"If you're just going home to rest, then absolutely," Maru said. "But forget about working your shift at the Saloon. Gus already gave you the day off. Also, he said he's going to give you a bonus as compensation for working overtime last night."
"Yay!" Emily cheered.
"Go home and get some good rest," Maru said. "Ron, walk Emily home. I can't get away right now."
"?"
Ron glanced at Maru, who was blinking at him, not understanding where the teasing look on her face was coming from.
But seeing that Emily was indeed a bit weak, he agreed.
"I don't need you to carry me." Emily waved her hand. "Don't underestimate a seamstress!" Saying this, she hopped right out of bed and bounced in place a couple of times.
Because she had been lying down for so long, standing up and jumping suddenly caused a brief drop in blood flow to her brain. Her vision immediately went black.
"—" Maru quickly stepped forward to steady her. "Alright, save the jumping for tomorrow. Go home and rest."
"Oh, okay, thanks." Emily stood up straight awkwardly.
"Oh right, here's your medicine. Take it after you eat," Maru said, handing a bottle to Emily.
After watching Ron and Emily leave, Maru took over Harvey's duties at the counter, organizing things while letting her mind wander.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing." Maru rested her chin on her hands. "If I had to name something, I was wondering who Ron will choose for the Flower Dance this year..."
"Choose?" Harvey pushed up his glasses in disbelief.
Because he didn't socialize much—though he did work out with everyone at the community center on Tuesdays—he had never participated in any gossip.
"Choose who?"
"Hmm—for example, Penny, Leah, and Emily?" Haley and Abigail weren't here, so they didn't count for now.
As for herself, she hadn't really thought about joining in the fun. Of course, it wouldn't hurt to participate; as long as she wasn't choosing between just two people, losing wouldn't be too awkward.
Harvey frowned. While he didn't exactly look forward to the Flower Dance either, going without a partner was bound to be at least a little awkward.
Like how awkward Clint usually was.
But things might be a bit better this year. After all, with Haley and Abigail gone, if he ended up without a partner, he wouldn't be the only one left out.
With this thought, Harvey smoothed out his brow.
Although he didn't want to admit it, whether it came to romance or his dreams—he always acted like a coward, even though he hated being that way.
Maru turned to look at Harvey and smiled mischievously. "Then I'll go ask Ron to dance too."
"Suit yourself," Harvey said, walking into the back room to organize files.
"Aren't you afraid of being left all alone?"
"Notice—" Harvey drawled from inside the room. "There are four ladies this year, and seven men—which means—"
"Three people will be left out no matter what?"
"Exactly," Harvey said. "So it doesn't matter which side I'm on."
Hearing this, Maru snorted and buried herself in her work.
On the other side, Ron had walked Emily home. Because the medicine had to be taken after a meal, Ron casually cooked her something to eat. After placing the food on the table and wiping his hands, he was about to leave.
"Aren't you going to eat with me?"
"Indeedee probably saved some food for me," Ron said. "Eat up and get some good rest."
"What time are you leaving tomorrow? Do you want me to see you off?" Emily asked, sitting at the dining table.
"It'll be pretty early—probably heading out around seven or eight in the morning. You just focus on resting. If you have any words for Haley, you can tell me now."
"Nope." Emily shook her head. "She should be pretty well-adjusted over there—oh, right. Don't tell her about what happened this morning."
Ron agreed.
After Ron walked away, Emily quietly buried her head in her meal.
The room was so quiet that it suddenly reminded her she was all alone now.
After a long while, she let out a long sigh.
Squawkabilly slowly landed on her shoulder. "Oh right, and you my dear."
"Squaw~" Squawkabilly cried out, then started mimicking Haley's voice: "Emily~ Emily~"
"Honestly." Emily laughingly put a piece of a nut by Squawkabilly's beak.
Squawkabilly immediately shut up and started crunching on the nut.
Time shifted to the next day.
Ron packed his things, brought along Froakie and Bellossom, plus the Starfruit Tea leaves he was going to sell in Kalos, and left the farm just like that.
He specifically asked everyone not to see him off this time. Ron walked quietly toward the beach.
"Are we really leaving today, meow?" Meowth, along with James and Jessie, followed sneakily behind Ron.
"Duh!" Jessie said. "If we stay any longer, do you think you'd be able to bring yourself to leave?"
"—" Meowth covered its head, shrinking reluctantly into the bushes.
"Even if we're quitting Team Rocket, we still have to go back and tell the Boss, right?" James couldn't help but comfort it.
"That's true too, meow." Meowth kept its head covered.
"As long as we make it back to the farm before Ron does, we'll be fine. We're just scouting the route out," James continued. "Plus, Mime Jr. is still with Team Rocket. I need to go bring that kid back."
Aside from Mime Jr., there was also Chimecho, who had been left at the country villa because it couldn't handle James' hard lifestyle.
"You have a point, meow." Meowth thought for a moment. "Let's go then."
And so, Team Rocket sneakily tailed him all the way.
Once they reached the beach, they waited until Ron's boat had sailed away before dragging a small boat out from a corner.
"We're using this, meow? Can we keep up?"
"Duh! With this little time, how could we get anything else ready?" Jessie said, shoving the oars into Meowth's paws. "Row! We're going to lose them in a second."
As they spoke, Ron's boat was already getting further and further away in their field of vision.
Meowth and James immediately started rowing with all their might.
"We can't catch up at all, meow—how is manual labor supposed to outrun a motorboat, meow."
"Nonsense! Keep rowing!"
"Easy for Jessie to say—she's not putting in any effort at all, meow—Ow, that hurts!" Meowth yelped, then continued to row desperately.
Just as they were giving it their absolute all and were about to catch up to Ron's boat, a flash of light suddenly flickered. Ron, along with his boat, vanished from their sight.
"?"
"—So he really did use magic, meow!"
At this moment, back at the farm.
Indeedee arrived at the cabin where Team Rocket stayed. After opening the door and seeing the empty room, it stood there in a daze for a moment.
"Indeedee?!!!" It then went inside to thoroughly inspect the place. Just as it was starting to despair and wanted to call everyone to search for them—
The trio walked in, panting heavily.
"Ahahaha, we, we just went out for some exercise." Jessie laughed dryly, locking eyes with Indeedee.
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