This was the first time Roxanne had ever proactively invited a man to stay at her home.
Although May was still present, it did not make the event feel any less special to Roxanne. Her life until now had been neat, orderly, and almost never interrupted by unexpected situations. She was used to busy mornings at the Rustboro Gym, afternoons spent studying documents and training Pokémon, and quiet evenings alone.
Yet today, she unexpectedly invited Alex—a young man she had just met for the first time—to come to her house.
What surprised Roxanne even more was Alex's somewhat "thick-skinned" acceptance of the invitation. But the truth was, Roxanne didn't spend much time analyzing the meaning behind his behavior. Her mind was simply focused on one thing: Alex gave her the impression of a Pokémon trainer who was both wise and strong, someone with whom conversations and exchanges could help her learn a lot more.
Besides, she thought that if Alex stayed, they could continue discussing some of the concepts he had mentioned earlier the next morning.
Therefore, she made the offer for Alex and May to stay at her place.
May was extremely sleepy at this point. She had been on the move and training for several days straight, not to mention the intense battle in the afternoon against Roxanne herself had almost completely drained her energy. Her eyelids felt heavy, and all she needed was a soft bed to fall asleep instantly.
Leaning slightly on Alex's arm, May said in a sleepy voice, almost yawning aloud, "Alex, maybe we should go to Roxanne's house and rest tonight."
"Would that be convenient?" Alex hesitated slightly, his eyes flickering toward Roxanne.
Although he had just met Roxanne for the first time, he understood that a man staying overnight at a woman's house could cause unpleasant rumors. He did not want his actions to unintentionally affect her reputation.
"It's very convenient. I usually live in the backyard of the gym, so it will be fine," Roxanne replied naturally, her eyes showing generosity and not a hint of concern.
Hearing that, Alex no longer hesitated. Indeed, finding a hotel at this hour was not easy. He nodded gently and said straightforwardly, "Then, thank you for your kindness, Roxanne."
"Let's go," Roxanne smiled and walked ahead to lead the way.
Alex and May followed behind. While walking, Roxanne bit her lip softly as a thought flashed through her mind, warming her cheeks: Was she being a bit "thick-skinned"? Although she wondered, deep inside she felt that her action was completely reasonable.
The backyard of the Rustboro Gym was Roxanne's private living space. This area was much quieter than the front, surrounded by green trees and a clean stone-paved path leading directly to the wooden door of the house. Many gym leaders chose to live near or even inside the gym premises for convenience in managing and caring for everything daily.
"We're here, please come in." Roxanne opened the door, slightly bowing to let Alex and May pass.
Inside, the house was so clean and tidy that there wasn't a speck of dust anywhere. Warm yellow light reflected off wooden bookshelves filled with research materials about Pokémon, from ancient books to the latest scientific journals. The living room strongly reflected the personality of someone who loved knowledge and lived with discipline.
"May, you can sleep here tonight." Roxanne guided May—who was nearly closing her eyes—into a small but cozy room with a neatly made bed covered with pure white sheets. She carefully pulled the blanket and prepared the pillow for May.
"Thank you, Roxanne." May gave a weak smile, took off her jacket, lay down, and fell into a deep sleep within seconds.
"Alex, this way please." Roxanne turned back and led him to another guest room. This room was simpler, with only one bed, a wooden wardrobe, and a window overlooking a small garden. She opened the wardrobe and took out blankets and bed linens, preparing them just as she had for May.
Alex immediately stepped forward and gently accepted from her hands, "I'm really sorry. Roxanne, you've kindly allowed me to stay, and I can't thank you enough. But I can do some simple chores like making the bed."
Roxanne smiled and nodded lightly, "Alex, I will trouble you then."
"It's no trouble at all, Roxanne. Please go rest."
After showing Alex where the bathroom was, Roxanne returned to her own room.
That night was unusually quiet. The gentle wind rustled through the garden trees, and the soft chirping of insects created a soothing background sound.
Alex maintained his habit of waking early, but when he opened his door, he was surprised to find Roxanne already in the kitchen, deftly preparing breakfast. She wore a loose T-shirt printed with a little bear, long enough to almost cover her pajama pants. The morning light streamed through the window, enveloping her slender figure and making the scene feel both warm and intimately comfortable.
Hearing footsteps, Roxanne turned and smiled a greeting: "Good morning, Alex."
"Good morning, Roxanne." Alex smiled back, glancing briefly at the frying pan with eggs on the stove. "Making breakfast?"
"Just started," Roxanne said, skillfully flipping the eggs with practiced movements of someone used to cooking.
"Let me help you." Alex stepped closer, reaching out as if to take the spatula.
"No, how could I let a guest do that?" Roxanne was a little surprised but her eyes remained gentle.
"Roxanne, since you kindly let me stay, I'm very grateful. I'd feel guilty if I didn't do anything. I usually cook at home, so leave this to me." Alex said firmly yet politely.
Hearing that, Roxanne did not refuse. The two began working together naturally, as if they had known each other for a long time. Roxanne washed vegetables and cut bread; Alex fried eggs and seasoned them precisely.
While Roxanne was washing dishes with cool water, she suddenly asked, "Alex, exactly what does the stepped neural system you talked about with Professor Oak yesterday refer to?"
Alex, arranging the plates, replied naturally, "Neurons gradually cluster toward the front to form a 'brain,' and some longitudinal nerves branch from the back of the brain. There are transverse nerves connecting the longitudinal ones…"
The terms he used were quite specialized, causing Roxanne to concentrate hard to keep up. She tilted her head slightly, her brows furrowed as she tried to imagine the structure Alex described.
Seeing this, Alex smiled and simplified his explanation: "The stepped neural system mainly describes Bug-type Pokémon. In their larval stage, to avoid predators, their brains delegate thinking abilities to different body parts. This helps their bodies quickly react in attack or defense even when injured."
After hearing that, Roxanne nodded slightly, her eyes brightening with understanding. A deep admiration for Alex's profound knowledge and clear communication filled her heart.
The two continued their conversation, question after question, answers opening up more fascinating topics. The morning passed gently, warmly, full of connection. And Roxanne silently thought, her decision to be "thick-skinned" and invite Alex over last night was probably one of her best choices.