Reborn Pokémon: My childhood sweetheart is Xiaoguang.

Ash scratched his head and added, "Xiaoxia and the others don't know how to do these things. Usually, Brock or Cilan are responsible for them, so Serena is very different."

Serena looked at him and suddenly felt a warm feeling.

She knew that opportunities are reserved for those who are prepared.

“Ash…” Serena said softly.

"Hmm, what's wrong?" Ash looked up, with a bit of chocolate sauce still on the corner of his mouth.

Serena reached out and gently wiped the sauce from the corner of his mouth with a tissue:

"It's nothing, I just wanted to say... thank you."

Thank you for remembering.

Ash grinned broadly, his smile radiant: "I should be the one saying thank you. Serena, you've been taking care of me, reminding me, letting me rest, you're like..."

Xiao Zhi thought for a moment and found a word: "Just like Mom!"

"what?"

The spoon in Serena's hand clattered into the plate.

Mom...Mom?

Was it intentional, accidental, or is this some new way of using metaphors?

Pikachu covered its face with its two little paws, unable to bear looking at it.

Idiot! Who says girls resemble their mothers? That's so hardcore!

Look, this is Pikachu being naughty. If Xiaoyun were here, she would definitely say something.

Why can't she be like her mother? The bride is a mother too!

Needless to say, it's already done.

Xiao Zhi was completely unaware of what he had said and continued to devour his food. Three minutes later, he finished the entire parfait and patted his belly contentedly.

"It's delicious! Serena, aren't you going to eat anymore?"

Serena looked at the strawberry parfait she had only eaten a quarter of and had lost her appetite.

"Um, I'm full."

She smiled, but the smile was a little stiff.

"Let's go to the hot springs! It'll be perfect for digestion! I've heard that soaking in hot springs is great for recovery and relaxing after training!"

Xiao Zhi stood up, looking energetic.

Serena sighed inwardly as she watched his excited expression.

Forget it, so be it.

This is Xiao Zhi; she already knew.

...........

The two arrived at the Yukimi Onsen Ryokan.

The elderly lady at the front desk saw them and, still smiling, asked, "Are you two a couple? We have private hot springs for couples~ Quiet, beautiful scenery, and you won't be disturbed~"

Serena blushed, and before she could explain, Ash had already answered:

"No, we are travel companions."

The old lady said "oh," glanced at Ash, then at Serena, her eyes conveying a meaningful look:

"Would you like to go to a public bathhouse? Those are separate for men and women."

"Okay, this one will do!"

Xiao Zhi nodded, completely ignoring the old lady's hint.

Seeing Ash's excited expression, Serena silently swallowed back the words, "Actually, the private soup can also be used."

Fine, a public bath it is then, at least... I can soak in hot springs.

The two went to change separately. Serena had brought the swimsuit she bought in Aroma City; it was a light pink one-piece with a bow at the waist and a skirt design that was both cute and a little sexy.

She changed into her swimsuit, looked at herself in the mirror, and blushed slightly.

She spent a long time choosing this swimsuit; the sales assistant said it would be perfect for a date, but now…

The person on your date is in the men's bath next door, thinking about how to improve their stamina.

She put on a bathrobe and entered the women's bath. The women's bath was semi-open-air, with several pools of different sizes and a sauna.

Because it was evening, there weren't many people; only a few older women were soaking in the water.

Serena rinsed herself off and stepped into the hot spring pool.

Enveloped in the warm water, she sighed contentedly and leaned against the edge of the pool, her gaze involuntarily drifting towards the men's bath.

There is a bamboo fence separating the two sides, but you can still hear the sounds.

Ash's voice came from the men's bathhouse:

"Pikachu! Try this cold water pool! I heard it can train willpower!"

"Pickup!!!"

Judging from the sound, Pikachu was clearly forcibly thrown into the cold water pool.

Serena couldn't help but laugh.

She could picture the scene: Ash looking serious, while Pikachu looked utterly dejected.

After soaking for about twenty minutes, Serena felt a little dizzy, so she got up and went to the shower to take a cold shower.

Just then, she heard Ash call from next door, "Serena! Are you there?"

"exist!"

Serena responded instinctively.

"Can I come over? The sauna over here seems to be broken!" Xiao Zhi's voice came through the bamboo fence.

"Huh? But this is the women's bath..."

Before Serena could finish speaking, Ash had already circled around, wrapped in a towel, his hair still wet, with Pikachu following at his feet, looking resentful.

"Sorry, sorry! The one over there is really broken. The staff said the sauna rooms here are shared..."

Xiao Zhi walked in without realizing it.

Several aunties soaking in the hot spring looked at Xiaozhi, paused for a moment, and then gave him a kind smile that said, "We all understand."

Serena blushed and submerged herself completely in the water, leaving only her head above water.

"Satoshi! This isn't right."

"Why? We're both soaking in hot springs, and I'm wrapped in a towel, and Pikachu is here too."

Xiao Zhi looked completely at ease.

Pikachu had already slid into the hot spring pool, keeping a safe distance from Ash, its eyes conveying that it didn't recognize him.

Ash walked to the sauna door, opened it, and looked inside: "Oh, this is usable! Serena, do you want to come along? The sauna is very comfortable."

"No, no need!"

Serena buried her face even lower.

"Okay." Ash walked into the sauna, but Pikachu resolutely refused to follow.

After the sauna door closed, the women's bath was quiet for a few seconds.

An older woman said with a smile, "Young lady, your boyfriend is quite handsome, but a bit naive."

"He's not... not..."

Serena tried to explain, but her face turned even redder, and her explanation seemed weak and ineffective.

Another auntie laughed and said, "It's so good to be young~ When we were young, my husband was just as straightforward. He insisted on sharing a hot spring pool with me..."

The aunties began sharing their love stories from their youth. Serena listened, her cheeks burning, yet she couldn't help but continue listening.

She looked at Pikachu, and Pikachu looked back at her; the two exchanged a glance.

"Thank you for your hard work." x2

After a while, Xiao Zhi came out of the sauna, his whole body was red and steaming.

He walked to the edge of the pool and naturally slid into the pool where Serena was, right next to her.

Ash leaned against the edge of the pool, his eyes closed.

"So comfortable! Hot springs are amazing! My fatigue has completely disappeared after soaking in them!"

Serena froze completely.

Xiao Zhi was sitting next to her, and she could clearly feel his shoulders and arms, water droplets sliding down his skin...

She felt her face was so hot she could fry an egg on it.