The fighting tournament was over.
Brock had packed his luggage, hoisting the backpack over his shoulders like a scholar carrying an exam box.
"You always travel with this much stuff?" Natsume asked.
Brock glanced back coolly. "Says the guy who brought a fish tank."
Natsume froze.
Turning, he saw Squirtle carefully carrying the fish tank out of the hotel.
Arcanine followed steadily behind, Togepi perched on its back.
Sylveon nestled in Natsume's arms, its ribbons wrapped around his arm, radiating warmth.
"No big deal." Natsume nodded. "I'll just shove the luggage into Gengar's belly!"
"Gengar?! Σ(っ°Д°;)っ"
Brock glanced around mysteriously before pulling out a Poké Ball.
"I usually use this for travel."
"Huh?"
Brock tossed it. "Come on out—Steelix!"
BOOM!
The ground trembled as the colossal Steelix lowered its head, grinning with a missing tooth.
Natsume stared up, stunned.
What kind of Pokémon is this?! Why isn't it in my Pokédex?!
Brock stepped onto Steelix's head and extended a hand. "Natsume-sensei, toss your luggage up. Give Gengar a break."
Storing large items did drain Gengar's HP.
After a pause, Natsume handed over the suitcase but coughed awkwardly. "I'll pass on riding."
Brock nodded. "Right. Arcanine is faster."
"I'll head back to Pewter City first. See you tomorrow!"
CRASH!
Steelix reared up, plowing through the earth like a living bulldozer.
The torn-up ground would actually help Diglett and Dugtrio find new homes—
A small part of Pokémon's ecosystem.
Brock stood triumphantly atop Steelix's head, looking undeniably cool.
Natsume watched him go, mood souring.
It's not that I don't want to ride Steelix…
It's just…
I'm scared of heights!
...
Battle Castle, Frontier.
Caitlin stood on the balcony, gazing at the snow-blanketed landscape.
The wind howled. Streetlights flickered over snowdrifts.
Then—footsteps.
She turned abruptly—
"Hm?" Shauntal adjusted her glasses, patting Caitlin's head. "Did I bump you?"
Caitlin shook her head, exhaling slowly.
She took a half-step back, glanced down, then whispered, "Where's Cynthia?"
"She went to Kanto." Shauntal flipped a page in her book. "Some party, I think."
"But…" Caitlin murmured. "It's snowing."
"Snow means staying with someone you like. That's what the Sinnoh folklore book said."
"Yep."
Shauntal's eyes lit up. "I read that one at Canalave Library!"
Caitlin rested her chin on her hands, leaning against the snow-dusted railing.
"Shauntal."
"Yeah?"
"Let's go to Kanto too."
"It's late, though."
Shauntal tapped her chin. "We could go tomorrow."
"Cynthia mentioned a party at Professor Oak's lab."
"Then… tomorrow."
Caitlin looked up.
Snowflakes spiraled through the night, painting the world white.
...
Natsume brushed snow from his hair. "It's really coming down."
He sighed as Arcanine dug enthusiastically into a snowbank.
"Arcanine, stop that!"
"Arcanine~~"
The Arcanine rolled gleefully in the powder.
Nearby, Togepi struggled to pack a tiny snowball—
Then froze, eyes welling up.
Squirtle was sculpting a snow boulder a hundred times larger, still adding to it.
"Togepi…" Tears wobbled in Togepi's eyes.
Natsume scratched his head.
Even snowball fights require overpreparation?
"Sylveon~o(′^｀)o"
Sylveon sat primly by Natsume's feet, refusing to participate.
Grinning, Natsume scooped snow—
And dumped it on Sylveon's head.
"Sylveon!" It shivered violently.
"Pfft—HAHAHA!" Natsume doubled over laughing.
Sylveon pounced—
Only to be lifted by the scruff.
"SylveonSylveon~(〃＞皿＜)"
Natsume blinked.
Damn. Close Combat Lv3 is no joke.
"Sirfetch'd!"
The duck knight raised its shield, deflecting Arcanine's snow spray with a smirk—
Then paled as Squirtle hefted its gargantuan snowball.
Natsume gaped. "Chibaku Tensei? Spirit Bomb?!"
While the others brawled, Gengar sat politely, crafting a snowman—
A perfect replica of itself.
"Gengar!" It patted its chest proudly.
"Think fast!" Natsume hurled a snowball.
"Gengar! Σ(っ°Д°;)っ"
Under the amber streetlight, Natsume and his Pokémon collapsed into the snow, breath fogging the air.
Snowflakes drifted onto his face.
Then—a voice.
"Aren't you cold?"
Natsume propped himself up.
Cynthia stood beneath the light, golden hair cascading over her black coat, snow dusting her shoulders.
She exhaled, breath misting.
"You could hug me if you're worried."
"I'm leaving."
"Fine. It is cold." Natsume amended.
Cynthia paused, lips curving.
"Your hand."
"Huh?"
A pale, delicate hand reached toward him.
After 0.05 seconds of deliberation, Natsume took it.
His pulse spiked.
Her fingers were slender but bore the faint roughness of a Trainer's grip.
Without thinking, he brushed his thumb over her knuckles.
Cynthia's cheeks pinked.
"Is it… rough?"
"Like Garchomp's."
Her grip tightened. Her smile sweetened dangerously.
"Like Garchomp's—strong and beautiful."
A beat of silence.
Then Cynthia yanked him upright.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Her eyes crinkled with amusement.
From this angle, her hair framed her face, snow clinging to the strands.
Their hands stayed linked. He could count her lashes.
"Mm…" Blushing, Cynthia started to pull away—
"What do you want for midnight snacks?" Natsume blurted.
"..." Cynthia pondered deeply.
Natsume's heart hammered.
At Cynthia's waist, a Poké Ball wobbled.
Garchomp sighed.
Fine. Since the twerp called me beautiful…
I'll stay in my ball. This time.
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