Lucas saw Cynthia's video call. After connecting, Cynthia's beautiful face appeared on the screen.
Cynthia on the screen was sitting in a chair, with a bookshelf full of various books behind her.
Cynthia leaned back in the chair, looking at Lucas on the screen.
She showed a faint smile.
"What's wrong?"
It was Lucas's first time seeing Cynthia at work, and he was momentarily stunned.
He only came back to his senses when Cynthia asked again.
"I'll show you something."
Cynthia on the other side of the screen showed an expectant expression.
Lucas turned the camera.
Cynthia then saw the lively celebration, with people and Pokémon everywhere.
However, what attracted her attention more were the trees full of pink flowers.
Those were—cherry blossoms?
How could there be cherry blossoms in this season?
"The cherry blossoms are blooming?"
She voiced the confusion in her heart.
"Why are there cherry blossoms in this season?"
"How is it, pretty, right? It's all Celebi's doing."
"Celebi?"
Cynthia remembered Lucas first telling her about Celebi.
It seems Celebi really likes him.
Cynthia thought to herself silently.
"This is for you, a cherry blossom blooming in autumn."
Lucas's gentle voice entered her ears from the phone. She looked at the phone screen, where many people and Pokémon were sitting under the blooming cherry trees, chatting and eating.
Just then, a gust of wind blew, and the cherry blossoms on the trees were blown off, flying towards Lucas.
The cherry blossoms passed through Lucas and Gengar, flying into the distance.
Feeling the sound of petals hitting her phone, Cynthia suddenly smelled the fragrance of cherry blossoms.
Cherry blossoms—
I really hope—
"I really wish you could be here, then we could watch the cherry blossoms together."
Lucas's voice came again. Cynthia paused, then her eyes softened.
"Next time for sure."
"Next time for sure!"
Lucas said decisively.
After cyber-watching the cherry blossoms with Cynthia for a while, Lucas was about to hang up when he heard Cynthia on the other end say, "If Lucian is also there, tell him to come back soon. The League's affairs have piled up a lot and need him to handle them."
Lucas looked ahead at Lucian, who was holding snacks, happily offering him some.
Lucian: —
As Lucian was about to pull his hand back, Lucas quickly took the snack.
He took a bite.
"Okay, he's right next to me. He heard what you said."
Lucian: —
Thinking about having to go back to work, Lucian turned completely gray.
"Mm."
Cynthia hummed and hung up the phone.
Lucas, meanwhile, looked at the color-drained Lucian in front of him and shrugged.
Too bad, your vacation is over.
Slowly regaining his color, Lucian shook his head painfully. He had been out for so long, he really should go back to work.
By the way, why do the League's affairs have to pile up and wait for me to come back to deal with them?!
What about Cynthia?! What about Aaron?! What about Bertha?!
After grumbling for a while, Lucian sighed painfully, put the matter out of his mind, and focused on enjoying the last of his leisurely vacation.
Looking at Lucian, who turned and left without a trace of reluctance, Lucas and Gengar exchanged a smile, then secretly chuckled.
Being one of the four Elite Fours of the Sinnoh region is indeed busy.
Lucas put his phone back in his pocket, stretched, and looked at the bustling and lively Breeding House Road, with people coming and going.
"Let's go, everyone. Let's also go stroll around and have some fun."
"gengar sound"
"Laji ~"
Arriving in front of a punch-strength testing machine, Lucas threw a punch first.
A decent score.
Next was Gengar. Gengar imitated what it saw on TV.
It shuffled its feet back and forth in the air, then threw a powerful punch.
It was even weaker than Lucas's.
Lucas pointed at Gengar's nose and burst into laughter.
Gengar, feeling indignant, tried again, but it was even lower than the first time.
"gengar sound — gengar sound"
Lowering its head, Gengar silently walked to the side, digesting its sadness alone.
Next, Lilligant and the others all took turns trying it out.
Finally, as Lucas was holding the prize and about to pay and leave, Machamp walked over, and its four fists met.
The surge of air even blew Lucas's hair back.
"S-shop owner, d-does it—does it also want to try?!"
The owner looked at Machamp, who was doing warm-up exercises, and swallowed hard.
He stammered as he asked Lucas.
Seeing this, Lucas quickly grabbed Machamp.
"You don't need to go up, Machamp."
"Machamp!"
I also want to try how strong my punch is.
Lucas desperately pulled Machamp, but was still dragged forward by Machamp.
No, Machamp, if you punch it, the Breeding House will go bankrupt!
Gengar also ran over, grabbed Machamp's arm, and stopped abruptly in mid-air.
The two little Pokémon were effortlessly dragged forward by Machamp.
Machamp was very interested in this machine that could test punch strength. Even with Lucas and Gengar trying to stop it, it still lowered its waist, took a deep breath, and then unleashed a punch.
"Machamp!!!"
Boom!
Lucas closed his eyes.
The powerful airflow and sound wave once again blew Lucas's hair back.
Even without opening his eyes, Lucas knew how powerful Machamp's punch, which would shatter the Breeding House's finances, was.
The owner of the shop gently moved his head away from Machamp's outstretched fist, then swallowed.
He glanced at the machine.
At this point, only half of its body remained; the other half had flown away without a trace along with the tent behind it.
S-should I just r-refund their money?!
The owner swallowed again.
Gengar quickly pulled Machamp away, then sadly took out its wallet to compensate the owner.
Lucas, who was paying while silently shedding tears, took all the prizes with him.
Leaving the owner happily counting his money on the spot. After counting the money, he didn't forget to thank Lucas.
Great, I've earned a day's worth of money in just one morning. What should I do next—
The owner looked left and right.
Time to go drink ~
Meanwhile, on the other side, Machamp was complaining about the machine to Lilligant beside it.
It's not practical at all.
Lilligant looked at Lucas and Gengar, who were smiling wryly, and Machamp, who had an expression of 'I clearly didn't use my full strength, and it broke anyway,' and couldn't help but cover her mouth and secretly giggle.
After strolling with them for a while, Lucas suddenly noticed a large antenna appearing ahead.
What is that? Teletubbies?!
Lucas curiously watched the antenna, getting closer and closer.
Until the antenna completely appeared in front of him.
Looking at Shauna, who was covered head to toe in snacks and toys.
So it's you, Teletubby Shauna.
Needless to say, Lucas knew whose masterpiece this outfit and backpack, made of snacks and toys, were.
Lucas's fan club — the older version's masterpiece.
"Uncle, look, do you think these things Grandpa and Grandma made for me are pretty?"
Shauna, biting on a snack that looked like a wooden stick, saw Lucas appear in front of her and happily spun around, showing Lucas the backpack and clothes made of snacks and toys on her body.
She asked happily.
The backpack, made of lollipops and other things, was taken off by Shauna and handed to Gengar.
Gengar struggled to put it on, then turned its head to look.
Oh, it couldn't turn its head.
It asked Shauna to help it look.
"Pretty!"
Shauna said crisply.
Gengar nodded in satisfaction, then pulled Shauna and continued to go find more snacks from the grandpas and grandmas.
It also wanted a backpack like that.
A backpack full of snacks, so it could eat snacks whenever it wanted.
Thinking of this, Gengar drooled a little.
Then it skipped and hopped, holding Shauna's hand, and plunged into the crowd.
Watching Gengar and Shauna leave hand in hand, Lucas lowered his head to look at Lilligant.
Lilligant looked up at him, then turned her head away.
Lucas was heartbroken.
Then a huge palm appeared in front of him.
Lucas looked up. Machamp!
Lucas shook his head, and Machamp didn't get angry.
It only did that because it saw Lucas was in a bad mood.
Shrugging, it continued to munch on the steamed bun Shauna had given it earlier.
"Laji ~"
His palm was gently touched. Lucas looked down.
He found Lilligant covering her mouth, extending a hand towards him.
Seeing this, Lucas placed his right hand on his left chest, bowed, took Lilligant's hand, and then, with Lilligant's smile, continued walking forward, holding her hand.
....
Power Stones PLZZZZZ
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