4 more days passed and Jaw was scheduled to be released tomorrow morning. He was just in his room, watching TV as it was already nighttime.

  He has not met Mawile since he gave the offer, as the Pokémon has not visited the hospital since then.

  Could Mawile be avoiding me? Damn, why did I do that? Of course she wouldn't like the offer. She was abandoned, you idiot. Dumb idiot.

  Jaw sighed as he lightly admonished himself, he was insensitive toward the yellow Pokémon, and now their friendship might be over.

  "Are you alright?" asked Dr. Rober, Jaw did not even notice the door opening as he was deep in thought. "I understand you must be anticipating your release, but get some rest so you'll be ready for tomorrow."

  "What are you thinking about?" he asked, noticing that Jaw had a troubled look on his face.

  "Does Mawile hate me?" Jaw anxiously asked.

  "Why would you think that?" the doctor asked, puzzled.

  "Well, 4 days ago I asked Mawile if she wanted to be my starter, my Pokémon," Jaw said while glancing at Robert. "She said she would think about it, but it's been 4 days and yet she hasn't visited me once, so I think she might be avoiding me."

  "...I see," said the doctor as he rubbed his chin. "I don't think she hates you."

  Jaw looked up at the doctor, waiting for him to continue.

  "You said she would think about it, right?"

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  Jaw nodded.

  "Then she will think about it. I've been with Mawile for a bit now, and she's not one to give unclear answers. If she said she would think about it, then she will," Robert said as he looked at Jaw. "Maybe the reason she hasn't visited you yet is that she's still thinking about it. You will know tomorrow, so sleep for now."

  Jaw nodded and the doctor soon left after. Turning the TV off, he wrapped himself in his blanket and embraced sleep.

  Eager and a bit anxious for tomorrow.

  ***

  "Did you forget anything?" Dr. Robert said.

  They were in front of the hospital, with the hospital staff at the back wishing Jaw goodbye. They waved and Jaw waved back, smiling.

  "No, I only had the torn clothes, to begin with," answered Jaw with a chuckle.

  "I meant the things we gave you, keep them with you," Dr. Rober said as he put a hand on Jaw's shoulder. "They will be useful on your journey, sorry that those will be the only thing we can give you though."

  "No! I'm very thankful for them! and yeah, they're in my bag, which you guys also gave me," said Jaw, chuckling as he showed the doctor the contents of his bag.

  In the bag were traveling clothes and three other items. An old Pokéagear similar to the one in Pokémon Adventures, a yellow tent, and a wallet containing 200 Pokédollars.

  "Now that I think about it, is it really fine for me to have these?" asked Jaw, a bit scared to receive that much. "I mean, aren't Pokégears expensive? you also gave me 200 Pokédollars."

  "Take it, I don't use that Pokégear anymore, I even feel a bit ashamed giving it to you, it's a really old model. The clothes and tent are stuff from the lost and found section, again, sorry we didn’t have anything else. And the money was from all of us, the staff, so it did not cost that much," said Dr. Robert as he waved his hand. "What I want to hear instead is a thank you."

  "Yeah!" said a guy in the back,

  "ah... thank you, Dr. Robert and everyone! I really appreciate what you guys did for me, even with my background being sketchy," said Jaw with a bow, slightly blushing. "I'll work hard and show you guys that your support wasn't in vain!"

  The people at the back cheered with Jaw's declaration. Robert smiled as he stepped forward and said, "You should go now. We don't want to keep Ranger Myla waiting, you can use your Pokégear to find the way."

  "Yeah, but..." Jaw said as he looked around, a little sad. "Mawile didn't come to see me off."

  When Dr. Robert heard that, he also turned to glance around and saw that Mawile truly wasn't around.

  "Well, maybe she was more shocked than I originally thought," said the doctor while scratching his head. "You can always come back and visit her."

  "I guess... alright doc, I'll be on my way," said Jaw as he walked away from the hospital, then looked back and waved.

  "You'll see me at the Hoenn League, on live television!"