The Pokémon journey begins in Galar

After everything that had just happened, both Marnie and Yuri had lost interest in strolling around the city. On the walk back to the hotel, Yuri clung tightly to Marnie's hand, refusing to let go.

Marnie, overwhelmed with guilt, didn't resist. Along the way, she quietly explained everything why she was planning to leave the Galar region and what had led to that decision.

Back in their hotel room, Marnie released their Pokémon so they could rest, then gently led Yuri by the hand to sit at the edge of the bed.

Squatting down to meet Yuri's lowered gaze, Marnie found herself looking into a pair of red, tear-streaked eyes.

"I'm sorry…"

She raised her hand to wipe away Yuri's tears, but Yuri instinctively turned her head, avoiding Marnie's touch.

"I… I can do it myself."

Her voice was barely above a whisper as she pulled up her sleeve and wiped her eyes rather roughly. The walk back had given her time to think.

She had come to realize just how much she'd been relying on Marnie.

Whether it was training, camping, daily routines, or even caring for Pokémon Yuri had grown too dependent on this girl kneeling before her.

It hurt. But even so, she couldn't bring herself to say anything selfish.

"It's okay. I'll be fine soon."

Yuri covered her eyes with one arm, trying to get her emotions under control. But the moment she opened her mouth, all her efforts fell apart.

Outside, the sun was still shining bright. But inside the room, the mood was somber, and neither of the girls could bring themselves to smile.

The Pokémon, sensitive as ever, had picked up on their trainers' distress. Still, they remained quiet, not wanting to intrude. Instead, they silently gathered around the two girls, gently leaning into them as if to lend their strength.

Marnie offered the Pokémon a grateful smile, silently thanking them for their support, then stood in place, waiting patiently for the moment Yuri would look at her again.

...

No one knew how long it took. But eventually, Yuri felt like she had calmed down enough. She slowly lowered her arm, and the first thing she saw was Marnie, right in front of her.

Before she could say anything, Marnie reached out and took her hands.

"…"

Yuri nearly lost it again. She opened her mouth, unsure what to say. After a few deep breaths, she finally managed to speak.

"Marnie… when are you planning to leave?"

"Around the time of the third Gym challenge. I haven't set a specific date yet."

"I see…"

Yuri gave Marnie's hand a light squeeze. Her voice was a little distant.

"But didn't Sonia say you could go earlier? You're doing the Island Challenge, right? Wouldn't it be better to give yourself more time?"

On the way back, Marnie had explained the basics of the Island Challenge in the Alola region, and the use of Z-Moves. Yuri hadn't fully grasped all the details yet, but it seemed similar to Galar's Gym Challenge a way to prove your strength and dedication through tough battles.

So when she heard Marnie's vague timeline, she couldn't help but feel a little upset. It sounded like Marnie was once again putting off her plans just because of her.

Seeing the shift in Yuri's expression, Marnie pressed her lips together and thought for a moment before speaking again.

"Don't overthink it. My plan from the start was to head to Alola after clearing the Fire Gym. This isn't about you, okay?"

"But—"

Just as Yuri tried to argue, Marnie raised her hand and gently pressed a finger to her lips.

"Then let me say it this way. I don't want to leave yet because I want to spend more time with you, Yuri. What are you going to do about that?"

"…That's cheating…"

Yuri blushed and shrank back slightly. She couldn't say anything selfish but that didn't mean she could just smile and wave goodbye to someone so dear to her.

Marnie had noticed that too. Right now, Yuri was like a turtle hiding in its shell unsure what to say, unwilling to show how she really felt, just bracing herself for the inevitable.

And Marnie, who didn't have many close friends or much experience in these kinds of emotional situations, wasn't sure how to respond either. Honestly, she'd surprised herself. She cared about Yuri more than she'd realized.

Maybe… she actually liked her.

Marnie was self-aware enough to admit it. She knew she was into girls. And after spending so much time traveling together sleeping side by side each night she'd be lying if she said she hadn't felt anything.

Seeing how strong Yuri's reaction was now… it made her wonder. Did Yuri feel the same?

It was a bit self-indulgent to think that way, but the thought had crept into Marnie's head all the same.

"…This isn't just an excuse," Marnie said quietly.

Then, without warning, she lowered her head and gently rested it on Yuri's lap. She turned her face to the side, her eyes fixed on the small, soft hands held within her own.

"They feel nice," she murmured. "Warm."

"I really enjoyed traveling with you, Yuri. I used to think I was fine on my own. As long as I had my Pokémon, I didn't need anyone else. But I was wrong.

"Being with you makes the journey more fun. So yeah, I'm reluctant to leave you. That's the truth. I want to stay with you a little longer. And that plan I mentioned? That's real too. I really like you, Yuri."

"Idiot…"

Yuri's face turned crimson. She wanted to swat Marnie for saying something so ridiculous out of the blue but her hands were still being held tightly. She tried to shoot her a glare, but Marnie just lay there on her lap, refusing to meet her eyes.

"Hmph!"

In the end, Yuri couldn't bring herself to push her away. She puffed up her cheeks and let out an exaggerated huff, hoping it would express her frustration.

Marnie, noticing Yuri's reaction, felt her own face heat up. She'd acted on impulse heart pounding, words spilling out without a filter. Even though she knew Yuri probably wouldn't interpret it the way she did, Marnie still felt shy and awkward about her sudden confession.

At that moment, Ethan, sitting nearby with his ears perked, caught Marnie's glance. He gave her a small, teasing smirk.

That's all you've got?

"…"

Marnie understood his expression perfectly. But she couldn't argue. She'd never been in a relationship before. She'd spent nearly ten years focused solely on Pokémon.

She really had no idea how to deal with feelings like this.

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