"I didn't expect it to be almost morning already."
Standing on the scenic beach of Rustboro City, Hakuya gazed out at the boundless ocean before him, sighing unconsciously.
The horizon was still bathed in a deep blue haze, but the morning mist was receding beyond the sea level as time passed.
Suddenly, several blue-and-white shadows swooped down diagonally from where the sea met the sky—they were Wingull. The one in the lead tucked in its crescent-like wings and dove, only to gracefully pull up the instant it was about to touch the surface, kicking up a trail of fine water droplets.
At this moment, the sun hadn't fully risen yet. Only a faint, almost imperceptible golden rim could be vaguely seen beyond the coastline.
"Thank goodness for the super-strong physique I forged in the randomized world. Otherwise, I really wouldn't have been able to handle this."
Hakuya felt a bit fortunate right now.
He hadn't really rested since yesterday morning.
First, he explored the ancient ruins with Steven and Roxanne in the morning, engaging in a firefight against Team Aqua and Team Magma who had arrived a step ahead. Then, upon learning the news of the Giant Rock's activation and the awakening of Primal Kyogre and Primal Groudon, he rode the little jet plane non-stop to the Sky Pillar.
After battling Zinnia and having Latias learn [Dragon Ascent], it was time for his battle against Primal Kyogre and Primal Groudon. Combined with the final burst of the Bond Phenomenon he activated alongside Floragato, his physical and mental stamina had been massively drained. If it weren't for his prior training in Randomized Emerald, he probably would have followed in the footsteps of the Pokémon Adventures manga's Steven long ago.
Turning his head, Hakuya saw several busy figures not far away.
Steven, Wallace, Lance, and Roxanne were currently handling the post-battle cleanup and recovery work.
—Affected by the shockwaves of the battle between Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre earlier, Rustboro City had lost the splendor of a major metropolis. Many buildings had been reduced to rubble by the blazing fires and torrential rain, requiring coordinating personnel for restoration efforts.
However, as a free agent unaffiliated with the League, it wasn't appropriate for him to get involved right now.
Professional matters should be left to professionals.
"Mhm... It's truly wonderful that there were zero casualties in the end."
Thanks to Roxanne's timely dispatch and arrangements before the battle, the Rustboro City Officer Jenny police force organized an emergency evacuation of the citizens immediately. Therefore, even though this massive city suffered a considerable degree of destruction, there were absolutely no civilian casualties or injuries.
Having nothing left to do and feeling completely relaxed all over, Hakuya stretched his back, a comfortable expression appearing on his face.
After all, facing the ocean and admiring the impending sunrise was a truly refreshing and uplifting experience.
So much so that he couldn't help but close his eyes, quietly enjoying the feeling of the sea breeze blowing against his face.
"Mr. Hakuya, so this is where you went~"
An unknown amount of time later, a soft, sweet female voice suddenly entered Hakuya's ears.
When Hakuya turned his head and opened his eyes, a young girl as gentle and sweet as her voice naturally came into view.
Having changed into a clean academy uniform, Roxanne folded her hands in front of her stomach and bowed slightly.
She had come to express her gratitude once again.
If it weren't for Hakuya, the interception battle against Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre absolutely wouldn't have ended so easily. The towns along the way would have suffered even more destruction, and there might have even been casualties.
If it weren't for Hakuya, she might have also been severely injured by those terrifying flames during the battle against Primal Groudon...
Therefore, Roxanne bent her waist, bowed slightly, and once again expressed the thanks in her heart.
"Thank you, Mr. Hakuya. Although I think I probably already thanked you during the battle with Primal Groudon... whether it's for protecting Rustboro City or for saving my life, I want to thank you again."
"Don't worry about it. It was no big deal."
Hakuya waved his hand, indicating there was absolutely no need to be so polite.
"Intercepting Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre was purely because I wanted to witness the strength of the two super-ancient Pokémon for myself. I also didn't want to see Rustboro City senselessly caught in the crossfire and destroyed by their battle. So please, Ms. Roxanne, there's no need to be so formal."
Having said that, Hakuya crossed his arms behind his head and teased lightly.
"As for saving your life, I imagine no one could just stand by and do nothing when seeing someone as cute as you in danger, Ms. Roxanne, right? Just like my reason for wanting to protect Rustboro City earlier, it's just basic human nature."
Indeed, he wasn't lying.
Setting aside the fact that Ms. Roxanne was indeed very cute in his eyes, just the colleague relationship they had built over the past week meant he wouldn't have chosen to stand idly by during such a critically dangerous moment.
"Ah..."
Looking at Hakuya's sincere, unfeigned eyes, Roxanne blanked out.
Being praised so bluntly, even this young teacher—who usually prided herself on her steady and calm personality—instantly flushed red. Her shoulders trembled slightly, and she instinctively buried her head in her chest like an ostrich.
When she finally managed to compose her emotions and lift her head, she found that Hakuya had already closed his eyes again, facing the ocean.
After all, it was just a tease to tell Roxanne not to put too much weight on his help. Hakuya naturally didn't mind her reaction. Facing the sea with his eyes closed, he quickly moved past the topic on his own.
Feeling slightly disappointed, Roxanne didn't say anything more. Her gaze simply lingered on Hakuya's face.
At this moment, the sun fully leaped out from the sea and the clouds. The rosy light illuminated the sea surface, making it sparkle and shimmer.
The golden sunlight covered Hakuya's entire body, as if inlaying a shining golden rim around him.
The sun had risen.
Even Roxanne, who had grown up in Rustboro City since childhood and was accustomed to seeing the sunrise over the sea, opened her mouth slightly, speechless.
Beautiful scenery is undoubtedly stunning, but only when paired with the right person does it possess a truly soul-stirring, breathtaking beauty.
Just as Roxanne prepared to sneakily shuffle a bit closer to Hakuya, a slender hand beat her to it and wrapped around him.
"Phew~ I finally found you, Hakuya!"
A beautiful, graceful figure suddenly ran over, stretching out a slender arm and smoothly hooking it around Hakuya's neck.
At this moment, completely ignoring the dumbfounded Roxanne standing right next to them, Zinnia casually and intimately leaned in.
"..."
Snapping back to reality, Roxanne couldn't help but widen her beautiful eyes slightly.
Her gaze traveled from Zinnia's smooth, fair legs, all the way up to her unignorable chest, and finally locked onto the arm Zinnia had wrapped around Hakuya. Her brain completely froze for a moment.
When did Mr. Hakuya get so close to a woman other than me?!
Shouldn't it be... me first?!
"Honestly, I just went to the Pokémon Center to get Salamence healed up. When I came out, you were nowhere to be seen. I ran around in circles for ages before I finally realized you ran all the way out here to watch the sunrise. Hmph, you sneaky guy..."
Zinnia muttered a few complaints in dissatisfaction.
Then, after finishing her rambling, her delicate face broke into her usual dashing, wild smile.
"Roar~" The Salamence that had been circling in the air tucked its wings and landed, chiming in to agree with the girl's words.
Interrupted from his meditative state, Hakuya opened his eyes and shrugged helplessly.
"I wasn't being sneaky. It's just that I can't really help with the post-battle cleanup anyway, so naturally, all I could do was come over here and enjoy the scenery~"
He didn't really mind Zinnia coming up and hooking her arm around his neck.
There was a famous saying in the Pokémon world that described it perfectly: The fastest way to draw Trainers closer is through a Pokémon battle. After the series of battles and conversations at the Sky Pillar, his relationship with Zinnia had already grown significantly closer.
Add to that facing Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre together—an intense battle where they entrusted their backs to each other—their relationship had progressed even further. By now, it had long surpassed an ordinary friendship; calling them close comrades wouldn't be an exaggeration in the slightest.
Secondly, after spending this time together, Hakuya had also roughly figured out Zinnia's personality.
She loved fiercely and hated fiercely, and she would unreservedly give her true heart to a close friend.
Such an intimate gesture of hooking her arm around his neck was simply very fitting for this wild girl's personality.
—Since Zinnia doesn't care about these things, acting all coy and bashful about it would just make me look bad.