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Lucas: ?!
Gengar: ?!
Lucas and Gengar looked at each other, their faces turning pale with shock.
Were we just... rejected?!
Gengar hid in a corner and started drawing circles.
Lucas also lay on the rocking chair with vacant eyes.
Shauna didn't know why Lucas and Gengar had suddenly lost their vitality; she turned to look at Tomoyo, who shook her head.
"I don't know either."
Gothitelle made a gesture toward her, and Shauna sighed like a little adult.
Then she kissed Lucas and Gengar on the cheek one by one.
"Gengar gargar!"
I knew little Shauna wouldn't reject me.
Lucas also broke into a broad grin.
Steven's expression was quite colorful, while Cynthia gave him a helpless smile.
"The Manager and his Pokémon really have a great relationship."
Steven said with a smile.
"You'll get used to it."
Cynthia said.
Once you're used to it, you'll find that the most mature ones are actually the most childlike.
Gothitelle went to the kitchen and started preparing dinner with Mime Jr., who had returned from the Canteen.
Cynthia looked at the backs of Gothitelle and Mime Jr. and suddenly remembered something.
"By the way, Lucas."
Lucas turned to look at her, and she said, "The matter you asked me to look into last time has a result. It's about Meowstic. A Breeder happens to be looking for someone trustworthy to entrust a pair of Meowstic siblings to. I wonder if you're interested."
"That's great! Can you entrust them to me? I promise the Breeding House will take very good care of them."
Cynthia nodded. "I told her about your situation, and she also felt you were the most suitable candidate. However, if you want to adopt them, you'll need to make a trip yourself."
"No problem. I'll find some free time in the next few days to go there personally."
Lucas replied without hesitation.
Meowstic were great helpers for housework; they were worth a personal trip for Lucas.
"It's in Anistar City in the Kalos region. When you're ready to go, let me know, and I'll go with you."
Lucas nodded. "Alright."
Then Lucas took Shauna into his arms. "Little Shauna, did you see something just now?"
Shauna hummed in affirmation and pulled a sausage from her pocket, snapping it in half. Just as Lucas reached out to take it, he saw Shauna hand it straight to Steven.
"Uncle Steven, please have some sausage."
Steven gave Lucas a provocative look and then took it.
Lucas gave a disdainful "tch."
I didn't expect you, Steven, to be so calculating.
"I think I saw a very cute Pokémon just now."
Shauna took a bite of the sausage and said, "It looked like a key ring."
"A key ring?"
Steven frowned. "Klefki?"
Does Klefki have a Mega Evolution as well?
Lucas fell into deep thought.
But since it had just reacted with Shauna and the mega stone again, it meant the Pokémon Shauna saw was likely the one that suited this mega stone.
"I'll go to the Kalos region tomorrow and ask Professor Sycamore to check Klefki's fluctuations to see if they match this mega stone."
Hearing Steven's words, Lucas also nodded.
Then Steven looked at Shauna with a smile. "Thank you, little Shauna. You've been a big help to us."
"Heehee, really?"
Shauna said giggling.
Steven hummed in agreement and then took a large bite of the sausage, just like Shauna.
His eyes widened instantly.
He chewed the sausage while looking at the half-piece in his hand.
It was delicious.
"Uncle Steven is so handsome, and that Pokémon is also very cool."
Shauna said as she looked at Steven and the Metagross beside him.
Before Steven could speak, Lucas spoke up first. "Am I not handsome too, then?"
Steven: ————
Cynthia: ————
Shauna looked up at Lucas, blinked her eyes, and then lowered her head to continue eating her sausage.
Lucas: ————
Lucas still had a smile on his face, but his heart was already shattered.
Hahahahahahaha!
Gengar's blatant laughter rang out beside him.
It was laughing so hard that tears were coming out.
Lucas glared at Gengar, gritted his teeth, and lunged at it, engaging in a fierce battle for three hundred rounds.
"Can Metagross fly too?"
Having learned from Steven that this Pokémon was called Metagross, Shauna asked.
Steven nodded, and Shauna gave an innocent smile.
"Then can I play with Metagross?"
Steven looked at Metagross, which came in front of Shauna and took Shauna, Tomoyo, and Chingling onto its back, then floated straight up.
Following Shauna's directions, it flew toward the backyard.
Gothitelle came out and told everyone to start eating.
"Sorry for the intrusion."
After saying that, Steven took his seat. Cynthia held Zorua as Gothitelle brought out a bowl of noodles she wanted to eat.
"Thank you, Mama Gothitelle~"
Lucas: ————
Gothitelle: ————
Ignoring Lucas's gaze, Cynthia lowered her head and focused on eating her noodles.
After taking a bite, Steven also lowered his head and focused on eating.
Lucas looked around. "Huh? Where's Latias? Why isn't she here for dinner?"
Latias?
Steven stopped what he was doing and looked at Lucas while chewing.
Lucas has even caught a Latias?
"Gothitelle."
She said she felt her brother's presence and went to pick a fight with him.
Lucas nodded. "Will she be back for dinner then?"
Gothitelle shook her head.
I don't know.
Lucas thought for a moment and asked Gothitelle to set some food aside so Latias wouldn't go hungry when she returned.
Gothitelle nodded.
After everyone finished eating, they sat in the backyard around a large bonfire, watching the moon on this snowy night.
"Hmph!"
A huffy voice rang out in Lucas's mind.
Lucas turned around with a smile and looked at the suddenly appearing Latias. "Did you lose the argument?"
Latias shook her head. "He sensed my presence and ran away ahead of time. I chased him for a long while but couldn't catch up."
"Otherwise, I would have definitely given him a good scolding."
Latias said.
"Alright, don't be upset. Go eat; we saved some for you."
Lucas comforted her. "I'll have Gothitelle heat it up for you."
Hearing this, Gothitelle led Latias back to the kitchen.
"Lucas has even caught a Latias?"
Lucas shook his head and explained Latias's situation to Steven.
Cynthia was also just finding out about Latias now.
"Does this mean that in this Lily of the Valley Conference, there will be a contestant participating with a Legendary Pokémon?"
Cynthia's eyes narrowed slightly.
Lucas looked at Cynthia and then nodded slowly.
"If nothing unexpected happens, that should be the case."
Hearing Lucas's words, Cynthia let out a breath. Lucas sat beside her, a fragrant scent wafting from her.
"Lucas."
Lucas looked at her in confusion.
"I'm looking forward to it."
Lucas laughed.
"A Trainer isn't just about the strength of their Pokémon; what matters more is the Trainer themselves."
Cynthia nodded, then looked at Lucas with a bright smile on her face.
"What about you? When are you coming over?"
Lucas fell into silence.
"Soon."
Soon.
Lucas said in his heart.
Cynthia was about to say something more when a sudden commotion nearby caught the attention of everyone and every Pokémon present.
Lucas and the others turned to look and found white light emanating from Shauna's arms.
Shauna looked at Lucas with a bit of fear.
Lucas gestured for her not to worry.
Then, within the white light, the Chingling in Shauna's arms transformed into the shape of a wind chime.
"Ling~ Ling-ling~"
Chimecho flew up from Shauna's arms and floated in front of her.
Shauna stared blankly at Chimecho.
"Congratulations, Shauna. Chingling has evolved into Chimecho."
"Uncle, Little Bell looks like the Pokémon I just saw."
...