Chapter 0646: Cynthia and Meloetta

Virbank City was an industrial port town, its skyline dotted with smokestacks and vibrant graffiti.

Though shrouded in haze, the city buzzed with energy. Movie theaters, studios, and concert halls thrived here.

It was especially famous for its "Beartic Ice Cream."

Natsume mused that it probably had the same status-healing effects as "Castelia Ice Cream."

Summer sunlight glittered on the ocean, white ships docked at the port, and Wingulls wheeled overhead.

Natsume met Cynthia’s gaze, and they both smiled, sharing a light embrace.

She wore a sleeveless blue blouse and wide-legged black pants, her golden hair cascading over one side of her face as she chuckled:

"You’re in luck."

"Yeah, because I ran into you."

"I meant, there’s a concert in Virbank City tonight. Perfect timing." Cynthia sighed in mock exasperation, though her lips still curled in amusement.

"Concert?" Natsume blinked.

Gengar materialized beside him, floating midair, eyes sparkling: "Gengar~ (✧∀✧)"

Does this mean I get to perform vocals on stage? Gengar~

"Roxie and her band are performing," Cynthia explained with a smile. "Don’t let her punk rock image fool you—she’s also an incredible violinist."

Natsume nodded, not objecting.

Setting aside thoughts of N and Team Plasma, Natsume decided to enjoy this rare, moe-moe! date.

As they strolled through Virbank City’s plaza, the fountain rippled. Children tossed breadcrumbs to Pidoves, while a homeless man sat on a bench reading a newspaper, a dozing Purrloin nestled in his lap.

Yet Natsume’s thoughts drifted back to N.

The world he dreamed of wasn’t the truth—but the truth could still be beautiful.

"You seem distracted?" Cynthia glanced at him.

"Thinking about… a student of mine." Natsume paused. "He’s struggling with the conflict between ideals and reality."

Sylveon walked beside Natsume, its silky ribbon coiled around his arm.

Glaceon trotted ahead of Cynthia, its icy-blue braid scattering glimmering frost with each step.

"And what do you think?" Cynthia’s clear gray eyes met his.

"I…" Natsume fell silent before answering, "I believe the path ahead is bright, though the journey is long."

"Then keep going," Cynthia said, linking her arm with his, eyes crinkling. "Keep walking until the skies clear."

Sunlight bathed them, the azure sky streaked with a flock of Pidoves.

Natsume stared at Cynthia’s gentle smile, his eyes widening slightly. The shadows in his heart melted away, and he grinned:

"Today’s the day Gengar performs Perish Song, no matter what."

"Gengar! (✧∀✧)"

Gengar promptly whipped out a microphone.

Cynthia: "... Let's forget about this."

Natsume: "Then let’s go compete in Lacunosa Town’s Youth Tournament!"

"They invited you as a guest commentator, not a contestant," Cynthia reminded him with a laugh.

"And as a commentator, it’s only fair I test the competition firsthand, right?" Natsume argued shamelessly.

"Speaking of which," Cynthia tapped her chin, her gray eyes glinting, "I saw Ash and Iris on the participant list."

"Ash and Iris?"

"Mhm. Iris is a prodigy—more naturally gifted than Ash. I wouldn’t be surprised if she becomes a League Champion someday."

Cynthia mused, "But Ash has something special… I’m looking forward to seeing him in the Champion League."

Maybe Ash’s talent was all poured into no-holds-barred battles.

Poor guy, born in the wrong era!

Natsume sighed inwardly before squeezing Cynthia’s hand, his other arm still entwined with Sylveon’s ribbon.

"Come on, I’ll treat everyone to ice cream!"

……

Beartic Ice Cream Stall at Virbank City Plaza

The Beartic Ice Cream stall stood in Virbank City’s central square.

Faced with rows of frosty, colorful ice cream flavors, Natsume instinctively asked:

"What flavor do you want?"

The moment the words left his mouth, he realized his mistake.

"Hmm…" Cynthia tapped her chin, eyes flickering as she entered deep thought mode.

"Let me choose instead."

Natsume stared at the array of ice cream scoops and found himself hesitating too.

Gengar liked bitter flavors, Eevee had a sweet tooth, Blastoise preferred something earthy…

And then there was Darkrai, who traveled with them—it loved tangy lemon.

With so many options, Natsume frowned slightly, about to speak—

When a familiar voice called out.

"Natsume-sensei—! Champion Cynthia—!"

"Pikachu~!"

A young man with a Pikachu on his shoulder came rushing over.

Natsume stiffened, a chill running down his spine.

Damn it. Right before the movie premiere—one of the last people I wanted to see!

Cynthia turned gracefully, a flicker of surprise in her gray eyes before she smiled.

"Long time no see, Ash, Pikachu. And this is—?"

Beside Ash stood a dark-skinned girl in a loose top and purple twin tails, who introduced herself:

"Natsume-sensei, Champion Cynthia. I’m Iris! I’m training to become a Dragon Master!"

Cynthia nodded warmly. "I’ve heard about you from Mr. Drayden. They have high expectations."

Iris scratched her head sheepishly. "I still have a long way to go with Axew…"

"Axew~!" The Axew perched on her shoulder grinned too.

"Jeez, she’s even younger than me…" Ash muttered under his breath.

"Which just proves Ash is still a kid!" Iris crossed her arms.

Pikachu, balanced on Ash’s shoulder, suddenly flinched as something poked it. It glanced around but saw nothing. "Pikachu?"

Then—poof—Gengar materialized right in front of it, stretching its mouth wide. "Gengar!"

"Pika—CHU!" Pikachu toppled backward, flipping midair before landing on all fours.

"Gengar~!" Gengar cackled, fangs glinting.

"Knock it off, Pikachu." Ash scooped Pikachu back onto his shoulder and asked curiously, "Natsume-sensei, what brings you here?"

"I was about to ask you the same," Natsume countered. "Aren’t you supposed to be collecting Gym Badges?"

"Pikachu and I are heading to Lacunosa Town for the World Tournament Youth Cup. Iris is tagging along," Ash explained.

"In that case, why not join us in Undella Town?"

Cynthia rested a hand on her hip, smiling. "Natsume and I are planning to attend the Youth Tournament too."

Natsume blinked, shooting Cynthia a glance. She didn’t seem to be joking, and he pressed his lips together.

This is bad!

Traveling with Ash practically guaranteed they’d end up in Ho-Oh Cinemas’ movie footage!

This moe-moe! ambush had caught Natsume completely off guard.

But expecting Ash to read the room was… optimistic at best.

In the end, Cynthia treated Ash and Iris to specialty ice cream—with Natsume footing the bill—and the four sat on a plaza bench enjoying their treats.

"Gengar~" Gengar licked its ice cream ball happily, floating midair.

"Togepi doo-ee!" Togepi buried its face in its scoop, giggling when it resurfaced.

"Pikachu~" Pikachu wiped Togepi’s cheeks with a napkin, ears twitching as it glanced around suspiciously.

Ash: "What’s up, Pikachu?"

Pikachu had faintly heard music, but only the fountain’s splash remained. It shook its head. "Pikachu."

Hidden within Natsume’s shadow—

Darkrai licked its ice cream with an aloof expression, side-eyeing the levitating, invisible Pokémon nearby.

The stranger had wave-like emerald hair, a headband with a jewel centerpiece, and microphone-shaped black ornaments.

Meloetta listened curiously to the colorful emotions around it, eyes gently closed, a soft smile playing on its lips.

Seeing no hostility from this Pokémon,

Darkrai resumed eating its ice cream, then glanced at the silent Natsume.

With his ripple aura, there was no way he hadn’t noticed…

He must just be in low spirits.

As for why, Darkrai couldn’t guess.

It gave the floating Pokémon one last look and thought:

I’ll tell Natsume later…