The Pokémon journey begins in Galar

"Ahh! That hit the spot! This place was amazing!"

Stretching her arms high, Yuri let out a satisfied sigh as she stepped out of the seafood restaurant. With Chairman Rose having left the table early, Yuri had been able to fully relax and enjoy the meal. To her surprise, even their Pokémon had been taken care of with a generous spread, courtesy of the Chairman himself.

Thankfully, the restaurant had been reserved just for them. Otherwise, the dining hall would have been far too crowded with Barū and the rest of their Pokémon.

But all in all, the meal had been thoroughly enjoyable. And with another dinner already booked at Tidepier Restaurant tomorrow evening this time one Marnie had personally reserved Yuri felt even more excited.

"Oh right, Marnie and I have that dinner tomorrow night too! Sonia, want to come along?"

"Tomorrow night, huh... I'll probably be with Nessa, so I'll pass. Don't want to intrude on your evening," Sonia replied with a cheerful shake of her head. She was planning to stay at Nessa's place for the next few days and didn't expect to have much free time.

"I see," Marnie said.

"Oh, by the way, Kukui got in touch. He says the Pokédex upgrade is going smoothly, and he mentioned that if you're ready, Marnie, you can head over early if you like."

"Eh..."

Marnie froze. Before she could even react properly, Yuri's voice cut in.

"Wait, what? Head over where? What do you mean early?"

Sonia blinked and glanced between the two girls before turning her gaze to Marnie.

"You haven't told her?"

"I was planning to... after the Water Gym challenge," Marnie muttered, shooting Sonia a sharp look. The lunch had been so delicious, she'd completely forgotten she still needed to break this news to Yuri.

"What are you two talking about...?"

Even Yuri, who wasn't usually the type to overthink, was starting to feel uneasy. She instinctively grabbed the sleeve of Marnie's jacket, eyes searching for an answer.

"Welp, I'll leave this to you then, Marnie. Good luck! Bye-bye!"

Reading the mood instantly, Sonia gave Marnie a quick thumbs-up, then cleared her throat and made a swift exit, leaving the two behind without hesitation.

Marnie glared at Sonia's retreating back, wishing she could summon a Psychic move to drag her back.

"...Marnie?"

Yuri's hesitant voice pulled her back to reality. Marnie turned around and met Yuri's anxious eyes. For a moment, she wasn't sure how to start.

"Let's find somewhere to sit first, okay?"

"Mm-hmm..."

The Farfetch'd by their side gave both girls a curious look before quietly turning its attention away. These kinds of emotional twists weren't its specialty.

Marnie gently clasped Yuri's hand and began walking along the coastal road, wanting to leave the bustling commercial district behind in search of a quieter spot.

As she led the way, Marnie felt strangely agitated. It wasn't like she was going away forever. She'd traveled alone plenty of times before, sometimes disappearing into the Wild Area for weeks without a word.

So why did it feel so difficult now?

Yuri was her peer. She wasn't the timid girl clinging to a Sobble anymore. Her team was strong. She even had a Sirfetch'd now.

Was it really that hard for her to journey on her own without Marnie?

Even Marnie didn't quite believe that.

She let out a small sigh. Maybe it was just that she'd grown used to traveling together these past few weeks. Maybe she just didn't want this companionship to end.

Behind her, Yuri walked in silence. Her usual cheerful spark was nowhere to be seen. Even the badge she'd won earlier that day felt oddly meaningless now.

Though Marnie and Sonia's earlier conversation had been vague, Yuri had heard enough to guess that Marnie was planning to leave for a while. And the name Professor Kukui...

Yuri had never heard it before, but it didn't sound like a Galarian name.

So... was Marnie going to another region?

She stared at Marnie's back, unsure of what to say. The silence between them grew heavier with each step.

She opened her mouth several times, but no words came out.

From the moment her journey began, Yuri had been traveling with Marnie. From the Wild Area all the way to Hulbury, they had been inseparable.

She hated to admit it, but deep down, Yuri had taken Marnie's presence for granted. She believed this journey would always be the two of them exploring Galar together, clearing every Gym, and eventually standing on the Championship stage for a full six-on-six battle.

Until recently, that future had felt inevitable.

But now, reality had other plans.

Marnie was leaving. For how long? A few days? A few months? Years, even?

And why hadn't she told Yuri sooner?

Did she intend to just vanish one day without a word?

Yuri's grip on Marnie's hand tightened. Her mind spiraled. The warmth she felt right now so close, so real suddenly felt out of reach.

Marnie paused, sensing the pressure in her hand. She turned around, startled to see tears welling in Yuri's eyes.

"Yuri?"

"W-what's wrong?!"

The tremble in Yuri's voice made Marnie panic. Forgetting they were still in public, she spun around and tried to think of what to do. But her mind went blank.

She glanced around, bit her lip, and suddenly tugged Yuri into a narrow alleyway nearby. So much for the quiet seaside they needed privacy now.

Once they turned the corner and the busy road was out of sight, Marnie stopped. Yuri had her head bowed, refusing to look up.

Marnie took a deep breath and gently let go of Yuri's hand.

Just as Yuri instinctively reached out, desperate not to lose that touch, Marnie pulled her into a warm embrace.

"I'm sorry. I was going to tell you after the Gym challenge..."

"Marnie... Are you really leaving?"

"Yeah."

"Where to?"

"The Alola Region."

The name sank into Yuri's heart like a stone. Her hands clenched tightly at the back of Marnie's shirt.

"How long... will you be gone?"

"I'm not sure yet. Maybe a month or two..."

Yuri didn't respond. Buried in Marnie's chest, she stayed still, holding back tears. The warmth against her cheek only made it harder.

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