Group Chat—
[Yellow: @Teacher Lu, I'm almost at the airport~! [Video] ]
The video showed Yellow riding on Charizard, holding up her phone to capture the sea of clouds below.
[Green: Weren't you on the 2 PM flight? It's already almost 4!]
[Yellow: Uh… it's a long story.]
Yellow glanced shyly at the figure in front of her, clad in a red jacket, and scratched her head awkwardly.
[Lu Ye: No need to come, I'm already almost home.]
[Yellow: Eh?! ∑(っ°Д°;)っ]
[Blue: You can't keep your guest waiting that long.] Blue sighed.
[Yellow: Sorry, sorry! (Ｔ▽Ｔ)]
[Lu Ye: It's fine as long as you're safe, We'll have other chances to meet.] Lu Ye replied.
Brock nodded.
[Brock: Saffron City has a direct maglev train to all major cities. It's a good place to plan a gathering.]
[Gold: I wanna come too!!]
[Crystal: Don't go causing trouble for Teacher Lu, Gold!]
[Gold: What? Teacher Lu totally welcomes me!] Gold huffed.
[Lu Ye: No, I don't. Stop making things up. [Angrily ruffles your dog head] ]
[Gold: ???]
After the routine bullying of Gold—
Erika chuckled.
[Erika: Teacher Lu, I'll pick you up tomorrow for Celadon University.]
[Lu Ye: I appreciate it!]
Closing the chat, Lu Ye looked ahead at the woman in the black trench coat leading the way.
Including the last time he flew to Sinnoh, it had always been Cynthia picking him up.
The feeling of having someone waiting for him…
It was kind of heartwarming.
---
The winter air carried a slight chill.
Cynthia was dressed in a thick black trench coat, its collar lined with soft fur.
Her golden hair cascaded down, partially covering one eye.
Sensing Lu Ye's gaze, she turned her finely sculpted face toward him.
"Hmm?"
"I was wondering if you're cold."
"I'm fine." Cynthia tucked her hands into her coat pockets and smiled.
"I'll make you some ginger cola later," Lu Ye said.
Cynthia blinked. It was unclear whether she was confused about whether that was a drink or a dish.
"Gengarr! (*¯﹃¯)"
Floating in the air, Gengar seemed to have already caught the scent of dinner, drooling uncontrollably…
---
Saffron City was a typical metropolitan hub—skyscrapers, overpasses, a sprawling subway system, and multilayered highways.
Cynthia's villa seemed quite far from the city center.
Just as Lu Ye was wondering how long it would take to get there, Cynthia led him to a sleek black convertible parked in front of the terminal.
"You drive?" She twirled the car keys in her hand.
Lu Ye was momentarily stunned.
A luxury sports car casually parked at the airport…
Is this what it's like to live in a rich woman's world?!
"I'm an excellent driver!" Lu Ye boasted proudly.
Cynthia smiled, tucking a strand of golden hair behind her ear before opening the driver's side door.
"You're new here… I'll drive."
Leaning her elbow on the window frame, she tilted her head slightly at him.
"Get in."
Lu Ye hesitated.
To get in or not to get in—That was the question.
After deliberating for exactly 0.05 seconds, he decisively said—"I'm coming!"
---
The sun was setting, dyeing the sky a brilliant gold.
The cool evening breeze brushed against them in the open-roof car.
"Want some music?"
"I'm fine with anything."
Cynthia turned on the car's audio system.
As the melody filled the air, she suddenly froze for a moment.
Then, a faint blush crept up her ears, spreading across her fair cheeks.
"Fireworks?"
Lu Ye raised a brow. "Isn't this the song I wrote?"
"…Mhm."
Cynthia kept her eyes on the road, silently gripping the steering wheel.
"You've been listening to it all this time?"
"…Mhm."
"On loop?"
Cynthia remained silent.
After a deep breath, she put on a dazzling smile.
"We're here. Get out."
The sudden braking sent Gengar, who had been lounging on Lu Ye's lap, tumbling headfirst into a bucket of popcorn.
"Gengarr? (*⊙~⊙)"
Gengar stuck out its tongue and swept up all the popcorn stuck to its face.
I didn't even say anything this time!
You can't blame me for this!
---
In front of them stood a two-story luxury villa.
The exterior had a sleek black-and-white modern aesthetic.
A Dewgong fountain flowed gently in the courtyard, the sound of water adding to the serene atmosphere.
Inside, warm orange lighting flickered on.
A plush, handwoven carpet covered the floor of the spacious and well-lit living room.
Overall, this villa was far more extravagant than the one Lu Ye had previously rented.
Looking up at the ceiling, Lu Ye felt tears welling up.
What if I suddenly don't want to work hard anymore?
---
With a flash of red light, Cynthia's Pokémon emerged one after another.
"Chhhiii…"
Spiritomb swayed its ghastly form, giving Lu Ye a somewhat bashful greeting.
Lucario and Garchomp crossed their arms, staring at Lu Ye with clear hostility.
"Gengarr!ヾ(ﾟ∀ﾟゞ)"
Completely unfazed, Gengar floated forward, holding a jar of Poké Blocks as a peace offering.
Lucario and Garchomp exchanged glances—then, without a word, they both swallowed nervously.
Moments later…
The three Pokémon sat shoulder to shoulder, happily munching away, exuding an air of camaraderie.
"These Poké Blocks… their quality seems to have improved again?" Cynthia remarked, slightly surprised.
"I incorporated some Pokémon cuisine techniques."
Lu Ye coughed lightly. "Basically, they just taste better now."
"They're edible for humans too," he added.
"I see…"
Cynthia nodded thoughtfully.
"By the way, did you come to Kanto to compete in the League Conference?"
"…Huh?"
Lu Ye blinked. "Why would you think that?"
"Because the Quartz Conference is in two months," Cynthia said. "If you register now, you'll have just enough time to pass the qualifications."
The League Conference was the best place to test team compositions.
That idiot Red entered every year with a new team, which was how the concept of a first-string and second-string lineup came about.
Leaning against the couch, her chin resting on a pillow, Cynthia pondered—
After half a year of training… with Lu Ye's current team, he should be ready to compete in the League Conference.
Lu Ye, however, was dumbfounded.
Kanto? I came here to slack off!
Teaching students, sightseeing with his Pokémon—wasn't that the real dream?!
Clearing his throat, Lu Ye said, "I don't have any plans to compete."
Hearing this, Cynthia nodded slowly.
"That makes sense."
The League Conference was mostly for Trainers below Master Rank.
Master-level Trainers typically pursued Victory Road or aimed for Elite Four status.
It wasn't surprising that Teacher Lu had little interest in it…
"I'll go make dinner."
Glancing at Cynthia, who seemed deep in thought, Lu Ye stood up.
"What do you want to eat?"
Cynthia tilted her head, thinking for a long moment before finally saying, "Noodles."
"No problem."
---
After stepping into the kitchen, Lu Ye, acting on pure chef's instinct, immediately checked the fridge.
Even though Cynthia didn't live here often, it was clear someone managed the place—there were even fresh vegetables inside.
Hmm… I can definitely make udon.
"Want a soft-boiled egg on top?" he called out.
"Yes~~"
Cynthia, propping her chin on her hand, answered while half-watching TV.
Udon, soba, ramen… each had its merits.
But with the weather getting colder, udon was the best choice—it was filling, and the broth was rich.
Slicing potatoes, boiling them… The melting butter in the pan sizzled, releasing a sweet aroma.
Using mashed potatoes as the base, Lu Ye prepared thick curry soup, the kind that was perfect for gathering around in winter nights.
This dish, made famous in Shokugeki no Soma's Autumn Election…
Had a rather grandiose name:
[White Creamy Curry Udon]
"…That name sounds so unserious."
Pouring Moomoo Milk into the pot, Lu Ye muttered to himself.
Besides that, he also needed to prepare ginger cola for the Pokémon.
Togepi had been clinging to a giant soda bottle all day, still drinking it ice-cold…
A hot ginger tea would be perfect to keep everyone warm.
"…Why do I feel more and more like a dad?" Lu Ye scratched his chin, murmuring to himself.
---
Meanwhile, in the living room—
Togepi rode on Togekiss's back, happily soaring through the air.
Sylveon yawned lazily, curling up on Cynthia's lap for a nap.
Even Glaceon was starting to doze off.
"Squirtlee!ヾ(⌐■_■)"
On the other side, Squirtle adjusted its sunglasses, cautiously eyeing Lucario, who was meditating.
From Lucario, Squirtle could sense an overwhelming aura.
If Squirtle rated itself a "1"… then this Lucario was at least a 1000!
Wiping away cold sweat, Squirtle clenched its tiny fists.
I need to keep training!
"Lucca."
Lucario also glanced at Squirtle, frowning slightly.
Why can't I read this Squirtle's aura?!
"Awwooo~~ (｀0´)"
Excited to meet so many strong Pokémon, Growlithe barked loudly and dashed across the living room.
The sudden noise startled Glaceon awake, a vein popping on its forehead.
"GLAAAAEEE!!"
[Hyper Voice: Unleashes an incredibly loud and disruptive soundwave to attack.]
CRACK!
The high-frequency sound shattered every window in the house, even waking up Sylveon from its nap.
"Veeon?"
Looking at Glaceon, Sylveon's bright blue eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Meanwhile, Growlithe, thinking Glaceon was playing along, barked even more excitedly.
Finding the scene rather amusing, Cynthia propped her chin on her hand and chuckled.
---
"What's going on?!"
Lu Ye rushed out of the kitchen.
He froze at the sight of the utterly wrecked living room.
"The little ones were just playing around." Cynthia smiled.
"…But the broken windows…"
"It's fine."
Cynthia waved a hand dismissively, looking entirely unbothered.
"I have a renovation team on call. They'll fix it quickly."
Lu Ye blinked.
…You have a renovation team on standby?!
This… this is a kindred spirit!
"Oh, I'll give you the number," Cynthia added.
"That way, next time, you can handle it yourself."
Lu Ye was momentarily stunned.
Looking up at the ceiling, he sighed.
Even in Kanto… I still can't escape the fate of calling a renovation team?!
---
As night fell, Lu Ye set down a steaming bowl of udon, exhausted.
"Dinner's ready!"
Cynthia led the playful Pokémon toward the towering pile of Poké Puffs.
"Gengar, no sneaking food!" Lu Ye warned.
Gengar grinned mischievously and gave an "OK" hand sign.
I already stashed a bunch away earlier!
This little pile? Not even worth my time~~
—
The rich aroma of creamy white broth udon filled the air, steam rising in delicate swirls.
Cynthia licked her lips, tasting the lingering warmth of the broth. A soft smile played on her lips.
"It's delicious."
"How does it feel?" Lu Ye asked.
"My whole body feels warm."
Lu Ye chuckled. "Well, having a hot bowl of noodles in winter is one of life's simple joys."
[Cooking Lv5] had already reached a master chef's level.
If he didn't deliberately hold back, this dish would have had a full Food Wars reaction effect.
Even so, it was still an exceptionally rare and exquisite meal.
---
"You're heading to Celadon University… where are you staying?" Cynthia asked.
"I haven't decided yet—probably in the staff dorms."
"If you don't mind, you can stay here."
Cynthia tucked a strand of golden hair behind her ear as she picked up another bite of noodles.
"I'll be heading back to Sinnoh in a few days anyway. The house will be empty."
"…Huh?"
Lu Ye froze, still processing her words.
"Here's the key."
Cynthia casually placed the house key on the table.
"The car keys are with the housekeeper, but you can use them too."
She looked up at Lu Ye.
"What do you think?"
---
Lu Ye felt his heart jolt.
One bowl of noodles… for a whole villa?!
No, no—calm down and think.
Saying I don't want to work hard anymore was one thing, but deep down, he knew—
I, Teacher Lu, am not the type to mooch off others!
"I'll pay rent."
Lu Ye cleared his throat.
"And forget the car—I prefer taking the train to work!"
"That works too."
Cynthia smiled slightly.
She knew Lu Ye wasn't the type to fuss over small amounts of money.
Besides, it was a mutually beneficial arrangement—it saved him the hassle of finding a place to stay.
---
Just as Lu Ye was about to relax, a sudden realization struck him.
Wait a second…
This is an insanely expensive house.
If the Pokémon wreck it, won't I be completely screwed?!
A bead of cold sweat dripped down Lu Ye's forehead.
This could be a major problem!
---
As the night deepened, the villa grew quiet.
Since Cynthia wasn't good at housework, Gengar took over all the cleaning duties.
Cynthia blushed lightly and coughed. "I'll make sure to repay Gengar."
Lu Ye: "No need for that."
Cynthia: "No, I insist."
Lu Ye rubbed his temples.
One way or another, his new home was now settled.
Located in a prime area of Saffron City, close to both the subway and the business district, commuting would be extremely convenient.
And since Cynthia would occasionally return…
Technically… does this count as cohabitation?
Then again, Cynthia's mansion was far more extravagant than any place he had ever lived in.
He could already predict that renovation costs would skyrocket in the future.
Surveying the lavishly decorated living room, Lu Ye muttered to himself—
"…Nothing's gonna go wrong, right?"
---
After setting up the Pokémon's spaces—Sylveon's exercise wheel, Squirtle's water tank—everything was finally in place.
Cynthia, sipping on ginger cola through a straw, asked, "Almost done?"
"…Why?" Lu Ye gave her a wary look.
"Let's play cards."
Lu Ye raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you say you'd be leaving soon?"
Cynthia fell silent.
Outside, the night was cold and dark, but inside, the heater filled the space with warmth.
The Pokémon were relaxed, the atmosphere was peaceful—
Staying like this forever… didn't seem like such a bad idea.
But… wasn't he too young?
A faint blush crept up Cynthia's cheeks.
Feeling her thoughts were a bit too absurd, she coughed lightly and turned away.
"…I'm going to take a bath."
"Wait for me!"
"…Hmm?"
"I mean—" Lu Ye quickly corrected himself.
"Wait for me so we can play cards together."
His expression was completely serious.