Naoki couldn't help but ugh at Koraidon's sulking expression.

  "Hahaha!" he chuckled, patting Koraidon's head. "Okay, I'm just teasing you!"

  He shifted his position and leaned back against the soft wool of the Gogoat behind him, letting out a tented sigh as he thought about all that had happened retly.

  Koraidon tilted its head, watg him quietly for a moment before moving closer, lying down beside him like a giant, golderiever. her spoke again, simply enjoying the serene and peaceful atmosphere.

  The Kosaji town, not far away, was aglow with lights, and the gentle waves pped at the shore, leaving behind a frothy trail of white. The distant sounds of Pokémon and the chatter of humans from the bustliival drifted along the breeze, adding to the tranquil mood.

  For a while, even the wi softer and calmer.

  Not far from them, Cyclizar, Dragonite, Butterfree, G, and the Dratini and Dragonair pyed in the sand, while Miltank and Naclstack observed from the sidelihe Gogoat stayed close to Naoki, happily mung on fruits from the piic basket.

  Dolliv, resting on the piiket, quietly watched Butterfree and bee, who were engaged in a hushed versation.

  From time to time, people passed by, marveling at the sight of so many Pokémon gathered in one pce. Among the onlookers were a few young trainers, boys and girls around ten years old, their eyes wide with admiration.

  One of the boys, dressed in shorts, stared at Dragonite before turning to Naoki with a grin. "Hey! Let's have aing Pokémon battle!" he excimed eagerly.

  Naoki raised an eyebrow at the challehen turo his Pokémon with a pyful smile. "Anyone up for a quick battle?"

  The Gogoat perked up immediately, standing tall with enthusiasm.

  "Meeeaaah!" it bleated excitedly, stepping forward to face the boy.

  Just ten seds ter, the boy's Paras was knocked out cold.

  "Wow! That was amazing!" the other trainers excimed in awe.

  One of them, eyes wide with reition, suddenly spoke up. "Excuse me... are you Mr. Naoki?!"

  Naoki was surprised to hear his of the blue. He turned around to see a young trainer in a light Traje de Corto looking at him with excitement.

  "You know me?" Naoki asked curiously.

  The boy nodded eagerly. "You're the founder of the Green Grass Trial! I've heard stories about you at school!"

  The boy's friends looked fused. "Green Grass Trial? What's that? Is it a new gym challenge?"

  "No!" the boy expined, "It's a special trial desigo help Pokémon and trainers practice together! They say that anyone who participates in it sees a big improvement in their skills!"

  "Really? I didn't know something like that existed!" the other trainers excimed, clearly impressed.

  "Of course! I've always wao give it a try..." The boy looked disappointed.

  "Unfortunately, I haven't collected all fym badges yet, so I'm not qualified to challenge. But I'll do my best!"

  Naoki sighed inwardly. It seemed that the news of him setting challenge limits had spread, thanks to the three challengers from st time.

  "Are there many people who know about this?" he asked.

  The boy nodded eagerly. "Yes, the legend of the three Gogoat is popur at school! A lot of students want to challe, but since we just started our jourhis year, we haven't collected all four badges yet."

  Hearing this, Naoki finally uood.

  No wohere had been no new challengers visiting the ranch retly. It seemed that the challenge requirements were the reason.

  "It looks like this news is mostly cirg among the lrades," Naoki thought to himself.

  The boy notiaoki's thoughtful expression aated before asking, "Mr. Naoki, I ask you a question?"

  "Sure, go ahead," Naoki replied, encingly.

  "Do we o sign a fidentiality agreement to challehe Green Grass Trial?" the boy asked, his face filled with curiosity. "I've noticed that Carter and the others won't tell us anything about the trial. Every time we ask, they give us these strange expressions."

  That expression was a mixture of both pain and happiness.

  Naoki: "..."

  He gave a polite smile and said, "There's no fidentiality agreement. You'll find out the details of the challenge when you e to face it."

  The boy's eyes lit up with anticipation. "I'll definitely be there! Thanks, Mr. Naoki! See you ter!"

  Naoki nodded with a small smile, watg the young trainers runoff, their excitement palpable.

  He then turned his attention to the Gogoat.

  Over the past few weeks, Naoki had been w hard to improve the physical fitness of his Gogoat herd, helping them absorb mrass energy. Every m, he took his Gogoat for runs around the ranch."

  Even Pawmo would join them.

  After returning fronite Isnd, Pawmo decided it was time to get back to its roots and work on evolving into an even more powerful Pawmot. It had stopped relying on flight and had taken to running on the ground again, eager tthen itself.

  Naoki was very pleased with the hard work of his Pokémon.

  Although he wasn't a traditional trainer, and the Pokémon didn't have to battle every day, it was beneficial for them to tio grow.

  Soon, Dragonite and the others were tired of pying, so they ran bad gathered around the piiket.

  Naoki was about to say something wheiced a crowd f on the beach. Even the uncle selling Magikarp joihem.

  A loud explosion echoed, and a massive firework bloomed across the night sky.

  In an instant, brilliant light illumihe faces of everyoending the festival.

  Then, as if a switch had been flipped, more fireworks shot up into the sky, bursting over the sea and lighting up the dark night.

  The se was stunning as if deg that summer had reached its peak.

  "Oooh..." Dragonite murmured softly beside him.

  Naoki turned his head and saw the dazzling fireworks reflected in Dragonite's wide, dark eyes.

  Although he couldn't uand Dragonite's exact words, Naoki guessed it robably saying, "How beautiful!"

  Uhe fireworks, Naoki g every Pokémon surrounding him—Cyclizar, Koraidon, Dragonite, Butterfree, Alcremie, G, bee, Gogoat, Miltank, Dolliv, Naclstack

  He felt that he would never fet this moment.

  Suddenly, Cyclizar and Koraidon seemed to sense something.

  They shifted their gaze from the fireworks and looked at him.

  Their eyes were clear and bright, and their expressions were full of happiness and peaaoki saw himself reflected in their eyes.

  "Ah, gah~"

  "Gah!"

  A smile tugged at the ers of Naoki's mouth, and he reached out to hold their paws.

  Together, the man and his Pokémon watched the fireworks dispy.

  Uhe starry sky, with fireworks blooming above, Naoki's lips moved in a whisper, his thoughts eg in his heart:

  "I'm gd I met you too."