Sunlight filtered gently through the half-drawn white gauze curtains, casting a soft glow across the finely decorated room.
From the tall ceiling hung a chandelier shaped like a Chandelure, its crystal facets refracting the light into dazzling brilliance.
At the center of the living room stood a dark-brown coffee table, scattered with a few open books and a miniature potted plant fashioned after Sudowoodo.
And on either side of that table sat Liko and Korrina, the two girls staring directly at each other.
Korrina was sitting upright, face solemn, as if pondering something of world-shaking importance.
Meanwhile, Liko—dragged here for reasons she still didn't understand—could only wait in place for the girl before her to speak first.
Truth be told, though they lived under the same roof, Liko and Korrina weren't particularly close, nor could they be called intimate. Their time together had been far too short.
And Liko, for her part, wasn't great at handling girls like Korrina—too lively, too full of energy. Compared to her, Liko much preferred being around her teacher.
In fact, these days she felt she was progressing at incredible speed—her starter, Sprigatito, was already on the verge of evolving into Floragato.
But today, Korrina had insisted on dragging her back to Haru's place, claiming there was something "extremely important" they had to discuss.
Liko had originally wanted to refuse, but seeing how serious Korrina looked, she reluctantly accepted.
Inwardly, she thought: If it really is something important, I'll just report everything straight back to professor.
Girls' secrets?
Ha! Liko had no secrets! She'd already confessed her biggest secret to Haru herself.
It was only bad kids like Korrina who kept secrets.
Time seemed to freeze in that instant. The only sounds left in the living room were the steady breaths of the two girls and the occasional cricket-like chirp of a Kricketune outside the window.
No one knew how long had passed before Korrina, after several deep breaths, finally spoke with grave seriousness:
"What I'm about to tell you—you mustn't be afraid."
"I'm Professor Haru's student. I won't be afraid."
Perhaps infected by her seriousness, Liko's tone also grew grave.
"Good. Then let me ask you: do you know what's been happening in this house at night recently?"
Korrina locked eyes with Liko as she asked.
"..."
Even without a mirror, Liko knew her face must have changed drastically.
"You… found something out?"
Korrina noticed Riko's expression was off. She assumed it was just fear—natural for a little girl upon hearing about strange happenings at night.
Yes, even though Korrina herself was small, she still treated Liko like a "naïve, timid" child.
And that… stirred her mischievous streak.
Deliberately lowering her voice into something chilling, she asked:
"You mean… you don't know?"
"Actually, every night in this house, a shadow roams about.
"It lingers at the doors, doing unspeakable things in the most terrifying way."
"..."
Liko said nothing, biting her lip, anxiety tightening in her chest.
Was she frightened? Yes—frightened indeed.
Because the shadow Korrina described sounded exactly like her.
Every night, she lingered outside Haru's door, doing "unspeakable things" with methods unlike any other.
That really was her routine.
Only… she only ever did those unspeakable things with Haru.
She had thought everything was flawless, that no one had noticed her nightly activities.
Who would have guessed she'd be discovered—by none other than Korrina.
Clearly, she hadn't been cautious enough. She should've studied Korrina's habits before making her moves.
So this was why she'd been dragged here today? To be questioned? Or mocked?
Liko couldn't guess the true intent, but she knew it wasn't friendly.
Korrina, of course, had no idea what Liko was thinking. Seeing her silence, she assumed she was scared stiff and hurriedly waved her hand.
"Actually, that shadow is Mewtwo. I think she's been doing bad things every night outside Haru's door."
"Mewtwo?"
Liko froze. She had been bracing for exposure… and instead Mewtwo was brought into it?
What kind of bizarre twist was this?
"Yes. A few days ago, I noticed Mewtwo sneaking out of her room every night. She crouches at Haru's door… peeking inside."
"I don't know what she's after, but it unsettled me. That's why I came to you."
As she spoke, Korrina pulled out her phone, swiping to a photo taken in night mode.
Sure enough, just as she claimed, the image showed the light-blue-haired girl form of Mewtwo crouched at Haru's door, quietly pushing it ajar as if peeking inside.
Judging by the timestamp… Liko realized she had been inside Haru's room at the time. Making sandwiches, if she remembered correctly.
"..."
Staring at the photo, Liko fell silent again.
What was going on here? Just how many beings prowled this house at night?
If Mewtwo really was peeping every night, then… everything she herself had been doing…
She was in Haru's room making sandwiches. Mewtwo was spying on her. Korrina was secretly photographing Mewtwo.
Everyone had their "bright future," apparently.
Suppressing her unease, Liko handed the phone back and asked quietly:
"Why don't you just tell Professor Haru directly?"
"I wanted to, but never found the chance. That Pokémon clings to him so tightly. I tried to distract her a few times but worried she'd eavesdrop with psychic powers… so I came to hear your opinion."
Korrina sighed, clearly troubled.
It was tricky. After all, Mewtwo was a Legendary-class Psychic Pokémon—and she still couldn't be sure what Mewtwo's intentions were.
"Then give me the photo. I'll find a way to pass it to teacher and tell him about this."
"You'll help? That's wonderful!"
To Korrina, honest and simple Liko seemed entirely trustworthy. Surely, if there was a problem, it lay with Mewtwo.
Thus, Liko secured evidence that could prove vital at a critical moment—even to the point of threatening Mew No. 2 if necessary.
Korrina, for her part, at least felt relieved.
But little did she realize, in the near future, she might hear words like: "Mewtwo, you wouldn't want your father to know you're a peeping pervert, would you?" whispered somewhere in this house.
For now, though, she simply felt she had shrugged off a burden.
---
At last, they arrived before Caitlin's door—their official introduction was about to begin.
It was worth noting: though Caitlin would one day become part of Unova's Elite Four, her hometown was actually in Sinnoh, making her Cynthia's fellow countrywoman. That was how they'd first come to know each other.
This young lady was surprisingly obsessed with victory, even having once challenged Cynthia—though naturally, she was crushed.
Haru, truth be told, had some interest in Caitlin.
In particular, he was intrigued by the degree to which her psychic powers could influence battles—a subject of real research value.
Unfortunately, because her powers often ran out of control, she rarely met outsiders.
So Haru hadn't expected much from this visit—at most, a brief chat through a wall, before going to meet Ralts.
Yet when he and Cynthia pushed open the door at the end of the corridor, they were startled to find a girl sitting cross-legged on a cushion, calmly watching them.
A girl with two of the classic "princess traits": golden hair and cascading waves.
Her lake-blue eyes gleamed bright and deep, like the brightest star on an autumn night—wise and unyielding.
Her skin was smooth and pale as milk, recalling the fairytale princess who could feel a pea through a dozen mattresses.
On her head was a hat somewhat reminiscent of Calyrex's, though it looked oddly out of place. Unlike Calyrex's oversized green crown, hers was a soft pink and white, adding a girlish touch.
Though Haru had never seen Caitlin in person, the instant he laid eyes on her he knew who she was.
Yes—this was without doubt the mistress of the Battle Castle: Caitlin.
She had chosen to meet him in the most direct way possible.
Looking at the two who entered side by side, the girl's lips curved faintly.
"Good day, Cynthia. Good day, Mr. Haru."
"Good day."
Though surprised that Caitlin would agree to meet Haru today, Cynthia still greeted her directly.
Then Cynthia turned toward Haru and introduced, "This is my friend Caitlin, the mistress of this Battle Castle."
"Normally she doesn't meet with visitors. Only when a challenger reaches the deepest chamber of the Battle Castle does she appear in person as the final arbiter."
"Hello, Lady Caitlin."
Since Caitlin showed no sign of standing up, Haru didn't move forward to shake her hand. Instead, he simply greeted her politely.
The young lady gave him a slight nod, then added her own explanation to what Cynthia had just said.
"By the usual rules, anyone who wishes to meet me would first have to conquer my entire Battle Castle. But since you are the first person Cynthia has ever personally introduced to me, I felt it necessary to meet you face-to-face."
"A new friend of Cynthia's... Just the sound of it makes one curious, doesn't it?"
"Who knows, one day that 'friend' might become something... more. If that happens, I expect you to tell me in advance. Don't you dare sneak off with our Sinnoh Champion, or I'll be angry."
Something about Caitlin's tone came across oddly, prompting Cynthia to react like a startled cat.
"Caitlin!"
"I know, I know. It's not what I meant. As if the Valkyrie of Sinnoh could be conquered so easily."
"In fact, if someone were to attempt a direct assault... I imagine the difficulty would be astronomical."
As she said this, Caitlin shifted her gaze onto Haru.
"I see... every fortress is conquered from within. From a strategic point of view, that's the truth of war."
Haru's words carried a subtle undertone, but the Sinnoh Champion clearly had no intention of engaging with it.
Her face remained stern and aloof, a clear no entry sign.
Caitlin considered standing, but quickly realized that in her current posture, she couldn't rise without using her hands.
So, under the slightly odd looks of the other two, the aristocratic lady pushed herself up from the cushion with both hands—an ungraceful method, but effective.
She coughed twice, softly and with embarrassment, then straightened as though nothing had happened.
"I heard from Cynthia that you came here seeking a Ralts, one you intend to raise into your future Mega partner, correct?"
Finally, the topic turned serious. Haru nodded.
"Yes. But not just for Mega Evolution—Gardevoir can do far more than that. Their strength is impressive."
"More importantly... I personally like this Pokémon a lot."
Only when he said this did Haru's tone become unusually sincere, as though genuine feelings had slipped through.
It wasn't that he believed something would happen between him and a Gardevoir. But having such an elegant Pokémon around... it would certainly be pleasing to the eye.
Ralts—so small, soft... surely hugging one would be bliss.
A pity, though. If only Gardevoir had the same typing as Flutter Mane—Ghost/Fairy—it would've been perfect. Still, Mega Gardevoir's Pixilate ability was noble enough: turning Normal-type moves into Fairy-type, while further boosting their power.
These skin-type abilities were generally top-tier. Mega Salamence's Aerilate, for instance, was just as terrifying.
"'You like them,' is it..."
Caitlin touched her chin thoughtfully, eyes fixed on Haru.
To say she had no interest in him would be impossible.
This was, after all, the first trainer to flaunt such an array of Legendary and Mythical Pokémon.
And, from what Cynthia had hinted at, he seemed to know an astonishing amount about the history and mythology of various regions—sometimes even outshining Cynthia herself, a professional archaeologist.
Cynthia might not even have realized it herself.
Lately, whenever she talked with others, she mentioned Haru far too often—always citing his new theories, as though she were a mouthpiece carrying his words.
How could that sound like someone she had known for less than a week?
Caitlin couldn't help but suspect that perhaps her dear friend was already captivated by this man.
That suspicion, more than anything, was why she had insisted on meeting him.
She wanted to see for herself—what kind of man could make Cynthia falter.
Cynthia, meanwhile, was oblivious to these musings. She simply nodded along to Haru's words.
"Yes... he truly is interested in Gardevoir. Even I have to admit that."
Then, in her own mind, she added:
Though what kind of 'interest,' I couldn't say.
True, Mewtwo wasn't Haru's child in the usual sense, but still—it left her uneasy. His bond with his Pokémon was... peculiar.
Especially since so many of them enjoyed taking on human form.
And when they spoke to him, their tone often leaned toward the suggestive.
Cynthia couldn't help but wonder if Haru harbored certain thoughts about those that could turn into beautiful human-like figures.
She knew it was rude to suspect someone this way. But she couldn't stop herself.
Meanwhile, Caitlin circled Haru slowly, hands clasped behind her back, as though committing his presence to memory.
"Very well. You like them, then? Fine. That's an acceptable answer."
"But don't think it'll be easy to receive a Ralts from me."
"As it happens, I recently hatched an extraordinary one. But to earn the right to be its trainer, you'll first have to—"
Before she could finish, Haru cut her off.
"Help you control your unstable psychic powers?"
"..."
Caitlin's face changed. She narrowed her eyes.
"And why would you think that? More importantly, how do you know I struggle with such a thing?"
Her gaze darted immediately to Cynthia.
"Did you tell him?"
But she quickly saw that Cynthia looked even more baffled than she did.
"No. Of course not."
Cynthia was certain she hadn't mentioned it. She wasn't the type to gossip—especially about someone else's weakness.
Which only made it stranger: how did Haru know?
It wasn't exactly a secret, but the circle of those aware was small.
And Haru had only been to Alola, Paldea, and Kanto. How could he know about Sinnoh and Unova affairs?
He knew too much. Far too much.
Sinnoh, Galar, Paldea, Kanto, Alola—even Hoenn. Somehow, Haru always had knowledge no normal person could possibly obtain.
Cynthia suddenly thought back to the man called N, whom they'd met not long ago.
At that time, Haru had not only recognized him instantly but also laid bare his identity, his background, even his secrets—though N had never once met him before.
N was, after all, tied to an entire criminal organization in Unova. Yet Haru had dissected him as though reading from a file.
What kind of person could do that?
The thought made Cynthia's scalp prickle.
Could all her earlier suspicions be true?
What if Haru really did have some enormous intelligence network, the kind that could even track when she wasted time gooning online?
If that were the case—what was his ultimate goal? He already had multiple Legendary Pokémon by his side.
This couldn't just be about rare Pokémon or power.
No, Haru was far more dangerous than any criminal group.
And his attitude toward them—wasn't even hostility. It was outright contempt.
As if he dismissed their goals and plans entirely.
If so, then what exactly was his ambition?
Something was wrong. Very wrong.
The more she thought about it, the more terrifying he seemed. It was like the calm surface he showed was only the tip of an iceberg, hiding an immense reef beneath the depths.
Even the casual way he brushed Mew No. 2's cheek seemed laden with meaning.
"Cynthia? Cynthia, what's wrong?"
Her friend's worried voice jolted her back.
Caitlin was peering at her with genuine concern.
"Your face looks pale. Are you ill? Do you need to rest?"
"No, I'm fine."
Suppressing her anxiety, Cynthia forced a deep breath and refused her friend's kindness.
Already, she regretted bringing Haru here.
He hadn't done anything wrong—yet. But the sheer amount of knowledge he carried made it impossible not to draw unsettling connections.
She even felt guilty toward Caitlin.
What if, because of her, Haru set his sights on Caitlin next?
And how would she stop him then?
Caitlin, unaware of Cynthia's storm of thoughts, studied her a moment longer. When nothing seemed amiss, she let it go and turned back to Haru.
"Originally, I only wanted to battle you. If you defeated me, I'd take you to meet the special Ralts."
"It's been far too long since I last fought. I'm desperate to feel that battle atmosphere again."
Of course, battling Caitlin was risky. Whenever her emotions spiked, her psychic power would spiral out of control.
But this time, with Mew present—an actual master of psychic power—even if she lost control, Caitlin trusted Mew could stop her.
From that perspective, Haru really was the perfect opponent.
At least, that had been her plan.
But the moment Haru said he could help her control her powers, everything changed.
Even knowing his chances were slim, hope and longing swelled within her.
She had watched her friend become Champion. Of course she felt envy. She too had once dreamed of challenging the League.
"To be honest... I never expected you'd have a way to help me."
She paused for two seconds, then added quietly:
"But first—I need to know. Why do you even know about my condition?"
Cynthia leaned forward, just as eager for the answer. But she expected Haru to dodge, with something like 'I once witnessed it firsthand'—obvious nonsense.
So she held out little hope.
But to her surprise, Haru's face looked genuinely offended.
"Why shouldn't I know? Lady of the Castle, aren't you underestimating me?"
With that, Haru produced several Poké Balls from nowhere.
"Seems I'll have to reintroduce myself to you—from a psychic standpoint."
He tossed the first ball.
A flash of pink light revealed the familiar floating cat.
"This is Mew."
"Though she can learn any move, and even transform into any Pokémon type, her true nature is pure Psychic. Her strongest powers lie in that domain."
Then he threw the second ball.
This time, a black-haired girl in a kimono emerged—Cynthia and Caitlin both recognized her. She had introduced herself as Necrozma, though what her real form looked like was anyone's guess.
To most of the world, Necrozma remained a Pokémon of unknown identity.
"This is Necrozma. Solidly Psychic-type."
"Base form—Psychic. Fuse with Solgaleo—Steel/Psychic. Fuse with Lunala—Ghost/Psychic. Ultra Necrozma—Dragon/Psychic. You could say it's Psychic, and then more Psychic on top of that. Even its signature moves are all Psychic."
"If only those powers were Fairy instead—it would've been unstoppable. But alas, Psychic it is."
Haru sighed with real regret.
Fairy was far more exalted than Psychic.
If old Necrozma had started as Fairy, with Solgaleo fusion giving it Fairy/Steel—its resistances would match Zacian's, with eleven resistances and only two weaknesses. Out of eighteen types in total—that was absurd.
And Fairy/Dragon for Ultra Necrozma? That would've been insane—basically Mega Altaria all over again, the great dragon traitor. Four weaknesses, eight resistances, and broad offensive coverage.
Truly, a terrifying thought.
Unfortunately, that can't be helped—Necrozma is still just a Psychic-type, not exactly the most impressive.
Noticing that his own Trainer seemed a little dismissive of its typing, Necrozma glared at Haru in protest.
Of course, to others, that "glare" looked more like pouting—utterly harmless.
After introducing Necrozma, Haru tossed out a third Poké Ball. This time, what appeared was the long-absent Flutter Mane.
Since there were fewer than three strangers in the room, Big Sis Flutter, though timid, only hid behind Hatu instead of retreating into her Poké Ball.
"This is Flutter Mane, Fairy + Ghost type. She isn't Psychic, but Fairy and Psychic share plenty of similarities—I don't need to explain further."
"She's actually the second-longest partner I've had with me."
"She looks like a Misdreavus? But her aura feels way stronger than one…"
Caitlin murmured her judgment, but neither of the two present intended to respond.
After finishing Flutter's introduction, Haru rested a hand on the Pokémon beside him—Mega Medicham.
"This one here is the true king of Psychic-types.
"In its base form, it's Psychic. Mega Evolution X turns it into Fighting + Psychic, while Mega Y makes it pure Psychic again. In short, it can never escape the Psychic path."
Mew No. 2 bristled immediately at Haru's attitude: "And what's so bad about being Psychic!"
"Besides that, I also know a Trainer who commands a first-rank Legendary, and I've studied her Pokémon."
"That Pokémon's typing is Ghost + Psychic—you may know her as the Lunar Goddess."
"When you stack all this together… I dare say, no one—absolutely no one—knows Psychic-types better than I do!"
The string of near-boastful introductions left everyone dazed, momentarily at a loss for words.
His "credentials" were dazzling enough that, even though Haru's words sounded arrogant, they couldn't help but feel convincing.
"…"
"For someone surrounded by a whole team of Psychic beasts and Legendaries, is it really strange if he can see through your problem—and even know how to fix it?"
"So yeah—Psychic, Psychic, and more Psychic. I'm the real Psychic master here. The rest of you? Not even close!"
Even Haru himself felt a little embarrassed at that point.
How did it turn out that every Legendary and Mythical he ran into seemed tied to Psychic in some way?
Thinking it through, it seemed only Ogerpon and a few oddballs like the Fairy-types weren't linked at all—the rest all circled back to Psychic.
Out of the five Pokémon at his side, three were Psychic and one was Fairy. That said it all.
Still, thanks to these Psychic-types, Haru's daily life had become a whole lot more convenient.
Even his sharp comment on Caitlin's condition wasn't just "omniscient narrator" perspective—it came from genuine perception.
"I… I see."
Watching the room grow crowded with these heavy-hitting Pokémon, Caitlin's lips twitched, unable to keep her composure.
Looking at it now… it really was true.
As a Psychic herself, she could clearly sense just how powerful the creatures surrounding her were.
She had once thought she'd already reached the summit of Psychic mastery. But now…
The ceiling was way, way higher than she ever imagined. How much effort would it take to break through it?
Caitlin wasn't the only one who felt relieved. Cynthia, listening beside her, also quietly exhaled.
Thank goodness. For a moment she'd thought Haru had really pried into the secrets of the world's strongest Trainers.
Turns out she had misunderstood him.
Why on earth had she even imagined he might be some kind of villain?
But just as the Sinnoh Champion was breathing easier—
Mew, who had been floating lazily near Haru let out a long yawn, drifted down onto his shoulder, and drawled:
"You really do like this type, huh, Master~ mew."
"Wasn't one Sabrina enough for you?"
"Or do I need to adjust my own character setting to that kind of role too, mew?"
The pink cat's words were half-cryptic and wholly bizarre.
Haru shot back immediately:
"What nonsense are you spouting? Play with—what do you mean by that? I was helping her, and I gave her an offer she couldn't refuse."
"Who says there's anything wrong with that?"
"Yes, yes—helping."
"Next time I'll look up some material on this kind of character, then try switching my persona to that. I wonder how Master will react, mew~"
"Anyway, it's easy for me to disguise myself like that. Master can enjoy to his heart's content…"
Hearing Mew's words grow more and more outrageous, Haru finally snapped:
"Quit the nonsense! Behave yourself!"
At last, Mew obediently shut her mouth, curling up on his shoulder and pretending to nap.
Haru turned back to the two girls with an apologetic smile.
"Sorry about that. My Mew tends to talk nonsense—you don't need to take it seriously."
"So, what now? Do we battle first, or should I help you figure out how to control your Psychic power?"
"I'm fine with either."
Caitlin didn't think too deeply about his words—but Cynthia's heart was in turmoil.
How could she not take it seriously!
The Pokémon world was vast, with Leagues and Gyms across every region. Practically every town had at least one Gym.
Over time, Gym Leaders changed constantly. If you counted them all, the sheer number of Trainers who had ever held the title was overwhelming.
These Leaders were the backbone of the Trainer community. The strongest among them even had Champion-level strength.
Take Raihan in Galar, for example—if he Mega-evolved his Duraludon or traveled to Unova to evolve it into an Archaludon…
He'd never beat Leon, of course. But challenging the Unova League? He'd have a real shot.
Alder's time had long since passed.
For Trainers traveling across regions, hearing the name of a random Gym Leader usually meant nothing.
But Cynthia was different.
She had spent a long time in both Kanto and Johto. She couldn't name every Leader, but she was familiar with the well-known ones.
And unfortunately for her, the "Sabrina" Mew just mentioned was one of the famous ones.
Said to be the Psychic Leader of Saffron City, a terrifyingly strong Psychic who could even enhance her Pokémon mid-battle with her own powers.
Her reputation, though, came from something else—her cruel streak. Rumor had it she would use her powers to turn defeated challengers into dolls.
Yet Cynthia realized she hadn't heard any news of Sabrina for quite some time.
Last she remembered, there were whispers of Sabrina mysteriously vanishing—either trapped somewhere or off on some journey.
Cynthia hadn't paid it much mind back then, assuming the Leader had simply gone traveling to grow stronger.
But now, linking that rumor with what Mew had just said…
A chill shot through Cynthia's chest.
It all lined up. Every bit of it!
What did Mew mean by "that type"? What did "not enough to play with" mean?
Did "liking that type" really mean… "liking to toy with Psychic girls"?
And Mew seemed utterly dismissive of Haru's claim that he was just "helping," as if it were his usual excuse.
Combine that with the suspicious number of girls clustered around him…
The Champion could only reach one horrifying conclusion.
Could it be that Haru was… a pervert?
That Sabrina had gone missing because of him?
And now, unsatisfied—or bored of her—he'd set his sights on Caitlin, another Psychic?
With his usual tactic of offering "help"…
If so, what should she do? Let Caitlin walk straight into his clutches?
Would Caitlin suffer the same fate as Sabrina?
No. Never. She couldn't let that happen!
Even if she had to step in herself, she wouldn't allow Caitlin to fall into Haru's hands!
Resolving herself with that thought, Cynthia grew tense.
But while she was still spinning her paranoid theories, Haru and Caitlin had already reached an "agreement."
Or more accurately, Haru had offered her a "special deal"—he would help her work on controlling her powers, then they'd have a battle afterward.
On one condition: Caitlin had to bring that special Ralts to watch their battle.
His real goal was simple—to let the Ralts witness his strength and quickly become attached to him.
After all, Pokémon naturally gravitate toward strong Trainers.
Caitlin didn't object. She understood his intention, but saw nothing wrong—in fact, she thought it was a good thing.
The more Haru tried to impress Ralts, the more it proved he valued it. That meant he'd surely treat it well in the future.
Besides, if he really wanted to show off his power, he'd have to crush her quickly, in overwhelming fashion.
But would she lose like that? Don't make her laugh!
She might not battle often, but that didn't mean she was weak.
Even if she did lose, there was no way it would be that fast.
Haru had miscalculated badly. Psychics don't fold that easily.
On that point, Caitlin had absolute faith.
---
Unova Region – inside Caitlin's private lounge at the Battle Castle…
Haru, Cynthia, and Caitlin sat facing each other before a mirror.
The future Psychic Elite had shed her earlier eccentric cape-and-dress outfit, now wrapped in a pure white bathrobe.
Her pale skin still glowed faintly pink from the heat—clearly she had just taken a bath.
At her side, Cynthia stood guard like a loyal knight, eyes fixed on Haru as if expecting trouble.
As for Haru—he was whispering with Mew, gesturing strangely in front of Caitlin with an odd look on his face.
Only after Mew murmured something in his ear did he gape at her in shock:
"W-wait. Do I really have to be the one to massage her? And in that spot of all places?"
"Of course! Only Master can do it, mew.
"As for the spot—the chest is best, since it's closest to the heart. But this is the next best choice."
Mew's tone was firm. Her will was clearly unshakable.
Even as her master, Haru couldn't ignore her completely.
After half an argument with the pink cat and getting nowhere, he sighed, placed her back on his shoulder, and said to Caitlin with regret:
"Sorry—it seems we can't proceed with the treatment plan after all. Let's just battle.
"Don't worry, even if you lose control during the fight, Mew and Necrozma can handle everything.
"As for mastering your Psychic power… I believe with enough training, you'll manage it someday."
"?"
Caitlin blinked, utterly confused.
She hadn't really believed he could cure her, but to back out halfway after supposedly finding a solution? What kind of cruel joke was that?
She'd finally allowed herself a little hope—and he crushed it instantly?
Looking at Haru's apologetic expression, she couldn't hold back:
"Didn't you two just figure something out? Why suddenly say it's impossible?"
"It is possible. But that method would be… too awkward for us. So better to drop it."
"It wouldn't be appropriate."
The moment he said it, Cynthia's eyes sharpened.
Her instincts screamed that Haru was about to make his move.
This wasn't refusal—this was bait!
He was luring Caitlin to ask for it herself, drawing her into his trap.
A trap that would surely be improper, but still within the bounds of what she might accept.
If he played it right, she'd reluctantly agree, lowering her defenses little by little until he reached his sinister goal.
Heart pounding, Cynthia cut in before Caitlin could answer:
"Is that truly the only way?"
"Of course. Helping someone else control their Psychic powers isn't simple, mew."
It was Mew who replied, not Haru.
She had sensed some of Cynthia's suspicions and was displeased.
Yes, she had wanted to use the "treatment" to tease her master a bit—but the method itself was real, not nonsense.
Seeing Mew so certain, Cynthia considered telling Caitlin to give up.
But then she remembered all the years Caitlin had suffered, unable to live normally with others.
Could she really take away this one chance at hope over her own unfounded fears?
After all, everything she was imagining was just that—imagination.
What if Haru's method actually worked? What if she'd misjudged him entirely?
Yet letting Caitlin be the test subject still felt dangerous…
After several seconds' thought, Cynthia made her decision.
"In that case—try your method on me first!"
"?"
"Are you serious, Cynthia? But you're not even Psychic."
Haru couldn't help speaking up.
"It doesn't matter. I'll let Caitlin watch. If I think it's improper, I'll say so.
"And I'll judge for myself whether it has any effect.
"I am a Champion—my judgment won't be wrong."
Haru and Caitlin exchanged looks. Seeing Cynthia's stubborn determination, he finally turned to Mew:
"Mew, would using this on an ordinary person cause any harm?"
"Of course not. It just gets the body used to energy flow, and teaches it to regulate the right amount, mew."
Though clearly annoyed with Cynthia, Mew still answered.
"Alright then… I'll give it a try."
With that, Haru stood and gently set his pink partner back on his shoulder.
"Miss Cynthia, please remove your coat."
He looked her straight in the eye as he spoke.
"My… coat? Must I take it off?"
"You must, mew."
For a moment, Cynthia wanted to refuse. But one look at Caitlin's hopeful face made her grit her teeth, slip off her overcoat, and drape it over a chair.
Thank Arceus she had another layer beneath—otherwise she would've been down to just her bra.
Still, the thin fabric she wore made her figure stand out more than she'd like. But so what?
Caitlin needed saving.
If this was the only way to test Haru's "treatment," then a little embarrassment was nothing.
She was the Sinnoh Champion—she wouldn't falter!
"…Not sure what she's imagining, but Master, you'd better start already, mew."
Mew tilted her head at Cynthia's shifting expression, then urged Haru on.
"Tch. Fine."
"Feels like my image is completely ruined now—in more ways than one."
He shook his head and slowly placed his hand on Cynthia's abdomen.
Caitlin watched closely as, the instant he touched her, Haru's hand glowed pink with Mew's power.
Following Mew's guidance, he was supposed to "channel" energy through her body.
Yet before he even began, Cynthia's closed eyes fluttered and strange noises escaped her lips.
"Ugh—mm~"
"Eh—"
"W-wait… wait, this feels so weird…"
Her body trembled uncontrollably, making Haru uneasy.
This extreme reaction was baffling.
"Mew, is this normal? At this rate, it's going to look indecent."
"Energy flow does cause unusual sensations—but not this much.
"My guess? She's hypersensitive. Probably super ticklish, mew."
Mew rested her chin on her paw, at a loss.
They hadn't even started, and she was already like this? Should they ease up, or risk breaking her?
Haru asked again, worried:
"Should we stop here? This doesn't feel right."
"N-no… don't mind it! Keep going. Finish your 'treatment.'"
"…"
He stared at her, seeing the sweat on her brow, but finally gave in to her stubbornness.
Neither he, nor Cynthia, nor Caitlin expected that the real nightmare was only beginning.
According to Mew's theory, the method was meant to create a conditioned reflex—presetting safe limits of Psychic output so the body instinctively reacted without losing control.
To build that reflex, the patient had to undergo repeated guidance until it became familiar.
But whether because Cynthia wasn't Psychic or for some other reason, Haru seemed to be drawing out more than just energy.
Though she kept her mouth clamped shut to stifle her voice, her face grew hotter and redder with each pass of his hand, her body like a burning furnace.
Her eyes never left him, but by the end they had turned soft and liquid, as if trying to melt him.
Both Haru and Caitlin suggested stopping multiple times.
But Cynthia refused, insisting he continue—even after he had already proven the method worked once.
Mew, meanwhile, egged him on, uncaring of Cynthia's ragged breathing, urging him to complete the process and prove her right.
At last, after several minutes, Haru pulled his hand away. Cynthia collapsed limply into her chair.
The session was done.
Mew had said it needed to be repeated over time, but even the first treatment showed results—her loss-of-control would be reduced significantly.
In truth, Haru hadn't done anything improper, carefully avoiding sensitive areas.
Yet somehow Cynthia still ended up like this. He could only chalk it up to her unusual constitution.
Caitlin, who had watched the entire thing, studied Cynthia's state carefully before speaking softly:
"…Cynthia, you wet yourself."
"Maybe… we should get you cleaned up?"
"…"
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