Damian didn't know about his Future daughter's little schemes.
But right now, he was actually enjoying this calm, peaceful vibe.
How should he put it?
Even though Akari in his original time-space hadn't been born yet…
Akari's body still carried his blood—real and unmistakable.
That natural closeness made Damian's feelings about Akari complicated.
But the end result was definitely positive.
Then Damian and Akari sat on the grass like this, chatting casually as they watched the distant scenery.
From Akari's mouth, Damian also got some info.
For example, in the future, he really wouldn't have only Akari as a child.
And things like the biggest wedding of the century…
Akari learned all that from videos and what her uncles and aunts told her.
And so they chatted for a long time.
Then Damian took out Rayquaza, planning to take Akari out for a drive.
Just to tour around Hisui and see what it was like here.
"So another 'Time-space lost one' appears too…
That doesn't match the info left behind by the legacy at all."
At the wooden house entrance, Cogita—wearing a black dress—elegantly leaned against the wall.
She watched Rayquaza gradually disappear into the horizon with great interest.
"And that just now…
wasn't that the legendary tyrant of the skies, Rayquaza?
Looks like this Akari's Dad is also some kind of huge shot."
"You're right, Mr. Volo, aren't you?"
Cogita turned her head to Volo.
Her lips curled up slightly.
Actually, in Cogita's view, Volo also wasn't a simple person.
They got along well because they both had a strong interest in myths and legends stories.
But Cogita knew one thing for sure—
Volo had secrets hidden in his heart.
And Cogita could tell.
Volo's intentions toward Akari weren't pure.
It looked like he wanted to use Akari to achieve some goal.
However, in Cogita's opinion…
if Akari really was the "time-space lost one" from the legacy—
then Volo probably wouldn't get anywhere.
Because Akari was the world's "savior"!
The value of the word "savior" already represented everything.
"Mr. Damian is indeed extraordinary."
Volo paused for a moment, then spoke.
"Mm~
But what a shame.
Damian already has a wife."
Cogita lazily stretched.
"If that weren't the case…
then I really might have some ideology toward Mr. Damian.
After all, at my age, I really should be looking for a man."
Cogita drifted on with her murmur.
Once the knowledge from the myths and legends guided by the legacy fully took hold in Akari—
then her burden would be lifted.
And she should think about herself, too.
Because of that little stretched motion, her black dress subtly outlined a curvy, elegant shape.
Her charm was genuinely striking.
But Volo didn't even glance at Cogita.
Cogita was very beautiful.
You could say she was the most charming woman Volo had seen along the way.
Still, Volo wasn't interested in Cogita.
He wasn't interested in romance with men or women either.
He only wanted to chase myths and legends.
And earn Arceus's honor.
That was his dream and obsession as an ancient Sinnoh region descendant.
He returned to this Hisui land for Arceus!!
"If Miss Cogita has feelings for Mr. Damian…
it wouldn't hurt to just say it out loud.
From what I know, it seems Mr. Damian has multiple wives."
Volo showed his thousand-year-never-changing kind smile.
Offering advice to his friend.
"Oh?"
Cogita tilted her head slightly.
"Forget it.
You can't force fate.
Besides, he isn't even from the same time-space.
Cross-time-space feelings…
It does sound kind of romantic, though."
As she spoke, Cogita's interest kicked in again.
"That's right.
I bet this romantic story could be turned into a poem and spread by poets."
Volo smiled back.
Wait—
Volo suddenly thought of something.
Back when he met Damian earlier…
Damian showed him that photo.
Volo's expression suddenly turned strange.
The blonde woman looked way too similar.
And she had the same kind of golden hair.
And Mr. Damian was from later times.
Which meant—
that blonde woman in the photo was also from later times.
No.
Was she—
could she be my offspring?
No…
it was basically almost certain.
That was definitely his offspring.
Volo fell into thought.
His brain was running at full speed.
In that photo, Damian was being intimate with his offspring.
Could it mean his offspring was also one of Damian's wives?
So in some sense…
didn't that make him Damian's ancestor?!
That's why Damian couldn't wait to show the photo to him.
Maybe Damian saw him and instantly thought of that.
Volo's face twisted into a tangled mess for the third time today.
A very hard-to-explain expression.
"Mr. Volo, what is this?"
Cogita noticed Volo's expression.
She was very curious.
Why was this usually gentle and friendly friend suddenly so weird?
Like he was doubting life itself.
"Please don't mind it.
I just thought of something…
Anyway, I might be overthinking it."
Volo let out a sigh.
Now he suddenly understood why Damian's expression back then—
when he heard Akari call him "Dad"—
looked so helpless and shocked.
"What?"
A question mark floated over Cogita's head.
"I wonder what my offspring will look like when she sees Damian's photo with me."
But then—
Volo couldn't help letting out a quiet laugh.
He felt a bit of anticipation.
What would it feel like for his offspring to see that photo?
Time-space—
it was just so weird.
So mysterious and unexplainable.
As Volo was thinking this—
Akari and Damian's meeting across time-space.
And whether he'd even get a chance to meet that offspring who'd only "met" him once through a photo…
was still unknown.
"???"
Seeing Volo suddenly laugh again, Cogita had even more question marks.
Today, Mr. Volo really seemed like something was off.
How strange.
...
Rayquaza flew fast.
And Akari knew a lot about Hisui.
She basically understood where Hisui's "specialty" Pokémon lived.
Kleavor, Hisui Arcanine, Sneasler…
While chatting with Akari, Damian went around and packed everything up—catch after catch.
With Rayquaza's help, they visited many places and took a ton of photos.
Since Terapagos's time-space travel ability had time limits,
Damian naturally made the best use of the time.
On the edge of a river by the azure sea,
Damian caught the Ultra Ball that rebounded.
Inside was Basculegion.
Damian felt a little off.
It was a sense he couldn't quite explain.
But he could feel it—
the time-space was rejecting him.
Like in the "Crimson and Violet" plot—
Professor Sada, summoned into the Crystal Pool by Terapagos.
Even she could feel that "Temporal" was coming soon.
"Akari, come here."
Damian exhaled softly.
He called out to Akari.
Akari blinked her bright, beautiful eyes.
She walked up to Damian and tilted her head up.
Damian raised both hands and gently fixed Akari's smooth blue-black hair.
He also adjusted her white headscarf so it sat right.
Then Damian carefully looked at the girl in front of him.
Her face reflected in his eyes.
The lost-one girl also simply stared at her Dad like that.
In her big eyes, a layer of water mist slowly gathered.
A few seconds later, Damian smiled.
"My daughter is really beautiful."
Damian's smile was gentle and warm.
It was a real, sincere smile.
"Dad, are you leaving?"
"Ah—
the time difference is about up."
Damian didn't deny it.
Because it was true.
"But it's fine.
We'll definitely meet again, right?"
Damian gently rubbed Akari's head.
He wasn't sad.
Because, just like he'd said—
he and Akari Future would absolutely meet again.
Because she was his daughter.
And he was her Dad.
"Mm-hm."
Akari nodded firmly.
Her voice came out thick with a stuffy nose.
And after that, she didn't say much.
She slowly leaned closer to Damian.
She pressed her cheek to her Dad's chest.
With both hands, she held him tightly.
"I'll wait for you, Dad, to come pick me up.
You promised me.
You said you'd do it."
"I will."
Time was always the most fair—and most ruthless—thing.
It treated every living thing equally.
And cruelly.
But Akari never thought of it that way.
Because she knew—
her time was long.
So long!
Unknowingly, the person she was holding began to fade away.
Turning into light points and disappearing.
By the river, Akari stood in place.
She stared at the location where her Dad vanished for a long time.
After half a minute, the girl let out a soft sigh.
"I miss Dad and Mom again."
Akari lifted her right hand.
She looked at a feather in her palm.
It was unusually vivid and bright.
It shimmered with a faint rainbow glow.
This was the Rainbow Wing.
Akari wouldn't mistake it.
Because her home had lots of them.
But those ordinary Rainbow Wing feathers didn't come close to how beautiful this one—this special Rainbow Wing—was.
This was the Rainbow Wing her father had kept as a treasured item in his storage room.
Based on memories from when Akari was little, Damian once held it proudly and told her:
This Rainbow Wing once gave three wish chances.
It helped her defeat a lot of powerful opponents.
And according to Dad—
after the third wish chance was used up,
Ho-Oh didn't take this Rainbow Wing back.
Instead, it deliberately left it for Dad as a keepsake.
To remember the friendship of fighting side by side with him.
It was a treasure worth commemorating.
Back then, Akari had really liked this beautiful feather that held special meaning for her dad.
And now—
her father had specially left it for her as a gift on their first meeting.
"So it's also a surprise reward, huh~"
Akari's refined little face showed a bright, happy smile.
Even though it wasn't her dad from her own time—
it still felt like…
dad was dad!
Dad was always the best person in the world to me!
A first-meeting gift?
But for her, it was already not the first meeting at all.
Still…
she was truly, truly happy.
Akari's smile was extremely adorable and beautiful.
Mom definitely wouldn't have expected it either—
that she'd met their dad before they'd even gotten together.
"Ah!
I forgot to tell Dad—
go chase Mom already.
Try to get me born earlier, okay~"
Akari suddenly patted her forehead.
A bit regretful.
"Right, Dialga?"
The vortex of time turned.
A Dialga, shimmering with diamond-like blue sacred light, appeared.
It helplessly looked down at Akari.
Or maybe—
more like a little troublemaker.
"Eeem—
wait until Dad comes back to find me.
Bring me back to the time he's in and let me join the World Championship.
Dialga, you help me, okay?
If not…
I might not be able to beat Second Mom."
Akari had a slightly troubled expression.
But it still looked super cute.
Even though she was already quite strong right now—
and there was still time to keep getting stronger—
Akari understood one thing clearly.
Second Mom was the strongest person besides Dad.
Dialga: "..."
It really wanted to say something serious—
that time couldn't be touched casually.
But looking at the sheer amount of Origin-breath concentrated on the girl below…
it could practically get itself burned to death from it.
Dialga fell silent.
It stared at this little troublemaker.
What could it even say?
It really was—
just messed up beyond belief!
~~
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