"Professor Rowan and the Bertha family will be coming to my laboratory for a visit today. They'll be returning to the Sinnoh region tomorrow… Oh right, Cynthia—someone else has also come from Sinnoh today to see you."
After the meal, Professor Oak spoke while everyone was resting.
Logan wasn't surprised at all to hear that Professor Rowan and the Bertha family would soon be returning to Sinnoh. After all, so many days had passed—Oak and Rowan had surely finished exchanging techniques and research materials. As for the Bertha family, being one of Sinnoh's foremost financial conglomerates, there was no way they would stay in the Kanto region for long.
Only Cynthia was caught off guard.
She had no idea who would be coming all the way from Sinnoh specifically to see her. Professor Oak, however, fully embraced his love for mystery—no matter how much Cynthia asked, he refused to say a word.
Time passed quietly amid her growing curiosity.
Before long, Professor Rowan arrived, ready to bid farewell to the Kanto region, taking the opportunity to tour Professor Oak's world-renowned laboratory one last time.
Logan and the others came out to greet them as well. Among the arrivals—besides Professor Rowan and the Bertha family—was an elderly woman with an exceptionally unusual hairstyle.
The moment Cynthia saw her, she clapped a hand over her mouth in shock.
"G-Grandma?! Why did you come all the way from Sinnoh?!"
The elderly woman wasn't very tall. She had the same light-gray eyes as Cynthia. Her hair was clearly dyed, making its original color impossible to tell. She leaned on a cane, though judging by how agile she was, it seemed more decorative than necessary.
"Hmph~ My dear granddaughter hasn't come back to Celestic Town to visit me in ages. After asking around, I found out you'd run off to Kanto! And then I heard you'd even found yourself a boyfriend here—of course your grandmother had to travel all this way to inspect him personally! What, Cynthia, are you not welcoming me? Afraid I'll interrupt your date?"
Though her expression was stern, her words were anything but proper.
"Grandma, what are you talking about?! I don't have a boyfriend! Please don't say such things!"
Cynthia frantically waved her hands, her flawless, pale face turning bright red. She stomped the ground hard with her high-heeled foot, pouting indignantly.
Normally, Cynthia always appeared calm and mature—but teased by her grandmother like this, she looked like a child who hadn't grown up at all.
Not just Logan—even everyone else present stared in disbelief. Who could have imagined that the Sinnoh Champion had such a side to her?
Noticing the strange looks, Cynthia lightly coughed into her hand. The blush faded, and she once again became the elegant, composed young woman everyone knew.
Her grandmother, however, showed no intention of stopping.
"No boyfriend? Then it must've just been a rumor. That's a relief. You know, when I heard your so-called boyfriend had something to do with Oak , I was extremely worried."
As she spoke, Cynthia's grandmother suddenly turned her sharp gaze toward Logan, scrutinizing him thoroughly.
Logan was utterly baffled. Sure, he did have feelings for Cynthia—but absolutely nothing had happened between them. Granny, staring at him like that really wasn't fair. If it were Sabrina's or Erika's parents examining him, he could understand—but this felt wildly out of place.
"It's been a long time, and you're still just as sharp-tongued as ever, never sparing me, Kezilan."
Professor Oak emerged from the lab just in time, looking awkward upon hearing her words.
"Hmph. Don't think I've forgotten what you did when you were young. Anyone you approve of, of course I'll keep an eye on."
Cynthia's grandmother shot Oak a fierce glare, her voice stern, tinged with a trace of melancholy.
They definitely had a past together, Logan immediately realized.
"Kezilan, it's been a long time since you visited Kanto. Let's not start arguing with Oak the moment you arrive."
Professor Rowan hurriedly stepped in to smooth things over.
"Professor Kezilan, how long do you plan to stay in Kanto this time? Would you like to return with us?"
Mr. Bertha, Professor Rowan's assistant and the current head of the Bertha family, spoke up quickly. Though a researcher by profession, he was also a shrewd businessman with high emotional intelligence, and immediately sensed the tense atmosphere.
"Don't call me 'Professor.' I resigned ages ago. These days I'm just an elder in Celestic Town, drinking milk and enjoying my retirement."
Cynthia's grandmother waved her hand dismissively.
Her presence alone radiated authority—bordering on willful arrogance. Cynthia had grown up with her, yet somehow turned out so gentle and considerate. By all logic, she should have inherited her grandmother's temper instead.
"Oak , you lead the way. I want to see if your precious laboratory is really as impressive as people claim."
She ordered Oak around without the slightest politeness. The professor could only smile helplessly and guide her inside.
"I heard you haven't seen Agatha in a long time? That's one thing you did right. I told you back then—she was gloomy and dangerous. Best to stay away from that woman."
Cynthia's grandmother pointed and lectured as they walked, while Oak nodded repeatedly like a pecking chick.
"My grandmother is just like this, Logan. Please don't mind her."
Cynthia whispered apologetically as she walked beside Logan.
"I actually think your grandma is pretty interesting. This is the first time I've ever seen Professor Oak look so intimidated. You know, normally he yells at the kids in Pallet Town without hesitation."
Logan chuckled softly in reply.
"Hey, you there—the brat!"
Cynthia's grandmother suddenly stopped and fixed her sharp eyes on Logan.
"Yes! I'm here! What can I do for you, Grandma!"
Logan immediately straightened up, chest out, answering respectfully. The word Grandma rolled off his tongue with impressive ease.
"Hm!"
She nodded in satisfaction.
"Sweet mouth. Much more sensible than Oak was when he was young. That old coot was stubborn beyond belief—his words could anger anyone to death. I heard he has a grandson now… probably just as stubborn as he was."
Logan silently applauded her insight. Blue's stubbornness was legendary—and he had that infuriating tsundere streak too.
…
"Very good, very good. You, the Kanto Champion, are far more responsible than Cynthia. I can rest easy entrusting her to you."
"Grandma!"
Cynthia cried out helplessly, her voice bordering on tears. Clearly, she had suffered plenty under this woman while growing up.
The old lady ignored her completely.
"I'm not finished yet! Cynthia, don't interrupt me! Hmph—this has been bothering me for a long time. Ever since you became the Sinnoh Champion, you've become useless! Slacking off all day, not improving at all!"
"…I even considered telling you to resign from that Champion title and go traveling again. Better than clinging to that 'Champion' name and getting complacent—one day you'd lose and disgrace your grandmother!"
She scolded her mercilessly, completely unconcerned with the setting.
Cynthia lowered her head obediently, accepting every word in silence, shame written all over her face. She knew her grandmother was right—her past self truly had been stagnant.
After venting, the old woman's expression softened.
"…But seeing you now puts me at ease. You've finally recognized your flaws and started improving. Had I known, I'd have sent you to Kanto the moment you became Champion—better yet, I should've had you stay here permanently and never go back to Sinnoh."
Neither Professor Oak nor Professor Rowan dared to contradict the woman called Kezilan. The Bertha couple smiled awkwardly. Cynthia didn't dare raise her head. Yellow, Gren, and Platinum stood rigidly, pretending to be invisible.
There was no doubt about it—
This old woman's presence was absolutely terrifying.
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