Pokémon, Ash is going to become a perfect man from now on.

"What's wrong with him?" Xiao Lan looked at Xiao Mao's back, puzzled. "Why does it feel like he's been cheated on?"

"Who knows? She started sulking the moment we met..." Ash shrugged indifferently.

It's just asking him to help out the Heavenly Kings, why is he making such a fuss? No wonder Little Blue calls him Stingy Green~

Xiao Mao's little episode quickly passed, and the three of them ate together. Recalling their previous cycle of pretending to be asleep, the atmosphere gradually became awkward again…

Then Xiao Lan decisively pushed Natsume out to break the ice.

"Saria, didn't your mother say she wanted to see Satoshi?"

"Ah...yes." Caught off guard, Sabrina hesitated for a moment before timidly admitting, "I don't know if it's convenient for Ash..."

“It’s not inconvenient at all. I should go and say hello. Let’s go after we eat.” Xiao Zhi readily agreed, which made Sabrina secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

After dinner, Sabrina led Ash to her mother's hospital room. Blue had originally said she wanted to avoid suspicion, but Ash and Sabrina both felt she should come along.

When they arrived, the slightly weak middle-aged woman was sitting on the headboard, staring blankly at the ceiling diagonally above her.

"Mom, I brought Xiaozhi to see you."

"Naza, come quick."

When Naz was called to the bedside, her mother immediately smiled kindly and gently stroked her hair.

Only then did she look seriously at the boy in front of her.

After discovering that Xiaozhi had brought an extra girl with him, the woman paused for a moment but didn't say anything more.

"Shinji, may I call you that?" Sabrina's mother said in a gentle tone. "Sabrina has told me about what happened before, and our whole family wants to thank you."

Naz's mother nodded solemnly to Xiaozhi. Although she was physically weak, she was dignified and well-mannered, clearly a well-educated and virtuous young lady.

If she could have stayed with her daughter as she grew up and given Naz a normal childhood... Naz would probably be like that now.

"And about her father, I'm really sorry for causing you so much trouble."

"It's not a problem. It's my duty to be his enemy. We just have different positions." Ash shook his head indifferently. "Besides, Sabrina and I are friends. It's only right that I do these things for her."

“Friends?” Naz’s mother raised an eyebrow curiously.

"Yes, more than friends."

Ash's solemn and unwavering answer stunned Sabrina's mother.

To be able to say something like "more than friends" in front of Naz, another girl, and even her own mother, this child really doesn't want to hide anything...

"That's true... It's really lucky for Naz to have a friend like you."

Actually, Sabrina's mother wanted to talk to Ash alone, but Ash directly cut her off, leaving her speechless.

never mind…

Naza is indeed very happy now, and since they are still young, we might as well let nature take its course.

Of course, what this aunt didn't know was that Xiao Zhi learned his ball skills from her daughter...

"We're heading back to Pallet Town soon, but I'll come visit regularly." After meeting Sabrina's parents, Ash explained his plans to go home. "You're welcome to visit Pallet Town anytime you have time."

"I...I definitely will!" Sabrina's heart skipped a beat at Ash's invitation, but she quickly agreed.

"Besides, I..." Sabrina hesitated, then suddenly gripped Ash's hand tightly, her eyes instantly filled with gratitude.

She still owes Xiaozhi a formal thank you, and now's the perfect opportunity...

"No need for verbal thanks, let's think of another way~" Xiao Zhi suddenly smiled and shook his head.

“Another way…” Naz couldn’t help but be adorably stunned.

"Think about it slowly, and tell me when you've thought it through~" Xiao Zhi's smile became a bit more teasing.

Sometimes, you just have to live more authentically.

Having been through so much together, Ash no longer needs to hide his feelings for Sabrina... although he's never really hidden them at all.

"Oh my, the atmosphere is quite nice." Little Blue chuckled sarcastically from the side.

Are you really flirting with me right in front of me?

Chapter 171 After Returning Home

"Mom, Lila, we're back!"

"Welcome back, Ash and Blue." "Ash, Blue!" "Bi~" "In the forum?"

...

Ash returned to Pallet Town, travel-worn, and was naturally greeted with a warm welcome from his family.

only…

Why is there one extra?

Hanako and Lila are both at home, and Pink Butterfly is now a member of the family, but there's also a Mr. Mime holding a broom in the house!

Speaking of which... how did this person make their entrance again?

Ash doesn't quite remember the storyline of Mr. Mime.

"Could it be that you caught it?" Ash asked Lyra curiously.

"No, Mom tamed it herself."

"Mom?" "Aunt Hanako?"

Ash and Blue looked at each other in surprise. They had no idea that their mother possessed such combat skills.

"It was so easy to catch it~" Hanako patted her apron. "I used your favorite croquettes, along with ketchup omelet rice, mixed berry salad, and a dessert pudding, and then Little Devil became my Pokémon."

So, is this a foodie...? Xiao Zhi suddenly realized~

“Little Devil is very capable,” Lila explained. “After it came to our home, Mom didn’t have to do any housework.”

"That's truly commendable work." Xiao Zhi nodded in deep agreement.

Ash knows very well how powerful Mr. Mime is in the original story.

Not only are their housekeeping skills maxed out, but despite having never been trained, their combat strength is incredibly high.

After capturing Riolu during the journey, Little Devil was in charge of walking the Siberian Husky for the first part...

"Ash...isn't it time to tell me the truth now, you naughty boy!" After the welcoming ceremony ended, Hanako immediately put on a stern face. "What exactly happened on the news on TV? Blue told me that Lorelei and the others were the main force, so why was it you who defeated Giovanni in the end?!"

"Huh... what news is this?" Xiao Zhi was completely bewildered by the question.

"This is it~" Lila thoughtfully turned on the TV and showed him the news that was being replayed.

Ash then realized that he had been pushed into the spotlight by the League.

Their entire battle with Giovanni was recorded on video, as it was intended to serve as evidence of their direct defeat of Team Rocket's boss.

But what Ash didn't expect was that, in addition to cutting out Mewtwo's parts, Lorelei and the others also turned the three of them into supporting characters, leaving all the high-energy parts of the video to Ash!

The news video ends with Ash summoning all his Pokémon to charge at Giovanni again, and Pikachu transforming into Thunder, knocking Beedrill and Giovanni flying together with one blow!

Such a video, coupled with passionate commentary and the Kanto Alliance's revelation of Giovanni's identity, will undoubtedly cause a huge uproar in Kanto!

Judging by the timing, it was sent out right when Ash left Viridian City and was on his way home!

"Ash, are you hurt?!" Hanako continued to ask seriously.

"I'm sorry, Mom... I shouldn't have let Blue keep it from you." Ash immediately lowered his head and admitted his mistake. "I got stung by a Beedrill... but it wasn't serious, it was almost healed!"

"So why do you insist on doing such dangerous things?" Hanako asked, puzzled. "Didn't you always say you wanted to become a Pokémon Master? Then why don't you just go on a nice trip! Fighting crime and stuff... can't we leave that to the adults?!"

"I don't want you to worry... but I can't lie to myself." Ash shook his head apologetically. "Mom, do you think... I like Pokémon?"

"This..." Hanako was taken aback.

Xiao Zhi's questions are answers that almost anyone he knows can provide.

This kid is a natural Aura user, how could he not like Pokémon?

"It is precisely because I like it that I cannot deceive myself, and I cannot turn a blind eye to the evil deeds that are happening!"

Why does Ash insist on fighting Team Rocket, even if it means being seen as a thorn in Giovanni's side?

These questions aren't unique to Hanako.

But this is Ash's choice, and the reason he does this is not only to uphold justice and law, but also because of his love for Pokémon.

At the same time, it's not just Pokémon; Ash, who possesses the power of Viridian, will choose to love all living beings in the world... except for those unforgivable villains!

Although he is a time traveler, Ash has never severed his ties with his family and society, and there is no reason for him to commit human treachery just to please Pokémon.

For example, in the previous incident involving the giant stinging jellyfish, Ash could certainly approach it from the jellyfish's perspective and acknowledge that their motive for seeking revenge was justified.

That's a solid moral high ground; you can throw mud at all of humanity without anyone criticizing your actions.

In the Pokémon world, Pokémon is always right!

But being right is not the same as being right, and Xiaozhi disdains doing that!

His initial intention in stopping the conflict was not to distinguish right from wrong, but to protect those truly innocent humans and innocent Pokémon!

If he truly spoke out for Pokémon during the Tentacruel incident, yet when faced with Team Rocket, he nonchalantly declared "it's none of my business," allowing them to wantonly harm innocent Pokémon while he continued his League Challenge with a clear conscience...