Money wasn't the point—what really mattered was teaching Cynthia a foreign language.
After all, Natsume-sensei was now somewhat well-off. As for 'high hourly rates'…
Well… they were still absolutely necessary!
Brandon's Battle Pyramid stood near Pewter City, not too far from Saffron City.
When they'd arrived, Natsume had ridden on Cynthia's Togekiss.
All he remembered was the strong wind, holding on tight, and Togekiss getting a little shy.
Meanwhile, Cynthia stood elegantly on Garchomp's back… Natsume had genuinely worried she might fall.
Now, on the way back, they decided to enjoy the early spring scenery.
"Arcanine~" Arcanine's solid build made it spacious enough for two.
Leaning forward, Natsume caught the faint floral scent of her golden hair.
Cynthia tilted her head. "Why not ride Garchomp?"
"I'm scared of heights."
Cynthia glanced down at the hands around her waist and smirked coldly. "Liar."
Natsume stared straight ahead, righteous. "I never lie."
Noticing he was only resting his hands on Arcanine's back, Cynthia let it slide.
Looks like she'd have to make him translate extra documents tonight…
Meanwhile, Natsume guided Arcanine along the breezy fields, lost in thought.
It wasn't just Groudon who couldn't fly.
Natsume couldn't either…
Sure, Togepi would eventually evolve into Togekiss, an excellent Flying-type.
But his Togepi was still just a baby—evolution was a long way off.
Besides…
Natsume pursed his lips, delicate mood.
Hundreds of meters in the air, no safety measures, relying entirely on a Flying-type… Who wouldn't be scared?!
If he hadn't held on tight earlier, Brock might not have gotten there in time!
"I'll get over it eventually."
Natsume thought, "Worst case, I just won't fly. Or maybe install guardrails on the saddle…"
The sky was clear, clouds drifting lazily.
By the time they got home, it was already 4 PM.
Prepping ingredients, washing, cooking… Time slipped away in the busyness.
Cynthia, unusually, wasn't gaming.
Instead, she sat seriously in the study, researching Sinnoh's mythological legends.
Evening sunlight streamed through the window, gilding her golden hair as she focused intently.
Natsume knocked on the study door, then leaned against the frame, admiring the scene.
Cynthia looked up and smiled softly.
"Coming."
"Your vacation's almost over, huh?"
At the dinner table, Natsume picked up his chopsticks.
"Mmm… I need to relieve Lucian, and there's the April research conference to prepare for."
"That early? Did they move it up?" Natsume blinked.
"The one you attended last year—it's held twice annually."
Cynthia added, "The spring one's smaller, but still at Canalave City Library."
Natsume nodded. Time really flew.
In what felt like a blink, he'd already caught seven Pokémon and become a League Champion…
"Are you going?" Cynthia asked, curious.
"Nope." Natsume shook his head.
Being a researcher was too much hassle… Last time hadn't been worth it, aside from recruiting a secretary.
A chilly April was better spent at home, cuddling Sylveon for warmth.
Cynthia held her bowl, chopsticks between her lips, then went back to devouring the meal.
Had she… gained weight recently? Cynthia tilted her head slightly.
Meh. She'd worry about it back in Sinnoh…
Evening deepened.
Rotom zipped into the dishwasher, becoming a smart home assistant.
"Gengar! ヽ(`Д`)" Gengar smacked the shaking machine angrily.
How dare it steal his household chores!
Natsume rubbed his chin. He wondered how strong a 'dishwasher Rotom' would be.
Or if other Rotom forms could battle too.
Imagine someone pulling out a 'washing machine Rotom,' and he counters with a 'self-destructing smartphone Rotom'…
Yeah… that'd be a sight!
Summarizing the ruins trip's rewards:
The new "Rainbow Wing."
Natsume had already planted it in a leek pot.
"Blastoise…" "Sirfetch'd!"
The resident geniuses circled the pot, marveling.
With the Rainbow Wing's nourishment, Sirfetch'd's leek would grow stronger.
Blastoise, meanwhile, had an epiphany: "Blastoise ヾ(■_■)"
The feather's vitality rivaled a hundred Energy Roots.
Soil nourished by this feather would yield amazing crops!
The 'strategist' was getting serious about domestic affairs.
Yet, planted in the pot, the Rainbow Wing looked dull, almost tainted.
Natsume casually hit it with Aura of Ripple, restoring its shimmer.
He paused.
Good grief, Aura of Ripple was way too handy!
At home, the feather could stay as decor.
But outdoors, better to bring it… as a Ho-Oh good-luck charm.
Natsume nodded decisively, scooped up Sylveon, and headed to Cynthia's study.
Teach her a foreign language.
...
"How exactly do you pronounce this syllable?"
"Break it down, then open your mouth wide."
"Ah…like this?"
Natsume stared at Cynthia's parted pink lips, her delicate tongue tip, and the petite curve of her tongue.
He pondered silently:
Judging by the tongue texture, I should go for lighter meals next time…
Once again, it proved how crucial it was to master an additional language.
Natsume had also learned much about Sinnoh's mythological legends—quite the fruitful experience.
"Lake Verity, Lake Valor, Lake Acuity…these are Sinnoh's three great lakes," Cynthia explained.
"Shouldn't there be a Sendoff Spring too?"
"That's the lake Giratina occupies."
Cynthia smiled approvingly. "Seems you've been studying hard."
"Nobody loves studying more than I do," Natsume said solemnly.
The hefty hourly rate certainly surpassed what Natsume-sensei earned as a gaming buddy.
But the pay wasn't his goal…well, at least not the only goal.
After spending the entire night tutoring Cynthia in Ancient Language,
Natsume, dark circles under his eyes,
escorted a yawning Cynthia to Saffron City Airport.
"The Sinnoh League Tournament is in May. Don't forget to attend," Cynthia reminded him seriously.
Natsume-sensei straightened, his expression uncharacteristically stern as he nodded.
So…
The hefty hourly rate certainly surpassed what Natsume-sensei earned as a gaming buddy.
But the pay wasn't his goal…well, at least not the only goal.
After spending the entire night tutoring Cynthia in Ancient Language,
Natsume, dark circles under his eyes,
escorted a yawning Cynthia to Saffron City Airport.
"The Sinnoh League Tournament is in May. Don't forget to attend," Cynthia reminded him seriously.
Natsume-sensei straightened, his expression uncharacteristically stern as he nodded.
So…
This Lily of the Valley Conference must be the one where Ash fought Tobias solo.
Even if it's the Baby Cup, the appearance of that 'Legendary Pokémon man' changes everything.
Still.
If even Ash managed to take down two of Tobias's Legendary Pokémon, they can't be that strong—
Natsume suddenly caught himself, muttering:
"Please don't let Tobias pull out four more random Legendary Pokémon…"
February 17th, Wednesday.
Dawn had barely broken when Natsume returned home and collapsed back into bed.
Half-asleep, he felt as if a Gigantamax Snorlax had rolled over him.
Blinking awake, he found Sylveon sprawled on his chest, using its plush paws to tug at his blanket.
"Sylveon! (≧ω≦)/"
Having successfully stolen the blanket,
Sylveon rolled it into a snug cocoon, leaving only its pink ears and ribbon visible as it wriggled gleefully.
"Damn it! I wanna burrito myself too!"
Grumbling, Natsume eyed Gengar's Reaper Cloth draped like a shawl.
"Gengar!? Σ(°△°|||)︴"
Gengar instinctively clutched its cloth tighter.
"Kidding…yours wouldn't fit me anyway."
Resigned, Natsume-sensei shuffled to the balcony to check the Rainbow Wing in its planter.
The feather remained unchanged—though Sirfetch'd's leek had visibly sprouted.
"Sirfetch'd! ~"
Tears of joy welled in Sirfetch'd's eyes.
With a sturdier weapon, maybe I won't lose to Togepi next time?
The Rainbow Wing swayed in the breeze, seemingly content.
Natsume casually cast Aura of Ripple on it, and the feather glowed brighter.
Natsume-sensei grinned.
Looks like I don't need Ash to charge it—I can awaken the Rainbow Wing myself!
Though I wonder how Ho-Oh'll react to me treating its feather like this…
"Worst case, I'll bribe it with Pokéblocks," he mused.
"Or ask Ash—even a legendary photographer owes the 'Chosen One' some favors."
"Gengar! (￣▽￣)／"
That afternoon, Gengar rallied the little ones for group training at Saffron Gym.
With time to spare, Natsume tagged along.
"Hey, renovations wrapped up fast!" He waved cheerfully at Sabrina.
Sabrina stiffened, her icy composure flickering before she steadied herself.
"Gengar can handle the training…no need for you to trouble yourself."
"Oh, I wasn't planning to train."
As Sabrina exhaled, Natsume added, "I'm here to give you a heads-up."
Accepting a soda Gengar fetched from the vending machine, he popped it open.
"Next week, I'm heading to Sinnoh. Won't be sticking around Kanto."
Sabrina nodded, torn between relief and faint disappointment.
She'd enjoyed Gengar's company.
"For the Sinnoh League?" She tucked a lock of black hair behind her ear.
Those Sinnoh Leaders and Elite Four don't know what's coming…
"Uh…partly."
Natsume scratched his cheek, watching the little ones train before turning back.
"Also, there's something else—about likeness rights for a game."
"A…game?" Sabrina's frosty demeanor cracked with surprise.
Natsume explained his vision for Pokémon,
leaving Sabrina momentarily speechless.
"A game…starring Red as the protagonist?"
"Yep." Natsume grinned. "Crushing Team Rocket, Blue Oak's half-hour championship—"
"All the Gym Leaders appear too, though we'll tweak some backstories. Boss Giovanni makes a great villain."
Sabrina stared.
How would he even get every Leader's consent?
Then she recalled the group chat member list and paled.
…Right. Half the region's elite are literally his fans.
"I don't object," she said slowly, smoothing her hair.
"But convincing Giovanni is another matter."
"Honestly, game-Giovanni's pretty charismatic."
Natsume smirked.
"And Team Rocket's PR isn't terrible now…might even launch Boss Giovanni as an idol."
Sabrina: ??!!
Giovanni…an…idol?!
Her face twisted in existential horror—the first time Natsume had seen the Ice Queen so utterly shattered.
Finally, Sabrina rasped:
"Frankly…I'm kinda curious now!"
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