Raiji stood at the backyard entrance, his gaze fixed on Shinji's retreating figure as he disappeared around the corner of the porch. Especially noticing the slightly trembling arms with obvious burn marks hanging at his sides, Raiji's heart tightened, and without hesitation, he immediately followed.
Pushing open Shinji's half-closed door, he indeed saw him with his back to the entrance, one hand awkwardly holding a Burn Heal, the other slightly raised, attempting to apply it to the wound on his arm.
The mouth of the ointment bottle skewed several times, and the burning pain caused his brows to furrow tightly. Cold sweat, still fresh, clung to his forehead. His usually steady and agile movements now appeared exceptionally clumsy.
"Don't move, I'll do it." Raiji quickly walked over, took the Burn Heal from Shinji's hand, his tone carrying an undeniable concern.
Shinji paused, looked back at him, a flicker of surprise in his dark purple eyes, but he didn't object. He simply lowered his arm, allowing Raiji to tend to it.
Raiji unscrewed the cap and carefully squeezed the cool ointment onto Shinji's burn, his fingertips applying the lightest pressure, afraid of intensifying the pain.
Looking at the red, blistered skin, Raiji couldn't help but say, "I think it might be more effective if you let Chimchar know you care about him."
"No need." Hearing this, Shinji's dark purple eyes glanced at Raiji, his gaze still as cold as ever, his tone completely flat. "What I need are strong partners. Sympathy and weakness will only hinder us from becoming stronger."
Upon hearing these words, Raiji's movements paused slightly, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes. Sure enough, Shinji was as stubborn as ever.
But he quickly realized that, compared to his younger brother who used to only understand strict training and completely disregarded Pokémon's feelings, the current Shinji had already begun to trust and train his partners in his own way. It was just that this care was hidden deeper, and his way of expressing it was more extreme.
Understanding this, Raiji no longer dwelled on it, instead focusing on applying the ointment to Shinji, then taking out bandages and carefully wrapping the wound.
After bandaging, Raiji even tied a small, neat bow at the end of the bandage, satisfied with his handiwork.
Shinji looked down at the white bow, his mouth twitched, and he spoke with a hint of exasperation, "Big bro, how old are you? Why are you still like this?"
"Haha, doesn't it look good?" Raiji laughed heartily, reaching out to pat Shinji's shoulder. "It's because you always have such a cold face. Adding some decoration can make you seem a bit softer."
After the joke, Raiji's expression turned serious, and he asked, "Alright, let's talk business. Shinji, what are your plans next? Are you preparing to challenge the Sinnoh League?"
Shinji nodded, his gaze fixed on the window, sharp and determined. "Yes. But first, I need to visit Professor Rowan in Sandgem Town and upgrade my pokédex."
"Hmm, you should visit Professor Rowan." Raiji responded, then added, "When you go, say hello for me."
"Yes, I know." Shinji agreed without hesitation.
Both brothers had received their first Pokémon from Professor Rowan, and the professor had helped them greatly. This respect was heartfelt.
Whether based on the original owner's memories or the anime's plot, Shinji always maintained due politeness towards a respected scholar like Professor Rowan.
"When do you plan to leave then?" Raiji continued to ask.
Shinji pondered for a moment before answering, "Tomorrow or the day after."
"Do you need me to prepare anything for you? Like a travel tent or spare Potions?" Raiji asked with concern.
"No need." Shinji shook his head. With the system shop, he indeed didn't need to prepare these conventional supplies.
The brothers chatted for a while longer, mostly Raiji giving advice about the journey. Although Shinji mostly responded with brief "hmm"s and "I know"s, the atmosphere was unusually peaceful.
After a while, Raiji got up and left the room.
After Raiji left, Shinji didn't rest immediately but turned and walked towards the backyard.
In the backyard, Shinji quickly found Chimchar under the shade of a tree. The little fellow was curled up on the ground, the flame on its backside flickering slightly, clearly still recovering its stamina.
Shinji walked over, took out the special Potion he had exchanged from the system shop, and squatted down, ready to treat it.
Chimchar heard footsteps, looked up, and saw Shinji. A flicker of joy first appeared in its eyes, then it noticed the bandage wrapped around his arm.
It paused, remembering the scene where it had hit Shinji with Flame Wheel during its uncontrolled state, and its eyes instantly welled up with deep guilt and emotion.
It suddenly stretched out its two small paws, carefully cradling Shinji's bandaged hand, then lowered its head, gently licking the exposed skin at the edge of the bandage with its warm tongue.
Feeling the warm touch on his palm, Shinji's movements suddenly froze. It felt as if something had gently struck his heart, and an indescribable warm current quietly spread through him.
He knew this was the unique bond between him and Chimchar, not as tender as others', but equally sincere and firm.
However, he quickly reined in this momentary emotion, somewhat stiffly withdrawing his hand. His voice, though still cool, held a subtle hint of gentleness if one listened carefully: "Alright, I'll treat your injuries."
Chimchar obediently stopped its actions, sitting docilely on the ground, the flame on its backside gently swaying, its eyes looking at Shinji submissively.
Shinji skillfully sprayed the Potion on its new wounds, his movements gentle, carefully treating every scratch.
For the next two days, Shinji stayed home to recover from his injuries, and also allowed Chimchar to adjust its condition.
During this time, he had originally planned to release the Zangoose that had completed its mission. After all, this Zangoose, with its average aptitude, was merely a temporary practice opponent he used to help Chimchar overcome its psychological trauma. Now that its purpose was achieved, there was no value in keeping it by his side.
When Raiji learned of his idea, he proactively approached him and offered to adopt the Zangoose.
Since Raiji was willing to take it, Shinji naturally had no objections and directly gave the Zangoose's Poké Ball to his elder brother. For him, the Zangoose no longer had any utility value, and giving it to his brother could be considered putting it to good use.
Two days passed in a flash. Shinji's injuries had mostly healed, and Chimchar's injuries and condition had returned to optimal, its eyes even more resolute and spirited than before.
After packing his simple luggage—which was actually just an empty backpack to avoid suspicion—Shinji decided to officially set off for Sandgem Town.
For this trip, he only brought Chimchar, Elekid, and Murkrow. The rest of his Pokémon remained at the Nursery.
The morning sun had just begun to illuminate the streets of Veilstone City. Shinji, with his backpack, stood at the entrance of the Nursery. Raiji also came out, admonishing, "Be careful on the road. If you encounter any trouble you can't solve, you can contact me anytime."
"Hmm." Shinji responded, without many words, giving Raiji a slight nod before turning and heading in the direction of Sandgem Town.
The morning sun cast Shinji's long shadow, stretching far into the distance. Shinji's Sinnoh journey officially began, with new travels and challenges awaiting him ahead.
...
Sandgem Town, located on the southeastern coast of the Sinnoh region, is a port town that combines natural beauty with a strong research foundation.
This small town is not large, far from the hustle and bustle of the city, and is known for its peaceful coastline and fresh air.
The buildings in the town mostly use light colors, with a simple and clear layout, full of a special atmosphere combining academia and the ocean.
The most famous landmark here is undoubtedly Rowans Laboratory, home to Professor Rowan, the authority in the Sinnoh region's Pokémon research community.
This institution, dedicated to the study of Pokémon evolution, is not only one of the distribution points for Sinnoh's starter Pokémon but also attracts Pokémon scholars from all over the world for exchanges.
After a not-so-long journey, Shinji's footsteps trod on the cobblestone paths of Sandgem Town. The salty sea breeze blew in his face, carrying its unique damp scent.
There weren't many pedestrians in the town, and the pace was slow, completely different from the industrial feel of his hometown, Veilstone City.
Without any delay, he headed straight towards Rowans Laboratory, following the road signs and his memory of its location.
From a distance, he could see its iconic glass dome, reflecting dazzling light in the sun.
Walking up the gentle slope, a few minutes later, Rowans Laboratory appeared before him.
The building adopted an open design, with its main body composed of white walls and transparent glass, surrounded by a courtyard planted with tropical plants, where several docile Burmy shuttled and jumped among the branches and leaves.
The moment Shinji pushed open the door, a hurried gust of wind suddenly swept past him—two teenagers practically jostled their way in, one of them heavily brushing against Shinji's side. He staggered half a step, barely steadying himself.
Shinji frowned, his cold gaze sweeping over the backs of the two who had already rushed ahead. They were still laughing and pushing each other. He snorted, but ultimately said nothing, silently stepping aside half a pace to clear the way.
Never argue with fools—he had always thoroughly upheld this principle. Shinji averted his gaze, as if the previous friction had never happened, only a faint trace of annoyance flashing in his eyes.