The train ride from Nimbasa City to Anville Town took about three hours. At this point, only about an hour had passed.
After the ponytailed girl sat down beside Liam, she obediently lowered her head and fiddled with the little charm hanging from her backpack. Liam could tell she seemed a little nervous.
But he didn't pay much attention to it. After all, they were just strangers who had happened to meet on the same train. Once they reached their destination, they would simply go their separate ways...
Though, for some reason, the girl did seem vaguely familiar.
So Liam rested his head on one hand again, half-closing his eyes as he gazed out the window.
The two remained in silence for quite a while, until—
"Excuse me, ma'am... have you decided yet? The other passengers are still waiting..."
The train attendant pushing the complimentary meal cart wiped the sweat from his brow as he looked helplessly at the indecisive ponytailed girl.
The girl wore an agonized expression, her eyes darting back and forth between the different boxed lunches on the cart, completely unable to make up her mind.
"Uh... I-I want the pork cutlet lunch! No, wait! The cod lunch looks really good too! Ah! But this curry lunch also looks delicious! Ugh! This is so hard!!"
Liam: "..."
That overwhelming sense of déjà vu...
Liam looked at the girl with surprise.
No way... It can't be that much of a coincidence...
"Miss! How about taking one of each?! There are three of you, so you can all share!"
Even the train attendant was becoming anxious after being held up for so long.
"W-What do you mean 'a family of three'?! We only just met!"
The ponytailed girl's face immediately turned bright red as she hurriedly explained.
Liam: "..."
"Uh... I'm so sorry! I misunderstood! I'm terribly sorry! But please, don't make a complaint, I'm begging you! It's my first day on the job! Please have mercy!"
The attendant looked like he was on the verge of breaking down. He had never met such a difficult customer before!
Liam: "..."
Ponytailed girl: "...Um... please give me one more minute! Just one minute! I know I can decide!"
Train attendant: 'Waaah!!'
Liam: "...We'll take three pork cutlet lunches."
Finally, Liam couldn't bear to watch any longer. He stood up and took three pork cutlet lunch boxes from the cart.
The attendant looked at him with overwhelming gratitude, gave him a deep bow, and then pushed the cart away at wind-like speed.
"...Here. Your pork cutlet lunch."
Turning around, Liam handed one lunch box to the ponytailed girl before reaching over to wake the sleeping little N.
"Eh~ Pork cutlet...? Actually, I kind of wanted the cod lunch... Oh well..."
The girl muttered to herself while looking at the lunch box, but didn't complain further. She opened it and happily began eating.
Liam: "..."
"...Big Bad Guy? Who's this big sister?"
Just as Liam's eyelid twitched slightly, little N woke up. Half-opening his sleepy eyes, he spotted the ponytailed girl enthusiastically devouring her meal and immediately became alert.
He looked at Liam in confusion.
"Don't ask. I don't know either. Put the egg down and go wash your hands. It's time to eat."
Liam sighed helplessly, taking the Pokémon Egg from little N before urging him toward the restroom.
"Okay..."
Little N ran off to wash his hands, still looking confused.
As soon as he left, the ponytailed girl, still chewing on a piece of pork cutlet, asked Liam through a mouthful of food,
"Mishter... ish dat little kid your shon? You two sheem really closhe."
Liam: "...Swallow your food before you talk."
"Cough... Sorry about that."
She hurriedly swallowed the pork cutlet before asking again,
"I meant... Sir, is that little boy your son? You two seem very close."
"..."
Liam paused for a moment before smiling faintly.
"My son."
"Eh?! Sir, you look so young! I never would've guessed your son was already that old! That's amazing!"
That's how people often become acquainted.
Once someone starts a conversation, everything else naturally follows.
"Oh, right! I never asked your name, Sir. Would you mind telling me?"
The ponytailed girl's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she asked.
"Hmm..."
Liam thought for a moment before replying,
"My name is Liam. Just call me Mr. Liam."
"You only told me one character? That's so sly! Mr. Liam... Mr. Liam... Hmm, it actually sounds pretty nice. Well then, please take care of me, Mr. Liam."
"You're welcome. Helping each other is only natural."
"Hehe. Since you only told me your first name, then I'll only tell you one of mine too."
"Lan."
"You can call me Lan. Hehe, it's nice to meet you. Please take care of me too."
The ponytailed girl likewise didn't reveal her full name, giving only the single "Lan."
"Oh, Miss Lan. Hmm... that does sound rather nice."
Hearing her imitate him by revealing only one character, Liam smiled.
"Right? Right? I think it sounds really nice too! Lan... Lan! Miss Lan! Hehe!"
"Wow! So tasty!"
Receiving Liam's compliment, the girl immediately beamed with delight. Her eyes narrowed happily as she continued stuffing pork cutlet into her mouth, practically radiating happiness.
"..."
Liam glanced at the food-loving girl, now glowing with bliss, smiled faintly, and said nothing.
Just then, little N returned after washing his hands.
Liam opened both lunch boxes, slid one over to little N, and, now feeling hungry himself, quietly began eating.
Little N first took back his Pokémon Egg before sitting down to eat. He also remained completely silent.
The three of them sat there making exactly the same movements, each hugging a lunch box while eating with complete concentration.
To an outsider...
They really did look like a family.
A family of food lovers.
"Phew~ I'm full. Thanks for the meal."
"Hmm... let's see the time."
"At this rate, we'll reach Anville Town in about another hour."
Lan quickly finished her lunch, checked the time, and realized two-thirds of the journey had already passed. The thought that they were about to reach their destination filled her face with anticipation.
A few minutes later, having nothing else to do after eating, she turned toward Liam, who had just finished his last bite.
"Mr. Liam, Mr. Liam~ You don't look like locals either. Are you visiting Anville Town as tourists?"
Liam shook his head.
"No, we're not here for sightseeing. My destination is Aspertia City. Although you're right that I'm not from around here. I came from the Kanto region."
"Eh?! The Kanto region?! That's incredibly far away! I can't believe you're actually from Kanto, Mr. Liam. Traveling all that way must have been exhausting! And little brother too! He's so young, yet he's already traveling everywhere with his father. That's really admirable!"
Hearing that Liam had come all the way from Kanto, Lan looked astonished.
Then she turned toward little N, who was still eating, her face full of admiration.
However, little N frowned slightly before looking up at her and correcting her mistake.
"Father? Who? The Big Bad Guy?"
"Hmph! No thanks! And besides, I'm not from the Kanto region. I'm from Unova."
"...Eh?"