From the left came Nemona's curious gaze, her face glowing with intrigue like someone watching a juicy drama unfold.
On the right were Cynthia's clear gray eyes.
And behind her stood Garchomp, scrutinizing Aiden with sharp eyes, occasionally rubbing its claws together to produce an unsettling screech.
Sitting on the couch, Aiden couldn't help but feel that the atmosphere in the room was growing increasingly strange.
Instinctively, he reached out to pat Eevee, hoping to occupy his restless hands.
However…
After grabbing at thin air, Aiden remembered that Eevee was already cradled in Cynthia's arms.
Her expert handling made him question who the real Trainer was.
Eevee!!!
Even you've betrayed me?!
Aiden felt a pang of heartbreak. Was he truly being isolated?
The closest neutral creature to him now was Pawmi, lying next to Nemona?
As if sensing his gaze, Pawmi suddenly twitched, jumped to its feet, and locked eyes with Aiden before quickly retreating behind Nemona.
"…"
The S.S. Aiden had sunk.
"This little one has grown so much, but it seems to still remember me."
Cynthia chuckled softly as she stroked Eevee resting on her lap.
"Bui~ (//ω//)"
Eevee let out an adorable, shy cry, affectionately nuzzling her palm.
"It's probably because you smell like its kind!"
Aiden clicked his tongue, unwilling to admit that his tone sounded a bit sour.
He had never heard Eevee make such a cute sound before!
It wasn't surprising that Eevee remembered Cynthia—after all, it had hatched before Aiden moved away from Twinleaf Town.
But speaking of which, he and Garchomp knew each other too, right?
So why did Garchomp's gaze feel so…
Murderous?
Aiden instinctively glanced over, locking eyes with Garchomp's fierce glare, instantly confirming his suspicions.
Why?!
I even held you when you were little!
Alright, fine—Aiden could somewhat understand…
In his memories, the newly hatched Gible had been quite friendly toward him.
That is, until one day, he noticed how dusty and wrinkled Gible's skin was, so he took it home for a bath…
Which nearly scared it to death.
Later, he learned from Professor Carolina, Cynthia's grandmother, that not all sharks live in water.
Was this what I was born into?
Staring at Garchomp for a few seconds, Aiden's vision gradually overlaid with several lines of text:
[Garchomp (Female)]
[Type: Dragon + Ground]
[Ability: Rough Skin]
[Moves: Dragon Rush, Earthquake, Swords Dance, Outrage, Stone Edge, Dragon Claw, Poison Jab…]
[Extremely Brave Nature.]
Tsk…
Such a dazzling move list—it was clear that its level was absurdly high.
When would he and Eevee ever reach this level?
Aiden couldn't help but sigh. Cynthia's level of skill was undoubtedly world-class; she was practically a chosen one of the Pokémon universe.
She had displayed the ability to raise multiple Pokémon simultaneously while majoring in Mythology Studies, casually nurturing a team capable of winning championships.
Terrifying indeed.
But was Garchomp really Brave-natured?
If memory served, the Brave nature in games increased Attack but decreased Speed.
"Kaaw!"
Garchomp frowned behind Cynthia, instinctively letting out a low growl tinged with warning.
For some reason, it felt an incredibly disrespectful gaze…
Just seeing you makes me angry!
"Speaking of which, I didn't expect Teacher Aiden and Miss Cynthia to be childhood friends…"
While Aiden and Garchomp engaged in their "deep stare", Nemona, who had been silently observing them for a while, finally couldn't contain her curiosity and chimed in.
Though Aiden's ridiculously improbable commands and Eevee's demonstrated strength hinted at his exceptional abilities, the idea that he was close friends with the Sinnoh Champion hundreds of miles away was something Nemona hadn't anticipated.
One was her teacher, and the other was her idol…
Could life get any better than this?
Nemona's eyes sparkled with admiration.
If she weren't afraid of leaving a bad first impression, she might have already rushed up to ask for an autograph.
"Though we're childhood friends, we haven't seen each other in five years."
Cynthia nodded.
With just a glance, she made Nemona blush and lower her head instantly.
Such overwhelming charisma!
"I never imagined Aiden would become such a mature Gym Leader."
At these words, Aiden, who had been observing Nemona's expression, burst out laughing awkwardly.
"Haha…"
An eighteen-year-old Gym Leader was indeed young and promising, but honestly, there were plenty of those in every region.
It all depended on who you compared him to.
"Compared to someone who debuted as a Champion, like a certain 'Mythology Scholar', my title doesn't hold much weight."
After all, a Champion represented the face of an entire region.
Even if he solidified his position as a Gym Leader, he was still worlds apart from Sinnoh Champion Cynthia.
"I recall Paldea's Victory Road opens annually. Maybe next year you could become Paldea's Champion?"
Cynthia rested her chin on her hands, teasing him with interest.
She knew well that Paldea's League system differed slightly from others, with the Victory Road opening every year.
"Forget it—it's too much trouble."
Aiden waved dismissively. He hated being bogged down by trivial matters.
Being a Gym Leader suited him just fine for now.
"If Nemona participates in the Victory Road, maybe next year our Sunshine Gym will produce a Champion."
"Mm-hmm, I'll work hard!"
Suddenly showered with another dose of Aiden's motivational speeches, Nemona, who had been emotionally sunk by Cynthia's presence, instantly regained her energetic demeanor.
Seeing this, Cynthia couldn't help but smile.
One dares to say it, and the other dares to achieve it.
Still, it seemed Aiden had truly moved past the accident that once troubled him.
Her worries had been unnecessary.
Now, it was time to get to the main topic.
"Whether your goal is to become a Champion or a Gym Leader, you must strive alongside your Pokémon."
After saying this, Cynthia gently placed Eevee back on the couch.
From their earlier interaction, she could tell that Aiden's Eevee was extraordinary, with potential rivaling her own Glaceon.
But…
To truly grow stronger, relying on just one Pokémon was far from enough.
"To become an excellent Trainer, a group of like-minded companions is essential."
"Gaining the trust of strong Pokémon is itself a reflection of a Trainer's skill."
"So, I brought along a special child."
As she spoke, Cynthia pulled an Ultra Ball from her pocket.
"If it accepts you, it should greatly aid your Gym Leader journey, Aiden."
She pressed the trigger, releasing a bright red beam of light.
A blue-black body covered in sleek fur, a black mask-like pattern across its face, and red eyes filled with determination—
A Pokémon resembling a small dog appeared in Aiden's line of sight.
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