Chapter 77 - 36 - The Slavic Journalist

Arriving at Dasma Town, Rico took a bus to a nearby village just between Kawayan City and Dasma Town to do a journey home by foot. Arriving there, he bought some snacks and drinks for the journey and immediately left the village by foot towards Kawayan City in less than 30 minutes.

Along the way, many wild Pokémon are friendly to him while driving away the hostile ones, like people making a way for the upcoming king or monarch. He stops every 1 to 2 kilometers to sit down, rest, eat, and drink, and then get up and resumed his journey. He was determined to make it home, even it is the closing afternoon, twilight, and the coming evening.

Later by 7:45 p.m., Rico arrived at the suburbs of Kawayan City, and little did he know is that he is just a few blocks away from his house. So, upon realizing this, Rico took a deep breath and continue his trek towards home. It was night time and the lights from buildings, lampposts, and billboards are illuminating the mild, cloudy night.

Upon arriving at his house, Rico was concerned about what his father would react when he's late for dinner. So he took a deep breath once more, and opened the door, greeting, "Dad, I'm..." His sentence was temporarily cut when he sees his father being upset; he then got surprised and completed his sentence, "...home?!" Lucas was upset by this, he was crossing his arms with an intimidating demeanor. Then, with stuttering, Rico responded, "I...uh...I-I'm sorry for making you-" His sentence was once again cut off when his father just hugged him in relief, responding, "Idiot! I'm so worried about you." When he realized how his father was that loving and worry, Rico shed tears while dropping his bag, and responded, "I'm sorry, dad, and...I'm home." This scene continues with relief to fill the hour of the night.

The next day is the last day of their vacation in their hometown, and in the morning, after breakfast, Rico went out to buy some souvenirs and going to friends' houses for quick visits.

Later his visits are with servings of water and chats about themselves and Rico had told them his last day in his home region. His friends then said goodbye and good luck to him, with hugging and tears.

After those emotional events, Rico went to Kawayan Central Mall to buy some souvenirs like Mango Mini Cupcakes and rice cakes. He planned to buy them for his family and friends back at Kanto. At the supermarket, Rico was shopping for food souvenirs with a budget of 510 Pokedollars. Lucario was out of its Poké Ball so it could help its trainer. They went around the market with a shopping cart, picking up trending local delicacies and necessities like Chocolate Macarons and a few small boxes of juice, milk, and coffee, ready to be used anytime, anywhere. He also picked up his favorite biscuits as a last minute souvenir before departure. After all that shopping, Rico and his Pokémon proceeded to the cashier's desk to pay. By 9:11 a.m., they are now out of the supermarket with two big paper bags of their purchases. And as he walks along, he bump heads with Isaiah, who was just finished buying some supplies for his journalism career, causing both to fall to the floor and their supplies spilled.

"Ow!" Rico felt pain while massaging his head a bit and closing his eyes, "Watch where you're going, you-" his sentence was cut off when he opened his eyes, only to see it was Isaiah, again.

"What the...?" he continued in shock, "Isaiah?" Lucario then responded with shocks and surprise. Opening his eyes, Isaiah was laughing in embarrassment and scratching his head a bit.

"Hi, there, Rico," he greeted him slowly while getting up and giving him a hand. Calming down, Rico accepted it and get up as well, replying, "Well, hi there, Isaiah. How did you...?"

"I followed you from the train and up to your foot journey to Kawayan City," Isaiah happily responded.

(Flashback to when Isaiah followed Rico from the train, to Dasma Town, exiting a village convenience store, leaving the village, in the middle of the countryside road, and at last, in front of Rico's house. Flashback ends)

Rico was stunned at first, and then became happy with embarrassment, commenting, "Wow, you're so clever there. So how's the walk while following me?" Picking up the fallen supplies and put them in a plastic bag, Isaiah replied back, "That was long and exhausting, but you really determined to do so. Right?" Standing up straight, Rico picked up the fallen purchases and put them back in the paper bags. He then answered him, "Yes, I do."

By lunch time, at a cafe in the second floor of the mall, Rico and Isaiah are having lunch, which consists of two bowls of green salad, a dozen French toasts, a bowl of potato, French fries, two cups of vanilla and cheese ice cream, and, for drinks, two glasses of Iced Tea and water. Their Pokémon are eating their special food at a special area exclusively for Pokémon. The atmosphere there is lovely, as the people around them are doing there own thing and enjoying their orders. And as the waitress gave them the last part of their order and left, Isaiah started his conversation, "Rico, I...I'm gonna tell you something: a secret."

"What is it?" Rico brightly replied. Taking a deep breath, Isaiah answered him, "I was related to Ash." This surprises the local a lot and he responded, "Okay, what do you mean by that?"

"I was the brother of Ash," Isaiah admitted with any guilt, "and my last name is Ketchum." This time, Rico was shocked at his confession, dropping his spoon to the plate, producing a quick, low clang sound.

"What, in the son of a Lucario, did you just said?" Rico commented in shock.

"Yes, it's true," Isaiah admitted, "I left because I wanted to be an explorer of the world in a young age. Not to mention I wanted to be a journalist as well;" he then finished his glass of Iced Tea. Calming down, Rico replied with a little counsel, "Ah, I see. Well, don't you ever forget about Ash and his family you know, because how much they love you."

"I know, but I forgot about it," Isaiah mildly responded. "It's my fault I let them down. S-Sorry;" he then bowed his head a bit in apology.

"That's alright," Rico responded with concern, "If you see them, apologize to them;" he then finished eating his entire meal and drink some water. Suddenly, his phone rang.

(Ring!!!)

It was his landline number back at his home in Kanto. In response of answering, Rico excused himself, grabbed his phone, and went to the restroom while answering it.

"Hello, who is this?" he answered. In the other end of the line, Iris, the caller, responded, "Hi, Rico." Her Axew then responded in greeting.

"Iris?" Rico replied in puzzling, "What are you calling?"

"Oh, you know, just asking how are you," Iris responded in a bit of carefree. "Plus, your mom allowed me to use their landline telephone." Then in a normal state, "Anyway, how's your vacation there?"

"Just fine," Rico happily replied. "Today is my last day of my vacation, and I'll be there by tomorrow."

"Okay, good luck," Iris replied in getting what Rico said.

"Also, my friend here, Isaiah, told that he was..." he responded and then drowned in the last part.

"He was what?" Iris replied with confusion. Taking a deep breath, Rico completed his sentence, "..he was Ash's brother." Stunned by this, Iris responded, "What? Brother?"

"Yes, but I don't want Ash to be upset by this," Rico calmed her down in a low voice, "Okay?" Calming down, Iris responded, "Oh, I see. Well, I won't."

"Thank you," Rico replied in pity happiness, "Well, bye:" he and Iris then ended their conversation. When Rico came back to his table, Isaiah was playing an offline video about a cartoon tanks show-song with the repeatedly singing of the word "Monstr." Upon seeing Rico, Isaiah paused his video, put it down, and looked at him in attention. Sitting down, and putting his phone on the table, Rico made an excuse, "Sorry, Isaiah, someone had called me."

"That's okay!" Isaiah happily replied while scratching his head a bit in embarrassment and little chuckling. And they are having a great time while hiding the fact that Isaiah was Ash's brother, but it won't be long, for now.