Pokémon: Starting with a Bound Entry System

Chapter 146: Bidding Farewell to Sakura's Father

On the morning of July 29th, Hikaru followed his usual routine. After waking up and washing up, he opened his system to check for updates.

He activated the daily trait but only received a green, inconsequential bonus trait, which he immediately broke down into Trait Coins. A quick look at the Trait Shop confirmed no noteworthy changes, so he picked up his phone and called Sakura.

"Hello! Good morning, big brother!" Sakura's cheerful voice came through. She sounded a bit groggy, still in her white spaghetti-strap nightdress, revealing her delicate shoulders and collarbones. Her long hair was slightly messy, and a small tuft stuck up adorably from the top of her head.

Her sleepy yet lively appearance, combined with the soft fabric's ripple effect, caught Hikaru's gaze momentarily before he quickly averted his eyes. She's grown up well... he thought, shaking the distraction away.

Seeing Hikaru calling her first thing in the morning clearly delighted Sakura. She blinked her sparkling blue eyes, still half-closed with sleep, clearly surprised by his initiative.

"Morning, Sakura," Hikaru greeted, though he hesitated. Over the phone didn't seem like the best way to say goodbye. It would be better to talk in person.

"Are you home? I'd like to visit," he finally said.

"Really?" Sakura, toothbrush and cup in hand, grinned ear to ear at his words.

"Yeah."

"I'm home. Come over anytime, big brother!"

---

At the Hayashi Estate

After hanging up, Sakura danced around joyfully before rushing to get ready. She quickly brushed her teeth, washed up, and stood before her wardrobe, overwhelmed by the array of outfits.

"Should I wear this? Or maybe this one... Oh, but this one looks so pretty too…" Sakura murmured, caught in a fashion dilemma.

Meanwhile, Hikaru packed his belongings into the system's storage space. The Hayashi family estate wasn't far from Kyoto's stadium, and Sakura had previously described it as a sprawling manor—hard to miss.

Donning the Ever-Changing Mask, Hikaru hailed a cab and made his way there. Sure enough, the estate was enormous, with guards stationed at the entrance. Beyond the wrought iron gates, servants could be seen trimming hedges and watering flowers.

As Hikaru wondered how to gain entry, a familiar, graceful figure came running toward him.

"Good morning, big brother!" Sakura greeted, her voice ringing with cheer.

"Morning," Hikaru replied. Seeing her, his eyes involuntarily brightened.

Dressed in a simple white school uniform paired with a light blue bow and matching skirt, Sakura exuded youthful energy. Her long hair, though unbound, was clearly groomed to perfection, draping neatly over her shoulders. Her light blue eyes sparkled like a crystal-clear spring as they met his gaze. A natural smile adorned her face, curving into an enchanting arc.

She approached him with small, hurried steps, her happiness apparent. Grabbing his hand, she led him into the estate. Along the way, several servants greeted her, though their curious gazes lingered on Hikaru, a stranger to them. The Ever-Changing Mask ensured that Hikaru appeared unremarkable, making the servants all the more puzzled by Sakura's warm reception.

Finally, Sakura led Hikaru to a small pavilion nestled amidst the garden. Nearby, a flock of Swablu pecked at Energy Cubes laid out for them.

"So, what's the occasion, big brother?" Sakura asked, sitting down with a radiant smile.

"Well… Sakura, I came to tell you that I'll be leaving Kyoto in a few days," Hikaru said, rubbing the back of his neck. Despite mentally preparing himself, saying goodbye was never easy.

Sakura's smile faltered, her joy fading like a cloud passing over the sun. She quickly composed herself, though her pout and downcast eyes betrayed her disappointment. "So soon? I thought you'd stay in Kyoto longer…"

"It was a sudden decision. Otherwise, I would have loved to spend more time here," Hikaru said with a wry smile.

His plan was to stay until next month's trait reset, then visit Wind City, rumored to harbor a mysterious Pokémon. Conveniently, Wind City was close to Xiang Province, allowing him to drop by Shuimu City to handle his school transfer paperwork.

"When are you leaving?" Sakura asked, trying to mask her sadness.

"Probably in the next day or two. By the way, do you have your cousin Hayashi Ten's contact information? He asked for my help with something, and I'd like to resolve it before I go."

Though Hikaru had taken the Dragon Pool spot intended for Hayashi Ten's sister, he felt it was only right to make up for it if possible.

"I do…" Sakura replied softly, her hands clenching slightly. She lowered her head. "I'll send it to you later…"

Hikaru reached out and gently patted her head. "What's wrong? It's not like I'm disappearing forever. It's just a couple of months. I'll be back for that Dratini you promised me."

"Alright…" Sakura nodded. Suddenly, she clung to his hand. "Big brother… Can I go with you?"

"That's not happening," came a stern voice from behind.

Both turned to see a middle-aged man in casual attire approaching. Sakura instantly pouted. "Father…"

This was Hayashi Dou, Sakura's father and the current head of the Hayashi family.

"Good day, sir," Hikaru greeted politely, standing up.

"Hmph!" Hayashi Dou huffed, not entirely unkindly but clearly displeased. Seeing his daughter so eager to run off with Hikaru made him uneasy. If he hadn't intervened, she might have been off to wander the world with him by now.

"Why not?" Sakura protested, tugging on her father's arm. "I think I could gain valuable experience traveling!"

"Experience can be arranged by the family. For now, you'll stay home, Sakura," Hayashi Dou said, his expression softening as he looked at his daughter.

"Father, please…" Sakura tried to plead, resorting to her best pout and puppy-dog eyes.

"No, Sakura," Hayashi Dou said firmly. "You're about to undergo your second awakening ceremony. How can you leave now?"

Seeing no room for negotiation, Sakura deflated, murmuring, "Fine… Then at least let Gengar go with him."

"Gengar stays with you!" Hayashi Dou replied.

"But you just said you'd agree to anything else!" Sakura retorted stubbornly.

Hayashi Dou sighed, rubbing his temples. His daughter's persistence was giving him a headache. He had no idea what kind of spell Hikaru had cast on her to make her so adamant about supporting him.

"Uh… sir…" Hikaru began awkwardly.

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