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Thursday evening found Jacob sitting alone on the training ground, contemplating who he should ask to help him select Pokemon eggs. He had just received a message from the Pokemon Association, and the weight of this important decision pressed on his mind.
Currently, Jacob had narrowed his choices down to two candidates: Nina and Asher. Each had their own unique advantages and drawbacks that he needed to carefully consider.
Nina, who possessed the rare Dragon Control ability, was undoubtedly the most qualified candidate for this task. Her special power allowed her to detect the dragon energy emanating from Pokemon, making her incredibly skilled at assessing the potential of any Dragon-type Pokemon. As long as a Pokemon had Dragon typing, Nina could accurately gauge its qualifications and hidden abilities. However, this advantage came with an obvious limitation - her power only worked on Dragon-type Pokemon, leaving her unable to evaluate other types with the same precision.
As for his elder brother Asher, Jacob certainly trusted him more than anyone else. Their bond had been forged through years of shared experiences and mutual support. However, when it came to selecting Pokemon eggs, Jacob harbored serious doubts about Asher's abilities. His brother's method of choosing eggs could only be described as relying entirely on luck, lacking any systematic approach or specialized techniques. Asher would simply pick eggs based on gut feeling, which wasn't exactly the methodical approach Jacob needed for such an important decision.
After weighing these considerations repeatedly, Jacob found himself leaning toward asking Nina for her assistance. Her specialized knowledge, despite its limitations, seemed more reliable than pure chance.
"Come and have dinner!" Nina's voice echoed from inside the house, interrupting his thoughts.
"Coming!" Jacob called back, returning his Pokemon to their Pokeballs before heading indoors.
Inside, Nina was carefully bringing out a pot of freshly prepared soup, the aromatic steam rising invitingly. The dining table was set with an impressive spread of dishes, each beautifully plated and emanating rich, enticing aromas. Every item on the table looked professionally prepared, clearly demonstrating the work of a skilled chef.
Jacob couldn't help but notice how much Nina's culinary skills had improved recently. Since she had begun learning to cook, Nina seemed to have developed a more approachable, worldly demeanor. Her typically cold and distant temperament had softened, replaced with the warm, nurturing charm that mature women often possessed. This transformation made her seem more human, more relatable.
"Teacher Nina," Jacob began, looking across the table at her. His gaze fell upon her fair, jade-like complexion as he struggled to find the right words. Despite knowing he needed to ask for her help, something held him back.
The truth was, Jacob knew that Nina would never refuse his request. But the better she treated him, the more difficult it became for him to accept her kindness with a clear conscience. Her selfless generosity weighed heavily on his heart.
"Hmm?" Nina raised her head, her bright eyes meeting his with a slight frown of confusion. Seeing that Jacob had called her name but remained silent, she urged him impatiently, "If you have something to say, just say it quickly."
Studying Nina's pretty face and noting her furrowed brow, Jacob found himself reminiscing about all the kindness Teacher Nina had shown him over the months. These memories only strengthened his reluctance to burden her further.
Although Nina never spoke about her sacrifices, Jacob had always been acutely aware of them. The memories flooded back: how she had healed his Axew without asking for any compensation, how she had taken the initiative to learn cooking simply to give Jacob more time for Pokemon training, and just yesterday, when she heard about his upcoming battle, she had even procured a rare one-time Technical Machine for his Gallade.
This kind of selfless, silent dedication touched Jacob deeply. He had been the constant recipient of her generosity, yet he realized he had never taken the initiative to give anything back to Nina in return.
Even when Jacob had given her the Cottonee egg, it was only after discovering that Nina had injured herself while treating Axew. The gesture had been reactive rather than proactive. Come to think of it, wasn't Teacher Nina's birthday approaching soon? What kind of birthday gift would be appropriate for someone who had given him so much?
Teacher Nina had already done more than enough for him. This time, Jacob decided he didn't want to trouble her any further. He shook his head gently and said softly, "Nothing important, Teacher Nina. I just think you look really beautiful today."
Nina's face flushed slightly, but she maintained her stern expression. She set down her bowl and chopsticks, crossed her arms in front of her chest, and fixed Jacob with a cold stare. "If you need my help with something, just tell me directly. I'm not some seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl who will fall for sweet talk."
"I..." Jacob started to protest, but Nina cut him off before he could continue.
"Do you want me to help you travel to Europe to select Pokemon eggs?" Nina looked at him with crossed arms, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly with unmistakable pride. "I figured that out a long time ago. Next time, if you have something to say, just say it directly instead of beating around the bush."
Observing Nina's expression that clearly conveyed "I have seen through everything," Jacob found her unexpectedly endearing at that moment. All the emotions he had been building up for the past half hour evaporated instantly, and he nearly burst out laughing at Nina's confident declaration.
How had his reputation become so tainted in Nina's eyes? He had praised her sincerely from the bottom of his heart, yet she had interpreted it as having ulterior motives. Jacob considered himself a gentleman who acted with integrity, but Teacher Nina seemed to be judging him by her own suspicious standards!
While Jacob complained internally, Nina noticed his silence and became even more convinced that she had correctly guessed his true intentions. The smile at the corner of her mouth grew brighter as she continued, "I suspected you would ask for my help eventually. I deliberately didn't mention it because I wanted to see how long you would take to bring it up."
"Don't worry about the arrangements - I've already purchased the plane tickets."
"Just focus on playing seriously in your match this weekend. I want to hear good news about your victory as soon as I return."
"If you lose, I won't forgive you when I get back!"
Jacob listened quietly to Nina's animated speech, his eyes focused on her bright, beautiful face. At this moment, Nina resembled a proud young woman, her mouth curved upward with satisfaction at having correctly predicted Jacob's thoughts.
Jacob simply watched her in silence, admiring her lovely smile and the way her eyebrows arched expressively. As expected, Teacher Nina remained the same caring person she had always been, always putting his needs first and giving silently without complaint.
Jacob chose not to interrupt Nina's monologue. Instead, he propped his chin on one hand, a gentle smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he quietly appreciated her animated expression. His gaze grew increasingly tender as he watched her.
Perhaps sensing that Jacob's eyes had been fixed on her throughout her speech, Nina slowly shifted her attention back to him. When she noticed the gentle warmth in his gaze, she immediately looked away in panic, her voice gradually becoming quieter and her face growing redder.
Nina quietly turned her face away, presenting only her profile to Jacob. Feeling shy and wanting to hide her embarrassment, she pretended to casually reach up and brush her hair back with her fingers.
At this moment, Jacob had lost his usual playful demeanor, while Nina had abandoned her typical coldness. One gazed with gentle eyes while the other blushed with bashful awareness.
The atmosphere between them gradually became charged with unspoken feelings, quiet and warm with romantic tension.
"Teacher Nina, you really are beautiful," Jacob said with complete sincerity.
This time, Nina didn't offer any rebuttal. Instead, she unconsciously lowered her head, pretending not to hear Jacob's words while her face flushed an even deeper shade of red.
The moment hung between them like a delicate flower beginning to bloom, filled with unspoken emotions and tender possibility.
"BOOM!"
Suddenly, an urgent knock at the door shattered the intimate atmosphere between the two of them.
"Who is it?" Nina called out, her voice slightly unsteady.
"Nina, it's me," came Maximus's voice from outside the door.
"Dad? Why are you back?" For the first time, Nina's voice carried a note of anxiety rather than pleasure.
Maximus, shrewd as an experienced businessman, frowned at his daughter's reaction. Normally, Nina would be overjoyed when he returned from business trips, but today she sounded distinctly unwelcoming.
The door opened, and Maximus immediately noticed a pair of men's athletic shoes placed by the entrance. His pupils contracted slightly as he stepped inside. "Tomorrow I'm taking a flight from the Capital Airport to Europe," he announced. "I have a slot to select Pokemon, and Jacob has one as well. I can help Jacob choose a Pokemon while I'm there. Remember to call him later and tell him that since I'm going to Europe, he doesn't need to find someone else to help him select Pokemon. Also, ask him what specific Pokemon he's looking for."
"Master, I'm here. There's no need to trouble Teacher Nina with making phone calls," Jacob said awkwardly as he emerged from the dining area, greeting Maximus with obvious discomfort.
Maximus's eyes fell on the slippers Jacob was wearing, his expression growing stern. Then he looked at his daughter's flushed face, and his eyes unconsciously filled with a dangerous intensity. What exactly had happened during the months he had been away on business? How had things progressed to the point where she was keeping men's slippers in the house?