On the other side, Emily had just seen Sandy off and returned to her own house.
Because of the festival yesterday, the Saloon's opening hours had been pushed back a bit, giving Emily some time to rest properly.
Arriving home, she pushed open the door, took one look at the empty house, and sat down quietly by the fireplace.
What Sandy said was actually something she had considered herself. She had even fantasized about Sandy just moving in. But she knew Sandy had her own life. Even if Sandy loved Pelican Town, it didn't mean she could abandon everything she had in the desert just for the flowers of Pelican Town, or for Emily.
Emily didn't want that, not at all.
If she were truly that selfish, she would have flatly rejected Haley's desire to go out and make a name for herself in Kalos, making her stay honestly and obediently by her side in Pelican Town.
But she didn't, so she wouldn't make such a demand of Sandy either.
Emily sat quietly for a while, until Squawkabilly flew over to her shoulder and nuzzled against her cheek. Only then did she turn her head to look at it.
"I'm glad I have you."
"Caw~" Squawkabilly cried out. "Emily, Emily~"
"I'm here."
"Emily~ Emily~"
Emily laughed, picked up Squawkabilly's food from the side, and fed it to its beak.
Just then, a knock came from the door outside.
Emily froze for a moment, then abruptly stood up and jogged over to the door in a few quick steps.
No one would knock on her door at this hour. So, standing by the door, she suppressed her lonely expression before pulling the door open: "Did you forget something again? Sandy?"
Ron paused, the hand holding the Amethyst freezing in mid-air.
"Ah, it's you, Ron." Emily gave an awkward smile. Because her hopes had been dashed, she didn't even notice the object in Ron's hand as she stepped aside to let him in. "Come in, what do you need?"
"Yeah." Ron pondered for a moment. After roughly guessing what Emily was sad about right now, he put the amethyst away and brought up the matter Emily cared about the most first.
"Next week, after spring arrives and the farm work is done, I'm planning a trip to Kalos. Do you have anything you need me to take to Haley?"
Emily had just taken out a cup to pour Ron some water as a courtesy. Hearing this, her movements froze. She turned her head—
—and looked at Ron.
After hearing Ron repeat himself, she turned back and poured half a cup of water. "I'm not giving her anything. She didn't even have the decency to return a phone call."
That was what she said, but Emily had obviously already started looking around the house for things she could send over.
Ron didn't take Emily's angry words to heart. Just as he was about to continue the task Clint had given him, the phone in the house rang.
Emily walked over to the phone. The moment she picked it up, she heard Joy's voice on the other end.
"Emily? Haley called you." Joy said with a smile. "Could you come down to the Pokémon Center to take it?"
Emily slammed the phone down, then yanked her hat off the hat rack and left without looking back.
The front door slammed shut right in Ron's face.
Ron couldn't help but fall silent. He looked at the amethyst in his hand again, pondering whether he should leave it here and wait for Emily to come back, or just save it for next time.
After thinking it over, Ron stood up. Kindly filling the food bowl for Squawkabilly, who was staring eagerly at its food, he left Emily's house and headed straight to Caroline's place to deliver the news.
When he arrived at the general store, the couple was still putting away the Feast of the Winter Star decorations.
To ensure the decorations could be used again for next year's Feast, basic maintenance was essential. Only by maintaining them properly and packing them securely into the warehouse would they stay looking brand new next year.
When Ron walked in, the two were wiping down the Winter Star tree's string lights.
Seeing Ron enter, Caroline set the lights on the table and smiled at him. "Are you here to buy something? Spring is almost here, have you decided what to plant on the farm? If it's you, I can have Pierre order the seeds early so you can make it in time for early spring planting."
Ron shook his head. After thanking Caroline for her kind offer, he explained his actual reason for coming.
"Thank you for making a special trip over to tell us." Caroline paused for a moment in surprise before smiling at him. "Then we'll be in your care. If there's anything you need, make sure to let us know at the store. As long as we can help, we definitely will."
Over on the other side, Pierre's movements had clearly stopped as well. He stared at the string lights in his hands, and it took a long while before he looked up and thanked Ron.
"The things... hmm—would the day after tomorrow work?" Caroline thought for a moment and said softly. "I'll get them properly prepared. Oh, and if you don't mind, come over to the general store for dinner that night. Bring everyone from the farm along too."
Ron didn't decline. After finalizing the schedule for the day after tomorrow with Caroline, he strode out of the general store.
Pierre's movements as he packed the lights grew even faster.
On the other side, Emily hung up the phone with Haley.
Because she heard Haley say that she was worried about working Emily too hard, which was why she waited until today to call, Emily forgave her on the spot.
Upon learning that the next Pokémon Showcase would be in two weeks, and driven by the desire to make her seamstress sister look absolutely stunning at the event, Emily left the Community Center while brainstorming designs.
She walked all the way to the intersection and happened to run right into Ron, who was just coming out of the general store.
"Ah, Ron!" Emily waved at him. "By the way, have you decided on an exact date to go to Kalos?"
"Around Spring 3rd, I think," Ron said after a moment's thought.
"That's only a few days away." Emily pondered this, then suddenly remembered something and turned to thank Ron.
"Don't mention it, it's no trouble. Oh, right." Remembering, Ron took out the amethyst. "This is for you. It's—"
"Ah, this is exactly it!" Emily excitedly cupped the translucent amethyst in her hands, looking at it over and over. With a face full of excitement, she threw her arms around Ron. "Thank you! This is exactly what I was looking for! With this, I can absolutely make Haley the most beautiful dress!"
Saying this, Emily couldn't contain herself and planted a kiss on Ron's cheek.
"—Clint asked me to give that to you." Ron was so startled by the kiss that he froze in place. It belatedly dawned on him that this seemed to be a storyline from the game.
It was just because the method of triggering the quest had changed to him initiating it proactively, causing Ron to completely forget about it.
"Whatever." Emily was completely focused on the amethyst right now. She waved at Ron and quickly walked away.
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