The livestream chat instantly exploded into chaos.
"Damn, that is Champion Cynthia herself, right? I am not seeing things, am I?"
"Cynthia is actually watching this stream too?"
"Did she donate because what the streamer said about Champion Lance just now was too funny?"
"One hundred thousand as a donation, that is the biggest single donation I have ever seen on this channel!"
"What does her message mean? 'Very good at comforting people'? Is she teasing the streamer for how he was comforting Gym Leader Winona just now?"
Unfortunately, at this moment, the phone was being held by Volcarona.
Theo was completely focused on Winona and the ongoing Gym battle, paying no attention at all to the livestream, so he had no idea about Cynthia's donation or her message.
If he had seen it, he would have immediately sensed that beneath that seemingly gentle comment was a surge of barely contained irritation.
Volcarona, meanwhile, was holding the phone and saw the dazzling golden donation appear in the chat. It immediately recalled Theo's repeated instructions.
Whenever someone sent a large donation, it had to quickly find the prepared thank you message saved in the notes, adjust it slightly depending on the donor's gender, and send it out.
So Volcarona hurriedly stopped arguing with the chat and carefully tagged Cynthia before sending a message.
"Nice meeting you, thank you big sister for the gift, I really like it, hope you visit often."
What Volcarona did not realize was that this polite, well mannered, and sincere expression of gratitude was like a spark landing on a powder keg that had already been filled with emotion.
It had no idea that behind this seemingly ordinary donation, an invisible storm was quietly gathering.
...
On the other side of the screen, aboard a ferry returning to the Hoenn region.
Cynthia stared at the screen, repeatedly poking at Theo's calm expression with her finger, her cheeks puffed slightly in annoyance.
She had just finished exploring ancient ruins with Professor Juniper, and now that they were on the return voyage, she finally had some free time and opened Theo's livestream.
The moment she entered, she saw Theo speaking gently to Winona, comforting her with soft words, even using examples about Lance and Lorelei to make her laugh.
That considerate and gentle demeanor was completely different from how he usually talked to her, where he often teased and provoked her.
"That annoying Theo… he sure knows how to comfort people.
When he talks to me, he only knows how to tease me and make me mad. Why has he never spoken to me this gently?
Just wait until I get back. I will make you experience what the strength of an ordinary trainer really looks like.
So what if you have special abilities? I will beat you until you are scrambling all over the place."
She looked down at the Pokémon beside her, her tone instantly becoming a little smug.
"Right, Haxorus?
You will go out first when the time comes. Give him a proper lesson."
If Theo were here, his pupils would have shrunk in shock.
Standing beside Cynthia was a Haxorus with an entirely black body and a sharp, imposing aura.
Its massive red tusks extended from its jaw like two deadly axes, gleaming with a chilling light.
It was an extremely rare shiny Haxorus.
This was one of the black colored Pokémon Theo dreamed of having, second only to the black shiny Rayquaza.
"Hmph, it is not like you are the only one with a shiny Pokémon. I have one too."
Cynthia gently stroked Haxorus's head as she muttered softly.
"When the time comes, I will let him see for himself. Your black color is much more handsome than his silver Metagross. Let us see if he gets jealous."
The shiny Haxorus tilted its head, not fully understanding, but it opened its mouth slightly, its tusks shifting as if it were already preparing for battle.
Nearby, Garchomp silently watched the interaction between its trainer and Haxorus, its face filled with undisguised disdain.
It truly could not understand its trainer's sense of aesthetics.
What was so good about that pitch black Pokémon?
Once night fell, you could not even see its body clearly, only two rows of teeth floating in the air. What was there to show off?
Not to mention comparing it to Theo's sleek, silver Metagross.
In its opinion, the normal yellow Haxorus looked far better.
Garchomp lowered its head and gently stroked its own deep blue skin with its claws, nodding to itself.
Its own color was the best.
The second best was the Rayquaza Cynthia had once shown it, that streamlined green body was simply beautiful.
If only it could ride on it one day, how wonderful that would be. It wondered whether its trainer could ever capture such a Pokémon.
Humans really had strange tastes.
…
Back at the Gym, after being comforted by Theo, the lingering stubbornness in Winona's heart had completely disappeared.
When she first saw him, she had subconsciously treated him as a substitute for Wallace, wanting only to defeat him with all her strength in a fair and decisive battle.
But after actually speaking with him, she realized that the young man in front of her was completely different from that somewhat stubborn Wallace.
Although their appearance, hair, clothing, and even some of their Pokémon had similarities, their personalities were worlds apart.
And when she thought about how her Altaria had been able to achieve Mega Evolution thanks to Theo discovering the mural, her feelings toward him grew even stronger.
She subconsciously pressed a hand against her lower back, almost wanting to simply concede and hand over the Feather Badge right then and there.
But when she glanced at the densely packed audience and the flying camera broadcasting the entire battle live, she snapped back to her senses and bit her lip lightly.
This was still an official Gym battle, and she was a League certified Gym Leader. Showing favoritism in front of so many people would be completely inappropriate.
Her violet eyes darted around as she quickly thought things through. Then she deliberately straightened her expression and raised her voice toward the battlefield.
"My Togekiss has already been seriously injured and cannot continue battling your Milotic. I concede this round.
Next, I will send out my first partner Pokémon. Theo, you had better be careful."
Togekiss, who had already fully recovered thanks to Roost, immediately turned its head upon hearing this.
Its round eyes widened in confusion as it stared at Winona, its expression clearly asking:
I am seriously injured? Why do I not feel anything? Where am I hurt?
"Togekiss, come back and rest. You worked hard."
Winona waved at it gently, her tone soothing.
"When this is over, I will give you extra food and two jars of honey."
The Togekiss, which had been hovering in midair and trying to inspect itself for injuries, instantly forgot all about the question of being "seriously injured" the moment it heard the words extra food and two jars of honey.
Who cared where it was injured?
As long as there was something delicious to eat, everything was fine.
(End of Chapter)