Pokémon: Starting with Ash's Mom

The next morning dawned bright and clear, rain clouds having passed away.

Suzie gently moved Kazuki's hand from her shoulder, slipping quietly out from under him. 

Rising, she dressed beside the campfire and then turned back, her eyes resting tenderly upon Kazuki still fast asleep. 

Quietly stepping toward the cave entrance, she found a slender twig and shyly began to cover up several crumpled papers she'd discarded earlier.

Kazuki, stretching and yawning awake, watched her curiously. Suzie picked up his clothing and began to help him get dressed.

"What were you doing burying those scraps of paper?" Kazuki asked with an amused smile.

"It's embarrassing that you noticed them!" Suzie's blush deepened adorably as she straightened Kazuki's clothing.

Once they'd tidied themselves, the pair emerged from the cave.

"Oh right! Kazuki, why did you rush off the car so suddenly yesterday? Were you also going to rescue that Kangaskhan baby?" After a night spent in tender intimacy, Suzie finally recalled the reason they'd ended up separated.

"Oh, that. I saw a child in the forest canopy. I was worried he'd be trampled by the Kangaskhan stampede, so I got off to find him. Who would've guessed he swung away using vines!" Kazuki gave Suzie a suitable explanation about Tommy.

"Huh? A kid who swings through vines in a huge forest like this? That's incredible!" Suzie replied, astonished.

"Maybe there's some special reason for it. Anyway, our first priority is finding Misty and Officer Jenny," Kazuki said, releasing his Pidgeot into the sky to search the forest from above.

With its impressive size soaring high above the canopy, Kazuki's Pidgeot soon caught the eyes of Misty and Officer Jenny, who had been anxiously searching for Kazuki.

"Look, that's Kazuki's Pidgeot!" Misty cried out joyfully, instantly drawing the Pokémon's attention.

Using its keen senses, Pidgeot located Misty and guided her and Officer Jenny quickly back toward Kazuki.

As soon as she saw Kazuki, Misty dashed forward, throwing herself eagerly into his arms. 

"Kazuki! You reckless idiot, how could you jump out of the car so suddenly?! You nearly scared me to death!" 

Although Misty often teased and bantered playfully with Kazuki, their bond was genuine and deep; losing sight of him even briefly unsettled her immensely.

Now that they'd reunited, her feelings came rushing to the surface.

"Hey, now. Tears aren't fitting for the world's cutest girl," Kazuki said warmly, brushing gently at the corner of Misty's eyes.

"I-I'm not crying! It was... It was just the wind and dust from Officer Jenny's vehicle getting in my eyes!" Misty retorted defiantly, though her voice carried a distinctly embarrassed tone.

Kazuki nodded knowingly, tenderly patting Misty's back.

"I'm just glad you both are safe! It was me who asked you to help catch those poachers. If something had happened to you two, I... I wouldn't know how to face you," said Officer Jenny, usually so confident and unyielding, her voice unexpectedly trembling.

Before their emotional reunion could continue further, the rumbling sound of an approaching vehicle interrupted them. 

A pair of richly-dressed, middle-aged parents soon arrived in an expensive off-road car.

"Oh, thank goodness! Officer Jenny, we've finally found you!" The plump man hurriedly leaped from the car. "We heard from others that you've seen our son Tommy somewhere in this sanctuary! We came immediately after we found out. Officer Jenny, where is my boy now?!"

"Sir, please remain calm," 

Jenny steadied herself, returning to professional seriousness as she addressed the anxious couple. 

"We do have a child matching your son's description here. We call him Tommy. But he often lives among Kangaskhan herds. We'll have to head out and locate him."

"Kazuki, the kid you saw yesterday—could it possibly be him?" Misty softly inquired, turning to Kazuki.

"What?! You've actually seen our son?!" The wealthy man nearly flew toward Kazuki in excitement. 

"Please, young man! Please help me! I've missed my son so much. I swear, if you find my child for me, I'll richly reward you!"

Kazuki already had the reunion of Tommy and his parents in his mission tasks. Now that Tommy's father had also offered an enticing financial reward, Kazuki agreed readily.

Having already solved the issue of the poachers, Kazuki's party once again began their search—this time to find Tommy quickly.

Following Officer Jenny's guidance, Kazuki reached an area known for regular Kangaskhan activity. Using his aura senses, Kazuki swiftly detected the presence of a human individual nearby.

"This way!" Leading the group forward through dense shrubs, Kazuki found a wild-looking young boy resting under a towering tree.

"Tommy!" the rich father immediately cried out upon recognizing his son.

Hearing the unfamiliar call, Tommy instantly startled awake and stood up defensively.

The excited father charged toward Tommy. 

But, rather than the heartwarming scene one might expect, Tommy threw a small wooden projectile at him, sending his father sprawling onto the ground.

"Tommy, it's me—your father!" The man called out helplessly from his awkward position.

Tommy eyed the stranger cautiously, something in his expression suggesting faint familiarity. 

However, growing up entirely in the wild had left Tommy unable to communicate effectively, producing only agitated and unintelligible cries.

Father and son stood separated by an unbridgeable gulf of language.

Recognizing the stalemate, Kazuki activated his aura power, cautiously stepping forward to bridge the communication barrier.

"Tommy, please don't be afraid. We aren't bad people. We've come to help you. Your parents have been searching everywhere for you, deeply worried all this time."

With aura energy aiding understanding and connection, Tommy's guarded posture softened. Slowly and hesitantly, he jumped down from the tree, approaching carefully to examine this stranger with gentle words.

Family ties ran deep. And with Kazuki mediating patiently, Tommy and his father finally managed a heartfelt reunion.

[Mission Complete: Assisted Officer Jenny in capturing poachers, and reunited Tommy's family!] (My apologies, there was a mistake in Chapter 132.)

[Reward: 3 Intermediate Rare Candies placed in system inventory.]

[Justice Reputation +1.]

As the system's notification sounded, this small adventure in the preserve came to a perfect conclusion.

Upon seeing their long-lost son returned safely, Tommy's parents were overcome with tears of joy and thanked Kazuki and his friends repeatedly.

"Thank you all so very much! We don't know what we'd have done without you!" Tommy's father exclaimed gratefully, tightly clasping Kazuki's hand.

Kazuki waved casually, smiling as he replied, "It was just the right thing to do. From now on, please make sure you spend more quality time looking after Tommy."

Kazuki had received quite a substantial reward from Tommy's father. 

Indeed, wealthy people did cherish family above all else!

Tommy's mother wiped her tears away, nodding earnestly, "You're right! We'll definitely pay more attention to him in the future! Our careers won't overshadow our family again."

Standing between his parents, Tommy flashed a smile that had long been absent from his face, gazing at Kazuki with deep gratitude in his eyes.

Kazuki gently patted Tommy on the head, saying goodbye warmly.

Excellent! Another rich young heir returned safely home!

Now, perhaps the toughest thing Tommy would endure in his future might be just a bitter iced Americano.

After bidding farewell to Tommy's family, Kazuki turned to say goodbye to Officer Jenny along with Misty and Suzie.

Though this preserve's Officer Jenny looked rough and daring, she was still far from the sort of hot-blooded excitement Kazuki was thinking of, so he politely took his leave to continue on toward the Safari Zone.

As they got back on their journey, Misty cheerfully clung to Kazuki's arm, humming a joyful tune. 

Meanwhile, Suzie, readying herself to come clean about last night, suddenly hesitated nervously.

"Suzie, is something wrong?" Noticing Suzie's hesitant expression, Misty asked with concern.

Suzie drew in a deep breath and faced Misty bravely. "Misty, there's something I need to tell you."

Misty blinked curiously and smiled, "What is it? Why so serious?"

Suzie glanced at Kazuki, a shy blush creeping up her cheeks. "Well... Kazuki and I... we're together now."

Misty froze momentarily, her eyes wide with shock, "What? You're together?"

Suzie nodded carefully, looking apprehensively at Misty, "You're not upset, are you?"

After a momentary silence, Misty burst into laughter, "Why would I be upset? Kazuki's such a great guy, it's totally understandable that you'd like him too."

"Besides," she continued cheerily, "haven't I already said I support Kazuki having multiple partners?"

"Phew, that's such a relief. I was worried—" Suzie's smile brightened.

"But wait, when exactly did this happen?" Misty eyed Kazuki suspiciously.

Suzie's face reddened further as she confessed quietly, "It happened during last night's rainstorm... My clothes got soaked, and things naturally just progressed..."

"Your clothes got soaked, huh?" 

Misty grinned teasingly at Kazuki. 

"Did you behave yourself?"

Listening amusedly to their conversation, Kazuki chuckled defensively, "Come on, you know me. I'm nothing but an honest gentleman."

Exchanging glances, Misty and Suzie simultaneously rolled their eyes, speaking in unison: "We only know you're secretly a naughty guy!"

The three of them laughed heartily together, their atmosphere instantly warming and becoming cheerful.

Walking beside Kazuki, Misty playfully tapped his shoulder. "Kazuki, you're quite something! You've managed to completely sweep Suzie off her feet!"

Kazuki smiled mysteriously and teased back, "Well, my 'methods' were definitely firm enough—poor Suzie couldn't walk properly afterward!"

Suzie gently swatted Kazuki's arm in embarrassment. "Didn't we agree not to tell Misty that part yet?!"

Misty laughed brightly, unfazed, "Don't worry, Suzie. He's teased me plenty too! Now, we sisters can unite to fight back!"

Smiling boldly, Misty grabbed Kazuki's arm firmly on one side. Suzie giggled shyly but happily, holding Kazuki's other arm, "Alright, together we sisters will make sure he's tightly under control!"

The trio laughed warmly, creating a playful harmony. 

Now that Suzie had officially joined, Misty began openly chatting about intimate topics, leaving Suzie constantly blushing. 

Despite this embarrassment, Suzie eagerly listened, secretly excited about the possibility of deepening her intimacy with Kazuki again.

Kazuki happily allowed them to chat and banter freely, knowing the more open and comfortable they became, the closer they'd all be together. 

Indeed, good times shared meant their lovely curves would raise high even faster for him next time.

While Misty and Suzie chatted excitedly, Kazuki began reviewing his system tasks:

[Romantic Side Mission – Suzie: Help Suzie capture three suitable Pokémon, current progress: 1/3. "Ambiguously intimate thank-you" completed!]

Kazuki was astonished to discover Suzie's Romantic Side Mission's latter half had already been completed. Thinking back, he finally understood clearly—during last night's rainy episode, Suzie had shown her gratitude to him thoroughly. 

So that was what the "ambiguously intimate thank-you" meant!

Feeling delighted by this pleasant surprise, Kazuki cheerfully closed the system window, quickly catching up with the two girls ahead, each lovely girl wrapped warmly on his arms. 

Thus, chatting and laughing freely together, the joyful trio resumed their lively march toward the Safari Zone...

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