Though something about the dark cottage felt off, Elias didn't dwell on it.
Neither he nor Diancie had been home for two days, so it was only natural for Cogita to turn in early out of boredom.
It was late anyway—he could surprise her in the morning.
With that thought, Elias tidied up a bit, then took Diancie upstairs.
Click—
The door creaked open. The room looked much the same as when he'd left, though a few items on the desk had been rearranged. Cogita must've tidied it while he was gone.
"Elias, will you rest again tonight?"
Diancie tilted her head, curious.
As a ghost, Elias rarely needed sleep or food, but staying awake all night without purpose could feel endless. A bit of rest helped clear his mind.
"Yeah," he said, patting her head lightly. "I'll rest tonight."
The battle with Yveltal had drained most of his energy, and there was nothing else pressing now.
Hearing that, Diancie's eyes lit up.
When they'd been underground, she often slept nestled in his arms. His body was always cold—never truly comfortable—but she loved it anyway.
Then her face froze. She suddenly remembered something important.
The bed here was tiny.
Had Cogita done that on purpose? It was perfect for one person, but two would definitely be cramped.
At this rate, if she tried to sleep beside Elias, she'd probably roll off before dawn.
"Ugh…"
Her cheeks puffed up in frustration. Such a perfect chance—wasted.
"Sorry," Elias said gently, clearly amused. "You'll have to sleep in your Poké Ball tonight. I'll make a bigger bed soon."
He knew exactly what she was thinking, so he promised with a small smile.
Her expression brightened again.
"Okay then~"
Stretching out her arms, she yawned sleepily. The fight earlier had drained her too, but the excitement still buzzed faintly inside her.
With Elias's help, she'd stood her ground against Yveltal. If she kept improving, maybe one day she could defeat it herself.
The thought thrilled her. She'd have to tell Her Highness Dianna about it soon—she'd finally become a queen who could fight on her own!
"Goodnight, Elias."
Still thinking proudly, Diancie trudged toward her Poké Ball and waved. She hated being apart from him, even just for one night.
"Goodnight. See you in the morning," Elias replied warmly.
Satisfied, Diancie smiled and slipped into her Poké Ball.
Her Highness isn't here, and that human Diantha went home. At least no one will bother Elias tonight!
Feeling reassured, Diancie drifted off.
Once she was safely inside, Elias stretched and sat on the bed, pulling out the business card Diantha had given him.
So she was staying in Shalour City too—at a seaside manor, judging from the address. Quite a distance from the library where they'd met.
Other than Cogita, Diantha was the first human he'd properly gotten to know.
Their faces flickered through his mind together.
"What are you looking at?"
A soft voice floated from behind him—and at the same time, a light weight landed on his shoulder.
"It's from Diantha…" he began automatically.
Halfway through, he froze.
That voice wasn't Diancie's.
And the warmth pressing against his back definitely wasn't hers either.
Elias turned stiffly, unsurprised—yet still caught off guard—to find Cogita leaning over his shoulder.
She wore loose pink-and-white pajamas, her silvery hair cascading down her back. Lips curved in a knowing smile, she peered at Diantha's card with open curiosity.
"Go on," she said, tilting her head playfully. "Continue."
Her voice was low and unhurried, brushing past his ear. Elias, usually cold to the touch, could still feel the warmth radiating from her skin.
He quickly averted his gaze.
"Weren't you asleep already? How did you end up here?"
Even for someone like him, feeling a person suddenly appear on his shoulder was jarring.
Cogita squinted, her tone soft and drowsy.
"I was asleep," she murmured. "But you woke me up."
As she spoke, she took his hand and guided it beneath the blanket. The warmth there left no doubt—she'd been sleeping here for quite some time.
He just hadn't noticed in the dark, since he hadn't bothered to scan the room psychically.
Then the implication sank in.
"You were sleeping in my room?!"
Cogita only nodded, perfectly calm.
"Your room is part of my house too, isn't it?"
Technically, she wasn't wrong.
"But since you're back," she added, voice softening to a whisper, "we might as well sleep together."
Before Elias could react, Cogita gave a lazy tug, pulling him down with her onto the bed.
Her long, pale legs wrapped around him in a smooth, practiced motion—reminding him absurdly of a Serperior coiling around its prey.
"Wait—!"
If she kept this up, he wouldn't be getting any rest tonight.
"I'm tired," she murmured, yawning. "Whatever it is, let's talk tomorrow."
Then, as if casually, she added near his ear, "Oh, by the way—Pokémon inside their Poké Balls can still see and hear everything outside."
It was the perfect setup—and she wasn't about to let Diancie ruin it.
Thinking of the little Pokémon already fast asleep, Elias's resistance faltered.
Cogita smiled, slow and satisfied, and finally pulled him fully into her embrace.
---
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