Chapter 486: David—Bond Phenomenon: Emotion Sense

Aaron was extremely satisfied with the Froslass Queen's current strength.

Adding another powerhouse to his team meant he was one step closer to the day when he could finally relax and do absolutely nothing whenever he felt like it.

With that pleasant thought in mind, he settled into bed. Greninja, meanwhile, was still watching Ninja Frog: Shippuden in the Pokémon Training Space.

Frog Boss had even told him that he had learned a new ninja technique from the show and wanted to demonstrate it.

Aaron simply had not found the time yet.

What kind of ridiculous move did he learn this time? Surely it isn't Sexy Jutsu...

He thought about it for a moment.

Actually, that might be pretty entertaining.

With that increasingly questionable thought, Aaron drifted off to sleep.

...

The night passed peacefully.

Early the next morning, Lily woke Aaron up and cheerfully announced that it was time to go meet his "little fiancée."

Aaron glared at her. "What fiancée? We made a promise when we were kids. That doesn't count."

Lily only grinned, clearly enjoying herself.

There was no avoiding the meeting, so Aaron got up, washed, ate breakfast, and left with his family.

They called a car and headed toward one of the most luxurious hotels in Sealine City, a property belonging to the business group of one of Aaron's wealthy friends.

About an hour later, they arrived.

The hotel was enormous and extravagantly decorated, easily one of the finest places in the city. Victor, Aaron's mother, and Lily had never been somewhere quite this high-end before, so they were noticeably more reserved once they stepped inside.

A hostess greeted them with a professional smile. "Good morning. Do you have a reservation?"

Aaron looked at Victor. "Dad, didn't David say he booked a private room?"

"Oh, right." Victor quickly remembered. "The Hualis Room."

"Of course. Please follow me."

The hostess led them through the luxurious lobby and along a long corridor until they reached the private room.

...

Four people were already seated around the large dining table inside.

David sat at the head, wearing glasses with his hair neatly slicked back. Beside him was his wife, dressed extravagantly and wearing heavy makeup.

Their son had dyed blond hair and the rough look of someone trying a little too hard to seem rebellious, while their daughter was also heavily made up.

They had clearly been waiting for some time.

"Dad, they've got some nerve making us wait this long," the son complained.

His sister looked equally irritated. "Why did we have to come all the way to Sealine City anyway? Couldn't they have gone to Arcanis City to meet us?"

David frowned at both of them. "Watch your mouths. Victor helped me when I had nothing. Without him, I wouldn't have what I have today. Coming here ourselves is the least we can do."

His wife barely looked away from the mirror in her hand. "I just hope they don't see how rich we are now and decide they suddenly want to cling to us."

"What are you talking about?" David snapped. "Victor and I went through hell together."

She gave him a cold glance. "Then why did it take you fifteen years to remember he existed?"

David hesitated for a moment before answering. "I was busy running the company. We had competitors watching us from every direction, waiting for one mistake so they could tear everything apart. Things only stabilized this year, and as soon as they did, I came here."

His wife gave a quiet snort but said nothing more.

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

Aaron and his family entered.

David's face immediately brightened when he saw Victor. He stood up quickly and crossed the room, gripping his old friend's hand with obvious excitement.

"Victor! It really has been a long time."

He greeted Aaron's mother as well, then turned toward Aaron and Lily with a smile. "These must be Aaron and Lily, right? Do you remember me? I'm Uncle David."

Aaron gave him a polite smile and nodded.

Lily managed a small smile of her own before instinctively moving closer to her mother. At home, she could talk endlessly; around strangers, most of that confidence disappeared.

David laughed. "I haven't seen either of you in more than ten years, and now you're already grown up. Time really does fly."

Aaron's mother was far less sentimental.

"Oh, so you do remember it's been more than ten years," she said coldly. "Where the hell were you all that time?"

"Come on..." Victor gently touched her hand, then looked back at David. "It really has been a long time. Have you all been doing well?"

David's expression turned sorrowful. "I know you resent me for disappearing all these years, and I can't blame you. But I had my reasons."

He sighed and continued, "People look at me now and see a successful businessman, but I made plenty of enemies getting here. For more than ten years, competitors were circling my company, waiting for a chance to bring it down. I couldn't afford to relax for even a moment."

His eyes gradually reddened as he spoke.

"This year was the first time things finally stabilized. As soon as I knew the company was safe, I came to see you."

Victor's own eyes reddened as well. He tightened his grip on David's hand, clearly moved by what he had heard.

"You really had it rough all these years..."

Aaron watched quietly from the side.

Something was wrong.

His Bond Phenomenon had been growing stronger recently, and not long ago he had discovered that he was becoming increasingly sensitive to the emotions of both Pokémon and humans.

The stronger the emotion, the easier it was for him to notice.

David should have been overflowing with emotion right now. After more than a decade apart, seeing his closest friend again should have brought joy, relief, guilt, nostalgia—something.

Instead, Aaron sensed almost nothing.

Despite the wet eyes, the emotional voice, and the heartfelt story, what came from David was strangely calm and flat. The feeling simply did not match the expression on his face.

Aaron's eyes narrowed slightly.

Dad... I think you're going to be disappointed. Your best friend doesn't seem to have missed you at all.

...