A damp night breeze brushed against his face.
Jubilife City was shrouded in darkness, drizzling with light rain.
Cynthia walked ahead, her silhouette graceful, then turned her fair-skinned profile slightly, tilting her chin.
"Get in."
"This isn't the way to Jubilife City, is it?"
Inside the spacious car, Natsu glanced out the window and asked in surprise.
Cynthia rested one hand atop the steering wheel, tapping her fingertip lightly:
"Mmm... We're heading to Sandgem Town."
Jubilife City was a mountain town built atop mineral veins, its winding roads descending toward a quiet distant town.
Natsu let out an "Oh" and said, "No wonder it's getting more remote..."
"Wait." Natsu paused slightly. "Then where am I staying tonight?"
"My place."
Cynthia kept her eyes on the road, her tone tinged with curiosity. "Unless...?"
"I was planning to rent a hotel for a couple weeks first."
"No need for that hassle." Cynthia smiled. "If it were Jubilife City, I have an apartnt there too... It should be enough for you and your Pokémon."
"An apartnt might not work..." Natsu coughed dryly. "I'm afraid the neighbors and property managent would complain."
"Then stay in Sandgem Town for now..."
Cynthia nodded slightly, glancing at Natsu through the rearview mirror with a faint smile:
"This way, you'll have a place too."
"Since I can't repay you, let offer myself instead." Natsu said solemnly.
"Dream on."
Cynthia's lips curled, then she added as if suddenly rembering, "Actually, I do have so docunts I need your help with..."
Natsu turned and locked eyes with Gengar sitting in the back.
"Wait." Natsu paused slightly. "Then where am I staying tonight?"
"My place."
Cynthia kept her eyes on the road, her tone tinged with curiosity. "Unless...?"
"I was planning to rent a hotel for a couple weeks first."
"No need for that hassle." Cynthia smiled. "If it were Jubilife City, I have an apartnt there too... It should be enough for you and your Pokémon."
"An apartnt might not work..." Natsu coughed dryly. "I'm afraid the neighbors and property managent would complain."
"Then stay in Sandgem Town for now..."
Cynthia nodded slightly, glancing at Natsu through the rearview mirror with a faint smile:
"This way, you'll have a place too."
"I have nothing to repay you for, so please allow to repay you with my body." Natsu said seriously.
"Dream on."
Cynthia's lips curled, then she added as if suddenly rembering, "Actually, I do have so docunts I need your help with..."
Natsu turned and locked eyes with Gengar sitting in the back.
"Gengar?"
"Gengar, what do you think?"
"Gengar!" Gengar grinned, flashing a thumbs-up.
"Alright."
Natsu turned back and declared loudly:
"I'll reluctantly help you translate those docunts!"
"Much appreciated." Cynthia smiled softly.
"If you're grateful, then offer yourself instead."
"No."
"Then... I guess I'll have to offer myself?"
"Do I really have to pick between these two...?" Cynthia sighed helplessly.
"GARCHOMP!!"
From the back seat, the previously silent Garchomp suddenly roared.
The black car speeding through the rainy night gradually lted into the darkness.
...
Sandgem Town, located in the outskirts near Jubilife City, was a coastal town famous for its beaches.
Professor Rowan, who specialized in Evolution research, had his institute stationed there.
Natsu rubbed his chin.
mories surfaced of Professor Rowan personally inviting him.
"Never thought I'd end up in Sinnoh after all this ti…"
Natsu mused.
But just as he'd told Ash—
In the Sinnoh Region, he might encounter new life and weave a fresh story…
Under the thick night sky, the trees lining the road blurred past.
Cynthia's villa stood not far from the shore.
As the car pulled through the gates, a dew-speckled lawn ca into view.
"Could probably grow Energy Roots here… maybe even Revival Herbs." Natsu muttered.
"Hm?"
"If the lawn gets unruly, Rotom can handle it." Natsu said offhandedly.
The napping Rotom Pokédex jolted awake.
"I'm just a Pokédex, Rotom! Σ(°△°|||)︴"
"This pressure's too much~o(╥﹏╥)o"
Thud—
Closing the car door, the two-story villa lood ahead.
"From the second-floor balcony, you can see Sandgem Beach."
Cynthia paused, then added: "When it's quiet, you hear the palms rustling."
"Sounds romantic."
"That's why I'm often here."
Cynthia smiled. "It's also close to Professor Rowan's lab. Convenient for research."
"Being Champion keeps you busy, huh…" Natsu remarked.
Cynthia sighed softly, fingers against her temple. "League duties an crossing Mount Coronet to Sunyshore City."
"Round trips take days… so I leave minor tasks to Lucian."
"And the important ones?"
Feigning solemnity, Cynthia said: "Critical matters are handled personally by the Pokémon League Chairman."
"Classic you."
"Oh, stop." She chuckled.
Natsu studied the villa.
Smaller than his Kanto one, but clearly high-end.
The rooftop sported parasols—hot springs or a pool, perhaps.
Suddenly,
he found himself anticipating Cynthia's swimwear.
"Decision fatigue? Easy—I'll pick for her."
Click—
"Co in."
Cynthia pushed the door open, warm light spilling out.
Then, as if realizing sothing, her cheeks pinkened.
"Um…"
Natsu scanned the living room's chaos:
Books piled haphazardly, crumpled drafts, toppled coffee cans.
"Wait outside a mont…"
Cynthia whispered, flushed. "Let clean up first."
Buried in research, she'd asked her butler not to disturb.
Only now, fetching Natsu from the airport, did she notice the ss.
"No need for that."
Natsu tossed a Poké Ball: "Gengar, Rotom—assist!"
"Gengar!" Its eyes lit up at the disaster zone.
Perfect for practicing Double Team!
Poof! Multiple Gengars materialized, dusting and scrubbing in unison.
"Careful with the papers and books!" Natsu called.
"Gengar!" Psychic energy levitated the tos into neat stacks.
"Ready to clean, Rotom—"
Rotom's mop-drone form was promptly kicked aside by Gengar.
It flopped over, defeated.
"Beep…System Overload, Rotom! o(TヘTo)"
Cynthia tilted her head, intrigued.
"Maybe I should train Lucario in housework…"
"What?"
Shaking her head, she admired the tidied room and gasped:
"I still need to prepare your bedroom!"
"Don't bother. We can share."
"Then you're on the sofa." Cynthia grinned.
Natsu feigned distress: "I'm traditional, but if you insist—"
"Catch!"
"Huh?"
A heavy book sailed toward him, a slip of paper fluttering out.
With reflexes worthy of a "Super Tokyoite," he snatched both.
The paper bore strange symbols.
"Legends of Palkia and Dialga?"
"Seems so."
Cynthia nodded with a smile. "These are rubbings from a Plate recently unearthed in Eterna City."
"So tonight's job is translating these?" Natsu waved the paper.
"Mhm..."
If deciphered... Cynthia's gaze shimred.
This could even win gold at this year's Research Conference.
Not that she needed the accolade herself.
But with Natsu's expertise, he could easily beco a leading professor in Ancient Language studies.
This conference might be his perfect opportunity.
As a collaborative project,
her mythology research would now permanently bear a second na...
"Done."
In what seed like seconds, Natsu slid the translated notes across the coffee table.
Cynthia snapped back to reality, eyes widening. "You didn't even... consult reference materials or other Plates?"
"Just needed hands."
Natsu cleared his throat. "Can't guarantee accuracy though—"
Her eyes danced across the text, alight with realization.
His modesty was clearly false.
More importantly—
these translations solved research hurdles that had stumped her for days.
"What would you like to eat?"
Cynthia rose, beaming. "I'll whip up so midnight snacks!"
Natsu froze. Beside him, Gengar mirrored his horrified expression.
"Gengar! Σ(°△°|||)︴"
"Don't move—leave this to the professionals!"
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