As the buses roared to life one by one, the air was filled with waves, shouts, and final goodbyes. Akg stood by, watching as Serena, Korrina, and Chloe boarded their respective buses. The three girls looked back at him, waving with teary smiles. Akg waved back, giving them a soft but confident smile—one that silently promised, "We'll meet again."
"Goodbye, Akg!" Serena called out through the window.
"Don't forget your promise!" Korrina shouted, her voice firm but trembling.
Chloe simply smiled, eyes a little misty, and mouthed, "Thank you."
As their buses pulled away, Akg stood still for a moment longer before boarding his own, heading back to Pallet Town. The seat beside him was shared by Gary and Ash. While Ash looked straight ahead with his arms crossed, focused as always on Pokémon, Gary glanced at Akg, grinning.
"Well, well," Gary teased, "someone looks sad leaving his girlfriends behind."
Akg kept his eyes on the window, the reflections of the trees passing by blurring his thoughts. Then he smiled calmly and replied, "Oh my, someone's just jealous because they didn't have any girls chasing after them."
Gary chuckled, leaning back. "Touché."
Ash raised an eyebrow, uninterested in the topic. "Tch. Whatever. I'm only here for Pokémon, not silly stuff like that."
The bus continued rolling down the road, filled with quiet chatter and a peaceful hum. Akg leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes for a moment, thinking of the memories he had made—of Rena, of the fierce battle with Gyarados, of the bond he shared with the girls. A warm smile tugged at his lips.
Meanwhile, on the bus to the airport, Serena and Korrina sat side by side, their heads resting against the window.
"I still can't believe it's over," Serena murmured. "This summer felt like a dream."
"I know," Korrina said, sighing. "I'm gonna miss Chloe... and Akg too. It was so fun being all together."
Serena nodded, then whispered, "He really made this summer unforgettable."
The two shared a soft laugh, lost in the sweet memories, holding onto the hope that fate would bring them together again someday.
In the bus heading to Vermilion City, Chloe sat quietly by the window, her cheek resting against the glass. The cityscape and countryside flickered past her eyes, but her thoughts were elsewhere. Unlike before, she wasn't lonely. Not anymore. She had friends—real friends she could trust. A smile spread across her face.
"I'll see them again," she whispered to herself. "I know I will."
Back in Akg's bus, the ride was calm, filled with a quiet harmony. Though the road ahead was long, the bond they formed in that one unforgettable summer was unbreakable. Akg stared out the window one last time, whispering in his heart:
"Wait for me, Serena… Korrina… Chloe. "