Chapter 291: The Secret Ritual
"Huh? Care about what?"
Hikaru looked confused.
"Hehe, good thing you don't. I figured you wouldn't hold a grudge over something that happened when we were kids."
Yuki grinned and glanced at her phone.
"Let's head back. It's about dinner time."
Hikaru nodded.
The sky was dimming. October twilights weren't as warm and vivid as early summer's.
There was a muted chill to the air, yet it was still refreshing and calming.
As the girl walked ahead, she seemed to make a sudden decision—and reached out to hold Hikaru's hand.
Hikaru was stunned.
He instinctively tried to pull away, but she held on tight, so he just let her lead him.
Sunset, sidewalks, and trees lining the road...
In such a moment, it felt as though even their heartbeats could be heard.
Silently, as if mutually understanding, the two strolled down the street together.
But no matter how long a road is, if you keep walking, you'll reach the end.
When they arrived at the Frost Gym entrance, Yuki quietly let go of his hand.
Even in the dim lighting, Hikaru could see her slightly flushed face—like someone gently tipsy from a drink.
Still, she acted naturally.
"Come on, junior. Let's eat."
---
At the dinner table, as expected, Aunt Yuki warmly served dishes while chatting nonstop.
"The future belongs to you youngsters."
"Look after Yuki, okay?" — those kinds of lines.
Hikaru turned red from embarrassment.
It wasn't until he was seated on Latias, soaring through the sky with the wind in his face, that he finally recovered.
His mind a mess, filled with thoughts he didn't know how to share with anyone, he turned to Latias beside him.
"What should I do, Latias..."
"Hmm?" (What's wrong?)
"I think I'm a scumbag... what now?"
Latias slowed down and turned to look at him.
Hikaru gazed into Latias' clear, round eyes and couldn't help but pat its head.
"Forget it. Even if I tell you, you probably wouldn't understand."
How could such a simple-minded Latias possibly understand such things?
"I understand."
Latias' reply stunned Hikaru.
Then he smirked, amused.
"Alright, then tell me—what's a scumbag?"
Latias replied seriously,
"It's when Hikaru likes that senior, but also likes Sakura, and wants both."
Hikaru froze.
After a long pause, he mumbled awkwardly,
"Did Sakura teach you that?"
Latias nodded.
"Mhm. Sakura told me to keep an eye on you. Don't let you flirt around."
Hikaru felt all the strength drain from his body.
He stared at the serious-looking Latias, then forced out a line.
"From now on, I'm not letting you two be alone together anymore."
"Oh..."
Latias turned away without another word and picked up speed.
From a Pokémon's perspective, Hikaru had already caught quite a few Pokémon, and they all got along well.
As for Sakura's request, Latias was just a Pokémon—how was it supposed to make Hikaru follow her instructions?
It decided to leave it alone...
"I was kidding," Hikaru quickly added.
He was genuinely afraid Latias would go report back to Sakura like,
"Hikaru said I shouldn't get close to you anymore."
If that happened, he wouldn't be able to explain even if he jumped into the Yellow River.
"Oh..."
Latias didn't turn back but replied flatly.
Hikaru sighed in relief and patted its head.
Suddenly, he remembered he hadn't refreshed his daily tag today.
He'd been so focused on making energy cubes the last few days that his head was in a fog, and he'd forgotten.
He summoned the system in his mind and tapped the Daily Tag option.
A flash of blue light appeared.
[Blue Tag (Tag Replication) – Allows you to replicate an existing tag once. If the tag is lower than blue quality, it will automatically be upgraded to blue!]
Hikaru froze.
He hadn't expected to get a blue-grade Tag Replication from a simple daily refresh.
Definitely a pleasant surprise.
Blue-grade tag replication could be incredibly useful in a pinch.
He browsed the tag shop a few more times, but seeing nothing good, he closed the system.
---
The next morning, Hikaru was woken by a knock at the door.
But unlike previous days, this time, it wasn't just Sakura outside—Takashi Hayashi was with her too.
"Good morning~ Big bro~"
That sweet greeting made Takashi's mouth twitch beside her.
Ever since Sakura returned, she'd barely called him "brother."
Unless she wanted something.
But with Hikaru? It was all "big bro~" in her sweetest tone.
Hikaru instinctively replied,
"Morning, Sakura, Ha—uh, Takashi."
He caught himself mid-sentence.
Why did he almost blurt out what he was really thinking?
Especially around Takashi...
"Come with me," Takashi said with a stern face and led the way.
Since today's event seemed rather secretive, Hikaru recalled Latias back into its Pokéball from the start.
Sakura skipped happily beside him, beaming.
Outside, a sleek black car was already waiting.
Hikaru didn't know much about cars, but from the long body alone, it was clearly a luxury vehicle.
The driver wore a black suit and sunglasses, exuding a professional aura.
Once they got in, the car sped off.
Soon, they arrived at the Hayashi family's estate.
When they reached the familiar pavilion, Hikaru realized it was already filled with more than ten people.
Some were youths his age, others were children around ten.
Most were accompanied by adults—presumably parents.
They were likely the next generation of the Hayashi family.
But Hikaru didn't see Hayashi Ten, Hayashi Huo, or Hayashi Mingshuang...
Standing in the pavilion were the current Hayashi family head—Hayashi Dou, and the former Pokémon League Champion—Lance, Sakura's father.
Both wore stern expressions, a powerful aura radiating from them.
Trainers who had battled through countless encounters with Pokémon naturally exuded this pressure.
Under such weight, even those curious about Hikaru's presence didn't dare speak up.
After waiting a bit longer, two more girls aged around eleven or twelve arrived.
Hayashi Dou, standing at the top, nodded to Lance.
"Looks like everyone's here."
The next moment, all the adults beside the children brought out Pokéballs.
With a flash of red light, Dragonite and Altaria appeared on the scene.
Then, the adults began tying thick black blindfolds over each child's eyes.
The blindfolds appeared to be made of some kind of special material.
Lance walked down from the pavilion and handed Hikaru one as well.
"Here. Cover your eyes too..."
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