Chapter 6: Serena
(First update! New book seeking collection!!)
“26, 27, 28… Besides Satoshi, someone else is missing!” After counting the number of people, they quickly discovered something was wrong. It wasn't just Satoshi, someone else was missing besides him.
“What?!” Professor Oak frowned upon hearing this. Losing one person was troublesome, but losing two was even more so. It wasn't easy for them to split their manpower to find two people.
Moreover, if they encountered Pidgey again, or attacks from other fierce Pokémon, it would be disastrous.
“Ah!! It's Serena! Serena is missing.” A girl spoke at that moment.
These children came from various places and didn't all know each other. However, even though many were meeting for the first time, they had exchanged greetings and knew each other's names. It was just that their relationship wasn't like Satoshi and Shigeru's, where they could tell immediately if someone was missing. Plus, being a girl, she was more easily startled. Now that someone mentioned her, she finally reacted.
“Serena, I remember, it seems like a girl from the Kalos Region! Professor, what do we do now?” After hearing the name, the staff also remembered.
“Alright! I'll stay here and watch over the kids. You two help keep an eye on them, and the rest of you search separately. I'll contact Officer Jenny and have them come over to help!”
Professor Oak hadn't expected such an incident to happen on the first day. But there was no way to help it now, finding the missing people was the most important.
“Okay!” Listening to Professor Oak's instructions, the staff members didn't object. Reporting to the police was indeed the best course of action now.
“Grandpa! I'll help too!” Shigeru also spoke up when he saw this.
“No, I know you're worried about Satoshi, but there may still be danger in the forest. If you go, you'll also be in danger. Stay here with everyone else. I'll find a way to bring Satoshi and the others back.”
Professor Oak had watched over both children since they were young. One was his grandson, and although Satoshi wasn't his grandson, he always treated him like one. He knew how close the two children were from the time they were young.
However, no matter what, these children could only stay here. It wouldn't be possible to find the missing people and care for them at the same time.
“Understood!” Shigeru clenched his fist. Although he was somewhat reluctant, he could only comply with Professor Oak's wishes.
“Satoshi, you jerk… You really know how to cause trouble! You better be alright.”
… … …
“Everyone!! Where is everyone?!”
At that moment, in the depths of the forest, a panicked voice called out, but it wasn't Satoshi's voice. It was clearly a girl's voice filled with fear, the other missing child from the group.
Rustle Rustle Rustle!!!
Suddenly, the grass beside her trembled. A rustling sound came from it. The girl, who was already on edge after being attacked by Pidgey, was even more startled by the sound.
“Ah!! Woah!!”
She instinctively turned to flee, but because she was too flustered, she tripped and fell to the ground, letting out a cry of pain. But now she didn't have time to pay attention to the pain. She stared in terror at the tall grass beside her.
“That's why I said I don't want to go camping! Waaah!! Mom! I want to go back…” Being a girl, she couldn't hold back her tears after being startled one after another. Seeing the shaking bushes made her tremble all over.
“Don't shout. If you attract those Pidgey again, you won't be able to escape.”
In her panic, the girl suddenly understood a human voice. She stopped crying subconsciously and heard a human voice. Naturally, she felt a sense of security instantly.
Swish!!!
The girl looked forward and saw that it wasn't a Pokémon emerging from the bushes, but a boy. Moreover, she recognized this boy. She also knew his name: Satoshi.
At the time when Professor Oak explained Pokémon knowledge, Satoshi and Shigeru's outstanding performance had drawn attention among the children.
At that time, like the other children, she thought Satoshi knew a lot and even clapped along with them. So, she had a deeper impression of him. Hearing Satoshi's words just now, she no longer dared to shout, but only sobbed softly.
“Are you alright?” Satoshi walked over to the girl and asked.
He hadn't gotten lost because he was panicked and ran blindly after the Pidgey attack. He had been running last and saw the girl being attacked, so he hadn't caught up with the group and ran into the forest. That's why he followed in.
“I… Ugh! It hurts!!” The girl wanted to answer, but then noticed she was hurt.
“You got hurt?” Satoshi took a look. She had a scrape on her knee, not serious, just a break in the skin. Seeing this, Satoshi took out his handkerchief and helped bandage the wound. The girl looked up at Satoshi, gradually becoming lost in thought.
“Sorry, I scared you.” When he came over, he heard the noise and knew it was probably he who scared her and caused her to get hurt.
“Ah!! No… It's okay! Thank you.” Lost in thought, she heard Satoshi's voice and came back to her senses. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she responded a little shyly.
“Nothing, that's good. Get up!” After bandaging the wound with his handkerchief, Satoshi stood up and extended his hand.
“I… I… I can't. It hurts. I… I can't get up. Ugh!!” Seeing Satoshi's gesture, she tried to get up, but couldn't. She spoke, and tears welled up in her eyes again.
“Sigh… You really are a crybaby. Alright, I'll carry you!”
Satoshi was also a bit helpless. He didn't know what to say for a moment. He thought that children in this world would be more self-reliant, but apparently, there were exceptions!
Satoshi hadn't carried a girl in his previous life. But he had seen it on TV, so as a boy, this was probably the right thing to do at this time. He turned around, squatted down, and turned his head slightly to look at the girl.
“Ah…” The girl looked at Satoshi's back and side profile, also a bit lost in thought. She was a bit at a loss for a moment.
“Hurry, or we won't be able to escape if the Pidgey come over.” Seeing that the girl wasn't reacting, Satoshi reminded her again.
“Yes!!” The girl's face turned pale when she heard about the Pidgey. Then, she quickly supported her body and hooked her arms around Satoshi's neck. Satoshi took the opportunity to pick the girl up on his back.