Two days before the League Conference, morning at Gengar's Paradise.
Cynthia hung up the phone, tapped the screen a couple of times, then turned it off and lay back on the lounge chair.
"You don't seem to be in a very good mood," Victor said, bringing two cups of warm honey water for her and Shana.
She took the cup and had a few sips. "The League Conference starts the day after tomorrow," she said.
"Time flies so fast," Victor said, a little dazed. "You have to leave?"
"Mhm." Cynthia nodded and drank the rest of the honey water in one go.
Beside them, Shana and her Chingling exchanged a look, not understanding the conversation, and just quietly sipped their own honey water.
"Are you sad to see me go?" Cynthia asked, looking at Victor with a half-smile.
"A little," Victor admitted honestly.
"Then I'll just go back tomorrow night. I'm a little sad to leave this place, too."
"And our little Shana, Gengar, Petilil, Mime Jr., and the others."
"Aren't you forgetting someone?" Victor prompted.
"What?" Cynthia looked at him, confused.
Alright, you win, Victor thought, gritting his teeth at her innocent expression.
Seeing his reaction, Cynthia couldn't help but chuckle.
"It's time for you to go," Victor said, changing the subject.
Her smile faded. "Hmm?"
"You're the Champion of the Sinnoh region, aren't you? Champion Cynthia of Sinnoh. The League Conference is a major event. You should probably go back and check on the preparations. Otherwise, Lucian will just have to call and pester you again," Victor said, looking at her.
Cynthia fell silent. It had, in fact, been Lucian on the phone just now, asking her to come back and check on the venue and the tournament schedule.
Victor stood up, went to his room, and took a key from a drawer. He returned to her side and sat down.
"Here, a key."
Cynthia watched as he held out his hand, a single key resting quietly in his palm.
"It's a key to the Breeding House. When you're tired from work, you can come back anytime. You're always welcome here. If you don't believe me, ask Gengar and the others. Or ask Shana."
"Gengar—"
"Lili~"
"Mime~"
"That's right, Big Sister Cynthia."
Seeing that Cynthia was still silent, Victor continued, "Or, you could wait until after the League Conference is over and just push all the work onto Lucian. As an Elite Four member, he's used to working overtime by now."
Cynthia laughed, then looked at Victor. His eyes were gentle and deep.
"I don't know if I should say this, but you're the Sinnoh Champion. You're everyone's goal."
Cynthia reached out and took the key.
"I know," she said. I am the Champion. I decided that the moment I took this seat. I will bear the responsibilities that come with it.
"I want to eat bamboo shoots for lunch."
After spending a week together, the distance between them had all but vanished.
"Alright. Bamboo shoots it is. And for dessert, special homemade ice cream."
Cynthia's eyes lit up.
"Okay."
Victor smiled and stood up. "Gengar, Mime Jr., come give me a hand."
"Gengar—"
"Coming!"
"Mime~"
"Me too!"
It seemed Mime Jr. was starting to take after Gengar.
"Big Sister Cynthia, are you leaving?" Shana's soft voice asked.
Cynthia turned to look at her, reached out to pat her hair, and then had her sit down so she could tie her hair up in buns.
She looked even cuter. Compared to the scared, timid girl who had first arrived, Shana had completely transformed. With the companionship of her parents, her Tinkerbell, Victor, and all the Pokémon at the Breeding House, she had become confident and was no longer afraid to hide behind adults when meeting strangers.
"Mhm. Because I have something I must go and do."
"Is it like what Uncle Victor has to do?"
"That's right."
Shana nodded, seeming to understand.
"Lunch is ready!" Victor called out from the kitchen.
The two of them stood up and headed inside.
After lunch, Cynthia, holding the special ice cream Victor had made for her, hopped onto Garchomp's back.
"Gengar—˚‧º·(˚˃̣̣̥᷄⌓˂̣̣̥᷅)‧º·˚" Gengar stood at the side, biting a white handkerchief, reluctant to see her go.
Cynthia, mimicking Victor, gently pulled at the corners of its mouth.
"We'll be cheering for you on TV. Me, Shana, Gengar, and all the others," Victor said.
"I am the Champion," Cynthia stated with an air of authority.
Hearing this, Victor laughed. "Okay, Champion Cynthia."
"Call me Shirona."
Victor paused, then said softly, "Alright then, Shirona. I wish you the best of luck on your path."
Garchomp took off, and Cynthia, standing on its back, flew straight into the distance, leaving a long white trail across the sky.
Watching her figure disappear, Victor took a breath.
As expected of a Champion. She's so used to goodbyes.
He then turned to Gengar and the others and clapped his hands. "Alright! She's gone to do what she has to do. That means we have to do what we have to do. Let's take good care of this place and wait for them to visit again."
His words reignited their fighting spirit.
"Gengar!" It pulled a black headband from somewhere and tied it around its forehead.
Doesn't that look a lot like the Expert Belt?
After asking Shana to watch the counter, Victor went upstairs and pushed open the door to the room Cynthia had been staying in.
A faint, pleasant scent lingered in the air. Traces of Cynthia's presence were everywhere.
Her clothes were still in the wardrobe. Victor opened it, then quickly shut it, his face blushing. Thankfully, it's just a trench coat.
On the table was a photo of her with her Garchomp and other Pokémon.
He walked out onto the balcony and saw a book lying closed on the table, a bookmark sticking out from the middle, marking her reading progress.
He picked it up. It was a book about the study of Sinnoh's ruins. He then remembered that Cynthia was also a researcher of Sinnoh's ruins and was very interested in its myths.
In the anime, she often appeared near ruins. He thought her first meeting with Ash was next to some ruins, too.
Victor thought about her first meeting with Ash and the others, then placed the book back on the table in the room and adjusted the photo frame.
The room was very clean. He'd just have Mime Jr. come and tidy up later.
Back downstairs, he took out his recipe book and recorded his second official recipe.
He had been wondering why the food he'd made the last few days hadn't triggered a Culinary Crit. It turned out the notification had popped up along with Cynthia's gift, just as he was saying goodbye.
[In the hot summer, one must always find refreshing food to whet the appetite, and fresh bamboo shoots are an excellent choice. Congratulations, you have developed your second personal recipe: the Breeding House Bamboo Family Feast.]
[Breeding House Bamboo Family Feast: Guarantees a Culinary Crit.]
[Culinary Crit Effect: Cures any and all symptoms of poor appetite in Pokémon, improves the Pokémon's mood, reduces fatigue, and slightly increases the Pokémon's affection for its trainer.]
[So you were a gourmet after all? —Great-Aunt]
After writing down the recipe, Victor looked at the other prompt.
[Breeding House 1: Sinnoh Champion Cynthia can't remember the last time she felt so at ease. As the strongest Champion of Sinnoh, she too needs to relax sometimes. Fortunately, this place provides just that. You have received Cynthia's gift.]
[Cynthia's Gift: As the Champion of the Sinnoh region, there is no gift more precious than her training your Pokémon. Under her guidance, the Pokémon of the Breeding House have all learned some new moves. Please check for yourself.]
[Gengar: Dazzling Gleam; Machoke: Focus Punch (Dynamic Punch, Close Combat); Petilil: Energy Ball; Mime Jr.: Light Screen, Reflect.]
"Whoa..."
This time, Victor was truly shocked. The overall combat power of his Breeding House had been significantly boosted.
[Breeding House 2: The Breeding House has become what some people and Pokémon consider home. Please continue to work hard to take even better care of it. Please be sure to pay attention to safety and fire prevention during the League Conference.]
---
[Get 10+ chapters ahead on - P.a.t.r.e.o.n "RoseWhisky"]