him feel a bit tempted.
After all, living alone in Cabo Poco had become routine, and loneliness was inevitable.
Even though he had his Pokémon companions, Neimo and Piper often visited, which only made his solitude during quiet nights even more pronounced.
But…
"No, I haven't made a name for myself in Paldea yet. I need to work harder!"
Aiden shook his head, his gaze filled with determination as he looked at Cynthia.
Although he used to frequently think about giving up in his mind, after experiencing so much in the Pokémon world, his mindset had subtly shifted.
The gym was thriving, his streaming career was gaining traction, he had gained fans worldwide eager to learn tactics from him, and students who came to challenge him genuinely regarded him as a mentor.
Without realizing it, he had firmly established himself in this world and was gradually becoming well-known.
Therefore, whether to meet the audience's expectations or to fulfill his responsibilities as a gym leader and part-time teacher, he still needed to work harder on fulfilling his duties.
Rest? That could wait until after next year's Victory Road.
"I see…"
Gazing at Aiden's serious expression, Cynthia seemed momentarily lost in thought but quickly smiled gently.
"Mm, I believe in you."
"You will definitely become the best trainer in Paldea."
"Of course, while working hard, you also need to plan well. When it's time to rest, rest properly and don't bring your daily stress into holidays."
Mid-conversation, Cynthia suddenly changed her tone, sticking out her tongue playfully:
"There's always more work to do, so consider these few days as spending time with me."
"For now, forget about Paldea and Sunshine Gym, and fully enjoy this leisurely vacation~"
Staring into Cynthia's gentle amber eyes, Aiden, for some reason, suddenly turned his head and looked back at the night sky, which had now completely sunk into darkness.
The soft moonlight spilled down from the crescent moon of the fourth day, dotting the vast expanse of stars.
Though the moonlight was beautiful and the wind gentle…
Why did his face feel a bit hot?
Aiden instinctively reached out to touch his warm cheek, his emotions growing complex at the moment.
…
It was deep into the night.
"Bui…"
While Aiden had already fallen asleep, Eevee, curled up on his bedside, was unusually having trouble sleeping.
As its birthplace, Eevee should naturally feel nostalgic about this environment.
But…
For some reason, it felt strangely unfamiliar here.
Eevee climbed off the bed, deftly leaping over Aiden, and sat by the window, staring at an empty field outside.
If memory served correctly, that should have been where the Trainer's original home once stood.
However, it had long since disappeared after the family moved to the current location of Sunshine Gym.
So, what exactly is "home"?
Eevee suddenly began pondering this question.
If we consider the place of its birth, Celestic Town should logically be considered its hometown.
Yet, upon returning here, it felt no extra emotion, as if it had arrived at just another tourist destination.
Its childhood memories were undoubtedly filled with joy, but compared to nostalgia for Celestic Town, most of its recollections revolved around the smiling youth who carried it everywhere.
From the moment it opened its eyes after birth, its world seemed inseparable from him.
Though it had experienced some painful events, during that time, its Trainer bore too much, and at times, it even felt he might leave at any moment.
But even in the toughest moments, he still took good care of it, and it tried its best to help alleviate some of his pain.
In the end, they both pulled through. The Trainer's smile returned, his gentle side reemerged, and Sunshine Gym began to thrive.
Though it seemed some newfound hobbies caused Eevee a slight headache, they could still be seen as proof of his improved mood, right?
Being able to continue running the gym with its Trainer fulfilled Eevee's little wish.
Surely, a place with the Trainer could be called home?
For some reason, Eevee suddenly thought this way.
Celestic Town wasn't important, and Sunshine Gym held far less significance than the Trainer himself.
As long as it could stay with the Trainer, the location didn't matter.
Eevee inexplicably felt a surge of resolve and looked out the window.
The bright moonlight streamed through the window, enveloping its body and igniting the power that had long accumulated within.
Small points of white light soon appeared, surrounding Eevee's body.
"Bui?!"
This miraculous evolution glow phenomenon startled Eevee, as it was seeing it for the first time.
Feeling the numerous changes happening to its body in a short period, Eevee's heart inexplicably grew tense.
If it followed its current thoughts, what would it evolve into?
Its Trainer had once shown it the eight known evolutionary forms of Eevee, one of which was Moonlight Eevee, which could only evolve at night.
Before this, Eevee, like Aiden, always thought that evolving into any form would be fine because the Trainer wouldn't dislike it regardless of its evolution.
But…
It was like flipping a coin—only when tossed could one truly confirm their inner thoughts.
At the critical moment of evolution, Eevee finally understood its own feelings.
The evolution glow abruptly contracted and quickly vanished.
Eevee made an elegant little jump, landing lightly beside Aiden.
"Bui~"
With practiced ease, it nestled against Aiden's chest, feeling the rhythm of its Trainer's heartbeat.
In an instant, the previously subsided evolution glow shone again, startling Aiden awake with its blinding light.
At the same time, his chest suddenly felt an incredible weight that was difficult for a human body to bear.
"Evo… evolved?"
Still half-asleep, Aiden shook his head and slowly realized what had happened, looking at the "flashbang" lying on top of him with a complex expression.
Good grief!
So the reason you didn't evolve was because of the location, Picky-vee, you little rascal…
------------------------------------------------------
40+ Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)