February 20th, Saturday.
The sky was a clear blue, without a single cloud.
A flight streaked across the horizon, its contrail splitting the heavens in two.
"This flight will soon arrive at Jubilife Airport. We wish you a pleasant journey..." A sweet female voice announced over the intercom.
The descending plane cut through layers of clouds.
Peering out the window, the island surrounded by ocean gradually grew larger and clearer in view.
"Gengar!" Gengar pressed its face against the glass, its distorted features looking comical as it grinned, eyes curved in delight.
"Haa... Are we there yet?"
Natsume removed his sleep mask, stretching as he gradually woke from his nap.
"Gengar!" Gengar, standing on the window-side seat, turned and tugged excitedly at Natsume's sleeve.
"Ah, that must be Sinnoh Island."
Natsume leaned closer to the window, a hint of curiosity on his face.
"Let me see!"
The Sinnoh Region was a large island, far from Kanto, surrounded by ocean with the long, narrow Mount Coronet range running north to south.
Around Sinnoh lay numerous smaller islands—Iron Island, Newmoon Island—where ferries were a common mode of transportation.
Compared to Tokyo's subtropical climate, with its distinct seasons and mild humidity…
Sinnoh Island was perpetually snowy, foggy, and cold—yet held a unique beauty of its own.
"Ah, Sinnoh—land of myths and legendaries..."
Natsume recalled the highlights of the Diamond and Pearl era, a certain golden-haired Champion flashing in his mind.
In the Diamond and Pearl generation, she was widely recognized as the strongest Champion.
With her overwhelmingly powerful Garchomp, her icy beauty masking a gentle heart…
Sinnoh Champion, Cynthia.
"Gengar."
Natsume grinned. "Let's enjoy this trip to the fullest~!"
"Gengar~! (`▽´)"
Sinnoh Gym Leaders, Gengar's coming for you!!
...
Jubilife City, Airport Terminal.
As the largest city west of Mount Coronet, Jubilife City boasted a highly modernized landscape.
The Pokétch Company, Trainer School, Jubilife TV—all iconic landmarks of the city.
The sun dipped low in the sky.
In cold Sinnoh, night always arrived a little too early.
Inside the airport's arrival hall…
Lucian, dressed in a wine-red suit, sat on a sofa, legs crossed.
Casually, he closed his book and glanced at his Rolex. "Natsume-sensei hasn't arrived yet?"
"I'm starving. Can I go grab food first?" Aaron's green cowlick swayed pitifully.
"No."
Lucian replied coolly. "Welcoming a guest of honor is part of the Sinnoh Elite Four's duty."
"You just wanna slack off!" Flint, with his red afro, shoved his hands in his pockets, smirking.
"W-Who's slacking?!"
Lucian adjusted his glasses with a trembling hand, then paused.
Wait—those were Cynthia's responsibilities. How was he the one slacking?!
"...Never mind." Lucian coughed dryly.
It wasn't that he couldn't take Cynthia in a fight—he was just being a gentleman!
That day, the Sinnoh Pokémon League was in an uproar.
Three of the Elite Four had gone to the airport to greet a single Trainer!
Even more unbelievable?
The ever-elusive Champion, Cynthia…
Had also gone along for the ride?!
"Who is this Trainer?" The Sinnoh League Chairman swallowed hard, turning to his assistant.
The assistant, sweating bullets, clutched a long list of titles:
"This Trainer is—"
"Honorary Teacher of Celadon School, Kanto League Tournament Champion, regional healthcare reform advocate, pioneer of the Beat Up strategy..."
The assistant took a deep breath, practically reciting a rap, before shouting:
"Natsume! Natsume-sensei!"
The Chairman stared blankly for a long moment before rasping:
"You should… drink some water first."
This level of influence and versatility… No wonder Cynthia and the others were making such a fuss.
The Chairman clasped his hands, deep in thought.
Was Cynthia planning to recruit this Trainer to Sinnoh?
After all, with Natsume-sensei's reputation…
If he participated in the Lily of the Valley Conference, it would massively boost its prestige…
"I see."
The Chairman nodded to himself, instructing his assistant:
"If Natsume-sensei wants to enter the Lily of the Valley Conference, waive the Gym Badge requirement."
"Other leagues have started using invitation systems too."
He smiled. "If Cynthia vouches for him, his strength is beyond question."
The assistant's eyes gleamed.
As a veteran fan of Natsume-sensei, he knew the Gym Leaders had suffered enough.
If Natsume-sensei actually challenged them… it'd be a massacre!
The Assistant shouted:
"Chairman is wise!"
...
Jubilife City, Terminal Building.
Bystanders whispered in shock at the sight of the Elite Four and the Champion gathered together.
Who could possibly warrant such a reception?
Without a doubt, this had to be an incredibly powerful Trainer!
But in the end, all they could do was speculate.
At that moment…
Cynthia stood in a black fur-lined coat and wide-leg pants, a luxurious black scarf draped around her neck, revealing delicate collarbones and the elegant curve of her swan-like neck.
Her golden hair spilled from twin hair ornaments, half-covering her face, leaving only one deep, mesmerizing gray eye visible.
Tucking a strand behind her ear, she crossed one arm while resting the other against her chin, deep in thought.
"U-Um, miss, have you decided?"
The airport dessert shop clerk smiled nervously.
"You've been standing here… for half an hour."
"Ah!"
Cynthia suddenly brightened, as if a lightbulb had lit above her head, raising a finger with childlike delight.
"Two triple-scoop ice creams, please~!"
"O-Oh, sure…"
The clerk nodded blankly, bending to scoop the ice cream while her face flushed red.
Oh no…
Champion Cynthia… is just too adorable!!
"Here are your two triple-scoops—Eh?! You gave too much tip!"
"It's fine. I kept you waiting so long."
"T-Thank you! Thank you so much!"
Cynthia strolled back to the waiting area, two ice cream cones in hand, looking utterly pleased.
Lucian blinked. "Two cones? You can eat both?"
"Oh! One's for me? Thanks!" Aaron's eyes sparkled, his cowlick bouncing.
Instantly, a chilling glare shot his way—from Garchomp, standing beside Cynthia.
Aaron: "Uwah, so scary… o(╥﹏╥)o"
Flint scoffed, hands in pockets.
"As if. Since when does Cynthia buy ice cream for—"
Then his jaw hit the floor.
He turned to stone.
Aaron's expression mirrored his—stone statue #2.
Lucian joined them.
Three Elite Four members, now a row of petrified statues. A breeze could've shattered them.
Flint & Aaron & Lucian: Σ(っ°Д°;)っ
"Oh, for me? Thanks."
A tall, strikingly handsome young man walked out of the arrival gate, casually accepting the ice cream Cynthia handed him.
"Huh. It's not melted." Natsume said in surprise.
"I timed it." Cynthia smiled.
"How long did you spend picking?"
Cynthia pondered. "Not long."
Half an hour was pretty fast, actually.
Natsume's heart skipped a beat.
Oh no. I'm being charmed!
"Gengar~!" Gengar suddenly popped out from behind Natsume, baring its teeth at Cynthia in a grin.
"Welcome to Sinnoh, Gengar." Cynthia chuckled.
"Gengar~! (/ω＼)"
Natsume licked his ice cream, glancing around—then froze.
Before him stood three petrified, wind-swept "statues," their worldviews shattered.
"The… Sinnoh Elite Three?" Natsume corrected himself from "three idiots" to "three Elite Four members."
Lucian and the others exchanged glances.
That… was Cynthia?
The same Cynthia whose Garchomp fought like a bloodthirsty berserker?
She just gave someone else her ice cream?!
And Natsume-sensei actually took it?!
Lucian snapped out of it first, clapping Natsume on the shoulder solemnly.
"Natsume-sensei, welcome to Sinnoh!"
His eyes silently conveyed: You brave, brave soul.
Flint and Aaron shuddered.
This wasn't jealousy—it was fear.
If Cynthia ever offered them ice cream, it'd be a prelude to a battle…
And those were best avoided unless you wanted to get annihilated.
Unless it was a Champion-ranked match—and even then…
Fighting Sinnoh Champion Cynthia was suicide!
Natsume-sensei, new to Sinnoh, had no idea what he'd just walked into.
"I bet half a bread roll Natsume-sensei gets crushed!" Flint whispered.
"Ehh, he might hold his own?" Aaron's cowlick twitched.
"You serious? That was a challenge if I ever saw one!"
Natsume eyed the three strangely, noting Lucian's receding hairline.
"You guys have plans after this?"
They shook their heads in unison.
"Then… I'll head out first?"
They nodded in unison.
"I'll walk you." Cynthia naturally fell into step beside him, heels clicking.
The three stiffened.
They knew what was coming next—a Champion-level battle.
They stood solemnly, watching Natsume-sensei leave like a man walking to his doom.
"Why are they looking at me like I'm already dead?" Natsume muttered.
"Maybe they think I'm about to challenge you?"
Natsume suddenly realized.
Even though he'd already revealed his strength to Cynthia…
These three Sinnoh Elite Four were still overthinking things!
He recalled his last visit to Sinnoh, staying at Steven's place.
Flint had gifted him "Fire Blast"—which nearly burned Steven's house down.
That grudge was still in the notebook!
Natsume smirked.
Times have changed.
I, Natsume-sensei, am unbreakable.
Being a live-in son-in-law in Sinnoh? No thanks!
"Need a ride?" Cynthia asked.
"Lead the way."
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