Boom…
Thump! thump…
Clap! Clap! Clap…
The Pokémon on the training field were already immersed in intense training.
Fujin acted as if nothing had happened, seriously and earnestly instructing the Pokémon.
Sato looked around and quickly spotted Cynthia beside Garchomp…
"G-Gla!"
Glaceon slipped away in a flash, almost as if fleeing, running straight to Cynthia's side. Clearly signaling her that Sato the "Heartless Beast" had arrived.
Cynthia instinctively glanced toward Sato, then quickly looked away, solemnly commanding Garchomp to keep training!
"Garchomp, Ice Beam- n-no, I mean… FLAMETHROWER!"
"Gar (︶︹︺)..."
On the other side, after taking a deep breath, Sato headed straight toward Cynthia.
A girl's sense of perception was incredibly sharp in moments like these; even without looking back, Cynthia could clearly feel Sato "closing in" quickly.
'What do I do…
What do I do!?
WHAT. DO. I. DO!
Should I leave…? No. Should I run?
…Why did I kiss him just now?!
DID I LOSE MY MIND?!
H-Hey! D-Don't come over here…
Don't come any closer!
STAY AWAY, SERIOUSLY (〃＞＿＜;〃)'
On the outside, Cynthia kept a calm front as she issued rapid-fire commands to Garchomp.
"Solar Beam, Blazing Hurricane, Blizzard, Thunder, Hydro Pump, Flash Cannon, Sludge Bomb, Shadow Ball…"
Garchomp: (*~*;)
"Ahem… Garchomp doesn't seem to be able to learn most of those moves."
As soon as Sato said that, Cynthia went silent and stared at her uncooperative Garchomp.
'You were supposed to act along with me… but you just ignored it!'
But the next second…
"Rock Slide, Earthquake, Slash, Hyper Beam, Giga Impact, Dragon Claw, Aqua Tail…"
Sato: ( ＾_) ?
Garchomp: (╯‵皿′)╯︵┻━┻
---
Finally, Cynthia stopped her machine-gun barrage of commands. She turned to look at Sato mechanically, then slowly lowered her gaze toward her left hand…
Subconsciously, Cynthia touched Sato's right hand that had slipped into her palm.
It was firm and slightly rough…
'W-Wait a minute…'
They were… THEY WERE HOLDING HANDS!
'KYAAAAAA[1]~ (/ω')[2]!!!!'¹
The next moment, Cynthia instinctively tried to pull her hand back!
But Sato, quicker than her, held on tightly.
Cynthia tried to pull away again…
Sato tightened his grip!
Cynthia tried again!!
Sato held on even tighter!!!
"O-Oww…"
"Oh, sorry!"
Sato quickly let go, only to find her hand already red from his grip.
"I… I saw on TV that-! Err… -Tthey say you're not supposed to let go at moments like this."
Sato explained in a panic, trying to lift Cynthia's hand to see if she was hurt; but halfway through, he suddenly froze.
Of course it was him who hurt her!
Seeing Sato so flustered and helpless, Cynthia couldn't help but smile.
She softly rubbed her not-so-painful left hand, then slowly lowered it again.
"Forget it… it doesn't hurt anymore."
"Oh…"
Five seconds later, Cynthia felt Sato's slightly rough fingers cautiously slip back into her palm.
This time, she didn't pull away!
…And Sato was very gentle.
Time seemed to stop in that moment. The Pokémon that had been training hard had somehow drifted quietly away from the two of them…
Sato and Cynthia sat stiffly, looking forward; yet it was as if they could hear each other's pounding heartbeats.
Just as Cynthia didn't know what to say, she vaguely heard Sato calling her.
"Cynthia…"
"…Hmm?"
Sato turned to look at Cynthia's profile, asking seriously and nervously, "Does this mean we're a thing-… dating now?"
In that moment, not only time, but even space itself seemed to freeze!
But to Sato, it felt like an eternity without a response. The light in his eyes was on the verge of vanishing…
…Until he heard a firm and simple sound come softly from Cynthia's lips and straight into his ears.
"Mhm!"
◓---
In the bushes next to the training field, Fujin and a big group of Pokémon were hiding and watching the entire scene.
Froslass floated happily around Fujin, clearly implying that she deserved some credit for all of this~
---
Fujin nodded with a face full of satisfaction!
His chosen "successor" wouldn't end up lonely like him after all.
Even if they broke up later, at least Sato had finally woken up… right?
---
Garchomp scratched its sharky head in frustration. Why did Roserade drag it over here without saying a word… and even gagged it?
Did it look like the kind of Pokémon that couldn't behave itself!!!?
---
Lucario, meanwhile, leaned against a tree, a barely noticeable smile on its lips…
But in the next second, its sharp eyes locked straight through the leaves onto Sato!
'From now on… if you ever break my Master's heart… I'll make you taste the True. Essence. Of. My. Steel!!'
---
Umbreon and Glaceon cuddled side by side, sweet and affectionate, looking just like the future Sato and Cynthia~
To them, nothing could be more joyful than their Trainers becoming a couple too. Family ties on top of affection!
From now on, no more sneaking out in the middle of the night for dates!
Though… they would probably have to ask for a separate room next time~
---
Tyranitar stood silently at the back of the group, seriously analyzing Cynthia's entire team…
Judging from their sparring sessions, Cynthia's strength was on par with their side.
If the two ended up together, their Pokémon would have way more chances to battle and train.
Which meant… IT COULD GROW STRONGER EVEN FASTER!
Tyranitar nodded in satisfaction. It approved this marriage!
Sato: M-MARRIAGE!!
---
The other Pokémon, for the most part, were both sour and genuinely happy that their trainer had found a girlfriend -or boyfriend-.
Only Zoroark glanced back worriedly toward the cabin!
Among all their companions, only Gardevoir had not shown up…
---◓
Inside the cabin, Gardevoir was quietly preparing lunch in the kitchen.
With her strong Psychic abilities, she had already "seen" the entire moment when Sato and Cynthia made their relationship official…
She was happy!
Her Trainer -that stubborn, dense block of steel- had finally understood. Now she didn't have to worry about his future anymore!
And she, from beginning to end, was just Gardevoir… known throughout the Pokémon world as the most loyal partner[3]!²
Now, all that remained for Sato was to reach the top and become the strongest.
And she would once again become his ultimate ace… just like before! 'Humph!'
At that moment, her resolve to grow stronger surged like never before.
But for now… she would celebrate this with the most "sumptuous lunch ever prepared~" for Sato.
With that thought, Gardevoir smiled, and began slicing even faster…
•
•
¹.Handholding Censored GIF. Didn't add the other " \ " on "(/ω')" cus Sato… you know! KYAAAA~
².If you don't want to cry... don't watch this… YT search bar: [公式]ポケモンアニメ 「明日もサーナイトと」 [POKÉTOON]
[1] Insert "Handholding Censored GIF"
[2] Didn't add the other " \ " on "(/ω ')" cus Sato… you know! KYAAAA~
[3] If you don't want to cry... don't watch this… YT: 【公式】ポケモンアニメ 「明日もサーナイトと」 【POKÉTOON】