The man was indeed a middle-aged uncle, his long, oddly styled hair swaying as he moved. The clothes he wore looked, in Logan's eyes, more like something a tribal chieftain would wear. If not for the Champion's mantle draped over his shoulders, no one would have thought this shabby, unkempt man could possibly be a Champion.
His pants were tattered around the hems, full of holes. Logan couldn't tell if it was laziness that kept him from buying new clothes, or if this ragged style was actually fashionable in Unova. To his dismay, he even noticed the man's shaggy leg hair poking through the tears.
No matter how you looked at him, this Unova Champion was the very definition of sloppy and unrefined.
Judging by his age… he has to be the oldest Champion among all the regions.
Logan shook his head slightly.
As Champions under the League's new system, most of them had earned their titles by winning their respective regional tournaments. But given this man's age, he must have been from an earlier generation—a previous victor who later went on to challenge the reigning Unova Champion, seizing the title himself.
That made him a unique case among all the regions.
"Ah! Isn't this Cynthia?!"
The man—Alder—leapt down from his Pokémon. His gaze instantly bypassed most of those present, fixing directly on Cynthia.
Clad in sandals, Alder swaggered up with big, careless strides. Before anyone else could react, he seized Cynthia's hand, his voice booming with passionate sincerity:
"…To meet the lovely Cynthia here in Kanto—it must be fate!"
"Tell me, Cynthia… would you grace me with the honor of dinner tonight? Just the two of us, to deepen our friendship?"
The words might have sounded like a sleazy pickup line, but coming from this uncle's mouth, they somehow felt less sinister and more laughably brazen. Still, the sleazy undertone was impossible to ignore.
A flicker of helplessness flashed in Cynthia's eyes. Perhaps it was Alder's easygoing nature that made him think such lines weren't offensive enough to earn him a slap on the spot. Anyone else—no matter how calm Cynthia was—would have provoked her anger instantly.
Logan's brows furrowed. His gaze drifted to Cynthia's hand, still caught in Alder's grip.
Almost as if she sensed his displeasure—or perhaps simply because Alder was overstepping—Cynthia subtly pulled her hand free and placed it behind her back. She wore her trademark gentle smile, her voice as soft and graceful as ever, betraying not the slightest hint of anger:
"…I'm sorry, Alder, but I already have plans tonight. I won't be able to join you for dinner."
"That's fine! If you're busy tonight, then tomorrow—or the day after! Surely one of those evenings you'll be free!"
Alder's shameless persistence knew no bounds.
At first, Logan had been annoyed by Alder's behavior—marching past everyone else just to flirt with Cynthia, as if none of them mattered. For a moment, he was ready to step in as her savior. But after watching Alder push on with such cringe-worthy stubbornness, Logan almost pitied the man.
Uncle, you're not handsome, you act like a creep, and you don't even bother reading the room. If this is your idea of romance, no wonder you'll never find true love.
For the first time, Logan understood why Alder bothered with the Champion's throne. With the title came admiration from young, pretty girls—something a man like him could never hope to earn otherwise.
"…I'm afraid I'll be spending the next few days with friends as well, Alder. I won't have the time for private dinners."
Cynthia rejected him again with the same gentle smile, steering the conversation quickly before he could make things more uncomfortable.
"…But tell me, Alder, aren't you supposed to be in Unova? What brings you to Kanto?"
For once, Alder reined in his antics, his tone sobering.
"…I heard that Rainbow University here in Kanto was holding an anniversary celebration. Since I was already wandering around Unova with nothing in particular to do, I thought I might as well come to Kanto and take a look. I certainly didn't expect to run into the beautiful Cynthia here of all places."
The first part of his answer sounded almost respectable, but by the end, his mouth had slipped again.
Rainbow University—this world's equivalent of Harvard or Tsinghua—stood as one of the most prestigious institutions in the world. Countless scholars and trainers dreamed of studying there.
No sooner had his explanation ended than Alder's eyes shifted again—this time to Erika. His eyes lit up with delight, and he immediately shuffled over, abandoning Cynthia without a second thought.
"…And who might this radiant lady be? Forgive me, but I cannot resist asking—we must be introduced! My name is Alder, Champion of Unova. To meet such a beauty here in Rainbow City—it must be destiny! Surely you are Erika, the Gym Leader of this city, yes?"
Dropping to one knee like a hopeless romantic, Alder extended his hand, his voice dripping with admiration. It was clear he'd done at least some homework before coming to Kanto.
He reached out, aiming to capture Erika's hand and perhaps even bestow a knightly kiss upon it. But Erika, hands folded politely in front of her, gave him no opportunity. His hand hung awkwardly in the air.
The situation looked painfully awkward. Yet Alder's face betrayed not a single trace of embarrassment.
That's… some serious shamelessness. To fail with one woman and immediately chase another—right in front of her, no less. Even I wouldn't dare try something that blatant…
Logan sighed inwardly, feeling more like the group's designated commentator than a Champion. Now he fully understood the meaning of Cynthia's weary smile upon seeing Alder.
"…It is an honor, Champion Alder. I am indeed Erika."
After her polite introduction, Erika said nothing further. She simply stepped quietly to Logan's side, lowering her gaze with the shy air of a new bride. Her gesture left little doubt: she was making it perfectly clear to Alder that she was already aligned with Logan, and his shameless pursuit was unwelcome.
Alder didn't seem too bothered by her refusal. When his second target slipped away, he immediately began scanning for a third.
But when Logan realized Alder's wandering eyes were settling on the young Yellow and the elegant little lady Planteena, he swiftly stepped forward, gripping both of their delicate wrists and pulling them behind him.
Yellow obediently stayed at his side without protest. Planteena, for her part, wanted to resist—but she was no match for Logan's strength. He drew her in effortlessly. Outwardly, the little lady maintained perfect composure, her noble mask hiding the flicker of panic in her heart.
"…Champion Alder, I believe some things are better left alone."
Logan's words were soft, his smile warm—but beneath them lay a blade of ice.
Lolis were not to be harassed. They were treasures to be raised carefully, not startled or frightened by shameless uncles.
While Alder's antics weren't outright hateful, Logan couldn't stand it. Erika was already his, Yellow had been under his care for years, and Cynthia's relationship with him was teetering on something far more than friendship. Even Planteena, with her refined elegance, deserved better than to be treated as some cheap flirtation.
The protective way he pulled them close made it seem as if every girl here belonged to him alone.
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