Professor Carolina—an expert in ancient mythology and current director of Celestic Town's Historical Museum.
But to Natsume-sensei, her most critical identity was—
"She's my grandmother," Cynthia said with a smile.
"Should I… bring gifts when meeting her?" Natsume hesitated.
"Huh? No need to be so formal. It's not like we're—"
Cynthia paused mid-sentence, then smoothly corrected herself:
"Let's focus on delivering the Adamant Orb first."
Natsume's eyebrow twitched.
You were about to say "meeting the parents," weren't you?!
Well… sooner or later. Might as well plan ahead.
Maybe I'll cook for her?
Cynthia sealed the Adamant Orb inside its specialized case, its aura instantly muted.
"Mount Coronet's magnetic fields disrupt the orb, so we'll take the land route around it."
She lifted the case, sweeping her golden bangs aside.
"Three days' journey. No rush."
Though her tone was professional, a faint blush betrayed her—as if she'd only just registered the "meet-the-family" implications.
After all… when selecting a partner for this task, she hadn't hesitated to choose him.
Cynthia glanced at Natsume, her steel-gray eyes flickering with uncharacteristic nerves.
This was the first time she'd ever brought a man home to meet Grandma.
Officially, they were just colleagues.
But… neither Grandma nor she herself would buy that excuse.
For years, her only family had been Grandma and her Pokémon.
Now, she'd grown accustomed to someone new sharing her life.
The undefeated Sinnoh Champion was just as clueless about romance as Natsume.
Are we dating now…?
Should I make the first move?
"Let's go. We'll depart tomorrow."
Cynthia turned away, her composure flawless—if one ignored her racing pulse.
Maybe Grandma can teach me how to confess…
"Where are we staying tonight?" Natsume asked.
"My place."
Cynthia exhaled, smiling. "We'll leave at dawn."
...
By the time they retrieved the Adamant Orb and returned to Sandgem Town, it was 10 PM.
The sleepy village lay silent under patchy streetlamp glow.
"Little Rotom, lights on!" Natsume called before even reaching the door.
Warm orange light flooded the villa instantly, wrapping them in homely comfort.
Cynthia's smile softened at the sight.
"When I lived with Grandma, I'd leave the lights on till she came home late. Fell asleep like that often."
"And now?"
"Now?" She chuckled. "Not afraid of the dark anymore. Ghost-types can't beat me anyway."
Natsume blinked. "Fair point."
"Garchomp!" Garchomp smugly tilted its chin at him.
"Thanks to Garchomp."
Cynthia stroked its head, nostalgic. "Back when it was a Gible, I'd hug it to sleep… until Grandma woke me up."
"Garchomp~" Garchomp nuzzled her affectionately.
Natsume hesitated.
"Want to ask about my parents?"
Under the starry sky, Cynthia's eyes gleamed. Her black fur collar framed delicate features as starlight draped over her cloak and slender waist.
"Go in first, it's cool outside." Natsume paused for a moment, "You don't have to tell me."
"It's alright."
Her breath formed a white puff in the early spring chill.
"They were strong trainers. So I… wanted to be strong like them."
She gazed downward.
"I used to think they left because they weren't strong enough."
A shadow crossed her face—gone as quickly as it came—before she brightened.
"But I learned some things can't be solved by strength alone."
Fingers tracing Garchomp's scales, she murmured:
"Loving Pokémon, growing stronger together… that's my creed now."
The vast night stretched above them, constellations mirrored in her eyes—along with distant mountains, rivers, and the flow of time itself.
After a pause, Natsume nodded solemnly.
"Mine too."
Getting stronger hadn't been his original goal.
Cynthia looked up, startled.
Under the gentle moonlight, their eyes met—lingering, drawing them closer.
Time seemed to slow. The babbling creek, rustling leaves, wind over the wilderness… all faded away.
Her floral scent enveloped him. The clouds parted, moonlight spilling over them like silver silk—
Suddenly, Cynthia jerked back, face burning.
"I-I need to secure the Adamant Orb!"
She fled indoors.
Natsume stared at her retreating figure, resolve crystallizing:
I will win this cabbage over.
"Gengar~" Gengar oozed from his shadow, poking his ribs with a shit-eating grin.
"You were WATCHING?!"
"Gengar~" It mimed swooning, then rubbed its eyes exaggeratedly.
Natsume whirled around—
Three heads (Lucario, Blastoise, Sirfetch'd) snapped out of sight behind the villa's corner.
Above, Togekiss hovered in the clouds, Togepi giggling on its back:
"Toge-pii! ヽ(￣▽￣)ノ"
Sylveon watched from the opposite wall, ribbons wagging in bittersweet pride:
"Sylveon~ o(′^｀)o"
Then Natsume spotted the security camera aimed at him.
"Smile for the lens, Rotom!"
"Don't make me donate you to Professor Oak!"
"Rotom did nothing wrong! o(TヘTo)"
Post-drama, Cynthia seemed to be avoiding him.
No card games. No battles. Just an early retreat to her room.
Women. Unfathomable.
Resigned, Natsume petted Sylveon's fur, mentally replaying Ash's Pikachu meme:
"Serena, you'll never be as close to Ash as I am. Got it?"
"Blastoise… ヾ(?■_■)"
"Lucario… (ー`′ー)"
With the show over, Blastoise submerged into its tank (trembling at tomorrow's trip) while Lucario meditated.
Only Sirfetch'd rejoiced:
"Sirfetch'd!"
No training hell for three days!
...
Cynthia lay in bed.
The bedside lamp cast a warm glow as she hugged a Garchomp plush, one leg flung over the other.
Sleep evaded her.
Staring at the ceiling, she remembered lonely nights listening to the wilderness winds outside.
Now, Natsume was just beyond this door—probably watching TV with Gengar or reading with Sylveon…
She smiled, imagining the scene, then clicked off the light.
Darkness enveloped her—but for the first time, it felt safe.
See you tomorrow.
Pulling the covers snug, Cynthia closed her eyes.
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