Pokémon：Trainer's Gambit Chapter 310 - 0310: Holding Hands in the Snow

The fighting tournant was over.

Brock had packed his luggage, hoisting the backpack over his shoulders like a scholar carrying an exam box.

"You always travel with this much stuff?" Natsu asked.

Brock glanced back coolly. "Says the guy who brought a fish tank."

Natsu froze.

Turning, he saw Squirtle carefully carrying the fish tank out of the hotel.

Arcanine followed steadily behind, Togepi perched on its back.

Sylveon nestled in Natsu's arms, its ribbons wrapped around his arm, radiating warmth.

"No big deal." Natsu nodded. "I'll just shove the luggage into Gengar's belly!"

"Gengar?! Σ(っ°Д°;)っ"

Brock glanced around mysteriously before pulling out a Poké Ball.

"I usually use this for travel."

"Huh?"

Brock tossed it. "Co on out—Steelix!"

BOOM!

The ground trembled as the colossal Steelix lowered its head, grinning with a missing tooth.

Natsu stared up, stunned.

What kind of Pokémon is this?! Why isn't it in my Pokédex?!

Brock stepped onto Steelix's head and extended a hand. "Natsu-sensei, toss your luggage up. Give Gengar a break."

Storing large items did drain Gengar's HP.

After a pause, Natsu handed over the suitcase but coughed awkwardly. "I'll pass on riding."

Brock nodded. "Right. Arcanine is faster."

"I'll head back to Pewter City first. See you tomorrow!"

CRASH!

Steelix reared up, plowing through the earth like a living bulldozer.

The torn-up ground would actually help Diglett and Dugtrio find new hos—

A small part of Pokémon's ecosystem.

Brock stood triumphantly atop Steelix's head, looking undeniably cool.

Natsu watched him go, mood souring.

It's not that I don't want to ride Steelix…

It's just…

I'm scared of heights!

...

Battle Castle, Frontier.

Caitlin stood on the balcony, gazing at the snow-blanketed landscape.

The wind howled. Streetlights flickered over snowdrifts.

Then—footsteps.

She turned abruptly—

"Hm?" Shauntal adjusted her glasses, patting Caitlin's head. "Did I bump you?"

Caitlin shook her head, exhaling slowly.

She took a half-step back, glanced down, then whispered, "Where's Cynthia?"

"She went to Kanto." Shauntal flipped a page in her book. "So party, I think."

"But…" Caitlin murmured. "It's snowing."

"Snow ans staying with soone you like. That's what the Sinnoh folklore book said."

"Yep."

Shauntal's eyes lit up. "I read that one at Canalave Library!"

Caitlin rested her chin on her hands, leaning against the snow-dusted railing.

"Shauntal."

"Yeah?"

"Let's go to Kanto too."

"It's late, though."

Shauntal tapped her chin. "We could go tomorrow."

"Cynthia ntioned a party at Professor Oak's lab."

"Then… tomorrow."

Caitlin looked up.

Snowflakes spiraled through the night, painting the world white.

...

Natsu brushed snow from his hair. "It's really coming down."

He sighed as Arcanine dug enthusiastically into a snowbank.

"Arcanine, stop that!"

"Arcanine~~"

The Arcanine rolled gleefully in the powder.

Nearby, Togepi struggled to pack a tiny snowball—

Then froze, eyes welling up.

Squirtle was sculpting a snow boulder a hundred tis larger, still adding to it.

"Togepi…" Tears wobbled in Togepi's eyes.

Natsu scratched his head.

Even snowball fights require overpreparation?

"Sylveon~o(′^｀)o"

Sylveon sat primly by Natsu's feet, refusing to participate.

Grinning, Natsu scooped snow—

And dumped it on Sylveon's head.

"Sylveon!" It shivered violently.

"Pfft—HAHAHA!" Natsu doubled over laughing.

Sylveon pounced—

Only to be lifted by the scruff.

"SylveonSylveon~(〃＞皿＜)"

Natsu blinked.

Damn. Close Combat Lv3 is no joke.

"Sirfetch'd!"

The duck knight raised its shield, deflecting Arcanine's snow spray with a smirk—

Then paled as Squirtle hefted its gargantuan snowball.

Natsu gaped. "Chibaku Tensei? Spirit Bomb?!"

While the others brawled, Gengar sat politely, crafting a snowman—

A perfect replica of itself.

"Gengar!" It patted its chest proudly.

"Think fast!" Natsu hurled a snowball.

"Gengar! Σ(っ°Д°;)っ"

Under the amber streetlight, Natsu and his Pokémon collapsed into the snow, breath fogging the air.

Snowflakes drifted onto his face.

Then—a voice.

"Aren't you cold?"

Natsu propped himself up.

Cynthia stood beneath the light, golden hair cascading over her black coat, snow dusting her shoulders.

She exhaled, breath misting.

"You could hug if you're worried."

"I'm leaving."

"Fine. It is cold." Natsu anded.

Cynthia paused, lips curving.

"Your hand."

"Huh?"

A pale, delicate hand reached toward him.

After 0.05 seconds of deliberation, Natsu took it.

His pulse spiked.

Her fingers were slender but bore the faint roughness of a Trainer's grip.

Without thinking, he brushed his thumb over her knuckles.

Cynthia's cheeks pinked.

"Is it… rough?"

"Like Garchomp's."

Her grip tightened. Her smile sweetened dangerously.

"Like Garchomp's—strong and beautiful."

A beat of silence.

Then Cynthia yanked him upright.

"I'll take that as a complint."

Her eyes crinkled with amusent.

From this angle, her hair frad her face, snow clinging to the strands.

Their hands stayed linked. He could count her lashes.

"Mm…" Blushing, Cynthia started to pull away—

"What do you want for midnight snacks?" Natsu blurted.

"..." Cynthia pondered deeply.

Natsu's heart hamred.

At Cynthia's waist, a Poké Ball wobbled.

Garchomp sighed.

Fine. Since the twerp called beautiful…

I'll stay in my ball. This ti.

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