Y/n's POV 🍒

"Yeah...I'm going up against you." I said as I looked at Byron.

"Precisely. Ever since you defeated the other 4 gym leaders, including my son, they've been talking about you a lot, with me and the ones you haven't battled yet." He says.

"I'm a little surprised to hear that. Have you, Roark, and the other gym leaders talked about a challenger before?" I asked.

"Nope! This is the first time we've talked about a challenger like you." Byron answered.

"Wow...I really am something, aren't I?" I went as I hid a smile.

"Yup...But, I see you as a champion and a gym leader." He says.

"I actually think that's what I'll do for my next step in my path, once I become champion..." I thought.

"But, I'll tell him and Roark later, as a surprise."

"So, are you ready to challenge me to a battle?" Byron asked.

"Yeah. I just gotta head over to the Poké Center for a moment to get myself ready." I answered.

"Alright, I'll meet you in the gym." He says before leaving the room as he waved goodbye for the time being.

I waved back before looking at Roark.

"Well...I'm about to head out and battle your father next." I said to him, even though I know he's still unconscious and isn't able to hear me.

Then I gave Roark a head pat before stretching the tiredness out of me a little.

Even though I wanted to give Roark a hug or a kiss on the cheek and say "I love you..." to him, I was really hesitant on doing that.

Mostly because my mind keeps telling me that this isn't 'the right moment' yet.

I don't really know what my mind meant by that, but, I decided to stick with what it's telling me for now.

"Cya later..." I said next as I looked over at him for a moment, before leaving the room and closing the door behind me.

Looking at the miner jacket I was still wearing, I sighed a little before leaving the hospital and heading my way to Canalave City, focusing my attention on the challenge.

When I made it, I decided to explore around a little and head over to Iron Island to train my pokémon and level them up a bit more, until I ran into Riley.

From there, I helped him find out why the pokémon in Iron Island were so restless, including the two of us defeating two Team Galactic grunts.

After chasing them off, Riley thanked me before asking me something that I had no idea I'd be getting.

"Would you like a pokémon egg?" He says before showing me.

Without any hesitation, I instantly said yes and gently took it, once Riley handed it to me.

The egg felt a little cold and smooth, but I could feel something warm from inside it.

I wanted to know what pokémon it is that'll hatch from the egg soon, but I knew I have to be patient and find out myself.

"Wait and see..." as the old saying goes.

As I held the egg, I thanked Riley before we both went our separate ways.

Deciding that my pokémon has been trained enough, I took the lift and exited out, as I also wanted to keep the egg safe until the pokémon inside it has hatched.

Getting back on the boat, the sailor took me back to the city.

When I returned, I put the egg in my backpack to keep it safe and to prevent myself from losing it.

And I made sure to head into the Poké Center before healing my pokémon back to full health, and buying some medicine for them.

Once I was finished with that, I headed into the gym.

After entering in the gym and doing the same thing again, I walked up to Byron and started the battle.

It didn't take long for me to easily defeat him either, because once I defeated Byron, I earned a badge from him.

"Now, I can see what Roark saw in you. An undying flame of determination and a strong will, with powerful amount intelligence." He says as he nods.

"Yup. That's mostly about it." I say before smiling a little.

Then once I putted the badge away, along with some stickers that Byron uses too, we left the gym and healed our pokémon up before going to check on Roark.

"To be honest, I really don't want to go to the next city where the ice type gym leader is, even though I have to go..." I say as I looked at the ground for a moment and sighed.

"Why?" Byron asked, as he gave me a small confused look.

"Because it's not only cold over there, but it's so far away." I answered before pouting a little.

"Like, what if something happened to Roark at the hospital but you and I are unable to reach him?"

For a moment, I could've sworn I saw Byron hide a smile.

"You must really like my son, for you to be so worried about him that much, don't you?" He asked.

My face immediately turned bright red at that, before I quickly looked away from Byron to hide the blush.

"I don't know what you're talking about..." I lied.

"Liar, you do know what I'm talking about..." Byron says as he chuckled a little.

I felt my face turning redder as I heard that.

"Okay, fine...If I tell you, will you promise not to tell anyone about it?" I sighed wearily as I looked at Byron.

"Don't worry...I have no intention on telling anyone. I'm just curious, that's all." He replied simply.

"Good..." I went.

Then I started feeling shy as I looked away again for a moment.

"To answer your question....I....I do like your son....I like him more than a friend...and more than anything in the world." I answered shyly, before immediately hiding my face with my hands.

"So, you do love him! I knew it!" Byron said before ruffling my hair.

"Eyah! Quit it!" I squealed a little in surprise over that, before trying to get him to stop.

He only laughed a little at my reaction in response, before he stopped ruffling my hair.

"If you and Roark get married in the future, you better take good care of him." Byron says next.