Chapter 0609: Goals for the Future(Two-in-One)

"Made up your mind?"

Cynthia sat on the edge of the bed, her gaze fixed on Natsume.

The indecisive Champion's wardrobe mostly contained identical black trench coats and simple blue shirts.

Of course, there were other styles too—their designer cuts clearly signaling their hefty price tags.

Natsume crossed his arms, stroking his chin as he scrutinized Cynthia before finally sighing:

"They all look the same to me."

Before Cynthia could narrow those dangerous eyes, Natsume quickly added: "Equally beautiful."

"Such a lazy answer." Cynthia tucked a strand of golden hair behind her ear, her tone flat.

"Flabébé comes in five colors, but the Eternal Flower only has one true form." Natsume said. "Cynthia is as radiant as that eternal bloom."

"...Barely passable." A faint smile tugged at Cynthia's lips.

"Speaking of which." Natsume glanced around the room at the books and documents scattered across the floor. "How did it get this messy again?"

"Ah..." Cynthia rolled onto her side, sinking into the pillows. "I never got around to organizing the research materials..."

"Then wear this one."

Natsume handed her a hanger while casually ordering: "Gengar, Double Team."

"Gengar!" The Pokémon sprang from the shadows, cheerfully tidying the room.

Cynthia hugged the white shirt handed to her.

Even after seeing it countless times, she still watched with fascination as the purple roundie worked like a whirlwind.

Pokémon with household skills weren't unheard of—Indeedee and Chansey made excellent little butlers.

But Pokémon gradually grew to resemble their Trainers...

Garchomp excelled in battle, but domestic chores were hopeless compared to Gengar.

'This isn't so bad either...'

Lying on her side, Cynthia watched Natsume's exasperated expression and smiled faintly.

"Hurry up and get ready." Natsume tossed a substitute doll from the side table toward Cynthia. "We're already late."

Cynthia caught it with her slender, pale wrist. Her gray eyes gleamed with regal amusement before she dramatically flopped back onto the bed, whining:

"I don't want to go out anymore."

"Then no ice cream for you."

"Wait outside. I need to change." Cynthia immediately sat up, tucking her hair behind her ears with businesslike efficiency.

"Why can't I stay? It's not like I haven't seen—"

Cynthia smiled sweetly while pointing firmly at the door.

"Gengar!" Gengar planted itself beside her, arms akimbo in solidarity.

Natsume: "...Fine. Doesn't matter anyway—The Power of One lets me sense everything in here."

"Who even uses The Power of One like that?" Cynthia massaged her temples.

Natsume: "Well, now you've met someone who does."

Cynthia hurled the substitute doll at him just as he shut the door.

Thud!

Natsume glanced at Gengar beside him. "Why'd you get kicked out too?"

Gengar stuck out its tongue in a cheeky raspberry before clutching its belly with a toothy grin.

"Gengar~"

……

Cynthia emerged wearing a crisp white blouse and black wide-leg pants that accentuated her waistline, paired with black heeled sandals.

Gold-and-black hair clips adorned either side of her golden locks, while a teardrop pendant rested against her décolletage.

"Let's go." Smiling, she linked arms with Natsume.

Feeling the soft pressure against his elbow, Natsume blinked. "Should we tell Professor Oak and the others?"

"It's... not exactly a secret anymore." Cynthia murmured, her flawless cheeks tinged pink.

"I'll always love Cynthia." Natsume declared solemnly.

"Hmm?"

"And Cynthia, Moe-Moe!, Cabbage too."

"...That sounded like a menu."

"Cooking and comedy are both old professions of mine."

"Trainer?" Cynthia teased.

"Who's a Trainer?" Natsume played along.

"Natsume and Cynthia." She answered with a smile.

Garchomp trudged behind them, shoulders slumped as it sighed: "Garchomp..."

Still full from that soda... doubt I'll have room for dinner later...

"Gengar~!" Gengar suddenly licked Natsume's cheek with a playful Lick.

I'm the Trainer here!

……

Night draped over the island, stars speckling the sky like scattered diamonds.

The gathering took place at an upscale restaurant on Lily of the Valley Island, with most group members still on the island in attendance.

Lt. Surge had piloted the S.S. Aqua back to ferry guests… meaning he wouldn’t return to Lily of the Valley anytime soon.

Lucian, who should’ve been preparing for the Champion League in three days, had been forcibly dragged here by Aaron and Flint.

“Let go!” Lucian hissed, tense. “The budget reports aren’t finished yet!”

“Don’t work so hard~” Aaron grinned. “Natsume-sensei’s cooking tonight!”

Flint scratched his afro, flashing a toothy smile. “Who knows? After the Champion League, overtime might be obsolete!”

Lucian wrenched free, dusting off his burgundy suit and adjusting his frameless glasses before falling silent.

If he had to face Natsume-sensei in battle, his odds of winning were vanishingly slim.

But… perhaps that wasn’t such a bad thing.

Shaking his head, Lucian eyed the restaurant. “This is the place?”

“Yep.” Flint checked his phone. “Natsume-sensei says he’s on his way!”

Inside the restaurant:

Gold was challenging Ash to a game. “Hey, little buddy! Wanna play cards?”

Ash waved his hands frantically. “I-I don’t know how…”

“Tch.” Gold clicked his tongue, ignoring Professor Oak’s pointed cough—until Blue Oak’s icy glare made him activate Anticipation and swiftly stash the deck away.

Nearby, Jasmine in a white dress knelt, gently stroking Ash’s Pikachu.

“Pika-chuuu~” Pikachu’s eyes slid shut in bliss.

Bruno, towering over two meters tall, sat alone, methodically chewing a Rage Candy Bar—

He had no interest in parties, but hearing Blue Oak and Flint would attend meant a potential battle. Worth the trip.

Blue Oak, ever the Breeding Prodigy, had prepared special Pokémon meals for the occasion.

Now, Ash’s core team devoured their portions with gusto—

Except one Lucario, standing apart with knowing eyes.

“I should return,” it said to Ash.

“Can’t you stay…?” Ash pleaded.

Lucario smiled softly, surveying Ash’s team.

“Your Pokémon have met an exceptional Trainer… and so have I.”

Fighting alongside Ash had fulfilled a wish. Now, it was time to guard the Tree of Beginning once more.

Ash inhaled, eyes shimmering before breaking into a grin. “Thank you, Lucario!”

That smile overlapped with Sir Aaron’s in Lucario’s mind. Stunned, it returned the expression with a nod.

Then a familiar aura flared. Lucario looked up as Natsume entered.

“Sorry we’re late.” Natsume offered an apologetic smile. “Brought three helpers to speed things up.”

Three heads popped out behind him in unison: “Hope ya don’t mind, meow~!”

Ash gaped. “Team Rocket?!”

Lucario tensed, but Natsume raised a hand. “They’re reporters covering the Lily of the Valley Conference. I invited them.”

“Ya ingrate! We cheered for ya live!” the trio squawked.

“S-Sorry!” Ash scratched his head sheepishly. “Jumped the gun there.”

“Gotta start cooking.” Natsume glanced at Cynthia. “Won’t take long.”

Cynthia nodded subtly, her eyes asking the silent question.

“Yes, there’s ice cream,” Natsume chuckled.

The Sinnoh Elite Four—Aaron, Flint, Lucian—swiveled their gazes between the two.

“Are they…” Aaron’s cowlick twitched.

“This is…” Flint tugged his fiery afro.

Lucian adjusted his glasses, about to speak—

Until Gold blurted: “Dating?”

Every head turned toward Natsume and Cynthia at the room’s center.

“Surprised?” Cynthia tilted her head, eyeing the trio.

All three shook their heads vigorously.

Natsume had been personally welcomed by Cynthia upon arriving in Sinnoh.

Add their shared lodging during the conference? This was just making things official.

Professor Oak’s group took it in stride—they’d spent last Christmas together, after all.

Blue Oak crossed his arms, musing. “So Green’s theory was right…”

“Obviously!” Green preened. “You and Red are denser than a Snorlax!”

“Two 6V Pokémon breeding would—mmph!” Gold’s mouth was promptly covered by Silver, who hauled him aside.

Crystal sighed, cheeks pink. “Just… ignore Gold, everyone.”

Ash blinked. “What’s ‘dating’ mean? Like two Champions training together?”

Bruno swallowed his bun. “Close enough.”

Bruno chewed his steamed bun, mumbling through a full mouth: "Close enough."

"Thank goodness Sister Lorelei isn't here," Green murmured, propping her chin on her hand. "Or she'd have another meltdown..."

After the brief interlude, Natsume and the trio headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

The trio's culinary skills were well-documented—Meowth had even trained at a ramen shop, impressing the owner enough to receive a job offer.

But for the sake of their shared dream, Meowth had ultimately returned to the group.

"So what's cookin' today, meow~?" Meowth looked up at their executive.

"Using this." Natsume handed over a fiery red Petaya Berry.

"T-That's... isn't this too spicy, meow?" Meowth gulped audibly.

"Individual servings of chili oil cold noodles for everyone."

Natsume smiled benevolently—a sight more terrifying than any battle.

"And Gold's portion? I'll handle that one personally."

……

The restaurant's private event space easily accommodated everyone's Pokémon.

Most had been let out—except for behemoths like Steelix.

"Charizard!" Ash's Charizard planted itself before Blue Oak's Charizard, arms crossed as twin smoke plumes snorted from its nostrils.

Let's take this outside, old-timer.

"Charizard!" Blue Oak's Charizard smirked down at its junior.

Weak... but gutsy. I like that.

"Blastoiseヾ(■_■)" Blastoise stood imposingly beside Green's Blastoise.

Under its scrutinizing gaze, the "younger" turtle trembled before melting into a Ditto via Acid Armor.

"Blastoise..." Blastoise adjusted its sunglasses as the impostor fled.

Pathetic.

Meanwhile, Togepi, Pikachu, and Larvitar huddled behind Ash's Pikachu as it spread its arms protectively.

Before them, Togebo played the menacing hawk, eyes sharpened: "Togekiss! (╬◣д◢)"

"Pika...chu..." Sweatdropping, Pikachu inched backward.

"Togepi doo-ee~(｀▽｀)"

Togepi used Helping Hand!

Seeing its playmate's enthusiasm, Togebo instantly softened.

"Togekiss~ヾ(●｀｀●)"

"Pikachu..." Pikachu mouse sighed like an exasperated babysitter.

As night deepened, Natsume's dishes arrived—plated by Gengar's Double Team clones.

The banquet table overflowed with Galar-inspired fare: charcoal-grilled sausages, smoked Slowpoke tails, sautéed mushrooms...

The star? Summer-perfect chili oil noodles—cool, tangy strands draped with cucumber shreds, crushed peanuts, and bean sprouts, all glistening under crimson oil.

"Looks fiercer than it tastes," Natsume assured.

Gold clapped his hands. "Dig in!"

Slurps echoed through the room.

"Mmm... truly excellent," Blue Oak remarked, his eyes lighting up with approval.

"This trip to Sinnoh was absolutely worth it!" Professor Oak laughed heartily.

Gold's face burned bright red as he looked around in disbelief. "How are none of you dying from the spice?!"

"It's manageable," Silver replied flatly between bites.

Despite his discomfort, Gold never stopped eating, finally taking a huge gulp of iced berry juice. "Haaah—!"

"Natsume-sensei, your cooking is good enough to open a high-end restaurant!" Green declared.

"I've actually been considering that..."

Natsume paused, exchanging a glance with Cynthia before continuing:

"We might open a café instead."

Cynthia smiled softly.

It was a promise they'd made long ago... and now, it was finally within reach.

"I'll be your first customer!" Gold announced loudly.

Silver sighed. "...You just want free food."

"That's still a form of patronage," Gold retorted proudly.

Ash scratched his head, turning to Professor Oak with determination. "I've decided... I want to challenge the Unova League!"

"Of course! I'll contact Professor Aurea Juniper to handle your registration," Professor Oak assured him.

Natsume looked mildly surprised.

So Ash is really heading to Unova...

After all, new bonds awaited him there.

"I know a few Trainers in the Unova League," Cynthia added with a smile. "Perhaps I can introduce you to some helpful contacts, Ash."

"Really?! Thank you, Senior Cynthia!" Ash's eyes sparkled with excitement.

While Ash prepared for his Unova journey, Natsume fell into thought.

Kalos first—open the café, search for Plates...

"Will you still participate in the Champion League in three days, Natsume-sensei?" Aaron asked curiously.

Natsume didn't hesitate. "Absolutely!"

But he knew—with his growing strength, this Lily of the Valley Conference might mark the end of his regional tournament challenges.

At this point, battling regular League Tournaments offered diminishing returns... It was time to set his sights higher.

From now on:

Joining Champion Leagues? (×)

Wrecking Baby Cups? (√)