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[Pokémon Adventure: Riding the Hype!]
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Demeter stood off to the side, watching Genichi and Alise.
A complicated light flickered in those amber eyes.
And that light, when it fell on Alise, felt sharp enough to stab a thousand holes through her.
Mine. He's mine.
Alise, you little bitch, get away from Genichi.
Demeter's gaze was like a blade as she stared fixedly at Alise.
Alise felt her skin crawl under that look.
It was like being targeted by a fiercely possessive mother cat, one swipe away from getting her face shredded.
She let out a dry laugh and instinctively shuffled to the side.
Then shuffled again.
And again.
Only after putting a safe amount of distance between herself and Genichi did that crushing pressure ease slightly.
Seeing how tactful she was being, Demeter finally showed a satisfied expression.
She withdrew her gaze and walked to Genichi's side.
Those amber eyes instantly turned gentle as water.
"You're covered in blood right now..."
She paused.
"I'll take you to wash up."
The room instantly fell silent.
Genichi froze.
Alise froze.
Even the chirping insects outside the window seemed to stop in that instant.
"Wait -"
Alise was the first to react. Her eyes widened as she stared at Demeter in disbelief.
"Lady Demeter, you're going to wash him yourself?"
Her voice trembled slightly, the clear result of being so shocked she was nearly incoherent.
Demeter turned to look at her.
A perfectly matter-of-fact gleam flashed through those amber eyes.
"Is there a problem with that?"
Alise opened her mouth, wanting to say something, only to realize her mind had gone completely blank.
Was there a problem with that?
Of course there was a problem with that!
You're a goddess!
You're the patron deity of the Demeter Familia!
How can you personally bathe one of your own children?
This... this isn't proper, is it?
But the perfectly natural look on Demeter's face made every one of those objections get stuck in her throat.
Standing there, Genichi's mouth twitched.
Was his goddess... a little too direct?
She could at least have gone about it more subtly.
Putting it that bluntly, how was he supposed to respond?
He could not help grumbling inwardly.
But he quickly shook his head.
"No need. I can do it myself."
He refused cleanly.
Not because he was shy, and not because he was being awkward. He simply thought there was no need.
He was not a child. Did he really need help taking a bath?
"No."
Demeter's attitude was unusually firm.
"I'm washing you."
Genichi frowned.
"I can do it myself."
"I'm washing you."
"I don't need help."
"I'm washing you."
And just like that, the two of them reached a deadlock.
One refused. The other remained stubborn.
Standing off to the side and watching this unfold, Alise covered her forehead in speechless disbelief.
These two had to be kidding.
One absolutely insisted on washing him, and the other absolutely refused to allow it.
Could they really drag out something this minor for so long?
She genuinely could not take it anymore.
"Then how about -"
"I wash you instead?"
The instant the words left her mouth, she regretted them.
Because Demeter's gaze immediately shifted onto her.
Those amber eyes shone with a light that sent a chill racing down her spine.
Sharper than before.
More dangerous than before.
More murderous than before.
Alise could clearly understand what Demeter's eyes were saying.
Do you have a death wish?
Every hair on her body stood on end.
"I-I was joking!"
She hurriedly waved her hands, forcing out a smile uglier than crying.
"I was joking! Really, I was joking!"
Demeter stared at her for several seconds before slowly looking away.
Alise let out a long breath, feeling as if she had just staggered back from death's door.
Terrifying.
This woman was absolutely terrifying.
A possessive mother cat?
That comparison did not even begin to cover it.
She did not dare run her mouth anymore.
Watching the scene, Genichi's lips twitched slightly.
He looked at Demeter, then at Alise. After a brief silence, he finally spoke.
"I'm washing myself."
His voice was calm, but it carried a certainty that left no room for argument.
"That's final."
Demeter looked at him, and a trace of unwillingness flashed through those amber eyes.
But she did not press the issue again.
Because she knew that when he spoke in that tone, he had already made up his mind.
No one could change it.
"...All right."
She sighed, her tone tinged with helplessness.
"Then wash up yourself, and after that, get some proper rest."
Genichi nodded.
He turned and headed for the bathroom.
When he reached the door, he suddenly stopped and looked back at Demeter.
"Thank you."
Just two short words.
But they made Demeter's eyes redden slightly.
She smiled.
It was a gentle, radiant smile, like the warmest sunlight in spring.
"...You're welcome."
Genichi withdrew his gaze, pushed the door open, and walked inside.
The door closed behind him.
Only Demeter and Alise remained in the room.
Alise stood there, looking at Demeter's soft, watery expression, her feelings a tangled mess.
This woman really was... too terrifying.
Just moments ago she had been glaring at her like she wanted to kill her.
And now that Genichi was gone, she had changed all over again.
She switched faces faster than flipping a page.
Alise quietly took a step back, planning to slip away.
"Stop."
Demeter's voice rang out.
Alise's body stiffened.
She turned around and met Demeter's amber eyes.
The gentleness had vanished from them, replaced by a cold, appraising light.
"You said just now that you'd wash Genichi?"
Alise immediately waved both hands.
"I was joking! Really, I was joking!"
"Really?"
Demeter stared at her, that gaze seeming to look straight through her.
Alise felt every inch of her body grow clammy under that stare. She wished the floor would open up so she could crawl inside and hide.
A long moment passed.
Then Demeter finally withdrew her gaze.
"I'll assume you understand now."
She turned and walked toward the door.
When she reached it, she stopped without looking back.
"Genichi is mine. Understood?"
Her voice was calm, but the warning in it was impossible to ignore.
Alise nodded frantically.
"Yes, yes, yes. Understood, totally understood."
Demeter opened the door and left.
The door closed behind her.
Alise let out a long breath and slumped in place.
"That scared me to death..."
She patted her chest, still shaken.
"That woman is seriously terrifying..."
She muttered under her breath, but a complicated glimmer flashed through her eyes.
Stay farther away from him...
But...
She could not leave him anymore.
She let out a sigh, shook her head, and forcibly tossed those messy thoughts out of her mind.
(End of Chapter)
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