Pokémon, Ash's art style is off!

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhi immediately took a step and followed.

"Why do I feel like you're more anxious than I am?"

He glanced at Xiao Gang's unusually enthusiastic back with some puzzlement.

"Wait a minute! Actually..."

As the dojo drew closer, Xiaoxia hesitated for a moment, then seemed to have made up her mind and spoke.

"...I've been keeping something from you all for a long time!"

"Well?"

Ash turned his head upon hearing this, his face showing a simple question.

"Since we've kept it a secret for so long, a little longer won't hurt. Let's get moving, shall we?"

Xiao Gang urged.

"Pikachu?"

Even Pikachu looked at Misty with an expression that said, "What could possibly happen to you, Misty?"

Feeling disregarded by the three parties, Xiaoxia took a deep breath.

He put on a serious expression.

"I wanted to interact with you as an ordinary person, but all I got in return was disrespect!"

"I'm not pretending anymore! I'm coming clean! My family is actually super rich!"

"The Cerulean Dojo is owned by my family!"

After she finished speaking, she straightened her chest, ready to meet the shocked and incredulous gazes of the two men.

however……

Xiao Gang simply nodded calmly, his tone almost imperceptible.

"Oh, that's great! So, can we go now?"

His toes were still pointing towards the dojo.

Xiaoxia: "???"

No!

This reaction is wrong!

That's not how the script was written!

"Wait! Aren't you all surprised?! Give me some reaction!"

Seeing that Xiaoxia wouldn't give up until she explained herself, she moved on, determined to make things clear. This was all for the sake of Miss Joy's water show (crossed out) and the gym challenge.

Xiao Gang barely managed to suppress his temper and began to explain.

"From the complex and subtle micro-expressions you make when you hear the words 'Cerulean Dojo,' a mixture of disappointment, shyness, and occasional nostalgia and inner turmoil, and the hesitant attitude you have when you occasionally mention your family..."

"I had already guessed it pretty accurately."

"Is it...is it that obvious...?"

Xiao Gang shrugged, as if it were obvious.

Xiaoxia's tone softened, and she looked apologetically at Xiaozhi, who was relatively simple-minded and should have been kept in the dark.

"I'm sorry, Ash, I kept this from you for so long..."

"Oh, that!" Ash replied casually. "I already knew that!"

"You know that?!"

How did you know?!

"I mean, how could you possibly know!?"

Xiaoxia was truly shocked this time.

Even a mere Ash could see through her weakness?

"The starfish told me."

Ash gave the answer very decisively.

Xiaoxia: "???"

The shock on her face instantly turned into murderous intent, and she immediately reached into her waistband and took out a Poké Ball.

With a bang, it summoned the starfish, whose entire body was filled with guilt.

"Starfish!"

She stared down at the starfish, who was trying to shrink into a ball to minimize its presence, and demanded an answer in a stern voice.

"Speak! When did this happen?!"

"Uh, actually it was just recently..."

Realizing he might have said something wrong, Ash tried to defend the trembling Staryu.

But at this moment, Xia clearly wouldn't accept any vague answer.

"How long exactly?!"

"Uh......"

Xiao Zhi's eyes began to wander.

"Just a short time ago..."

"Xiao Zhi, you are a trustworthy person! You never lie!"

Xiaoxia unleashed her ultimate weapon, simultaneously suppressing the starfish that was trying to escape with her gaze.

Ash was instantly caught in a dilemma.

Xiao Zhi's way of dealing with people is based on the two words: integrity and trustworthiness.

Lying is a sign of disbelief.

Betraying a starfish is unjust.

Ash is facing the biggest crisis since his debut!

Seeing Ash caught in such a painful dilemma in order to protect himself.

The starfish standing nearby was deeply moved.

A surge of inexplicable courage welled up inside me!

It suddenly stopped trembling, straightened its body, and firmly patted Ash's leg with one tentacle, its whole figure exuding a tragic sense of facing death!

Brother!

There's no need to ruin your fundamental life principles for the sake of one star like mine!

One star for every task, one star for every responsibility!

It resolutely turned to Misty, shielding Ash behind it, its core gem shining with unwavering light.

If you have a problem, come at me!

"Great! Great!"

Xiaoxia turned her attention entirely to it.

"Tell me! When exactly?"

The starfish resolutely extends one of its tentacles.

"A day ago?"

The starfish shook its tentacles.

"A week ago!?"

The starfish shook its tentacles again.

"One month ago?!"

The starfish shook its tentacles again.

"When exactly was that?!"

Xiaoxia is about to go crazy.

Starfish stands upright with its hands folded over.

That was probably the first night it met its older brother...

......

I wrapped the starfish's Poké Ball with a full thirty layers of thick tape.

With Xia still puffed up and her cheeks slightly red, the three of them finally arrived in front of a building that looked nothing like a traditional dojo.

"This...is this the Cerulean Gym?"

"Pikachu~?"

Ash and Pikachu on his shoulder looked up in perfect unison at the overly ornate building before them, and asked the same question in unison.

"This is it! I've dreamt about this place countless times!"

Xiao Gang responded excitedly,

But...?

Ash blinked, still somewhat incredulous.

The building in front of me has smooth lines, a dazzling twin-spire design, and a large glass curtain wall that shines brightly in the sunlight.

He'd believe it even if you told him it was the main venue for the League Tournament, let alone a dojo!

Cerulean Dojo, are they really that rich?!

"Yes, this is the Cerulean Gym."