"U-Uh, Misty, let me introduce you. These are all friends I met and became acquainted with at Professor Oak's Pokémon Summer Camp."
"This is Shauna. He's Tierno. This is Trevor. And this is Clemont. He's Trevor's cousin and the Gym Leader of Lumiose Gym, the city's Electric-type Gym. And this should be Clemont's younger sister, Bonnie."
Holding Misty and Clarissa's hands as they followed the flow of passengers out of the airport, Ash reunited with the friends who had come to pick them up and took the initiative to introduce the two girls beside him.
"Nice to meet you! I'm Bonnie. Ash-kun, thank you for the gift you gave me last time. The little shell-shaped shoulder bag is really cute. I love it!"
Clemont's energetic little sister, Bonnie, immediately greeted Ash with a bright smile.
Shauna, Trevor, Tierno, and the others had previously traveled to Kanto as exchange students to participate in Professor Oak's Pokémon Summer Camp. They had already met and spent time together in person.
As for Clemont, Ash had already interacted with him extensively.
Previously, Ash had asked Clemont for help teaching Pikachu the move Electroweb.
Then, half a year ago, when Ash wanted to learn Aura Sphere, he had once again borrowed Clemont's help.
He had also contacted Clemont's father, Meyer, through Clemont and borrowed his Blaziken.
Although Ash and Clemont had never actually met face-to-face before today, they had frequently video-called one another and had become quite familiar.
As for Clemont's younger sister Bonnie, Ash's impression of her was still largely based on the anime from his previous life.
He had also occasionally seen her appear on camera during his video calls with Clemont.
The last time Ash had gone shopping for souvenirs for his friends in Cerulean City, he had bought Clemont a steam-punk-style Clauncher model.
At the same time, he had also picked out a small light-yellow shell-shaped shoulder bag for Bonnie.
Now that they had finally met in person, Bonnie had personally thanked him for the gift.
This naturally made Ash's impression of the little girl even better.
"No need to thank me, Bonnie. I'm glad you like it."
"Misty, Clarissa, as for this person... I don't think I need to introduce her, do I?"
After introducing everyone, Ash finally turned everyone's attention toward Serena.
Compared with the timid and shy girl who had attended Professor Oak's Summer Camp half a year ago, Serena had changed considerably.
Ash had deliberately guided her during the summer camp.
And over the past six months, she had devoted herself wholeheartedly to studying and training as a Pokémon Performer and Pokémon Coordinator.
Although Serena still retained a trace of shyness, overall, her personality had become much more cheerful and confident than before.
At the very least, she was no longer afraid of strangers.
"Nice to meet you, Misty. Nice to meet you, Clarissa. I'm Serena. It's a pleasure to meet you~"
Although Serena was no longer afraid of strangers, she was still somewhat nervous during this first meeting.
After all, the people standing before her weren't ordinary strangers.
They were both Ash's girlfriends.
Misty and Clarissa felt nervous as well.
"U-Um... you don't have to be so formal."
"Exactly. I'm only one month older than you, Serena. You don't have to be so polite. Just call me Misty."
Although this was their first meeting, Serena wasn't the only one who felt awkward.
Misty and Clarissa were also somewhat uneasy inside.
After all, Serena had known Ash first and had entered a relationship with him first.
Yet after returning to Kalos following the conclusion of Professor Oak's Summer Camp, Misty and Clarissa had subsequently gotten together with Ash.
So, now that the three girls had suddenly come face-to-face, both Clarissa and Misty felt a faint sense of guilt—as though they had unknowingly taken someone else's place.
But after exchanging a few polite words, the three girls gradually sensed the nervousness and awkwardness hidden in one another's expressions and voices.
Serena: "..."
Clarissa: "..."
Misty: "..."
Misty: "..."
The three girls looked at one another.
Then, almost simultaneously, they smiled.
The previously stiff and awkward atmosphere instantly melted away.
And when they looked at one another again, there was already a hint of intimacy and friendliness that hadn't been there moments earlier.
"..."
"..."
Ash finished introducing everyone, and both sides exchanged greetings.
Since everyone was around the same age, they quickly became familiar with one another through casual conversation and laughter.
The main reason Ash had specifically traveled all the way to the Kalos region this time was to celebrate the birthday of his long-distance girlfriend, Serena.
And Serena's birthday was tomorrow.
Today, however, their flight had arrived at Lumiose International Airport at 5:40 PM, when the sun was already setting.
After chatting outside the airport for a while, the time quickly approached six o'clock.
November was already under the winter schedule, with shorter days and longer nights.
By six in the evening, darkness had already completely fallen.
Moreover, traveling from Lumiose City to Vaniville Town, where Serena's home was located, required nearly forty minutes even by the regularly scheduled minibus.
It seemed they wouldn't be able to make it back to Vaniville Town tonight.
They would have to stay at a hotel in Lumiose City for one night and return to Vaniville Town tomorrow morning.
...
Clemont and Bonnie came from a single-parent family.
Their only family member was their father, Meyer.
Although Clemont was a talented Electric-type Trainer from Lumiose City and the Gym Leader of Lumiose Gym, his family home wasn't particularly large.
According to Clemont and Bonnie, apart from the storefront occupied by their electrical repair shop, the residential area behind it consisted of only three bedrooms and one living room.
If Ash, Clarissa, and Misty were the only guests coming over, they could probably squeeze into Clemont and Bonnie's rooms for the night.
But if Serena, Shauna, Tierno, and Trevor were added to the group as well...
There was simply no way everyone could fit.
Therefore, Ash and the others simply decided to stay at a hotel together.
Ash used his phone to book several suites at a nearby luxury hotel.
Only then did the group hail a taxi and head toward Clemont's home.
"I'm back!"
The moment Ash and the others pushed open the door of the electrical repair shop, a mouthwatering aroma of food immediately greeted them.
"Dad, what are we having for dinner tonight? We have guests today!"
Bonnie happily walked into the shop.
Hearing her voice, Meyer came out of the kitchen.
The man was tall, broad, and powerfully built.
Yet the moment Ash saw him wearing a pink apron covered in strawberry patterns, the intimidating figure instantly became rather comical.
"Clemont, Bonnie, you're back! Did you manage to pick up all your friends?"
Standing at the kitchen doorway, Meyer held a bunch of green onions in one hand and curiously asked his children the question.
"Hello, Uncle Meyer."
"Thank you very much for helping me learn Aura Sphere last time. And please thank your Blaziken for me as well."
As Clemont and Bonnie entered the house and Meyer emerged from the kitchen, Ash politely greeted him.
"Ash, you're here! There's no need to thank me."
"Being able to learn Aura Sphere from Blaziken was the result of your own hard work. I didn't really do anything."
Trevor: "Uncle~"
"Alright, alright..."
"Nobody needs to be so formal."
"It's snowing outside, and it's getting cold. Everyone, come inside and sit down."
The warm atmosphere of the little electrical repair shop instantly became lively as everyone entered.
After spending more than half a year apart, Ash had finally reunited with his friends from Kalos.
And tonight, surrounded by familiar faces, laughter, delicious food, and three girls who now shared an unexpectedly complicated connection with him, the evening was bound to be anything but ordinary.
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T/N:
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