Koraidon touched down at the front of Iono's residence. From afar, Naoki could already see her waiting for him.
The crisp breeze of autumn had arrived, and Iono had swapped her usual look for a cozy yellow sweater full of electric-trainer flair. A cartoon-style Magnemite was printed across the front, making her look especially cute.
Naoki spotted Iono standing outside her building with her Bellibolt by her side, waving enthusiastically.
"Over here—!"
Koraidon landed softly, and Naoki dismounted. "Are we heading over now?" he asked.
"Hehe, yep!" Iono nodded cheerfully. "I told them you'd be coming. They should be in the middle of making lunch to welco you!"
Naoki smiled awkwardly. "Honestly, I'm a little nervous. What if they don't like ?"
"Don't worry! Hey there, Koraidon!" Iono greeted with a bright smile, giving Koraidon a friendly pat on the head. Then she leaned closer to Naoki and added, "They're totally going to like you. And if they don't…"
She grinned mischievously, revealing her trademark fang and flashing a playful smirk. "Then we'll just elope!"
Naoki blinked, caught completely off guard.
Iono took his arm in hers, full of energy. "Let's go! Charge ahead, like a Tynamo leaping the Dragon Gate!"
Naoki chuckled to himself. With soone like Iono by his side, life was never going to be boring.
"Alright," he said with a smile. "Let's go."
The two of them, with Koraidon and Bellibolt trailing behind, made their way to Iono's childhood ho.
It wasn't far from her current apartnt. Even walking at a relaxed pace, it would take less than ten minutes.
"That's the one!" Iono pointed toward a house up ahead.
Naoki looked closely. It was a cozy two-story ho nestled on a quiet residential street. A small yard stretched out in front, bordered by trimd grass and a tree that rustled gently in the breeze.
The gate to the courtyard stood open. In the middle was a tree with a lawn on both sides of the path. Several Pokémon were playing together outside.
Wattrel, Jumpluff, Gloom, and Glaow…
When they noticed the two humans approaching, the Pokémon looked over curiously.
"Morning, everyone!" Iono greeted them with a wave. "We've got a guest today!"
Inside the house, a man and woman peeked out from the front window, having heard the commotion.
They were Iono's parents, the sa couple who had once visited Naoki's ranch.
The man's expression imdiately darkened the mont he recognized Naoki.
He still vividly rembered being completely wiped out by a certain soone's team back at that ranch.
That brat… he thought, lips twitching.
"Co on, don't make that face," his wife said, elbowing him in the ribs. "You're supposed to be happy today! Don't scare the poor boy off. He'll think we don't like him."
But the man's frown only deepened.
"Stubborn," she muttered, twisting his side playfully. Then her tone turned sharper. "You better behave, mister. If you ss this up, you're sleeping on the couch tonight!"
He opened his mouth to protest, but she had already spun on her heel and headed for the kitchen.
"Coming—!" she called cheerfully as she began preparing the food, pretending not to have heard the doorbell that had just rung.
Sighing in defeat, the man walked to the front door to open it.
Naoki was just straightening up, rehearsing his polite greeting in his head, when the door creaked open.
He smiled and said, "Hello, sir—"
But the mont he saw the man's face, his words caught in his throat.
The two n locked eyes, and for a mont, Naoki froze in place.
The man's expression was stern. But rembering his wife's warning, he softened it just slightly. Still, his voice carried the sa gruff tone as he turned to walk inside:
"Co in."
Naoki followed, still trying to process the situation.
Beside him, Iono looked puzzled and whispered, "Wait… have you t my dad before?"
Naoki hesitated. "…It's a long story."
"Make it short."
"Your dad ca to the ranch once. Challenged to a battle. I kinda… beat him up."
Iono's eyes widened in shock. Then, as her mories connected the dots, her parents' suspicious visit, their strange behavior afterward, everything clicked.
She burst out laughing.
Her father, hearing the sudden laughter, turned back with a confused look.
"?"
"It's nothing! I just rembered sothing funny!" Iono waved him off, trying to hold back her laughter.
The man stared at her for a second, clearly unconvinced, but didn't press.
Instead, he looked at Naoki and said stiffly, "Sit."
Just then, Iono's mother erged from the kitchen, pretending to be surprised.
"Oh! You're here already?" she said with a warm smile.
Naoki blinked in disbelief. That familiar face…
Wasn't she the woman who'd once gotten "lost" near the ranch and asked him for directions? The one who gave him a set of handmade Poké Balls?
In that instant, everything clicked for Naoki too.
So they hadn't co to challenge his trial… or gotten lost. They'd been checking him out all along.
Seeing the look on his face, Iono's mom chuckled gently.
"Nice to see you again. Sit, sit! Lunch will be ready soon. We'll talk more later."
"O-Okay!" Naoki nodded quickly and sat down on the couch.
But with Iono's dad sitting across from him in silence, things felt a little awkward.
After a mont's pause, Naoki cleared his throat and said, "Um… about last ti, sir. I didn't know it was you. I really didn't an to—"
The man opened his mouth, clearly about to say sothing, but behind Naoki, his wife peeked out from the kitchen and shot him a warning glance.
He froze, then grumbled, "It's fine. A Pokémon battle's a serious thing. That's the trainer's way."
Naoki exhaled in relief, then pulled out the gift box he had brought and placed it on the table.
"I brought sothing for you both."
Right then, Iono's mother returned with dishes in hand. She smiled warmly at the sight of the gift.
"Oh, you didn't have to bring anything! Still, thank you. Co on, let's eat. And you too, sweetheart," she said, turning to Koraidon, "I made sothing special just for you!"
Koraidon's nose twitched as the delicious sll wafted toward him. "Raao!"
Seeing Koraidon's eager reaction, Naoki finally relaxed. He responded with a smile and joined them at the table.
Iono's father sighed and slowly stood up to follow, his pride clearly a little bruised, but manners prevailing.
Soon, the four of them and Koraidon were seated around the dining table.
To Naoki's surprise, the entire table was covered in a delicious spread of dishes that he liked!
The woman smiled warmly. "Iono told you really like this kind of food, so I made sure to prepare a full table of it. I hope it's to your liking, go on, have a taste."
Naoki was touched. All this food... just because he liked it?
He glanced over at Iono, who flashed him a playful grin.
Picking up his chopsticks, Naoki took a bite, and his eyes lit up. "It's really good!"
"If you like it, have so more!" the woman said happily. Watching him eat, her heart ached a little for the young man who had managed a whole ranch by himself without a family.
What a kind, hardworking soul. Not only was he capable, but he also ran a large ranch all on his own. How lonely his days must have been… but it wouldn't be that way anymore, not with Iono by his side.
"Is the ranch still keeping you busy?" she asked, pouring tea into Naoki's cup.
"Not too much right now," Naoki replied. "With winter approaching, the fields are winding down. Things are finally slowing a bit."
"That's good to hear. But if things ever get overwhelming, don't hesitate to reach out. We'd be happy to lend a hand," she said sincerely.
The conversation flowed more easily after that. Naoki relaxed, no longer as nervous as when he first arrived. Over the al, they chatted about ranch life, his online shop, the Pokémon trials held on the property, and his day-to-day routines.
Naoki answered everything honestly.
When the man learned that Naoki had created those trials to help passing trainers strengthen themselves, his expression shifted slightly, showing rare approval.
"That's a good idea. It really does help trainers develop their skills."
"Hehe! Even the chief praised Naoki for it!" Iono chid in proudly.
The man raised an eyebrow. "The chief?"
"Yup! Naoki's incredible!" Iono nodded enthusiastically. "Even gym leaders and champions have co to his ranch to take on the trials and train. He treats everyone with the sa seriousness, even total strangers! And so far, no one's ever beaten him."
The man's mouth opened slightly, stunned. He hadn't expected this quiet young man to be that strong. Even champion-level trainers had fallen short?
No wonder he had lost that six-on-six battle. Losing to soone like this made total sense. He had no complaints now.
"It's really not that impressive," Naoki said modestly, scratching his cheek.
But the woman had already pieced everything together. Now she truly understood how her daughter had fallen for this man.
She knew she hadn't misjudged him.
Her eyes sparkled with growing approval. Smiling gently, she asked, "So... do you two have a tiline in mind for the wedding? Is that why you're visiting today? Have you thought it through?"
Iono glanced at Naoki.
Naoki blinked, completely caught off guard by how directly the question was asked.
The woman chuckled, clearly reading his hesitation. "You know, as long as two people truly care for each other, that's all that matters. If you want to live together, see each other every day, and share your lives... well, that's all you need to get married!"
Hearing those words, Naoki turned to look at Iono.
Just then, the man who had been mostly silent finally spoke up.
"Next spring. March. The season of blooming flowers and warm breezes. A perfect ti for new beginnings."
As it turned out, he'd been quietly preparing for this mont for a while. He'd even sought out a fortune teller in the marketplace. The verdict? Spring of League Year 202 was a highly auspicious ti to marry. Especially March, a month that symbolized harmony, joy, and a lifeti of companionship.
'March? That was still six months away… a decent stretch of ti.'
But thinking about it, Naoki realized he really was looking forward to sharing a life with Iono. Maybe this was just the way things happened in the Pokémon world, open-hearted and full of warmth.
"Okay," he said, no longer hesitant. He gave a firm nod in agreent.
When he turned back, he saw Iono already smiling at him, her violet eyes sparkling.
They exchanged a quiet look, filled with a shared sense of joy and anticipation.
The woman bead. "Well then, it's settled!"
The man's tone softened. "You're on your own, no parents around. Let us help with the wedding arrangents."
The woman looked at Naoki gently. "Would that be alright with you?"
Naoki thought for a mont, then shook his head with a grateful smile. "Thank you, but it's okay. I have a few elders back in Kosaji Town. They'll help out."
"Then it's decided," the woman said with a laugh, her voice warm and full of affection.
That evening, Naoki said goodbye to Iono and her parents, then returned to Kosaji Town with Koraidon.
The first thing he did was consult Mayor Thomas, asking for advice about what ca next.
The mayor was stunned.
And just like that, the news spread like wildfire across Kosaji Town: Naoki was getting married.
Kelly, Ivan, Mrs. Dantes, and Mr. Elif, everyone ca forward to offer their blessings, and many volunteered to help plan the big spring wedding.
Naoki was touched by the outpouring of support. The people here... they were really sothing special.
The Pokémon at the ranch soon heard the news too. After the Indeedee siblings explained what marriage ant, the Pokémon grew excited as well.
They were genuinely, wholeheartedly happy for Naoki.
That night, Naoki lay in bed, too thrilled to sleep. His heart was full.
Koraidon was curled up beside him. It knew it had rembered correctly; everything was falling into place.
It wouldn't be long now until their "little master" arrived.
...
The next morning, Naoki's Rotom Phone buzzed.
It was a ssage from Geeta.
[Geeta: Getting married? Congratulations! Can I apply to be your official witness? ＾_＾]
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