Want to read ahead. You know where
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The next morning.
Shua—
The curtains swept open with a crisp sound.
Sunlight spilled into the room in golden streaks.
Sam stood by the window, blinking against the sudden brightness.
Behind him, the lump on the bed stirred slightly.
Cynthia groaned, tugging her hat over her eyes like a makeshift blindfold.
Her hair was messy, and the way she curled up under the quilt made her look like a sleepy, oversized Caterpie.
"It's almost eleven," Sam said, strolling over and sitting on the edge of the bed.
He gave her a light pat through the blanket.
"Time to get up, sleepyhead."
Cynthia's response came muffled.
"Mmm… too tired... Just five more minutes..."
She burrowed deeper into the covers.
Sam smiled. "Still sleeping? You forgot, didn't you? I made a reservation at that ice cream place. You said you wanted to try it."
Cynthia whimpered a little and curled tighter under the blanket as he reached to pull it off.
"Hey—nooo!"
However, her resistance was half-hearted, and Sam's strength prevailed.
As he tugged the quilt away, sunlight washed over her face.
"Ughhh…" Cynthia whined dramatically.
"So mean…"
She flailed an arm around and grabbed the closest thing she could find—a crumpled T-shirt with a faded Squirtle print.
She flopped it over her face like a sleep mask and turned away.
Sam chuckled, unbothered.
"Get up already."
I'm still waiting for a response.
Well then. Time for the trump card.
Sam reached out and gently started tickling her side.
"Come on~ That restaurant's hard to book, y'know. And their popsicles? Limited edition. If we're late—"
"Hahaha! Stop!" Cynthia squealed, squirming under his touch.
It tickles!"
She gasped for breath between giggles, then finally peeked up at him with big, bright eyes.
"Wait... did you say popsicles?"
Sam gave her a sly smile.
"Otherwise?"
Sam had just finished getting dressed.
He threw on a coat and padded toward the bathroom.
Behind him, Cynthia finally dragged herself out of bed.
Her hair was still a mess, but she followed him in with a yawn.
They brushed their teeth together in the mirror—Cynthia swaying slightly as she brushed, her eyes half-closed.
"Baaaby~" she mumbled through foamy toothpaste.
"I'm hungry…"
Sam raised an eyebrow.
"Huh?"
He finished brushing, rinsed out his mouth, and pulled off his coat, revealing his toned physique.
His vitality was almost unnatural—strong, tireless, nearly indestructible.
But Cynthia just narrowed her eyes at him and gave his arm a gentle smack.
"That's not what I meant!"
"I'm hungry."
Sam blinked, then chuckled.
"Alright, alright. Let's go eat."
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Later, at the most famous dessert café in Canalave City.
The place was cozy, filled with the gentle hum of conversation and the smell of sugar and fruit syrup.
A waiter stood politely by their table, notebook in hand.
Cynthia stared at the menu with furrowed brows, indecisive as always.
"Too many choices," she muttered.
Then she looked up at Sam with wide, pleading eyes.
"Baby, help me pick~?"
Sam took the menu from her hands, not even needing to glance at it.
"Sure."
He turned to the waiter.
"We'll have one vanilla smoothie. A serving of taro sago. Cider sistos. Baked bananas with cheese. One hot cocoa. And a cup of hot lemon tea."
The waiter jotted it all down quickly, clearly used to large orders.
"Got it. I'll get these started—feel free to add more later."
Once the waiter left, Cynthia propped her chin on her hands, gazing dreamily at Sam.
"Baby…" she said with a soft smile, "I feel like you got even more handsome since I last saw you."
Sam blinked, caught off guard.
The truth was, he had changed.
There was a subtle, powerful aura around him now—a product of the three legendary energies coursing through his body.
His face, already sharp and well-defined, now carried a kind of divine calm. He didn't just look strong.
He looked… untouchable.
"You just haven't seen me in a while," he replied casually.
Cynthia nodded thoughtfully.
"Yeah... I guess so."
She leaned back, sipping her water.
"It has been a month since we last met."
Cynthia let out a long sigh as she leaned back in her seat.
"There's always so much going on with the League…"
She pouted slightly. "And once I'm done handling all that, I still have to take Garchomp and the others in for special training."
But then her expression brightened as she looked at Sam.
"Still, I'm lucky," she said with a soft smile.
"You helped me take care of that poaching group. That made everything so much easier."
Sam chuckled, resting his chin on one hand.
"Oh? And have you thought about how you're going to reward me?"
Cynthia rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her grin.
"Tch. My whole body's already yours. What more do you want?"
She tilted her head playfully, her golden hair swaying with the motion.
"What kind of reward do you have in mind~?"
Sam didn't answer with words—just gave her a look. The kind of look that said, You already know.
Cynthia clicked her tongue and gave a light laugh.
"Again? You sure you're up for it?"
She slipped off her high heels under the table, then stretched out one foot and gently nudged his calf.
Her toes lightly traced along his leg beneath the tablecloth, teasing.
They were in a private room anyway, so she wasn't shy.
Sam raised an eyebrow at her antics, then swiftly caught her foot under the table.
"Hey~" Cynthia let out a little yelp, laughing.
"That tickles!"
She wriggled in her seat, trying to tug her foot free.
They kept up the game for a bit, lost in their little world.
Then—
Knock knock.
The waiter entered with a polite nod, wheeling in the tray of desserts and drinks.
Cynthia immediately shifted gears, her eyes lighting up at the sight of the sweets.
All her teasing came to a halt as she sat up straight, practically vibrating with excitement.
She wasted no time.
Vanilla smoothie—gone in a flash.
Hot lemon tea—sipped between bites of cheese-baked banana.
The taro sago and cider sistos didn't stand a chance.
Sam just watched with amusement as she powered through the spread like a champion in a dessert contest.
After dinner.
They wandered the streets of Canalave City, arms linked.
The sun had begun to dip low, casting a soft, golden hue over the harbor and the old stone buildings.
Warm sea breeze drifted past, rustling Cynthia's coat and making her hair flutter.
It was a rare moment of peace—no league matters, no battles, no responsibilities.
Just the two of them.
Cynthia leaned against Sam's shoulder as they strolled, her heels dangling from one hand now.
"I love moments like this," she murmured, her voice quiet beneath the sound of waves.
Sam glanced sideways at her.
The sun painted her face in warm tones, and there was something calm, almost fragile, in her expression.
No Champion mask. No strength on display.
Just Cynthia. The girl who liked sweets, teasing, and leaning on him like this.
They stood still for a while by the pier, watching the sun slowly sink beyond the horizon.
The orange light turned to pink, then deep red.
Cynthia didn't say anything else. She didn't need to.
She just stayed close, resting against the one person who made the world feel lighter.