Not only had they gone into a private room.
They'd also been in there talking for quite a while.
Still, speculation was one thing—pressing for answers was another.
Leaf and Yumi knew where to draw the line.
This was Ash's personal business.
Their strong curiosity was outweighed by the respect they had for their friend's privacy.
So, the conversation shifted to a different topic.
"…So that means you'll be leaving Viridian City tomorrow?"
Under the warm lights of the Pokémon Center, Yumi looked at Ash with a touch of reluctance.
"Yeah. The Gym Leader of Viridian City's Ground-type Gym, Giovanni, has been away for a long time, so the Gym's closed."
Ash nodded and said, "If I want to earn my first badge, I'll have to head to Pewter City instead."
If he wanted to participate in next month's Indigo League Conference, he needed to collect at least four Gym Badges during this time.
The schedule was tight, and the task was heavy.
He couldn't afford to linger in one city for too long.
"Then I'll wish you luck in advance, Ash~"
Brock's Rock-type Gym wasn't known for being difficult—many beginners set it as their first target.
After seeing Ash defeat Paul, Yumi had no doubt he had the ability.
He should be able to win without much trouble.
"Thanks."
Ash returned her good wishes with a sincere smile.
They chatted idly for a while longer.
The clock on the Pokémon Center's wall silently ticked toward midnight.
A gentle announcement tone came over the speakers, reminding Trainers to be mindful of the rest hours.
"It's getting late—we should turn in for the night~"
The three of them parted ways, heading to their respective rooms.
The Pokémon Center provided different accommodations depending on a Trainer's rank.
The higher the rank, the better the privileges.
Ash, now a High-rank Trainer like Yumi, was entitled to a fairly nice single suite.
It was a recognition of both his strength and his status.
Just before they separated, Yumi hesitated.
Her steps slowed, fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.
Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she seemed to start speaking several times before finally taking a deep breath and asking:
"Ash… um, do you have any special requirements for a travel companion?"
Her eyes sparkled, filled with both anticipation and a hint of nervousness.
Ash answered straightforwardly:
"Not really. Yumi, are you thinking about joining me?"
That was as close to an open invitation as it got.
He wasn't oblivious—of course he could see what Yumi was getting at.
And he thought she was great—good personality, good character.
She could make a fine new teammate.
But Yumi's concerns lay elsewhere.
"Of course I want to!"
Her eyes lit up instantly at his words.
But then they dimmed again.
She shook her head, her smile tinged with regret.
"To be honest, Ash, you've seen it—I already have a team. If I quit now, I'd be letting down the two people I recruited."
She truly wanted to travel with him.
But she wasn't the type to just walk away.
Even if her exploration team hadn't been together long and had no major accomplishments, she'd still hand-picked her two partners.
She couldn't simply abandon them.
"I see…"
Ash regarded her seriously.
Responsibility and loyalty were written clearly across her young but determined face.
She wanted to join him, but she couldn't break the commitments she'd already made.
That was something worth respecting.
"Then I'll see you at the Indigo League!"
Ash extended his hand to her.
He'd already stated his goal: the Indigo League Conference, held once a year—the grand stage all Trainers in Kanto dreamed of reaching.
It was the target for many Trainer teams.
"Yeah!"
At those words, Yumi's eyes lit up again, her disappointment replaced by the fire of determination.
With the respect of a rival and the expectation of a friend, she shook his hand firmly.
"I'll get the remaining badges within this month! When the time comes, don't go easy on me!"
Ash's eyes reflected the same mutual respect as he smiled back.
"Of course!"
They shared a laugh.
The air between them was filled with promises for the future and the friendly tension of rivalry.
…
Not far away.
Leaf watched the handshake full of mutual understanding and promises.
Her eyes were a little blank, her emotions a swirl of different flavors.
Sure, she feared Yumi joining might mean more competition for Ash's attention.
But after spending the day together, Leaf realized Yumi was actually an outstanding Trainer.
As a teammate, she'd be more than qualified.
And even though Yumi wasn't joining now, she still had a real shot at standing beside Ash in the near future.
But what about herself?
Average…
She couldn't keep up with Ash's pace at all.
That vast gap between them made Leaf wander out of the Pokémon Center feeling a little lost.
After seeing Ash's strength and influence today, her once-proud self-confidence was shaking.
She'd thought she was a gifted Trainer too—stepping onto her journey would mean a wide, limitless Pokémon world full of possibilities…
So why was the gap between her and Ash so huge?!
Drifting in confusion, Leaf slowly wandered into the forest.
She needed to clear her head.
By now, it was late at night.
The Viridian Forest under moonlight had shed its daytime clamor, revealing a completely different face.
Moonbeams, broken into fragments by thick layers of leaves, scattered across the carpet of fallen foliage.
The surroundings were silent, but not lifeless—rather, they brimmed with hidden vitality.
Nocturnal Pokémon were active here, and the soft breathing of sleeping Pokémon could be heard in the distance.
Leaf walked without a clear direction.
Before she knew it, she'd gone deep inside.
Maybe… it wasn't that she was too ordinary.
Maybe Ash was just too dazzling.
After all, he'd beaten an Elite-rank Trainer on his very first day of traveling.
No one could compare to that.
"Squirtle, we'll just have to work twice as hard."
With that thought, she hugged the Squirtle in her arms and let out a faint sigh.
Catching up to Ash was impossible now. All she could do was keep from falling too far behind.
"Squirtle!"
Squirtle seemed to sense her determination and patted her arm gently with its little paw, as if to comfort her.
But at that moment—
Not far away.
A shadow flickered swiftly past.
[End of Chapter]