The strong wind blew almost all night.
Natsui basically didn't sleep well this night. Listening to the howling wind outside the window, he was always suddenly awakened from his dreams.
Misty's situation was the same. When the two met in the restaurant the next day, they both saw each other's dark circles.
"Yawn~" Misty yawned hugely, rubbed her eyes, and sighed. "The wind was really too loud last night. I was worried all night that the window would be blown broken by the wind!"
"Me too." Natsui shook his head helplessly. "Even wearing earplugs didn't have much effect."
However, there was also good news. After a night of strong wind, the typhoon did not land on Dewford Island as expected. Although the sky in the distance was still boundless dark clouds, it seemed to have deviated slightly from its direction. The center moved from the east of the island to the west of the island. Although it was still threatening Dewford Island, there should be no danger for the time being!
"Eat quickly. While we can, let's hurry to challenge the Dewford Gym. If we wait for the typhoon to change direction again, we won't be able to go out."
Misty also knew that time was tight and it was best to do business now. She didn't say much. The two wolfed down their food, filled their stomachs, and fed some food to the Pokémon. Then, traveling light without backpacks, they went directly out of the gate of the Pokémon Center.
Compared with yesterday, the whole town had changed its appearance.
Clearly, it was only past 7 AM, but the streets were empty, without a single pedestrian.
The sound of broadcasts coming from somewhere constantly reminded residents to take refuge at home, not to go out, and to deal with the typhoon that might land at any time.
This made every house close its doors tightly. It could even be seen that behind the windows, some people used tape to stick on the gaps, making preparations.
The two looked at each other and felt that the matter was a bit urgent. They didn't delay anymore but walked a few steps quickly, running toward the direction of the Dewford Gym.
Whoosh...
The strong wind blew on the two of them. They didn't know if it was their illusion, but they just felt that compared to when they just left the Pokémon Center, the wind seemed to have become stronger.
Looking up again, it turned out this wasn't them thinking too much. The dark cloud on the horizon really turned again, approaching Dewford Town!
It really is a case of what you fear comes to pass!
The position where the two were now was just leaving the town. Whether going to the Dewford Gym or returning to the Pokémon Center, the remaining distance was the same.
But returning to the Pokémon Center just like this, Natsui was a bit unwilling.
After all, they were already out. Going back again, wouldn't it be useless work!
Moreover, for a trainer, what does a typhoon or rainstorm count for? If one can't even withstand this little difficulty, it's better to change professions and become a Coordinator as soon as possible!
Every tribulation is the source of his strength!
Thinking of this, Natsui strengthened his belief in challenging the gym. He didn't think about using Dragonite to carry them and fly from the air. Instead, facing the strong wind, he continued toward the Dewford Gym!
However, this implicated Misty.
Because her body was relatively slender, she almost was blown over by the strong wind several times!
Fortunately, Natsui had quick eyes and hands and grabbed her, preventing her from falling.
Later, the two even held arms, moving forward together!
Whoosh whoosh whoosh...
Leaving the town, they came to the cliff where the Dewford Gym was located. As the two slowly went up along the gentle slope, the wind blowing on them seemed to become stronger.
"Brother Natsui..." As soon as Misty opened her mouth, she was filled with a stomach of wind, forcing her to cover her mouth. "Don't you have Suicune? With its power, it should be able to stop this typhoon, right?"
"It should be possible." Natsui lowered his head. "But don't think about it. This typhoon is naturally formed. We cannot intervene too much, otherwise, it will affect the ecological balance."
"How would this affect the ecological balance?" Misty was a bit puzzled.
"The formation and trajectory of a typhoon are actually very complex, not as simple as we look. Moreover, with its formation, it is often accompanied by heavy rain. Although heavy rain will cause certain losses to coastal areas, it brings sufficient water to the inland, nourishing the earth. If I stop it now, for the inland ecology, it will produce a series of chain reactions!"
Speaking of this, Natsui paused, then continued, "Besides, even if it causes losses, it is actually very small. Seaside cities like Dewford Town have their own flood drainage systems. When the rainstorm enters the city, it will soon be drained back into the sea."
For a girl who was only 10 years old, this was her first time learning these deep things. But after understanding this principle, she kept her mouth shut and didn't mention this matter again.
She just sighed in her heart that Brother Natsui really knew a lot.
If it were those simple-minded guys, how could they think so much? To show off their power, they might really do so!
Although traveling on a windy day was not easy, this journey was not very far after all. After walking for tens of minutes, the two finally arrived at the Dewford Gym smoothly.
Just walking under that strange signboard they saw yesterday, from far away, they saw a person standing in front of the Dewford Gym gate!
Looking closely, it was actually Bea, whom they met yesterday!
It seems that like himself, Bea also wanted to challenge the Dewford Gym as soon as possible during this time before the typhoon landed.
They really thought of the same thing.
Only... why didn't she go in?
Hearing footsteps behind her, Bea turned around and naturally saw Natsui and Misty.
Walking to her side, Natsui looked at the gym gate and finally understood the reason why she stood here.
He saw the gate of the Dewford Gym was closed tightly, with a big lock hanging on it. Obviously, it was not open!
No one inside?
He took out his phone and glanced at the time. It was already 8:47 AM. According to normal working hours, the gym should have been open.
"What is this..." Misty sighed with disappointment and muttered, "I was thinking of hurrying in to hide from the strong wind. If it continues to blow like this, my skin will be cracked!"
Signaling her to be calm, Natsui turned to look at Bea.
"How long have you been here?"
Bea was stunned for a moment, obviously not expecting this man to talk to her.
However, since it was not the first time the two met, although she was a bit unaccustomed, she hesitated for a moment and still said, "Half an hour."
"Half an hour!?" Hearing her answer, Misty widened her eyes and looked at Bea in disbelief. "You have been standing at the door like this for half an hour?"
Bea nodded gently.
"Oh my god, you are really stub... I mean you are really patient..." Misty looked at her in shock, swallowing the words halfway.
Actually, she wanted to say, you are really stubborn, but that was obviously a bit rude, so she could only change her words hurriedly.
Bea didn't feel anything and didn't speak again. Looking at that meaning, she seemed to want to continue waiting here like this.
Natsui was also quite speechless. He shook his head, then withdrew his gaze and walked around the Dewford Gym a few times.
Because he came yesterday, he roughly knew what the layout here was like. Now he just wanted to see if the gym had any back door or left any contact information.
Unfortunately, after walking around several times, he found nothing.
When returning to the main entrance, Misty hesitated and said, "Brother Natsui... do you think the people from the gym won't come today?"
As soon as her voice fell, she suddenly realized that not only Natsui looked at her, but even Bea focused her gaze on her.
"That..." clearing her throat, she said carefully, "When we went out, wasn't the whole town broadcasting? The content of the broadcast was asking the residents of the town not to go out and stay at home as much as possible. Could it be that Brawly also listened to the arrangement and didn't come today?"
This...
Natsui frowned, obviously not thinking of this before.
As the saying goes, even a wise man makes a mistake in a thousand thoughts, let alone he is not a wise man.
Actually, before coming, he only thought that as a trainer, encountering such a typhoon couldn't stop him. Even if the rainstorm was heavier, he had to come to the gym!
But he forgot that unlike himself, for Brawly, managing the gym was just one of his jobs. He was not a traveler who adventured everywhere to temper himself!
Encountering such extreme weather, it seemed very normal for him not to come to work.
Although Brawly likes surfing and likes the sea even more, it seems unnecessary to risk the typhoon and get wet all over just to go to work.
Seeing Natsui looking thoughtful, Misty hurriedly comforted, "Of course, it's also possible that I thought too much. Brother Natsui, don't mind..."
Knowing Misty was comforting him, Natsui also knew that the situation she mentioned was very likely to happen!
Now he can only place his hope on Brawly having strong professional ethics and coming to preside over the gym in such weather.
But thinking again, he could even get an acting gym leader for surfing. It seems a bit unlikely to make him come to the gym in such weather.
"What you said makes sense." Natsui knew Misty was taking care of his emotions. He nodded to her and agreed with her point of view. "Let's wait until 9 o'clock. If it doesn't open by 9 o'clock, it means they really won't do business today. Then we'll go back to the Pokémon Center."
While the two were talking, Bea was also listening quietly on the side.
Although she didn't say anything, she also heard the two's words. Like Natsui and Misty, she also remained motionless, obviously planning to wait until 9 o'clock to see how the situation was.
Natsui and Misty found a sheltered and flat stone step on the side and sat down.
The strong wind blew Bea's hair messy. Not only did her silver-gray hair flutter with the wind, but even the black rabbit-ear headband on her head was shaking.
Seeing Bea still standing there, letting the strong wind blow on her body, Misty couldn't help asking, "Sister, do you want to come and sit here too?"
Bea looked at her and shook her head gently.
For her, standing in the wind was also a kind of training, which could exercise her endurance.
Moreover, there were only more than ten minutes left until 9 o'clock. It was nothing to stand all the time. Just like the previous half hour, didn't she also stand motionless!
In just this short while, the typhoon was getting closer and closer.
The entire palm forest outside the gym seemed to start shaking violently along with it.
Looking at the time, although there were still a few minutes until 9 o'clock, Natsui had decided not to wait.
"Let's go back."
"Eh?" Hearing Natsui say he wanted to leave, this time it was Misty's turn to hesitate. "Are we really leaving? Isn't there still a little time? Not waiting a bit more?"
"Of course." Natsui said. "If Brawly wanted to come, he would have come long ago. It doesn't matter for this short while. It seems he won't appear today. If we want to challenge the gym, we can only come to challenge after the typhoon passes!"
"Alright..."
Misty nodded, stood up with Natsui, and walked down the mountain.
When passing by Bea, Natsui also said to her, "Don't wait. Go down the mountain with us. The typhoon is coming soon. If you delay any longer, I'm afraid you'll be trapped here!"
Bea looked at the sky in the distance.
Indeed, just as Natsui said, the typhoon had arrived at the waters near Dewford Island. Landing was inevitable. One could even smell a large amount of water vapor in the air.
Knowing that continuing to wait here wouldn't change anything, she nodded and followed behind Natsui and Misty, going down the mountain together.
The three walked quickly along the road they came from, two in front and one behind.
To avoid leaving Bea too far behind, Natsui and Misty specially reduced their speed. But after walking only a few hundred meters, they found they were thinking too much.
The girl behind them had firm muscles and obviously exercised frequently. Her physical fitness was not only better than theirs, but her pace was also obviously much faster than theirs.
In just a moment, she had caught up with their footsteps!
With their walking speed, as long as they went down the mountain, they could reach the town in another ten minutes or so.
However, they obviously underestimated the speed of the typhoon.
Not knowing when it started, it suddenly began to rain.
At first, it was just small raindrops falling on them pattering, but only after more than ten seconds, it turned into a pouring rain!
Because of traveling light before going out, neither Natsui, Misty, nor Bea brought much luggage. Only Bea brought a small backpack!
At this time, let alone raincoats, they didn't even have an umbrella!
The clothes on their bodies were soaked through in an instant. Rainwater poured on their heads, just like washing their faces with a faucet, flowing down their cheeks gushing!
Calculating the distance, whether running at full speed directly into the town or returning to the gym to break the window and enter to avoid the rain, it was already too late!
In such rain, let alone speaking, visibility was extremely low, and even eyes could hardly be fully opened.
Fortunately, when Natsui came, he remembered there was a cave nearby, not far from where they were now, just right for temporary shelter from the rain!
Without thinking much, he waved to Misty and Bea, then left the path first and ran toward the rocks on the side.
Misty naturally knew that cave too, understood Natsui's idea, and followed closely.
Although Bea didn't know why they didn't continue down the mountain, she also realized there should be a place nearby to shelter from the rain. Without hesitation, she also followed.
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