Chapter 149 - 15 - Brotherly Relationship

Jonathan was old and responsible enough to take care of his younger brother and Isaiah so it seems that Rico doesn't have any problem with it.

By 10:27 a.m., at a two-turbofan, engine-powered plane towards Philas, Rico and his team are looking forward on their comeback visit to their beloved hometown, Kawayan City, while Jonathan was reading a travel brochure and Isaiah sleeping in his seat.

"I am so excited to see everyone I knew," Rico though in excitement and enthusiasm.

Right in time by 11:10 a.m., the plane landed at Kawayan City, and in less than 30 minutes later, the three of them and their Pokémon are out of the airport terminal and to the city by city bus. Staying there wasn't a problem because Rico's old house was still there. Upon arriving at the said house, Jonathan, who was in charge of the property's keys, unlocked the front gate and the front door, and they went in. In the dusty living room, they put their belongings onto the coffee table and rested on the armchair and dining chairs, which had been left behind during moving out. They were mildly exhausted.

Later that day, they went out. The rest of the day before a hearty lunch time was great and nostalgic. And as they walk down the overpass over a highway, Rico felt a nostalgic feeling of being on that overpass before moving to Kanto.

"Big brother, I really missed walking on this very overpass," he commented to Jonathan. Lucario then responded with happiness.

"Yeah, me too as well," Jonathan responded back positively, "when I was young."

"Woah, you two knew this place?" Isaiah raised a question in response.

"Yes, this one is our usual route to school and other places in this city," Rico answered back positively.

"Oh, I understand," Isaiah replied back. This follows with a short silence, with the sounds of walking.

"Hey, Rico," Isaiah asked breaking the silence, "if this is your hometown, this is the place where you were born?"

"Yes, it is," Rico responded back positively. "And me and my brother are 7 years apart."

"Oh, I see," Isaiah replied back. Not much time was wasted, they had arrived at Professor Campillo's lab. And upon entering the front door, Rico greeted the professor, who was doing research and jotting down notes on a piece of loose leaf paper, which is next to a plastic binder.

"Oh, Rico, hi there," Campillo greeted him back upon turning around to see who was greeting him.

"Hey, professor, long time no see," Jonathan greeted him in response. Upon seeing Jonathan, Campillo was shocked to see him alive and well, up to the point of fainting. This causes some of the papers, some sticky notes, and an eraser to fall to the tile floor, producing a low and swift sound.

"Professor, are you okay?" Rico asked him in confusion. Then, Juan rushed to see what was making that noise, only to gasp at his father's fainting.

"Dad! Are you okay?" he quickly asked him as he tried to wake him up.

"Hi, Juan, how are you?" Rico greeted Juan happily. Upon seeing him, Juan was very surprised, responding with, "Rico Titus?"

"Woah, you knew them?" Isaiah raised a question in puzzling. .

"Yeah, this is Professor Campillo, he is my professor in this region," Rico positively introduced, "and the other one is Juan, his son." In response, Juan gets up and introduced to Isaiah, giving him a handshake. Accepting it, Isaiah responded back, "I'm Isaiah Ketchum. Nice to meet you."

Later on, they had lunch time at Campillo's lab. Their food and drinks are simple, yet hot, fresh, and cool. The atmosphere around was calm and relaxing as their Pokémon are eating their special food. And as they eat, Rico and Jonathan told them how they had met again, and their growing relationship as brothers, as well as their adventures at Kanto. In response, they were shocked at their adventures, with Juan commenting, "What? That was insane and strange." His Dewott then responded with surprise and shock.

"Yeah, it was," Rico positively replied back as he chews on his food. "But at least we have a good time."

"That's true," Jonathan added with positivity.

"Oh, I see," Juan replied back in knowing. Dewott looked at Lucario and Prinplup with stunning amazement, seeing how they had grown up in strength and power. Looking at Rico's Pokémon, Campillo was impressed by the results, commenting to Rico, "Wow, I was quite impressed by how your Pokémon had grown up."

"Thank you, professor," Rico responded back. "I really trained them a lot almost every day."

"Same as me almost everyday," Jonathan added as he slurp on his drink with ice cubes. This follows with a short silence, with eating and drinking.

"So, um, how long will you three stay before going back to Kanto?" Juan asked breaking the silence. Thinking about this, Rico positively answered back, "Two days only. We will be leaving by Wednesday night." This disappoints Juan a lot.

"Awww, no fair."

"Sorry, but I had school, you know," Rico responded with an apology

"Maybe next time, son," Campillo comforted his son in response.

"Yeah, I guess you're right, dad," Juan agreed with him. Campillo then turned towards Rico and informed him about his old friends, "You know, Rico Titus, your old friends had been missing you."

"Huh? Really?" Rico responded back with listening.

"Yeah, I mean, your friends are doing well in their training with Pokémon," Campillo responded back positively. "Even your old rival starts to reform his ways."

"What? Tommy?" replied Rico back. Smiling at him, Campillo replied with, "Yeah, he did." Rico seems to be delighted by this great news from his old friends and rival.

Shortly after lunch, they went on to visit Kolen's gym while the sun is still shining. Upon arriving at the sub gym, they were surprised on how the gym bȧrėly changes, with Jonathan commenting, "Well, I guess the gym only have renovations and cleanups.

"Yeah, it is," agreed his younger brother in response. Gazing at the gym compound, Isaiah was amazed at the size of the gym property with all its unique secondary buildings.

"So brother, shall we come in?" Jonathan asked Rico with an offer. Looking at him, Rico positively nodded to say yes and replied back, "Sure." They, Isaiah, and their teams then went into the compound, and towards the main gym building.