Revisiting Pallet Town, Time Flies

The night breeze of Tokiwa City blew in from the lake, gently brushing against the window and causing the curtains to flutter slightly.

Moonlight shone through the clouds and spilled onto the floor.

Jiang Chuan, a seasoned fan of the Three Kingdoms period, readily played the role of Zhao Zilong of Changshan.

………………

the next day.

The birds outside the window are chattering away.

Jiang Chuan gradually woke up, turned his head, and glanced at the clock on the bedside table.

Jiang Chuan gently lifted the covers and got out of bed.

He walked to the window and pulled back the curtains halfway.

Sunlight streamed in.

The Tokiwa Pond shimmered in the sunlight, like a large, spread-out piece of silver satin.

He stretched and went into the bathroom to wash up.

When they came out, Xiaoxia was still asleep.

She was fast asleep, the blankets were all messed up, and one leg was sticking out from under the blankets and pressing against the blankets.

Jiang Chuan went over and tucked the blanket back into her clothes.

Then I opened the door and went to the next room.

Hanako has already gotten up.

She had changed into a light-colored long dress, and her hair was loosely tied back with a ribbon. She was sitting on a chair by the window drinking tea.

When she saw Jiang Chuan come in, she looked up and smiled.

"woke up?"

"Um."

Jiang Chuan sat down opposite her.

Hanako handed him a cup of hot tea.

Jiang Chuan took it and drank a sip. The tea was fragrant and refreshing, and the warmth slid from his throat all the way to his stomach.

"Where's Xiaoxia?"

"Playing as Snorlax~"

Hanako chuckled softly and took a sip of tea.

"Being young is great."

When she said this, there was a hint of envy in her tone.

Jiang Chuan didn't reply, he just glanced at her.

Hanako always sat with an elegant posture, and even when she had just gotten up, she showed no sign of laziness.

But there was weariness in her eyes.

There was a hint of lingering fatigue hidden in his brows and eyes.

"Didn't sleep well last night?"

Jiang Chuan asked.

Hanako shook her head slightly.

"Slept very well."

She paused, as if remembering something.

"It's just... a little..."

After she finished speaking, a very faint blush appeared on her cheeks.

Jiang Chuan was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening and almost spat out his tea.

He put down his teacup and looked at Hanako with a half-smile.

"Hanako-nee has learned to say things like that too."

Hanako looked away, her ears red, and she didn't say anything.

The two sat for a while.

Around noon, a noise came from the next room.

It was the sound of the bed rubbing together, then footsteps, and then the door opened.

Xiaoxia came out.

She was wearing a light pink nightgown, her hair was messy, one white stocking was on her leg, and the other was bare.

She closed her eyes and stretched out a big yawn.

"Mmm~ It smells so good~"

Her nostrils twitched.

"What smells so good...?"

Jiang Chuan leaned against the door frame, looking at Xiaoxia's disheveled yet adorable appearance, and teased her with a smile.

"Yo."

"Little cabbage, are you awake?"

Xiaoxia heard Jiang Chuan's voice.

She opened her eyes, was startled at first, and then pouted.

The next second, she rushed over and punched Jiang Chuan in the arm.

"You're the one who's a pushover!"

The fist looked heavy, but it felt light as a tickle when it landed on the arm.

Jiang Chuan hissed in agreement, pretending to be in a lot of pain.

"It hurts so much, they broke my arm."

Xiaoxia rolled her eyes and punched him again.

"Stop pretending."

"Bad Jiangchuan."

Hanako watched the two playfully bickering from the sidelines, a gentle smile on her face.

She stood up and said softly, "Okay, let's go eat first."

As soon as Xiaoxia heard about food, she perked up completely.

"Eat! Eat! I want barbecue! And honey water!"

Jiang Chuan rubbed his arm and shook his head with a smile.

Xiaoxia, this girl with superhuman strength, also has a special physique. No matter how tired she is, she can take a long nap and wake up fully refreshed.

This remarkable resilience, unique to young people, is something Hanako truly envies; she always needs two or three days to recover.

The three of them had lunch at the restaurant downstairs from the hotel.

It was called lunch, but it was actually more like afternoon tea.

But nobody paid any attention.

Xiaoxia had a good appetite and ate three bowls of rice, two plates of grilled meat, a vegetable salad, and a pot of honey water.

Jiang Chuan ate quite a lot as well.

Only Hanako ate a little less; it seemed her appetite hadn't fully developed yet.

After finishing their meal, the three of them went back to their room to pack their things.

Jiang Chuan doesn't have much stuff; a travel backpack is enough.

Hanako and Kasumi were also traveling light.

Xiaoxia changed back into her usual clothes.

After packing their things, the three of them went to the front desk to check out.

When I stepped out of the hotel, the sun was shining brightly.

The streets of Tokiwa City shimmered with a thin layer of golden light in the afternoon sun.

Jiangchuan, along with Hanako and Kasumi, headed towards the long-distance bus station in Tokiwa City.

The rest of the itinerary is simple.

Let's go back to Pallet Town first.

Take two days off.

While we're at it, let's go to Professor Oak's lab and see if we can snag anything good from him.

Then, a special training plan was developed to prepare for the Quartz Conference.

Jiang Chuan walked ahead, his steps light and quick.

Xiaoxia and Huazi followed him on either side.

The shadows of the three people were stretched long by the afternoon sun.

Behind them, the Pond of Tokiwa shimmered quietly.

This bustling city has returned to its usual hustle and bustle and tranquility.

And those things hidden in the darkness will not catch up for the time being.

...............

The distance between Joban City and Jinshin Town is neither particularly close nor particularly far.

After passing through the Viridian Forest and walking along a country road, you will arrive.

The forest looks completely different during the day compared to the evening.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the tree canopy, falling to the ground as shimmering gold. Bobo and the Fiery Sparrow hopped about on the branches, while occasionally a few green caterpillars dangled from the branches, swaying slowly.

The air is filled with the fresh scent of grass, trees, and earth; take a breath, and your lungs will feel cool.

In the forest section, Xia, who was afraid of insects, naturally huddled behind Jiang Chuan again.

Hanako and Egawa walked side by side.

By the time we left Viridian Forest, the sun was already setting.

Pallet Town is right in front of us.

The town remains unchanged, lying quietly at the foot of the mountain, with rows of rooftops glowing with a warm orange light in the setting sun.

Hanako stood at the edge of the forest, gazing into the distance towards her own little house. She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

"Ah, you're back again."

Her voice was very soft, as if she were talking to herself, or perhaps to the wind.

Jiang Chuan stood next to her and followed her gaze.

"How does it feel?"

Hanako thought for a moment and smiled.

"When I was at home, I always looked forward to traveling and seeing the world. I always felt like I was going to get moldy from being cooped up in one place all the time."

She paused, her gaze softening.

"Now that I've gone out for a walk and come back, I feel... this place is actually quite nice."

She turned her head to look at Jiang Chuan, a glimmer of light in her eyes.

"With you all here, anywhere feels like home."

Jiang Chuan didn't say anything, but simply reached out and gently rubbed the back of her head.

Hanako closed her eyes, like a cat whose fur had been stroked.

Xiaoxia, growing impatient, turned around, cupped her hands to her mouth, and shouted, "You two, stop dawdling! I want water! I want to take a shower! I want to sit on the sofa!"

Jiang Chuan burst out laughing.

"Here it comes, here it comes."

The three walked through the alleys of Pallet Town, heading towards Hanako's house.

Hanako's little house is still the same as she remembers it.

The courtyard walls are white, the wooden doors are dark brown, and the flowering trees in the yard have already bloomed, with light pink petals scattered all over the ground, like a soft carpet laid in front of the door.

Hanako pushed open the courtyard gate, paused for two seconds at the entrance, then turned to look at Jiangchuan and Xiaoxia, gesturing for them to enter.

"Welcome to my humble abode."

She smiled, her eyes brimming with tenderness.

"Today I am the host, and you are the guests. You must follow my instructions."

Xiaoxia giggled and was the first to rush in.

"Hanako-nee's house is my house, so I won't stand on ceremony!"

Jiang Chuan followed her inside and whispered in Hanako's ear, "Am I a guest too?"

Hanako glanced at him, said nothing, but her ears turned slightly red.

The furnishings inside the house were basically unchanged from when I left.

The small green plant was still on the shoe cabinet in the entryway, its leaves plump and growing even more lush than before I left.

Hanako bent down and took out several pairs of slippers from the shoe cabinet, arranging them neatly on the floor.

"Change your shoes first."

Xiaoxia kicked off her shoes, put on slippers, and then ran into the living room.

Wow~

She stood in the middle of the living room, turned around, and looked around.

"Hanako-nee, your home is so cozy!"

The living room wasn't big, but it was kept very clean.

A light beige fabric sofa was placed against the wall, with several hand-knitted blankets draped over it, their colors simple and soft.

A checkered tablecloth was laid on the coffee table, and in the center was a rough ceramic vase with a few wilted flowers in it.

The curtains were a warm yellow, half-drawn, and the setting sun shone through the gaps, bathing the entire living room in a lazy, languid hue.

Hanako walked over and, somewhat embarrassed, smoothed her hair.

"It was all just something I casually arranged before, I didn't really do anything about it."

Xiaoxia leaned closer to the vase and smelled it, then turned around and said, "You call this barely done? I'd love to stay here forever!"

Hanako was embarrassed by the praise and smiled shyly with her head down.

At that moment, Eevee, Pikachu, and Togepi appeared on the living room floor.

Eevee turned its little head and looked around, its pink nose twitched a few times, then it called out "Eevee, Eevee!" twice, and with a kick of its four short legs, it jumped directly onto the sofa.

It circled the sofa twice, found the corner by the window, and then "plop" lay down.

That was its favorite spot in the house when it first came here.

It still remembers after all this time.

Eevee rested its chin on its front paws, its eyes squinting comfortably, its tail lazily sweeping across the sofa.

Pikachu stood still, tilting its head to look at Eevee.

Eevee opened its eyes and gently patted the spot next to it with its tail.

"Eevee, Eevee."

The meaning couldn't be clearer.

Pikachu's ears twitched, and it jumped up and lay down next to Eevee.

Eevee shifted its little bottom to the side, making room for Pikachu. The two little guys squeezed together, looking like a pair of fluffy little dumplings.

After Pikachu lay down, it turned its head to look at Togepi, who was still hopping around on the floor, and stretched out its little paw to pat the sofa on the other side of itself.

"Pikachu Pikachu".

Pokobi tilted its little head back; it was too short to jump onto the sofa.

Jiang Chuan smiled, raised his hand, and gently sent it up using his superpower.

As soon as Togepi touched the sofa, it rolled half a circle with a "Poke Poke" sound, and then, just like Eevee and Pikachu, tilted its little head and comfortably sank into the soft sofa cushions.

The three little guys lined up in a row, like three little salted fish sunbathing.

Xiaoxia returned from the kitchen and, seeing the scene, put her hands on her hips and laughed, scolding, "Hey, hey, hey, you three really know how to enjoy yourselves! We haven't even sat down yet, and you've already chosen your seats!"

Eevee lifted its eyelids, glanced at Misty, and lazily wagged the tip of its tail.

That expression was the epitome of a proud little person saying, "This is my home."

Hanako peeked out from the kitchen with a smile: "Stop fooling around, you guys go wash your hands first, I'll tidy up a bit. What would you like to eat tonight? I'll treat you to something nice."

Upon hearing the words "What to eat?", Xiaoxia's fist instantly loosened.

Like a puppy that has caught the scent of food, she quickly made her way to the kitchen doorway, her eyes sparkling.

"I want seafood cream stew!"

"I also want to pan-fry fish fillets!"

"And those honey-glazed chicken wings that Hanako-nee made last time!"

"Oh, and vegetable soup too!"

"Dessert... I want crème brûlée!"

She counted on her fingers, becoming more and more excited as she spoke.

Jiang Chuan leaned back on the sofa, watching Xiaoxia recount the story with such familiarity, and couldn't help but laugh.

"You're going to eat so much?"

Xiaoxia nodded vigorously: "Of course! You can't miss any of the dishes that Sister Huazi makes!"

Jiang Chuan looked her up and down, his gaze lingering on her lower abdomen.

"Before Sakura left, she specifically told me to take care of your diet."

He raised an eyebrow, his tone playful.

"Feel your abs, aren't they almost gone?"

Xiaoxia was startled and subconsciously looked down at her stomach.

Her skin was so white it practically glowed, and her waistline was still incredibly toned.

But upon closer inspection, it does indeed have a slightly softer, fleshier feel than before.

Those two once clear and sharp abs have now faded, like a faint trace left on a beach after the tide has gone out.

Xiaoxia blushed, quickly put down her clothes, and covered her stomach with both hands.

"W-Where's my little belly?! You're mistaken!"

She glared at Jiang Chuan, then quickly glanced at her own stomach.

"Besides, once we get back to Hanako-nee's house, how can we not have a good meal? It would be such a waste of energy walking all this way!"

She became more and more self-righteous as she spoke, puffing out her chest and adopting an attitude of "I'll eat what I want, and nobody can tell me what to do."

"Aren't you going to have special training later? I'll train with you! I'm sure I can get back on track!"

Jiang Chuan didn't expose her again, but just smiled and shook his head.

"Okay, you make a good point."

He stood up from the sofa, walked to Xiaoxia's side, and suddenly reached out and gently pinched her soft waist.

Xiaoxia jumped away as if she had been electrocuted.

"Ah! What are you doing!"

She clutched her waist, her face flushed red to the roots of her ears.

Jiang Chuan looked completely innocent: "Let me check your training results."

Xiaoxia was so angry that she ground her teeth and grabbed a cushion from the sofa and threw it at him.

Jiang Chuan tilted his head, and the cushion flew past his shoulder, hit the wall, and bounced softly to the ground.

Hanako, wearing an apron and holding a spatula, stood at the kitchen doorway, watching the two playfully bickering with a smile.

Her outfit today, combined with the warm lighting in her home, made her seem to glow.

"Alright, alright, go outside if you want to cause trouble. I'm going to start cooking now, who wants to help me?"

"I!"

Xiaoxia was the first to raise her hand.

"Me! Me! I'm the best at peeling potatoes!"

Jiang Chuan also strolled over slowly.

"Then I'll chop the vegetables."

Hanako smiled and nodded at the two of them.