Lucas lay on the chair in the rest area, suddenly feeling a bit empty.
Before Ninetales evolved, he could still hold Vulpix in his arms. After she evolved into Ninetales, his arms were no longer filled with that fluffy bundle. Moreover, in the dead of winter, Shinx and Pachirisu were all hiding in the forest.
Zorua had gone off to play somewhere with Gengar, and their figures were nowhere to be found.
"Sigh."
Lucas let out a sigh.
Ninetales, who was lying at Lucas's feet with narrowed eyes, heard his sigh. She opened her eyes, sat up straight, and rested her head on his lap.
"Nine."
Stop pretending.
Lucas's face was instantly covered in smiles.
"Heehee."
Then he comfortably stroked Ninetales' head.
Ash and Brock had also returned to the Kanto Region. Brock went back to handle some Gym matters, while Ash went back to train with his veterans to prepare for the upcoming Lily of the Valley Conference.
Dawn didn't choose to go home; instead, she stayed at the Breeding House to learn techniques for Pokémon Contest performances from Lilligant and the others.
When she was free, she would also help handle the affairs of the Breeding House.
As for Cynthia, she seemed to be sleeping soundly at the moment and hadn't even come downstairs for breakfast.
"Manager, we'll be heading back to the League now."
Lucian walked over with Flint and Aaron and spoke.
Lucas nodded. "Come visit often when you're free."
Lucian gave an 'en' of agreement. "I should have some time off during Christmas, so I'll come over to rest then."
Having said that, Lucian suddenly thought of something. He looked at Lucas and asked with a smile, "I wonder if the Manager has any plans for Christmas? Like a gathering?"
"A gathering?"
Lucas gently rubbed Ninetales' chin, making her let out a comfortable purring sound.
Lucian nodded.
"That's actually a good choice."
Lucas said with a smile, "Inviting the friends I know to come over for a meal... it seems like it would be very lively."
Lucian smiled and said, "Remember to save a spot for me then."
Lucas gave an 'en'. "I'll let you know once I've made the arrangements."
"Can I come too?"
Flint asked weakly from the side.
"Of course."
Lucas looked at Flint. "Both you and Aaron are within the scope of the invitation."
"That's great!"
Flint shouted happily.
"Thank you."
Aaron thanked him politely.
"Then we're off."
Lucas didn't get up. "We're so familiar now, I won't see you out?"
Lucian waved his hand. "No need."
After saying that, he led Flint and Aaron out of the Breeding House.
"Strange, why didn't I see the Big Sister? Did she leave early?"
Lucas heard Flint's low, puzzled voice. "Her? She probably hasn't woken up yet."
Flint's shoulders tensed, and she stopped talking.
After the three left, a familiar sound of footsteps rang out on the stairs.
"Good morning, everyone."
Cynthia's blonde hair was draped casually over her back. Wearing cotton slippers, she walked down the stairs and greeted everyone in the Breeding House.
"Good morning, Miss Cynthia."
Mr. Fujino put down his newspaper and gave a greeting.
"Lilli~"
"Ni~"
Cynthia walked straight to Lucas and sat down. Lucas looked at Cynthia sitting beside him and said, "It's almost noon, Eldest Miss Cynthia."
Cynthia covered her mouth in surprise. "Oh, have I slept for that long?"
Lucas rolled his eyes. "Too fake."
Cynthia lowered her hand, her beautiful eyes filled with a smile. "Where are they?"
"Ash and Brock went back to the Kanto Region, Lucian just took Flint and Aaron back to the League, Dawn is practicing in the backyard, Gengar and the others have gone off to play somewhere, and Shauna is in class at school," Lucas said.
Lucas continued.
Cynthia nodded.
"Lilli?"
Cynthia thought for a moment. "A little bit. It's almost time for lunch."
Lilligant hopped off the bar stool, ran to the kitchen, and came out with the leftover breakfast from the morning, placing it on the table next to Cynthia.
"Thank you, Lilligant."
Cynthia expressed her thanks.
Cynthia picked up a piece of bread and took a bite.
"The food at the Breeding House is still the best."
Cynthia narrowed her eyes, chewing slowly and looking satisfied.
Alcremie's figure emerged from the kitchen, holding a cup of honey milk tea. It walked up to Cynthia and placed the honey milk tea on the table.
"Yimai."
Drink the milk tea.
"Thank you, Alcremie~"
Cynthia poked Alcremie's cheek with her finger and said with a smile.
Alcremie nodded shyly. Seeing that there weren't many delivery orders, it simply climbed onto a nearby chair and sat down, listening to Lucas and Cynthia chat.
"I'm planning to hold a gathering for Christmas."
"A gathering?"
Lucas explained his preliminary ideas to Cynthia.
"Christmas in winter is a suitable holiday for a gathering. I'm planning to invite some acquaintances of the Breeding House over for a meal, a Christmas party."
"A Christmas gathering?"
Cynthia narrowed her eyes and swallowed the bread in her mouth. "I'm looking forward to it."
"Right?"
Lucas laughed. "Everyone gathering together to eat and chat, surrounded by Pokémon... how wonderful."
"Then Uncle Lucas, can I come?"
Cynthia looked at Lucas with a teasing expression.
That mischievous streak again.
Lucas sighed. "You're the first one I'm inviting. Next, I'll ask Lance, Wallace, Shauntal, and Dian-"
-"tha, Caitlin, and the others."
Lucas carefully recalled the people he knew. "Lucian, Flint, and Aaron will also be invited."
Lucas suddenly thought of someone and said, "I can also have Wallace ask Steven then; I wonder if he'll come."
"You also know Steven?"
Cynthia was already eating her third piece of bread.
"Didn't you say you'd only eat a little?"
Cynthia's ears warmed, and her eyes shifted. Lucas instantly sensed killing intent. He looked up and saw Garchomp polishing its scythes.
Lucas coughed. "I don't know him, but I've heard Wallace mention him recently. I heard he's very handsome, so I thought I'd see if I could get to know him. After all, I quite like handsome guys too."
Hearing this, Cynthia turned to look at Lucas, her brows furrowed.
"Hey, hey, hey."
Looking at her expression, Lucas knew she was overthinking. "What on earth are you thinking?"
Lucas's head was full of black lines. "I like both handsome guys and beautiful women."
"Oh~"
Cynthia drew out the syllable.
The more he tried to explain, the darker it got—
Lucas simply gave up struggling.
"When are you leaving?"
Cynthia ate the third piece of bread. "Tomorrow."
"The Lily of the Valley Conference is about to start. I need to go back early to finish the preparations and find Trainers for the exhibition matches—"
Cynthia took a sip of honey milk tea. "So many things, such a hassle—"
Just as Lucas was thinking about how to comfort her, he noticed Cynthia staring at him, her eyes shining with a not-so-friendly light.
"Lucas."
Cynthia suddenly spoke.
"Wh—what is it?"
Lucas swallowed.
"How about you come and fight an exhibition match?"
"?!"
"Who did you say?"
"Me?"
Cynthia nodded.
"Against who?"
Cynthia pointed at herself.
"I'm going to make lunch. What do you want to eat?"
"Hmm—"
"Noodles."
"Okay."
Looking at Lucas's retreating back, she seemed to have forgotten something.
"Fang—"
"Two poached eggs?"
"Okay."
That was close.
Lucas, having ducked into the kitchen, breathed a sigh of relief.
He almost had to fight a Champion, and the Sinnoh Champion at that.
"Yimai?"
Alcremie tilted its head at Lucas.
"It would have been certain death."
Lucas said.
"Yimai?"
What?
—