Ethan looked down at the Dusk Stone resting in his hand.
Dark violet light shimmered softly beneath the Pokécenter lights.
Across the lobby, Lusamine was preparing to leave with Misdreavus floating beside her.
Ethan glanced at the stone once more.
Then called out:
"Hey, Lusamine. Wait."
Lusamine paused mid-step and turned gracefully toward him.
Her blonde hair shifted lightly over her shoulders as emerald eyes met his.
"Yes?"
Ethan walked over and held the Dusk Stone out toward her.
"You should have this."
For the first time since meeting him—
Lusamine looked genuinely surprised.
"…Really?"
Ethan shrugged lightly.
"You would've won first place if Bugsy hadn't somehow discovered Larvesta".
Nearby, Bugsy looked personally attacked.
"I SAID I DIDN'T KNOW!"
Whitney pointed dramatically.
"YOU FOUND A PSEUDO BUG BY ACCIDENT."
"IT WAS NEAR A TREE!"
Lusamine couldn't stop a small laugh from escaping.
Then her attention returned to Ethan.
"You earned this too."
Ethan shook his head.
"My Scyther was injured."
He glanced toward her Park Ball.
"You caught two strong Bug types cleanly."
Then he smiled a little.
"And honestly…"
"Misdreavus probably wants it more than Gengar does."
At the mention of her name, Misdreavus perked up excitedly.
"Misdreavus~!"
Lusamine stared at Ethan quietly for a moment.
No hesitation.
No bargaining.
No trying to gain favor from the Lawliet family.
He was just…
Giving it to her.
'He's so strange…'
And somehow—
That made him dangerously charming.
Lusamine slowly accepted the Dusk Stone from his hand.
Their fingers brushed lightly.
Ethan didn't react much outwardly.
Lusamine absolutely noticed anyway.
"…Thank you, Ethan."
Her voice softened slightly this time.
More genuine.
Less composed.
Ethan rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Yeah, no problem."
Misdreavus happily floated circles around Lusamine while staring at the stone with sparkling eyes.
Lusamine smiled at her partner before looking back at Ethan again.
"The Lawliet family will repay this kindness properly."
Ethan immediately looked horrified.
"Oh no."
Lusamine blinked once.
"…Oh no?"
"You said that in rich person language."
Whitney gasped dramatically.
"HE'S RIGHT."
Lyra nodded seriously.
"That sentence definitely costs money."
Lusamine covered her mouth slightly, amused.
"Is that truly how you hear it?"
Ethan pointed at her confidently.
"That sounded like the beginning of either a political alliance or a billionaire side quest."
Even Sabrina quietly looked away to hide a smile.
Lusamine laughed softly again.
Not the controlled laugh from earlier.
A real one.
Warm.
Bright.
And for a moment—
She didn't look like the daughter of one of the wealthiest families in the world.
She just looked like a girl enjoying herself.
Then she tilted her head slightly.
"Well then."
A faint smile formed on her lips.
"Perhaps I'll simply owe you a favor instead."
Ethan froze for half a second.
Every instinct inherited from his family screamed:
NEVER ACCEPT OPEN-ENDED RICH PEOPLE FAVORS.
Unfortunately—
His brain short-circuited slightly because she was pretty.
"...Sure."
Sabrina immediately adjusted her glasses.
"That was a tactical error."
Whitney pointed at Ethan.
"He folded instantly."
"I did not fold."
"You absolutely folded."
Lusamine looked deeply entertained now.
Misdreavus floated beside Sentret happily while the two Pokémon watched their trainers with suspiciously knowing expressions.
Then a sleek black limousine slowly pulled up outside the Pokécenter.
Several sharply dressed attendants stepped out almost immediately.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Even nearby trainers moved aside reflexively.
One attendant opened an umbrella as another approached Lusamine respectfully.
"Lady Lusamine."
Whitney whispered:
"...Oh she is RICH rich."
Ethan nodded slowly.
"Yeah."
Lusamine sighed almost invisibly.
The elegant mask returned smoothly.
Polished posture.
Perfect composure.
Like flipping a switch.
But before entering the car—
She looked back toward Ethan one last time.
Emerald eyes softened slightly.
"I'll see you again, Ethan Harmonia."
Ethan smiled faintly.
"Probably."
Lusamine's lips curved upward.
Then she entered the limousine.
As the vehicle drove away, Whitney immediately spun toward Ethan.
"So."
Ethan blinked.
"So?"
Whitney pointed violently toward the disappearing limousine.
"SHE WAS FLIRTING WITH YOU."
"No she wasn't."
Sabrina answered instantly.
"She absolutely was."
Lyra nodded.
"That girl basically looked at you like she discovered a rare Pokémon."
Bugsy raised a hand awkwardly.
"...Technically she did."
Ethan groaned quietly.
"This is becoming a problem."
After a while, they got into the Hermonia car. Lusamin decided to come with them.
As they went back to that Mansion.
Bugsy, Lyra and Falkner where supirse to see how big the Mansion was.
The massive Harmonia estate gates slowly opened as the black luxury car rolled inside.
Lyra immediately pressed herself against the window.
"…Why is the driveway longer than some routes between towns?!"
Whitney crossed her arms smugly from beside Ethan. "Rich people are mentally ill, that's why."
"Hey," Ethan said.
"You literally own a ranch bigger than Violet City."
"That's different. Ours has cows."
Bugsy stared silently at the enormous gardens outside.
Perfectly trimmed hedges lined the stone road. Decorative fountains shimmered under the evening lights while elegant statues stood throughout the estate grounds.
Even Falkner looked impressed.
"…This is bigger than the League guest buildings."
Kitsu leaned back casually. "Yeah, the family likes pretending they're subtle."
Ethan muttered, "We're really not."
The car finally stopped in front of the mansion itself.
Lyra's soul almost left her body.
The building looked less like a house and more like someone accidentally purchased a palace.
Tall white walls.
Massive glass windows.
Elegant black roofing.
Several balconies.
And enough lights to illuminate half the street.
Bugsy stared upward.
"…Do you guys have side quests in there?"
Whitney nodded seriously. "Probably at least three ghosts too."
Sabrina adjusted her glasses. "Statistically large estates are more likely to develop paranormal activity."
Lyra pointed at her immediately. "THAT DOESN'T HELP."
The group stepped out of the car.
Servants near the entrance bowed politely as Ethan walked up the stairs.
And despite literally living here—
Ethan still looked mildly uncomfortable every time.
He reached the massive front doors and knocked twice.
A second later—
The doors burst open.
An orange blur launched directly at Ethan and Kitsu.
"Gēgē! Jiějiě! You two are back!"
WHAM.
"EUGH—"
Ethan got tackled straight backward.
Kitsu barely stayed standing.
A tiny five-year-old girl clung to both of them like an affectionate missile.
Bright orange hair bounced wildly around her face while her tiny arms locked around Ethan's neck.
Ethan's eyes spun.
"H-Hi, Tade-Ai…"
The little girl immediately puffed her cheeks.
"You were gone forever!"
"It was three days."
"FOREVER."
Whitney immediately pointed.
"She's adorable."
Tade-Ai finally noticed the others standing nearby.
Big blue eyes blinked once.
Then twice.
Then she gasped dramatically and pointed at Lyra.
"Gēgē brought home another girl!"
Silence.
Ethan froze.
Whitney started choking on air.
Lyra turned bright red instantly.
"W-WHAT?!"
Bugsy looked away like he suddenly wasn't part of this conversation.
Falkner muttered, "Children really are the strongest observers."
Kitsu immediately betrayed Ethan.
"Technically not wrong."
"Kitsu!"
Ethan looked horrified.
Tade-Ai pointed accusingly at him.
"You said the same thing when Erika jiějiě came over!"
Ethan's soul briefly left his body.
Whitney collapsed onto the stairs laughing.
Sabrina quietly adjusted her glasses to hide a small smile.
Lyra looked like she wanted the ground to consume her.
Meanwhile Tade-Ai marched directly up to Lusamine.
The tiny girl stared upward seriously.
Lusamine blinked politely back at her.
Then Tade-Ai nodded firmly.
"Pretty."
Lusamine looked genuinely caught off guard.
"…Thank you?"
Tade-Ai turned toward Ethan again with complete betrayal in her eyes.
"Gēgē."
"What."
"You didn't tell me you met another pretty one."
Ethan rubbed his face.
"I'm being bullied by a five-year-old."
"Skill issue," Whitney said immediately.
Sentret nodded from Ethan's shoulder.
"Sent."
Traitory everywhere.
Tade-Ai then noticed the Pokémon.
Her eyes sparkled instantly.
"BUG!"
Before anyone could react—
She sprinted directly toward Ethan's newly caught Scyther.
Everyone collectively panicked.
"WAIT—"
Scyther appeared from its Park Ball instinctively—
Towering.
Sharp bladed arms gleaming.
The mantis Pokémon looked down at the tiny child running toward it.
Tade-Ai stopped directly in front of Scyther.
Then proudly held up a cookie.
Scyther blinked.
The tiny human stared up fearlessly.
"Friend?"
A long silence followed.
Then—
Scyther slowly accepted the cookie.
Everyone froze.
Whitney whispered, "…Why does she have Disney Princess powers?"
Kitsu sighed.
"All Harmonia children are weird."
Tade-Ai immediately hugged Scyther's leg.
The Bug-type looked completely emotionally unprepared for this development.
Ethan stared.
"…It trusted her faster than me."
Sentret laughed so hard she almost fell off his shoulder.
Lusamine quietly covered her mouth to hide her laughter.
And somewhere deep inside the mansion—
A maid quietly whispered into a phone:
"Young Master has returned home with another girl."
Within seconds—
The information spread through the estate like wildfire.
After a while. The mansion doors closed behind them as everyone stepped into the enormous entrance hall.
Lyra immediately looked upward.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling while elegant staircases curved toward the second floor.
Bugsy whispered, "…This place has echo physics."
Whitney pointed at a painting. "I bet that portrait judges poor people."
"It absolutely does," Ethan said.
Then—
"You came back in time, Xiǎo dìdì."
Everyone looked up.
Standing halfway down the staircase was Akagi.
Long dark-red hair flowed over one shoulder while sharp crimson eyes calmly surveyed the room. She wore a fitted black business dress with gold trim that somehow made her look both elegant and mildly terrifying at the same time.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Not oppressive.
But controlled.
Like the room itself acknowledged she was important.
Ethan and Kitsu both waved casually.
"Hey sis."
"Welcome back," Kitsu added.
Akagi stepped down the stairs gracefully.
Then her eyes moved across the guests one by one.
Bugsy stiffened immediately.
Falkner straightened instinctively.
Lyra looked like she accidentally entered a final boss room.
Then Akagi's gaze landed on Lusamine.
A small flicker of recognition passed through her eyes.
"Lawliet."
Lusamine smiled politely.
"Harmonia."
The air between them briefly felt like two corporations shook hands without paperwork.
Meanwhile Whitney leaned toward Ethan.
"Why does your sister walk like she owns stock in gravity?"
"Because she probably does."
Akagi finally looked toward Erika and Sabrina.
The two girls waved politely.
Erika bowed slightly. "It's a pleasure meeting you again, Miss Akagi."
Akagi immediately waved the formality away.
"No need to be so polite, Erika."
Her tone softened slightly.
"You're Ethan's fiancée."
Then she added calmly:
"And it's only been one month."
Whitney nearly died instantly.
"YOU JUST SAY THAT OUT LOUD?!"
Lyra looked like she short-circuited.
Bugsy quietly looked toward Falkner.
"…I'm starting to understand why Ethan acts like weird things are normal."
Falkner nodded slowly. "This family explains a lot."
Erika smiled softly, completely unbothered.
Sabrina adjusted her glasses calmly beside her.
Meanwhile Lusamine blinked once.
Then quietly looked at Ethan.
'Fiancée.'
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Ethan immediately changed the subject before Whitney exploded.
"So where's Dad?"
Akagi reached the bottom of the stairs.
"Boardroom meeting."
Ethan sighed instantly. "Of course he is."
Kitsu suddenly crossed her arms.
"Actually, that reminds me."
She pointed directly at Akagi.
"Why did nobody in this family tell us Dad was an Elite Four member?"
The entire hall quieted slightly.
Bugsy blinked.
Falkner blinked.
Lyra blinked twice.
Whitney pointed aggressively.
"YES. THANK YOU. THIS HAS BEEN BOTHERING ME."
Akagi didn't even look surprised.
Honestly—
She looked like she'd been waiting for this conversation for years.
"We thought it would be better if you two found out yourselves."
Ethan stared blankly.
"That is the dumbest thing I've ever heard."
Akagi shrugged lightly.
"Father said if we told you too early, you'd start comparing yourselves to him."
Kitsu muttered, "…He's not wrong."
Akagi folded her arms.
"You were supposed to grow naturally first."
Whitney held her head.
"How casually rich people hide life-changing information is terrifying."
Bugsy slowly raised a hand.
"So wait…"
He looked at Ethan.
"You grew up thinking your father was just a businessman?"
Ethan nodded.
"Yeah."
Then paused.
"Apparently he was secretly throwing hands with Champions between meetings."
Falkner rubbed his temples. "I suddenly understand why your battle instincts are weird."
Tade-Ai suddenly gasped loudly from near Scyther.
"Dad's an Elite Four?!"
Silence.
Everyone slowly turned toward her.
Akagi froze.
Ethan froze.
Kitsu froze.
Tade-Ai blinked innocently.
"What?"
Whitney pointed immediately.
"YOU DIDN'T TELL THE FIVE-YEAR-OLD EITHER?!"
Akagi pinched the bridge of her nose.
"In fairness, she thought Elite Four meant four really good accountants."
"I DID NOT."
"You absolutely did."
Tade-Ai puffed her cheeks angrily.
Then looked at Ethan.
"Gēgē."
"What."
"Does this mean Dad is secretly super cool?"
Ethan thought for a second.
Then nodded once.
"Unfortunately, yes."
Akagi sighed softly.
"Well. Since the secret is ruined now…"
Her eyes moved toward the guests.
"I suppose introductions properly matter now."
Somewhere upstairs—
A deep voice suddenly echoed through the mansion.
"Akagi."
Everyone looked upward.
The voice continued calmly:
"Did my children finally discover I exist?"
Ethan immediately deadpanned.
"…There he is."
Heavy footsteps echoed from the upper floor.
Then—
Shinku Harmonia appeared at the top of the staircase.
The entire room instinctively quieted.
Not because he shouted.
Not because he released pressure.
But because Shinku Harmonia carried the kind of presence that made rooms reorganize themselves around him naturally.
Tall.
Broad-shouldered.
Black dress shirt with sleeves rolled up slightly, like he'd walked directly out of a boardroom and forgot normal humans needed time to emotionally prepare first.
Sharp black hair streaked faintly with silver near the sides.
Red eyes identical to Ethan's.
Except older.
Sharper.
More tired.
Like someone who'd spent years carrying both corporations and battlefields on his back without rest.
Bugsy swallowed nervously.
"...Oh."
Falkner stared for a second longer.
Then realization hit him.
"...Yeah, ok, Ethan absolutely looks like his father."
Lyra looked between Ethan and Shinku repeatedly.
"It literally looks like someone used the evolution stone on Ethan."
Whitney nodded immediately.
"Yeah that's Future Ethan after taxes."
Ethan deadpanned.
"That's the worst sentence you've ever said."
Shinku descended the stairs calmly.
The air somehow grew heavier with every step.
Not oppressive.
Controlled.
Like an experienced Gym Leader who knew exactly how much presence to exert without overwhelming people.
Sabrina, Erika, and Whitney didn't react nearly as strongly.
They'd known him since childhood.
To them—
He was less "legendary Elite Four member."
And more:
"Ethan's terrifyingly competent dad who occasionally cooks breakfast at 5 AM before flying to international meetings."
Erika smiled politely.
"It's good to see you again, Mr. Harmonia."
Shinku nodded once toward her.
"Erika."
Then toward Sabrina.
"Sabrina."
Sabrina adjusted her glasses slightly.
"Mr. Harmonia."
Whitney waved casually.
"Hi Uncle Shinku."
"...Whitney."
"You sound disappointed already."
"I saw Ethan walk in with five guests. I assumed chaos followed."
"That's honestly fair."
Meanwhile—
Lusamine stared silently at him.
Something tugged at her memory immediately.
Those eyes.
That posture.
That voice.
Then realization flickered faintly.
'Father spoke with him before.'
Not often.
But enough times that she'd seen him during high-level corporate gatherings.
Shinku Harmonia.
CEO of Harmonia Corporation.
Johto Elite Four member.
One of the most influential men in multiple regions.
And somehow—
Ethan acted like this was normal.
Shinku's gaze shifted toward Lusamine.
Recognition appeared instantly.
"...Lawliet."
Lusamine straightened slightly.
"Mr. Harmonia."
Bugsy internally screamed.
'WHY ARE CHILDREN TALKING TO TOP-TIER CORPORATE FIGURES LIKE THIS IS A NORMAL TUESDAY?!'
Lyra looked spiritually overwhelmed.
Falkner had quietly entered survival mode.
Tade-Ai meanwhile pointed proudly at Shinku.
"Dad! Ethan brought another pretty girl home!"
Silence.
Ethan immediately covered his face.
"Please stop announcing people like side quests."
Shinku looked toward Lusamine.
Then toward Ethan.
Then back toward Lusamine again.
A very small pause followed.
Not judgmental.
Just analytical.
Lusamine somehow felt like she'd been evaluated by an entire business department in under two seconds.
Then Shinku nodded once.
"I see."
Whitney immediately whispered loudly:
"OH GOD HE'S DOING THE RICH PERSON THING."
Akagi sighed.
"Father, please don't interrogate Ethan's friends the moment they enter."
"I'm not interrogating anyone."
Bugsy felt interrogated anyway.
Then unexpectedly—
Shinku walked directly toward Ethan.
Everyone watched carefully.
The Elite Four member stopped in front of his son.
Looked at him for a long moment.
Then placed one hand on Ethan's shoulder.
"You've grown stronger."
Simple words.
But Ethan froze slightly.
Because Shinku rarely said things directly.
Ethan looked up at him.
"...You watched the Gym battle?"
"All of them."
Whitney blinked.
"Wait you've been secretly watching his journey this whole time?!"
Shinku looked mildly confused.
"He's my son."
"...That is both sweet and terrifying."
Kitsu smirked from nearby.
"He literally reviews Ethan's battles like quarterly reports."
"I optimize where necessary."
"YOU SEE?!" Whitney shouted.
Ethan sighed deeply.
"Yeah, this explains a lot about my childhood."
To be continue
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