“Azalea Town (Japanese: ヒワダタウン Hiwada Town) is a small, isolated town located on the southern peninsula of the Johto region. The town is best known for being the residence of Kurt, a custom Poké Ball creator who makes Poké Balls out of Apricorns. He lives in the northwest portion of town on the east edge of Ilex Forest. Azalea features other notable locations as well, such as the Slowpoke Well. As such, Slowpoke can be found around the town. The town has two entrances, Route 33 to the east and Ilex Forest to the west.” -Bulbapedia
The parts of Azalea town you see in the games in not all there is to the small town outside of Celebi's forest. If you head south, through the trees, you will come to the rest of the residential area, and among those houses is the childhood home of Proton. Formerly known as Lance, Proton spent most of his childhood here, playing with the lazy slowpoke of the well, helping his grandfather pick apricorns to make pokeballs from and helping his mother look after the house when he wasn’t out getting into trouble.
Ilex forest was a place that Proton especially held dear. When his dad was in one of his moods, Proton hid here and caught bugs. (Though he always let them go. ) He knew the forest like the back of his had, and when he didn’t want to be found… Well. You weren’t finding him.