The shift in Elias's expression wasn't because the "lump" under the covers had taken advantage of his presence.
On the contrary, it lay quietly, seemingly unaware of his arrival, let alone planning any mischief.
Yet…
Aside from Diancie's familiar gem-like texture, Elias felt only a soft, fluffy sensation beneath his hand.
This lump, which should've been Cogita, lacked the smooth, silky touch of her skin. Instead, it was covered in thick, plush fur—warm and soft to the touch.
As he focused further, he even noticed a faint heat radiating from beneath the fur.
It's definitely not Cogita.
Elias quickly realized Cogita would never spontaneously sprout a layer of thick fur. Suddenly, his eyes widened as realization struck him.
He turned toward the lump concealed under the blanket, already guessing what—or rather, who—it might be.
As if confirming his suspicions, the fluffy shape beneath the covers began to rise slowly.
Before he could fully react, a furry figure suddenly burst from under the covers, pouncing onto him.
For a moment, Elias felt like prey ambushed by a ferocious wild Pokémon, thrown back onto the bed by the force of the attack.
Yet he didn't resist, instead carefully examining the figure looming over him in the moonlight.
Covered in fiery red fur resembling a long, thick robe, the figure gave the impression of wearing a blazing ceremonial gown.
If he hadn't known better, Elias would've assumed it was engulfed in vivid flames.
Although he'd guessed it moments before, the confirmation still left him stunned.
A Delphox... Braixen's evolved form.
His Braixen had actually evolved without him noticing.
Sneaking into his bed tonight to surprise him like this—she'd clearly succeeded in making a memorable impression.
Seeing Elias's astonishment, Delphox's expression turned playfully sly.
At the same time…
"Ahhh!"
Diancie, apparently having been trapped under the blanket for too long, suddenly threw the covers aside and gasped dramatically for air.
Despite this, her sparkling eyes remained fixed on the scene between Elias and Delphox.
"Elias, that fox evolved!" she excitedly announced. "But she's still just as annoying..."
This surprise had been Diancie's idea. Knowing Elias as well as she did, she'd been sure he'd appreciate this little celebration.
Hearing Diancie, Delphox slowly climbed off Elias. She appeared shy, deliberately avoiding eye contact, yet simultaneously adopted a proud posture as if expecting praise.
For the past four years, she'd trained diligently every single day, steadily growing stronger. And now…
Today, she'd finally evolved to her final form, offering Elias this pleasant surprise.
Gradually recovering from the initial shock, Elias broke into a gentle smile.
Having one's Pokémon evolve to its final stage was a milestone worth celebrating for any Trainer.
He reached out, gently grabbing Delphox's paw—she'd hesitantly offered it before shyly pulling back.
Touching it felt like holding a warm, fluffy heating pad, incredibly comfortable.
Delphox's face grew increasingly flushed and awkward. After evolving, she'd become notably taller—almost as tall as Elias himself. She'd expected this change would give her complete control tonight.
Yet now…
Just holding hands briefly was already making her feel unbearably hot.
"Congratulations, Delphox," Elias said softly with a warm smile.
He knew exactly how hard she'd worked over the years and understood how deeply she wished to become stronger. Evolving tonight was a tremendous accomplishment for her.
Hearing Elias's gentle praise, Delphox felt warmth flooding through her heart, calming her nerves.
She glanced toward Diancie, eager to show off her newfound abilities.
Suddenly, she grasped Elias's clothes with both paws, tugging him sideways with surprising strength before he could react.
At the exact same moment, Diancie, clearly intending to cuddle with Elias, leaped toward the spot he'd just vacated.
Plop—
Predictably, Diancie landed face-first on the mattress, nearly bouncing off the bed altogether.
Diancie: ...
She raised her head, looking completely bewildered, while Delphox wore an expression of immense pride.
Noticing something strange, Elias narrowed his eyes thoughtfully, turning toward Delphox.
"Did you… predict Diancie's next move?"
Diancie's jump had come without warning—even Elias hadn't anticipated it. Unless it was a mere coincidence, Delphox must've had a way of seeing Diancie's actions beforehand.
Sure enough, hearing Elias's question, Delphox nodded proudly.
"Fwoo!" she called softly, making gestures to explain.
Watching carefully, Elias quickly understood her meaning.
After evolving, Delphox had gained Psychic-type abilities. If she concentrated hard enough, she could see brief glimpses of the immediate future.
Although she could usually see only a few minutes—or sometimes just seconds—ahead, and it required significant concentration, this ability would be invaluable in battle.
Even the slightest mistake by an opponent could result in Delphox swiftly turning the tables.
Listening carefully, Diancie's small face turned pale as she finally sat upright.
Doesn't this mean that from now on, every time I sneak into Elias's bed, this stupid fox will know beforehand?!
...
[Delphox's evolution was certainly good news.]
[That night, using her larger size advantage, she successfully pushed Diancie aside and hugged you throughout the night.]
[It felt like sleeping inside a cozy, heated sleeping bag—an extremely pleasant sensation.]
[Unfortunately, however, there was also some bad news.]
[Just a day earlier, Team Flare completely lost track of Yveltal again. Lysandre reported its whereabouts had vanished from their surveillance.]
[According to Team Flare's prediction, Yveltal likely flew off in the opposite direction.]
[You remained skeptical of this claim, doubting whether an algorithm could truly predict a legendary Pokémon's movements.]
[Deciding to see for yourself, you planned to visit the location where Yveltal was last seen.]
[But unfortunately, you never got the chance to carry out this plan…]