The noisy dinner stopped and everyone fell into a deep sleep.
The bright moonlight reflects on the blue sea, making the night as bright as day.
The entire sailboat glowed blue.
Xiaozhi drank too much water during the day and got up to go to the toilet in the middle of the night. He passed by the deck and was helped to lean against the edge of the boat. The girl's quiet back attracted his attention.
"It's so late, why don't you go to bed?"
Xiaozhi gradually increased the volume of his stomping to avoid startling the other party suddenly, and asked in a gentle voice before approaching.
Xiaoxi's slender back paused, and the beautiful girl's face turned slightly to the side, revealing a somewhat far-fetched smile, "Xiaozhi, you can't sleep either?"
"Are you worried?"
Xiaozhi did not answer her question directly. Feeling that the other party was in a bad mood, he leaned against the edge of the boat next to her, looked at the calm sea, and asked back.
The stream lowered its head in silence, staring at the horizon in a daze.
The awkward atmosphere lasted for a while. Xiaozhi rubbed his brows with a headache and said, "Are you unhappy because I defeated Mr. Genji?"
"Nonsense, I wouldn't do that!" Xiaoxi quickly turned around and explained.
She didn't want to be misunderstood as a stingy girl, especially when the other person was Xiaozhi.
"So you're frustrated by my excellence?" Xiaozhi couldn't help but continue teasing her when he saw her finally speak.
But this time, the stream fell silent again, looking a little lonely, and somewhat sad under the moonlight.
His heart moved, and he was a little surprised and said, "Are you really hit by me?"
Xiaoxi nodded, then shook her head. Her current state was very different from before. There was no trace of her previous straightforwardness and strength in her.
Instead, it looks a bit like a wounded kitten, which makes people feel sympathetic.
"In the past, my parents were not around, and I was raised by my grandfather." Xiaoxi suddenly spoke with drooping eyelids.
"Although Grandpa and Brother Liang Guang are very kind to me, and Uncle Adu often brings gifts to visit me, when I grow up, I still can't help but ask where my parents are."
Xiaozhi listened quietly and couldn't help but recall his father, whom he had no memory of since childhood. He felt more distressed for his mother Hanako.
In fact, people, whether adults or children, are most haunted by the knife of emotions and the tomb of loneliness.
After the Caiyou Conference is over, I'll stay at home for a while.
Xiaozhi thought so.
"When I grew up, I realized that my parents were not busy and didn't come back to see me, but disappeared when they went to explore other areas..."
Xiaoxi paused after saying this.
Xiaozhi couldn't help but ask, "Are uncle and auntie Pokémon researchers?"
Seeing her nod, Xiaozhi continued with emotion, "They must love this job, right?"
Although he didn't think this was fair to Xiaoxi, and from what she described, the Tsundere girl was quite young at that time.
What reason is there to entrust your baby to the care of your elders and go to work far away?
But it seems...
This kind of situation happened quite often in my previous life and in this world.
"Because my mother is from Kanto, she is Uncle A'du's sister. The Grand Duke of the Yulong Clan didn't seem to agree with my mother and father being together at the beginning."
"It was my grandfather who had just been promoted to one of the Four Heavenly Kings who brought them to the Fengyuan area and gave birth to me."
"But in order to make the Dragon Clan agree with their choice, Mom and Dad worked so hard to contribute to the elf research."
To put it bluntly, even if Mr. Genji rose from humble beginnings, he was still not a good match for him in the eyes of the Yulong clan.
This is why Mr. Genji, despite being one of the Four Heavenly Kings, semi-hidden behind the scenes, often sailing on the sea and rarely caring about worldly affairs.
It seems that no matter which world they are in, families among the upper class are never so harmonious and happy.
"So I have a dream. One day in the future I want to become the champion master of Fengyuan area, and then prove with facts that my parents' original choice was correct." There was a light in Xiaoxi's stubborn eyes.
"It's not a big problem. After all, I am the man who is going to be a Pokémon master." Xiaozhi blinked and smiled, "It's not shameful for the future champion master of Fengyuan region to lose to me."
Xiaoxi was startled and burst out laughing, "You are so shameless."
This smile lightened the gloomy atmosphere a little.
"So, Xiaozhi..."
Xiaoxi said with reluctance, "I may have to stay and continue studying with Grandpa, and I can't travel with you."
Xiaozhi was stunned for a moment, and she explained, "After watching your battle with Grandpa today, I felt that I still need to work harder. I hope that one day, I can be as powerful as you, and then..."
The girl's eyes suddenly became firm, and a bright blush appeared on her cheeks. "When that time comes, can I travel with you?"
As the moonlight shines down, the girl's feelings are revealed for the first time, and her rosy cheeks are so charming.
Xiaoxi, who hadn't waited for a long time for an answer, felt a little disappointed, and then she heard Xiaozhi say, "No problem!"
Even though he lacks experience, he can understand the other person's intentions. If there is a chance in the future, they will be good partners for traveling together.
"Well, let me introduce myself again. My name is Xiaozhi, the tsundere girl." Xiaozhi smiled and stretched out his hand.
Xiaoxi raised her head, showed a bright smile, and then hummed, "My name is Yuan Xiaoxi, remember it well, Xiaozhi!"
"Haha, after that, we'll see each other at the Caiyou Conference."
"Just wait, I will definitely defeat you!"
"Okay, okay, I'll be waiting, the future Fengyuan champion master~"
"You are such a nuisance to children."
The two chatted until the white morning light rose from the horizon. Finally, Xiaozhi, whose eyelids were fighting, couldn't help but say hello to her and went back to the cabin to rest.
Xiaoxi stared at his leaving back in a trance.
She didn't know since when this boy had entered her heart. She always thought of him when she was happy or sad.
Maybe it was because of his tolerance and comfort towards me when we first met.
It may also be that when facing an evil organization, he always leaves the rear to himself and stands alone in the front, and that figure is engraved in his eyes.
(Xiaozhi: I am guilty. I just wanted to collect points.)
If Xiaoxi hadn't had a lot on her mind after watching the battle today, she probably wouldn't have been willing to give up the opportunity to travel with Xiaozhi.
Hidden in the exit of the deck, Genji leaned against the wall, took a long sigh, and finally left the place with a smile.
…
When they left the next day, everyone was very surprised to hear that Xiaoxi was going to stay, especially Xiaoyao, who had an unstoppable look of disappointment on her face.
Finally, after agreeing to meet again at the Saiyou Conference, Xiaozhi and the others said goodbye to Mr. Genji and Xiaoxi and continued their journey to the eighth gym.
In order to save time, they planned to take a boat across the inland sea and first go to Priga City on Izabe Island to participate in the magnificent competition that would be held there.