Pokémon: Who let him leave Pallet Town?

Chapter 185 Fellow villagers, I plan to stay and build Zhenxin Town!
Back in Pallet Town, the group headed straight for Oak's lab.

"That's strange, there's nobody on the streets."

Xiaoxia looked around curiously.

She remembered that when she and Xiaozhi went home before, they would see a lot of people from the town from time to time.

People would greet them from time to time.

"Uh, maybe it's because of Natsume-nii?"

Xiaozhi scratched his head.

He remembered clearly that, from childhood to adulthood, whenever Natsume stood behind him, the neighbors would think of all sorts of urgent matters when they saw him.

"Professor Nishino didn't send us a video to celebrate. Is there any possibility that..."

Xiao Gang paused mysteriously as he spoke.

"Don't you guys care about us?!" Ash clutched his head, looking like the sky had fallen.

"Idiot! They're definitely planning a surprise for us at Oak's lab!"

Xiaoxia punched Xiaozhi, and a big bump appeared on his head.

Back at the research institute, as expected, the backyard was filled with banquets.

At the banquet, everyone was a familiar face.

"Uncle Sugimoto, it's been a long time since I've seen your Oddish. Would you like me to make a food recipe for you?"

"Oh, Aunt Shentian, your little Geodude isn't afraid of the sun anymore!"

As Natsume greeted his neighbors, he was surprised to find that their complexions were much better than usual!
This must be due to the beneficial projects he left behind in Zhenxin Town.

Natsume nodded knowingly.

"The expressions on the villagers' faces are so strange," Xiaoxia whispered to Xiaogang.

"Yeah, the way they looked at us, it felt like they were looking at us as accomplices in a crime," Xiao Gang said uncertainly.

"Great! I've been starving the whole way here!"

Xiao Zhi was clearly not paying much attention and seemed extremely happy, sitting down in an empty seat that had been reserved for them.

"Never mind, I'm hungry too."

Seeing this, Xiaogang and Xiaoxia also took their seats.

"Natsume, Ash, congratulations! One of you is the champion and the other is the runner-up!"

Dr. Nishino Mori came out holding a small firework.

"thump!"

Fireworks exploded, gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight.

"correct!"

Nishino Mori suddenly thought of something and said to an old man at a banquet:
"Mayor, Natsume is here!"

Upon hearing this, an elderly man wearing a wool sweater stood up, leaning on his cane, and slowly walked towards Natsume.

In an instant, Natsume felt all eyes on him.

"W-What's wrong?" Xia, who was stuffing herself with grilled fish, was taken aback, thinking that her eating manners were too unsightly.

Turning around, he saw everyone staring at Natsume.

"Natsume, the tournament has just ended, are you going back to Sinnoh already?" The mayor wiped his eyes and squeezed out two tears.

"Mayor, I can't bear to part with you!"

Natsume hugged the mayor and burst into tears.

Natsume only let go when the latter's face turned purple.

"Cough cough cough!" The mayor coughed, took the water handed to him from the side, drank it, and then looked at Natsume.

"Natsume, your victory this time is great news! It's a fantastic achievement for Pallet Town!"

As he spoke, the town mayor became so moved that tears welled up in his eyes.

He grasped Natsume's wrist and looked shakily to the side.

The man beside him understood and immediately handed over a stack of documents.

The mayor shakily opened the document in his hand; it was a letter of recommendation to the alliance.

"This letter of recommendation was initiated by me in my capacity as the mayor of Pallet Town, and it was written together with everyone!"

As he spoke, the mayor looked at the crowd below.

Almost everyone had tears in their eyes, as if they were looking at Natsume with reluctance.

"Hmm—a recommendation letter, what's that for?"

Underground, Xiao Zhi chewed his food and asked indistinctly.

"Oh, this is a policy the league introduced a few years ago," Xiao Gang said softly.

"As long as you win the League Tournament and have proof of good character recommended by most people in your area, you can obtain permanent residency in Indigo Plateau. Moreover, the League will give you a position and train you to become an outstanding trainer!" "Wow, Natsume can receive such respect." Misty suddenly felt rude for her previous guess.

"Amazing!"

Ash looked at Natsume with envy.

Over there, the town mayor was already in tears.

"You are an outstanding young man. We have secured permanent residency for you in Quartz Plateau. Zhenxin Town is too small, and the stage is too small. From now on, you should develop your career there!"

The mayor handed Natsume a thick stack of recommendation letters:

“Every single one of these letters has the bloody handprints of the villagers on it!”

Seeing Natsume accept the letter with emotion, the mayor was trembling with excitement.

Finally, finally!!!
Did he know that he hadn't slept for days after finding out Natsume was back last month?

Below, the villagers also covered their faces.
"Yes, Natsume, you should do well there from now on. We are proud of you!"

"Young people should work harder and be more diligent. There's no need to come back for the food here. We'll cook it and deliver it to you!"

"Never give up on your dreams because of a little difficulty or obstacle!"

"Yes, Natsume, I heard you're going to become a Pokémon Professor. Indigo Plateau is the center of the Pokémon League, it's an incredibly safe and great place!"

Tears welled up in Natsume's eyes as he listened to the words of concern.

Overwhelmed with emotion, he excitedly took the microphone from Dr. Nishino Mori's hand.

"Fellow villagers, listen to me."

The moment Natsume held the microphone, the crowd below fell silent.

They all looked at Natsume with tears in their eyes and expressions of encouragement.

"I used to think that people didn't like me very much."

"When choosing a research institute, I even considered moving out of Pallet Town!"

"But now it seems that I really misunderstood everyone!"

As Natsume spoke, he also began to wipe away his tears.

"Don't cry, don't cry, you're a good child!"

The town mayor quickly handed over a tissue.

"I understand that this is the age to take risks."

The encouraging gazes below suddenly turned serious.

"But!"

Natsume abruptly changed the subject.

"Since the villagers care about me, Natsume, I certainly can't do nothing!"

"Fellow villagers, I want to stay and work hard to build Zhenxin Town!"

"My research institute will be located on the opposite side of the snow-capped mountain!"

As soon as these words came out, the whole place fell silent.

Visibly, the nearly 60-year-old town mayor trembled all over.

The old town mayor smiled.

The wrinkles on her face deepened into deep furrows as she smiled, and large tears involuntarily streamed down her face.

Losing his balance, the old town mayor fell backward.

Natsume quickly helped the mayor, who was about to faint.

"Mayor, why are you crying!"

"No, it's nothing, I'm just so touched!"

The town mayor was in tears.

Below, the villagers all bowed their heads and covered their faces.

Xiaoxia and the others could even hear soft sobbing.

"Wow, I never imagined Natsume was so beloved!" Xiaoxia exclaimed in surprise, as if she were meeting Natsume for the first time.

"Hmph, of course, Natsume-nii is very prestigious in our Pallet Town."

Ash now understands why those neighbors were afraid to face Natsume.

It must be because Natsume-san is just too great!
"Uh"

Xiao Gang looked around but didn't say anything.

Actually, he sensed that something was off about the atmosphere.

(End of this chapter)