After hearing how Red's irresponsible father had simply run off with all his Pokémon, leaving only two starter Pokémon behind, Cynthia couldn't help feeling a little helpless toward her future... uncle-in-law.
"So you're saying that with only two starter Pokémon, you managed to build Mossweed Gym into what it is today in just a few months?"
"You've trained your Pokémon to this level, developed Dynamax, discovered Tyranitar's special evolution, and even formed such a strong friendship with a Legendary Pokémon?"
The more she learned about Red's early confusion after inheriting the Gym and compared it to his current achievements—where Mossweed Gym's reputation was already beginning to overshadow many other Kanto Gyms—the more impressed she became.
If I married someone like him, that wouldn't be so bad...
The thought suddenly surfaced in Cynthia's mind without warning.
Her cheeks immediately warmed, and her heart began pounding.
Startled, she hurriedly tried to calm herself.
No, Cynthia.
You're twenty-five.
He's only eighteen.
The age gap is huge.
I just see him as a younger brother.
Yet another voice inside her immediately whispered like a little devil:
That's right.
Just a younger brother who happens to be your fiancé...
Cynthia suddenly clapped her hands together and jumped to her feet.
"Gym Leader Red!"
"It's time for us to head back!"
Red looked at the suddenly flustered Cynthia in confusion.
"Ah... right. Sure."
Naturally, despite considering himself fairly emotionally intelligent, there was simply too much missing information.
He had no idea what was going on in Cynthia's head.
Nor did he realize that the Sinnoh Champion had already begun entertaining dangerous thoughts about him.
Cynthia released Garchomp.
The moment Red saw it, his lower back ached reflexively.
Garchomp's supersonic flight was still rather brutal for a normal human body.
I seriously need to improve my physical condition, Red thought.
Soon, Garchomp shot into the sky.
Before long, the two arrived back in Mossweed City.
After landing, Red glanced toward Mossweed Gym and hesitated.
Then he said:
"Since we're already out, how about we take a walk through the food street nearby?"
Initially, Cynthia wasn't particularly interested.
But the moment she heard food street—
She wavered.
"Besides," Red added casually, "our food street doesn't just have regular food. We also have passion fruit-flavored ice cream that's pretty hard to find in other regions."
"Passion fruit ice cream?!"
The mention of ice cream instantly shattered the cool, powerful Champion image.
Cynthia coughed lightly.
"Then... let's go."
"Ma'am, here's your order."
"Your caramel vanilla mascarpone pistachio ice cream."
Watching Cynthia hold the towering three-scoop creation she'd spent nearly half an hour deciding on, Red gained an entirely new understanding of her indecisiveness.
At that moment, Cynthia held the ice cream in one hand while tucking a strand of golden hair behind her ear with the other.
She gently licked the ice cream with the tip of her pink tongue.
Without realizing it, Red swallowed.
"Is it... really that good?"
Hearing that, Cynthia immediately became protective like a deer guarding its food.
"Don't even think about it."
"I'm not sharing."
Red hurriedly waved his hands.
"No, no. That's not what I meant."
Only after confirming that Red wasn't after her ice cream did Cynthia relax.
Of course, Red hadn't brought her out solely for sightseeing.
He took the opportunity to discuss various questions he had regarding Pokémon training and battling.
As expected of a Champion.
Cynthia consistently pinpointed the core of every issue he raised.
The two chatted about training and combat while walking through Mossweed City's food street, ice cream in hand.
They looked surprisingly natural together.
At one of the food stalls, a child looked up curiously and asked:
"Dad, why does Gym Leader Red always bring different girls here?"
The surrounding vendors immediately turned pale.
"Kid!"
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
"Gym Leader Red always brings the same girl!"
"Understand?"
"What different girls?"
"If you keep talking like that, I'm assigning you ten practice worksheets!"
The boy instantly nodded in terror.
Although the food street wasn't especially close to Mossweed Gym, after half an hour of walking they eventually arrived at the Gym entrance.
Just as Red was preparing to invite Cynthia inside and continue seeking advice, Cynthia checked the time.
With visible regret, she said:
"I'd love to spend more time at the Gym."
"But the League needs me."
"I have to return to Sinnoh."
"I see."
Only then did Red remember.
She had already spent two full days here.
As a Champion, her time was incredibly valuable.
"Then you're welcome to visit again anytime."
Red smiled.
Sitting atop Garchomp, Cynthia looked down at him.
For the first time, the normally elegant and composed Champion displayed a hint of girlish shyness.
Playing with a lock of hair, she asked quietly:
"What do you think of me?"
The question caught Red off guard.
After thinking seriously, he answered honestly:
"Powerful."
"Beautiful."
"Exactly what you'd expect from the Champion of Sinnoh."
The moment she heard that, Cynthia suddenly realized something.
For the first time, genuine panic appeared on her face.
"Your father... didn't tell you anything?"
Looking at Red's utterly confused expression, Cynthia felt as though her face was about to explode from embarrassment.
So after all this time—
He had absolutely no idea why she'd come here in the first place!
Before Red could say anything else, Garchomp immediately launched into the sky.
Seated on Garchomp's shoulder, Cynthia patted her burning cheeks.
"Honestly..."
"He doesn't even know why I came."
At that moment, her phone vibrated.
A message from Red appeared:
Welcome back anytime.
Touching her still-warm face, Cynthia smiled faintly.
"At least he doesn't dislike me."
"I'll come again when I get the chance."
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