Three days later...
"Red, this restaurant is expensive," Yellow say saying, frowning at the menu. "You sure it's okay for you to pay?"
"It's not that expensive," Red replied, truthfully. The restaurant was out of their regular budget, but it was not more expensive than most regular restaurants. "My new job pays well, and I still have some royalties left over from being a champion."
"Oh right, you have a new job! You never told me what you do, exactly?"
"Not much to say. It's mostly management, and it has to do with Pokémon. I'm not allowed to speak that much about it, a lot of what they do is top secret."
"As long as you're happy with it," Yellow told him. "I still get most of what I need from just helping around in Viridian. I'm ready to order if you are, by the way."
Red called the waiter over and, after they had placed their orders, returned to the conversation.
"Speaking of Viridian, how's your shelter project going?"
"We've got a private donor now, giving us enough money for materials and hiring if needed," Yellow replied, shrugging. "Most volunteer, though. We've built lots of shelters for sick Pokémon to rest safely in. Not all of them get along well, so I've got to keep the peace at times."
"I imagine you get quite a few fights," Red laughed. "I know you're strong enough to handle it."
"It's not a big problem, really. Pika and Chuchu are helpful when it gets too much."
"Ah, while we're at the topic... I was thinking Pika might stay with you a bit longer, if you want. I've got a new team member, and I'm sure he'd love more time with Chuchu. I'll try to come by and visit more often."
"Yeah!" Yellow replied, smiling wide. "That'd be great!"
Their food arrived, and they ate in silence for a while. Yellow had a question she wanted to ask, but she was not sure how to put it. After a while, she decided to just say it.
"Red?" she said, looking up to find him already looking at her. She blushed slightly, but he gave her a nod and a muffled "Yes?" through a mouthful of potato. "Will you keep living with your mom, or are you planning on moving now that you've got a job?"
Red swallowed the food he had in his mouth and looked thoughtful for a while.
"Actually, she'll be working abroad for a few months, in some place called Unova. Her employer is renting an apartment for her there, so I'll take care of the house in Pallet Town until she returns. After that, I might move somewhere else. I think I'd like to live in Viridian City, close to you and Green."
"That'd be wonderful!" Yellow replied, smiling again. Red felt bad for lying, but Yellow did not have to know that he had made sure his mother got that job, so she would be away for a while. "Red, will you promise me something? That you'll stay in Kanto for a while, now?"
"I already said I would, didn't I?" Red told her, returning the smile. "You don't have to worry, I'll stay for quite a while. Besides, I've got to stay here if I'm to take care of the house."
"Yeah."
"Besides, most of my work is here in Kanto. I won't have to leave for that either."
"Your work," Yellow repeated. "I wanted to know... Is it dangerous?"
"It can be. Everything has some risk, and this is worth it," Red replied. When Yellow looked worried, he bit his lower lip, thinking. "Listen, Yellow. It'll be already. I promise I won't let anything bad happen, okay? As you said, I don't lie to you."
"After the first time we met, you said you'd come back to Viridian to do the gym leader test," Yellow mumbled. She looked up, meeting his eyes. "You did that. You kept the promise, despite not even knowing me then. You've never broken a promise to me. That's why I'll trust you now, as well. It's why I lo... It's why I like you."
Red smiled widely at this, and Yellow felt her cheeks heating up. Not wanting to linger on the subject, Yellow quickly started talking about something else. Before they knew it, three hours had passed and the restaurant was closing. As they were walking home, Red slipped his hand into hers, smiling as she glanced up at him.
"Well, here we are," he said as they reached her house. "Goodnight, Yellow."
"Goodnight," she replied, smiling. She turned and started walking towards the door.
"Yellow!" he called out after her. She spun around, too fast, nearly losing her footing. Red was there though, catching her before she fell. She was just about to thank him, when she felt his soft lips brush against hers. "I love you too," he whispered, before taking a step back and turning to leave.
Yellow stood frozen, staring after him as he disappeared into the night. After a couple of minutes, Pika and Chuchu awoke her from the trance, looking worried.
"It's nothing," she assured them. "Nothing, I'm just... I'm very happy, is all."