Just as the sky was beginning to brighten, Victor got out of bed, stretched, and walked out onto the balcony.
Gengar was following a video on the tablet he had bought for it, doing broadcast calisthenics.
Leaning against the balcony doorway, Victor watched as Gengar's short legs hopped up and down. Since it couldn't clap its hands above its head, it clapped them in front of its chest instead.
"Such a self-disciplined little fatty."
Gengar finished the set of exercises, then stopped and looked at Victor.
"Gengar—"
Victor thought for a moment and nodded.
"Alright, I'll give it a try too."
Gengar made some space for him, and the human and the ghost began to do calisthenics together on the balcony.
After the umpteenth time he accidentally sent Gengar flying, it finally had enough and kicked him out.
Shrugging, Victor left his room. The room next door was where Cynthia was staying. Yesterday, she had chosen a room with a view of the backyard, and after he helped her tidy it up, she had moved her luggage in without any fuss.
He glanced at the time. It was just after six in the morning; she was probably still asleep. Victor shook his head and went downstairs.
Mime Jr. had already prepared breakfast. Ever since Mime Jr. had arrived, Victor's cooking duties had become much lighter. Mime Jr. was incredibly capable.
Just after he got downstairs, he heard a sound from the room next to his. The door opened, and Cynthia walked out, yawning.
"Good morning, Victor."
"Good morning, uncle."
The two voices came at the same time, one from the top of the stairs and one from the front door. Victor, who was sitting at the counter eating breakfast, looked up first at Cynthia, then turned to look at Shana.
"Good morning, Cynthia. Good morning, Shana."
Cynthia walked straight down the stairs, while Shana, carrying her Chingling, came behind the counter, glanced at Cynthia, and then skillfully hid behind Victor.
Cynthia gave him a questioning look.
Is this the little girl?
Victor nodded, swallowed the egg in his mouth in one bite, wiped his hands, and then patted Shana's small head.
"It's okay, Shana. This big sister is your big brother's... I mean, your uncle's friend."
Shana peeked her head out and looked curiously at Cynthia, and was immediately captivated.
"Hello, my name is Cynthia."
Cynthia gave her a gentle smile. It wasn't just Shana who was stunned; even Victor was momentarily dazed.
He quickly recovered and encouraged Shana to step forward.
Shana came out from behind Victor and stood in front of Cynthia.
"He... hello. My name is Shana."
Looking at the little girl whose voice was trembling slightly, Cynthia remembered what Victor had told her yesterday. Her heart ached for her, and she bent down, mimicking Victor, and patted her silver-haired head.
"Shana, you're very cute."
Shana looked up at the face so close to hers. Her gentle eyes were like spring water, accompanied by a charming smile.
Her face instantly turned bright red.
"Big Sister Cynthia is so pretty," she said, then threw herself into Cynthia's arms, hugging her leg tightly.
She was too shy to look up.
Cynthia looked at Victor, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Victor just shrugged.
Seeing that they were getting along well, Victor invited them over for breakfast. Mime Jr. brought their meals out from the kitchen.
He let them eat in peace and went to the kitchen to make them each a cup of honey water.
"Thank you."
"Thank you, uncle."
"You're welcome."
Victor then went to the backyard, cleaned up after the Torterra, and then took out the lawnmower.
It was time to mow the lawn again.
After finishing its breakfast, Gengar phased through the wall, squeezed past Victor, and started up the lawnmower, which roared to life.
Victor stood with his hands on his hips, watching Gengar's retreating back as it drove the lawnmower, and gave it a few instructions.
He then found some usable blocks of wood, carried them back to the front counter, and sat down. Cynthia and Shana had just finished their breakfast.
"Are you going to the backyard, or are you going to watch TV here?" he asked Cynthia.
Without a moment's hesitation, Cynthia replied, "I'm going to the backyard."
She then took Shana and pushed open the door to the yard.
Victor nodded, hung the "Open for Business" sign, sat down at the counter, and started working with his tools.
In the backyard, Cynthia led Shana straight to the swing. After Shana sat down, she looked around and saw there was no space for herself. Cynthia patted her little head, told her to be careful, and then returned to the lounge chair under the sun umbrella, expertly lying down.
The fragrance of freshly cut grass filled the air. Not far away, her Pokémon were interacting with Victor's. Feeling the auras of Gengar and the others, Cynthia nodded to herself.
Victor had raised them very well. The bond between the trainer and his Pokémon connected them tightly, which was something Cynthia greatly admired.
She thought for a moment, then took out her phone and took a picture of herself.
She then opened a group chat and sent it.
Caitlin: So pretty.
Diantha: As beautiful as ever, Cynthia.
Shauntal: Judging by the background, are you on vacation again?
Seeing this message, Cynthia paused, then looked into the distance, a smile playing on her lips. Her slender fingers began to tap rapidly on the screen.
Cynthia: I've found a very nice place for a vacation.
Shauntal: I knew it.
Caitlin: I want to go on vacation with you too, Cynthia.
Cynthia: We'll go together next time.
Diantha: Isn't the Sinnoh League conference about to start? You still have time to go on vacation?
Remembering that the League conference was about to begin, Cynthia pouted and typed on the screen.
Cynthia: I'm in Sinnoh.
Cynthia: I'm at a very nice Breeding House in the Sinnoh region. The owner is a very skilled Breeder.
Caitlin: A Breeding House? You might as well come and vacation with me.
Shauntal: Really?
Diantha: But is this really a good idea? The League conference is about to start. Shouldn't you be training? It would be terrible if you lost to Caitlin.
Caitlin: Hmph, just you wait! I'm going to defeat you!
After sending her last message, Cynthia turned off her phone. She looked at her Lucario, who was guiding the Machoke, and at Gengar, who was learning from her Togekiss.
"Training, huh? Good. Garchomp, let's train!" Cynthia stood up, her gaze firm and fierce.
"Grawr!"
"As a thank you, I'll personally guide you all as well, Gengar," Cynthia said, looking at Victor's Pokémon. Victor's breeding skills were excellent, so Gengar and the others were raised very well. However, it seemed he hadn't trained them much. In that case, she would help train them as a way of expressing her gratitude to him.
"Gengar!"
"Machoke!"
Standing at attention!
Cynthia nodded and led them to a more distant part of the yard.
BOOM!
A loud explosion from the backyard startled Victor, causing the wooden block in his hand to fall. He rushed to the yard.
He found them all gathered around the kitchen window.
Victor walked over and saw that the windowpane was shattered.
Seeing Victor, Cynthia nodded. "Their potential is very strong," she said.
Victor was a bit stunned. He then looked at Gengar and the Machoke.
A certain move in their move list was flashing.
Gengar and the others, however, looked like they had done something wrong.
Victor sighed, then pulled at the corners of Gengar's mouth. "It's okay. I'll just find someone to fix it. Next time, remember to do it further away."
"Gengar—"
Hehe.
Glancing at the time, Victor looked at Cynthia. "You all be careful. I'm going to make lunch. What would you like to eat?"
Cynthia thought. Cynthia gave up on thinking.
"Anything is fine."
Victor nodded and took Mime Jr. back to the kitchen. Cynthia, meanwhile, led the group of Pokémon to a distant spot to continue their training.
After lunch, Cynthia and Shana sat in the lounge area watching TV, which was showing a preview of the upcoming Sinnoh League conference.
Victor brought them some soda and a berry platter. Cynthia took a sip and then said, "The League conference is starting soon. I'll have to go back then."
"The League conference?"
"Yes. Do you want to come and watch? I can get you tickets. Very good seats."
Victor thought for a moment, then shook his head.
"If I leave, there will be no one to look after the Breeding House."
Cynthia nodded in understanding.
"But Gengar and I will be watching on TV, cheering for you. Right, Gengar?"
"Gengar—(◦˙▽˙◦)"
"Okay," Cynthia smiled and nodded.
As he returned to his work at the counter, Victor suddenly remembered something.
"By the way, Cynthia, do you know a trainer named Ash?"
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