Chapter 234: A New Home and Cohabitation
Group Chat—
Yellow: @Teacher Lu, I'm almost at the airport~! [Video]
The video showed Yellow riding on Charizard, holding up her phone to capture the sea of clouds below.
Blue: Weren't you on the 2 PM flight? It's already almost 4!
"Uh… it's a long story." Yellow glanced shyly at the figure in front of her, clad in a red jacket, and scratched her head awkwardly.
Lu Ye: No need to come, I'm already almost home.
Yellow: Eh?! ∑(っ°Д°;)っ
"You can't keep your guest waiting that long," Green sighed.
Yellow: Sorry, sorry! (Ｔ▽Ｔ)
"It's fine as long as you're safe," Lu Ye replied. "We'll have other chances to meet."
Brock nodded. "Saffron City has a direct magnet train to all major cities. It's a good place to plan a gathering."
Gold: I wanna come too!!
Crystal: Don't go causing trouble for Teacher Lu, Gold!
"What? Teacher Lu totally welcomes me!" Gold huffed.
Lu Ye: No, I don't. Stop making things up. [Angrily ruffles your dog head]
Gold: ???
After the routine bullying of Gold—
Erika chuckled. "Teacher Lu, I'll pick you up tomorrow for Celadon University."
Lu Ye: I appreciate it!
Closing the chat, Lu Ye looked ahead at the woman in the black trench coat leading the way. Including the last time he flew to Sinnoh, it had always been Cynthia picking him up. The feeling of having someone waiting for him… it was kind of heartwarming.
The winter air carried a slight chill. Cynthia was dressed in a thick black trench coat, its collar lined with soft fur. Her golden hair cascaded down, partially covering one eye. Sensing Lu Ye's gaze, she turned her finely sculpted face toward him. "Hmm?"
"I was wondering if you're cold."
"I'm fine." Cynthia tucked her hands into her coat pockets and smiled.
"I'll make you some ginger cola later," Lu Ye said.
Cynthia blinked, unclear whether she was confused about the drink or the dish.
"Gengar! (*¯﹃¯)" Floating in the air, Gengar seemed to have already caught the scent of dinner, drooling uncontrollably…
Saffron City was a typical metropolitan hub—skyscrapers, overpasses, and a sprawling subway system. Cynthia's villa seemed quite far from the city center. Just as Lu Ye was wondering how long it would take, Cynthia led him to a sleek black convertible.
"You drive?" She twirled the car keys in her hand.
Lu Ye was momentarily stunned. A luxury sports car casually parked at the airport… Is this what it's like to live in a rich woman's world?!
"I'm an excellent driver!" Lu Ye boasted proudly.
Cynthia smiled, tucking a strand of golden hair behind her ear before opening the driver's side door. "You're new here… I'll drive." Leaning her elbow on the window frame, she tilted her head slightly. "Get in."
Lu Ye hesitated. After deliberating for exactly 0.05 seconds, he decisively said— "I'm coming!"
The sun was setting, dyeing the sky a brilliant gold. The cool evening breeze brushed against them. "Want some music?"
"I'm fine with anything."
Cynthia turned on the car's audio system. As the melody filled the air, she suddenly froze. A faint blush crept up her ears.
"Fireworks?" Lu Ye raised a brow. "Isn't this the song I wrote?"
"…Mhm." Cynthia kept her eyes on the road, silently gripping the steering wheel.
"You've been listening to it all this time?"
"…Mhm."
"On loop?"
Cynthia remained silent. After a deep breath, she put on a dazzling smile. "We're here. Get out."
The sudden braking sent Gengar tumbling headfirst into a bucket of popcorn. "Gengar? (*⊙~⊙)" It stuck out its tongue and swept up all the popcorn stuck to its face. I didn't even say anything this time! You can't blame me for this!
In front of them stood a two-story luxury villa with a sleek black-and-white modern aesthetic. A Dewgong fountain flowed gently in the courtyard. Inside, warm orange lighting flickered on. A plush, handwoven carpet covered the floor of the spacious living room. This villa was far more extravagant than the one Lu Ye had rented. Looking up at the ceiling, he felt tears welling up. What if I suddenly don't want to work hard anymore?
With a flash of red light, Cynthia's Pokémon emerged.
"Chhhiii…" Spiritomb swayed its ghastly form, giving Lu Ye a somewhat bashful greeting.
Lucario and Garchomp crossed their arms, staring at him with clear hostility.
"Gengar!ヾ(ﾟ∀ﾟゞ)" Completely unfazed, Gengar floated forward, holding a jar of Poké Puffs as a peace offering.
Lucario and Garchomp exchanged glances—then, without a word, they both swallowed nervously. Moments later, the three Pokémon sat shoulder to shoulder, happily munching away.
"These Poké Puffs… their quality seems to have improved again?" Cynthia remarked, slightly surprised.
"I incorporated some Pokémon cuisine techniques," Lu Ye coughed lightly. "Basically, they just taste better now. They're edible for humans too."
"I see…" Cynthia nodded thoughtfully. "By the way, did you come to Kanto to compete in the League Conference?"
"…Huh?" Lu Ye blinked. "Why would you think that?"
"Because the Indigo Plateau Conference is in two months," Cynthia said. "If you register now, you'll have just enough time to pass the qualifications."
Leaning against the couch, her chin resting on a pillow, Cynthia pondered. After half a year of training… with Lu Ye's current team, he should be ready to compete.
Lu Ye, however, was dumbfounded. Kanto? I came here to slack off! Teaching students, sightseeing with my Pokémon—wasn't that the real dream?!
Clearing his throat, Lu Ye said, "I don't have any plans to compete."
Hearing this, Cynthia nodded slowly. "That makes sense." The League Conference was mostly for Trainers below Master Rank. It wasn't surprising that Teacher Lu had little interest in it…
"I'll go make dinner." Glancing at Cynthia, who seemed deep in thought, Lu Ye stood up. "What do you want to eat?"
Cynthia tilted her head before finally saying, "Noodles."
"No problem."
After stepping into the kitchen, Lu Ye immediately checked the fridge. It was well-stocked. Hmm… I can definitely make udon. "Want a soft-boiled egg on top?" he called out.
"Yes~~" Cynthia answered while half-watching TV.
With the weather getting colder, udon was the best choice. Slicing potatoes, boiling them… The melting butter in the pan sizzled. Using mashed potatoes as the base, Lu Ye prepared a thick curry soup. This dish, made famous in Shokugeki no Soma's Autumn Election, had a rather grandiose name: White Creamy Curry Udon.
"…That name sounds so unserious." Pouring Moomoo Milk into the pot, Lu Ye muttered to himself. He also needed to prepare ginger cola for the Pokémon. Togepi had been clinging to a giant soda bottle all day, still drinking it ice-cold… "Why do I feel more and more like a dad?" he murmured.
Meanwhile, in the living room, Togepi rode on Togekiss's back, happily soaring through the air. Sylveon yawned lazily, curling up on Cynthia's lap. On the other side, Wartortle adjusted its sunglasses, cautiously eyeing Lucario, who was meditating. From Lucario, it could sense an overwhelming aura. If I rate myself a "1"… then this Lucario is at least a 1000! Wiping away cold sweat, Wartortle clenched its tiny fists. I need to keep training!
"Luca." Lucario also glanced at Wartortle, frowning slightly. Why can't I read this Wartortle's aura?!
"Awooo~~ (｀0´)" Excited to meet so many strong Pokémon, Growlithe barked loudly and dashed across the living room. The sudden noise startled Glaceon awake, a vein popping on its forehead. "Fweeee!!" It unleashed a powerful Hyper Voice! CRACK! The high-frequency sound shattered every window in the house.
"What's going on?!" Lu Ye rushed out of the kitchen and froze at the sight of the utterly wrecked living room.
"The little ones were just playing around," Cynthia smiled.
"…But the broken windows…"
"It's fine." Cynthia waved a hand dismissively. "I have a renovation team on call. They'll fix it quickly."
Lu Ye blinked. …You have a renovation team on standby?! This… this is a kindred spirit!
"Oh, I'll give you the number," Cynthia added. "That way, next time, you can handle it yourself."
Lu Ye was momentarily stunned. Looking up at the ceiling, he sighed. Even in Kanto… I still can't escape the fate of calling a renovation team?!
As night fell, Lu Ye set down a steaming bowl of udon. "Dinner's ready!"
The rich aroma filled the air. Cynthia licked her lips, a soft smile playing on them. "It's delicious."
"How does it feel?" Lu Ye asked.
"My whole body feels warm."
Lu Ye chuckled. "Well, having a hot bowl of noodles in winter is one of life's simple joys."
"You're heading to Celadon University… where are you staying?" Cynthia asked.
"I haven't decided yet—probably in the staff dorms."
"If you don't mind, you can stay here." Cynthia tucked a strand of golden hair behind her ear. "I'll be heading back to Sinnoh in a few days anyway. The house will be empty."
"…Huh?" Lu Ye froze.
"Here's the key." Cynthia casually placed the house key on the table. "The car keys are with the housekeeper, but you can use them too." She looked up at him. "What do you think?"
Lu Ye felt his heart jolt. One bowl of noodles… for a whole villa?! He knew he wasn't the type to mooch off others. "I'll pay rent," Lu Ye cleared his throat. "And forget the car—I prefer taking the train!"
"That works too," Cynthia smiled slightly.
Just as Lu Ye was about to relax, a sudden realization struck him. Wait a second… This is an insanely expensive house. If the Pokémon wreck it, won't I be completely screwed?! A bead of cold sweat dripped down his forehead.
As the night deepened, the villa grew quiet. Since Cynthia wasn't good at housework, Gengar took over all the cleaning duties. Cynthia blushed lightly. "I'll make sure to repay Gengar."
With his new home settled, Lu Ye felt a sense of relief. And since Cynthia would occasionally return… technically… does this count as cohabitation?
After setting up the Pokémon's spaces—Sylveon's exercise wheel, Wartortle's water tank—everything was finally in place. Cynthia, sipping on ginger cola, asked, "Almost done?"
"…Why?" Lu Ye gave her a wary look.
"Let's play cards."
Lu Ye raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you say you'd be leaving soon?"
Cynthia fell silent. Outside, the night was cold and dark, but inside, the heater filled the space with warmth. The Pokémon were relaxed, the atmosphere peaceful. A faint blush crept up her cheeks. Feeling her thoughts were a bit absurd, she coughed lightly and turned away. "…I'm going to take a bath. Wait for me!"
"…Hmm?"
"I mean—" Lu Ye quickly corrected himself. "Wait for me so we can play cards together." His expression was completely serious.
[Inorin Note:
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