Want to read ahead. You know where
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The golden afternoon sun spilled through the tall windows of the castle, warming the marble floor and glinting off the porcelain tea set laid out on a small table by the window.
Diantha and Cynthia sat together, enjoying a rare, quiet afternoon.
The two Champions, close as sisters despite their busy lives, had finally found time for tea and gossip.
As usual, Sam didn't join their talk.
He preferred peace over chatter and had taken his Pokémon to train in the wide gardens.
Even from the balcony, Cynthia could see him, focused, calm, his Lucario and Darkrai moving with sharp precision under his commands.
Diantha lifted her cup with practiced grace, sipping her black tea.
She then used her fork to pick up a small piece of dessert and tasted it delicately.
The sweetness spread across her tongue, and for a moment, her expression softened into one of pure contentment.
Across from her, Cynthia was far less restrained.
With a sparkle in her gray eyes, she devoured the sweets without hesitation, clearly enjoying every bite.
Diantha couldn't help but laugh.
"You eat sweets all day, yet somehow you never gain weight," she said, shaking her head in disbelief.
"If I dared to eat that much, I'd be doomed. My trainer would faint, and my manager would lock the pantry."
Cynthia grinned, licking a crumb from her finger.
"Well, my Sam always nags me about it too," she said with mock annoyance, though her tone was full of affection.
"But no matter how much I eat, I just can't get fat."
Diantha glanced at her friend, her smile fading into a sigh.
Cynthia was radiant, her skin fair, her eyes lively, and her figure perfectly balanced.
Maybe it was love that gave her that glow.
"Unfair," Diantha muttered with a playful pout.
"Maybe you really are built differently."
Cynthia chuckled, brushing a lock of golden hair behind her ear.
"Or maybe I just have a great metabolism," she said teasingly.
Diantha's eyes drifted toward the garden again.
There, Sam moved with quiet authority, commanding his Pokémon with confidence and care.
The sunlight caught his dark hair and strong features.
Diantha smiled faintly.
"If my agent ever met Professor Sam," she said jokingly, "he'd probably beg him to star in a movie. I can already imagine the headlines, 'The Professor Who Stole the Spotlight.'"
Cynthia's eyes gleamed with pride as she watched him from afar.
"Can you blame them? My Sam could outshine every actor in Kalos without even trying."
Diantha laughed softly. "So that's why you've kept him hidden all these years? To stop anyone from stealing him away?"
Cynthia blinked, pretending to think.
"Hmm… not exactly," she said.
"Even if I tried, I couldn't really hide him. He's just... not the kind who enjoys the spotlight. He's always been more interested in history and the study of ancient scripts. That's why he spends so much time buried in ruins and old books."
Diantha rested her chin on her hand, looking thoughtful.
"Handsome, brilliant, and skilled at Pokémon training," she said, her voice soft with genuine admiration.
"You really are lucky, Cynthia. Having someone like him must feel… perfect."
Cynthia's cheeks glowed faintly, pride and affection written all over her face.
"Well," she said playfully, "he is quite amazing. Normal, normal, the third best in the world!"
Diantha burst into laughter, nearly spilling her tea.
"You really are hopeless!"
Cynthia giggled too, then hesitated for a moment, her expression turning thoughtful.
"Still," she said after a pause, "he's not completely perfect."
"Oh?" Diantha leaned forward, curiosity lighting her eyes.
"What's his flaw then?"
Cynthia smiled mysteriously, stirring her tea with a silver spoon.
"Hmm… where do I start?"
Cynthia leaned closer to Diantha, lowering her voice so only the two of them could hear.
"Sam… he's a little too perfect sometimes," she whispered, her tone half shy, half proud.
Diantha raised an eyebrow, unsure what Cynthia meant.
"Too perfect? What do you mean by that?"
Cynthia hesitated for a moment, her cheeks tinting pink.
She gave Diantha a subtle, meaningful look instead of answering directly.
For a moment, Diantha blinked, then realization struck.
Her face turned scarlet.
"Cynthia!" she blurted softly, hiding her expression behind her teacup.
"You can't just say things like that out loud!"
Cynthia giggled, clearly amused by her friend's flustered reaction.
"What? I'm just being honest," she teased, taking another bite of cake like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Diantha huffed, pretending to glare at her.
"That's not a flaw, you know. You're just bragging."
Cynthia tilted her head innocently.
"Bragging? Not really. You have no idea how exhausting it can be keeping up with him," she said dramatically, though her eyes sparkled with mischief.
Diantha groaned, covering her face with one hand.
"You sound unbelievable right now."
Before Cynthia could respond, footsteps echoed from the garden.
Sam approached, his usual calm aura filling the room before he even spoke.
Lucario followed at his side, looking just as composed.
"Professor Sycamore invited me to meet him this afternoon," Sam said, his voice gentle yet firm.
"I'll be gone for a while."
Cynthia looked up immediately, slipping her arm around his with practiced ease.
"Should I come with you?" she asked, tilting her head slightly, her tone warm and familiar.
Sam smiled, brushing a hand through her hair.
"No need. It's just a discussion about some research topics. You and Diantha should spend some time together. It's been a while since your last visit."
Cynthia pouted but nodded.
"Fine, fine. Go work, Professor."
Then, with that same playful sparkle, she looked up and whispered, "But you can't leave without giving me a kiss."
Sam chuckled, leaning down to press a light kiss to her forehead.
"There," he said softly.
"Happy now?"
Diantha, sitting at the table, turned her face away, pretending to be deeply interested in her tea.
'Honestly, they could tone it down a little. Some of us are still single, you know.'
Cynthia finally released his arm, her smile gentle.
"Alright, go on then. But don't you dare go off and train behind my back," she said with mock seriousness.
"If you get stronger without me, I'll be upset!"
Sam laughed quietly. "Alright, alright. I promise. No secret training."
After a few more affectionate words, Sam finally left the castle, disappearing beyond the gate with Lucario and his other Pokémon in tow.
The moment he was gone, Diantha let out an exaggerated sigh and pointed at Cynthia.
"You! I can't believe you. I just realized you've completely turned into a love-struck fool!"
Cynthia didn't deny it. Instead, she stretched lazily, her expression soft and happy.
"Maybe I have," she said with a smile.
"But what's so wrong with that? It's nice to love someone who deserves it."
Diantha gave her a long look. "You're hopeless."
"Hopelessly in love," Cynthia corrected proudly.
"And you can't blame me. My Sam is just too handsome. Even if you call me obsessed, I'll admit it."
Diantha groaned but couldn't help laughing in the end.
"You really are impossible," she said.
Cynthia laughed too, the sound light and carefree.
"Maybe. But I'm happy like this."
For a while, the two friends sat quietly, the air between them filled with warmth and amusement.