May looked at the two people in front of her as they turned and walked out of the laboratory with a smile, then released her Torchic and greeted it.
Chén Nuò and Lillie followed closely behind, watching May, before exchanging an amused smile.
Right at that moment, Ash Ketchum also emerged from the professor's laboratory with Pikachu. Both of them yawned as they stepped outside.
It was clear neither of them had slept very well.
"Is Pikachu all right now?"
May asked first.
"Yeah!"
Ash Ketchum replied.
"That's great!"
With that, May stepped forward and gently stroked Pikachu.
"Pika, pika, pi!"
Pikachu bounded straight over to Torchic and greeted it.
Chén Nuò greeted Ash Ketchum, saying, "Good morning, Ash Ketchum."
"Alola!"
Lillie nodded gracefully from the side.
"Huh, what does Alola mean?"
Ash Ketchum looked puzzled, clearly unfamiliar with the greeting Lillie had used.
"Alola is a greeting used in the Alola region, sort of like saying hello."
Chén Nuò explained with a smile.
"Oh, I see! You said you're from the Alola region?"
Ash Ketchum already knew Chén Nuò and Lillie's names, but he hadn't known where they came from, and now he looked quite surprised.
"Ah, what kind of place is the Alola region?"
May clearly had no idea either.
"It's a very beautiful archipelago. My mother comes from there, and Lillie lives there too. We have our own unique Pokémon there, as well as various regional forms.
Take Pikachu, for instance—we have Pikachu there too, but our Raichu is Electric and Psychic-type.
We also have Ice-type Ninetales, Ice-type Sandslash, and Electric-type Geodude."
Chén Nuò eagerly talked on and on about the Pokémon from his region; after all, Ash Ketchum would surely visit there someday.
"Whoa! There's an Ice-type Ninetales? And an Electric-type Geodude? That is so cool! I definitely have to go visit the Alola region someday!"
Ash Ketchum was utterly astonished, instantly developing a massive amount of enthusiasm and interest in the Alola region.
"You're welcome to come visit anytime. But we don't have Gyms there, nor do we have a Pokémon League. However, some island kahunas can offer you a trial experience."
Chén Nuò wasn't surprised by Ash Ketchum's excitement; Ash Ketchum was always fascinated by Pokémon, so hearing about the wonders of the Alola region would naturally make him want to go see them.
"Wah, that sounds so cool!"
Ash Ketchum expressed high interest.
"Pika-pikachuu!"
Pikachu also looked full of fighting spirit.
"Then Alola welcomes you!"
Lillie chuckled softly from the side.
Within just a short while, the group had hit it off, enthusiastically chatting about their respective hometowns. People from all over, coming from different regions, sat together and chattered away.
***
"The few of you need to head to the Pokémon Center first to register for the Hoenn League."
"The town with the Pokémon Center closest to here is Petalburg City."
Professor Birch and his assistant said to the four of them.
"We know!"
The group chorused in unison.
"Ah, thinking about walking all the way there by myself... I just feel scared. It would be great if I had a bicycle, but mine was already ruined by Pikachu."
May clearly didn't want to walk alone. Besides, she had long since stopped caring about the bicycle—her main goal was to travel together with Ash Ketchum and the others.
"Hey, how about we travel together to Petalburg City?"
May walked closer to Ash Ketchum and said with a bright smile.
"I know the way! Don't worry, you don't have to be polite."
"Let's go together, okay? Right, Pikachu?"
Faced with May's relentless offensive, the clueless Ash Ketchum couldn't hold out at all. She appealed to both emotion and reason—especially since he was the one who broke her bicycle.
Chén Nuò stood nearby, struggling hard to hold back his laughter. He had wanted to laugh when he saw this scene in the anime, and seeing it in real life made it completely impossible to contain.
"Uh? Okay, okay, let's go together!"
Ash Ketchum knew he didn't have much room to refuse; after all, if he refused, he'd have to pay for a bicycle! Where on earth was he supposed to get the money?
"What about you two, Chén Nuò, Lillie?"
May naturally wanted as many people as possible, so she turned to ask them as well.
Chén Nuò hesitated for a fleeting moment. To be honest, he wasn't sure if following Ash Ketchum and the others was the right move. After all, everyone had their own path, and tagging along with Ash Ketchum would probably mean missing out on many of his own opportunities.
"Let's travel together as far as Petalburg City first. After all, doesn't May know the way?"
Lillie spoke up from the side. She could tell that Chén Nuò wanted to set out on his own, but since he found it hard to refuse outright, she stepped in to buy some time for him.
"Oh, yay!"
Seeing her cunning plan succeed, May pumped her fist in the air, thrilled.
"Well then, you guys should do your best!"
"Watch out on the road!"
Professor Birch and his assistant said together.
"Yes, thank you for looking after us."
"We're off!"
"Goodbye!" x4
After saying their farewells, the four of them set off together toward Petalburg City.
***
"Full of courage, full of vitality. Relishing every moment, in high spirits. With our Pokémon Navigators ready, let's go!"
On the road from Littleroot Town to Petalburg City, a boy and a girl walked at the very front, bursting into cheerful song.
Ash Ketchum didn't really know the lyrics, but he hummed along anyway. Only the girl trailing at the very end looked as though all her energy had been drained, dragging herself along like an exhausted zombie.
It completely ruined the mood!
"Hey, wait up you guys!"
Hearing the cheerful singing of the three people ahead—even though it sounded very nice—May had no choice but to interrupt them.
"May, you're walking too slowly!"
Before Chén Nuò could reply, the oblivious Ash Ketchum blurted it out directly.
Chén Nuò couldn't help but palm his face in speechlessness. Even if you aren't going to be considerate of a girl, shouldn't you at least remember that you're the one who wrecked her bicycle? How could you have the nerve to say she's walking too slow?
"What?! Ash Ketchum, you should be the one walking slower!"
Sure enough, upon hearing Ash Ketchum's words, May immediately fired back.
"What are you talking about? At the pace you're walking, it'll be dark by the time we get there."
Ash Ketchum retorted unhappily.
Hearing this, May instantly had a flash of inspiration and muttered under her breath, "Hmph, if only I had a bicycle!"
Hearing those words, Chén Nuò thought to himself, "Sure enough."
"Ah... gulp!"
Ash Ketchum and Pikachu instantly grew awkward.
"Why don't we slow down just a little bit?"
Lillie immediately stepped in with a suggestion, having realized that Ash Ketchum and Pikachu were somewhat lacking in social awareness.
"Ah, right, right, let's slow down a bit!"
Ash Ketchum eagerly seized the chance to back down.
"I knew it!"
May beamed, placing her hands on her hips, thinking to herself that she could use this exact trick on Ash Ketchum for the rest of her life.
Having achieved the outcome she wanted, May happily caught up with the group.