After dinner, Cynthia wanted to clear the dishes, but Steven gently guided her away from the dining table.
"Go check on the Pokémon. I'll take care of this."
"Eh? Are you sure that's okay?"
Steven smiled warmly. "It's only right for me to treat you well, so don't worry about it."
Click—
The front door suddenly opened, and both Steven and Cynthia froze, their gazes simultaneously turning toward the wide-open doorway.
"I leave home for just a little while, and someone's already trying to steal my Cynthia."
Grandma Carolina stood there with a mischievous smile on her face, leaning against the doorframe while a key twirled constantly in her hand.
Cynthia could swear that this was the day she had blushed more than any other day in her sixteen years of life.
Seeing her grandmother suddenly return home, Cynthia fled upstairs in embarrassment, like a child caught sneaking around on a secret date.
"Grandma Carolina, why did you come back so suddenly?" Steven, however, remained calm and asked with a faint smile.
Bang!
Grandma Carolina forcefully shut the door, her expression darkening as she revealed an unsettling smile.
"If I hadn't come back, my dear Cynthia might have actually been stolen away tonight."
Grandma Carolina's gaze sent a chill down Steven's spine, and a bead of cold sweat silently trickled down his forehead.
What kind of statement is that?!
What is she implying?!
Am I really that kind of person?!
My character is quite upstanding!
If you don't believe me, go ask Wallace!
Steven was internally outraged!
Steven composed himself.
Steven smiled diplomatically.
"Grandma Carolina, have you eaten? Would you like me to prepare something for you?"
"You're calling me 'Grandma Carolina' now, but soon you might just be calling me 'Grandma.'"
Oh goodness, is Grandma Carolina really this direct?
"Speak up! When did you arrive?!" Grandma Carolina's gaze sharpened as she instantly leaned in to interrogate him.
Feeling Grandma Carolina's overwhelming presence, Steven raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.
He told Grandma Carolina the entire story from beginning to end.
"So you ran all the way to Sinnoh just to train with my dear Cynthia, is that it?" Grandma Carolina also withdrew her intimidating aura, speaking more calmly now.
Steven breathed a sigh of relief. It was fortunate that he had only arrived in Sinnoh today.
"I was worried that Cynthia was constantly eating nutritionally deficient instant meals, so I rushed back specifically for that reason."
Grandma Carolina walked toward a chair at the dining table. Seeing this, Steven immediately pulled out the chair for her to sit.
Grandma Carolina nodded in satisfaction and continued, "I didn't expect you to be here. I feel reassured about your cooking skills, at least."
"It's my honor to receive Grandma Carolina's approval!"
"I'm not falling for your flattery!"
As soon as Grandma Carolina said this, Steven quickly shut his mouth.
He almost wished he could sew it shut with needle and thread.
"I want curry! Make it spicy!"
"Understood!"
Steven was relieved. It turned out Grandma Carolina was just teasing him after all.
Steven quickly hurried into the kitchen and got to work.
Meanwhile, in the cozy bedroom on the second floor, Cynthia lay face-down on her bed, her delicate face buried in the soft pillow, blushing furiously.
Steam practically seemed to be rising from her head.
Should I... go downstairs and see what's happening?
Cynthia lifted her head from the pillow, hesitating.
Picking up the Pokémon Egg that she had placed on the bed, Cynthia tiptoed downstairs.
"Cynthia."
Grandma Carolina, who was eating her curry rice, suddenly called out to Cynthia and stopped her. She turned around, looking somewhat confused.
"Wh-what is it, Grandma?"
"Come sit down."
Cynthia obediently sat beside Grandma Carolina.
Steven, who had just finished cleaning the kitchen utensils, walked out while wiping his hands. He glanced at the grandmother and granddaughter conversing at the dining table.
Without making a sound to disturb them, he quietly headed upstairs to prepare for his shower.
"Grandma doesn't want to interfere too much, but you need to understand—your standards and expectations should be higher," Grandma Carolina advised earnestly.
My dear Cynthia can't be won over so easily!
"I know, Grandma," Cynthia whispered, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, wishing she could bury her head in her chest.
Grandma Carolina helplessly rubbed her forehead and sighed.
You know nothing at all!
She waved her hand dismissively, telling Cynthia to go on her way.
Cynthia first went to the kitchen but didn't see Steven, then hurried to the backyard.
Still no sign of Steven.
However, Steven's Pokémon were still in the backyard, so they hadn't been sent back to the Hoenn Region by her grandmother.
Cynthia breathed a sigh of relief.
Then, just like Steven had done before dinner, she began building rapport with Steven's Pokémon.
"Piplup! (*/ω*)"
Piplup pointed to its head, then covered its eyes with its flippers.
Cynthia understood immediately. Making sure the Pokémon Egg she held in one hand wouldn't fall, she placed her other hand on Piplup's head and gently stroked it.
"So soft!"
"Piplup~"
Piplup lowered its flippers, letting out a comfortable sound.
Ah, this feels wonderful!
Being petted by a pretty young woman feels infinitely better than being attacked by that shark!
Wait—I sense killing intent.
Piplup glanced sideways and saw Garchomp glaring furiously, as if she wanted to devour it whole.
Frightened, Piplup quickly grabbed Cynthia's hand and moved it away from its head.
"Eh? Is that enough already?"
"Piplup!"
Yes, yes! That's plenty!
Any more and my life will be in serious danger!
What if that Garchomp secretly eliminates me while Big Brother Metagross is asleep?!
Cynthia spent some time with Steven's Pokémon, carefully noting down their individual preferences.
Skarmory likes having its head gently rubbed.
Piplup enjoys playing with others and has developed a very close bond with Aggron.
Aggron loves eating ore—the higher the quality, the better.
Scizor is somewhat aloof but remains polite, and he thoroughly enjoys training.
Riolu shares Scizor's passion for training and also prefers staying close to Scizor's side.
Metagross...
Although Cynthia found it hard to believe, the evidence was right before her eyes.
Metagross enjoys reading books!
Cynthia leaned in closer and discovered it was a book about Hoenn's myths and legends.
"Eh? You like myths and legends too?" Cynthia asked in surprise.
"Metagross?"
Metagross looked up momentarily.
Then it began writing on the ground with one of its legs.
Just curious.
Cynthia blinked as she read the words Metagross had written, then nodded in understanding.
"I also love myths and legends. Perhaps we could discuss them together sometime."
"Metagross!"
Metagross nodded, accepting Cynthia's suggestion enthusiastically.
The main reason was that after hearing the elderly storyteller from Mt. Pyre recount legendary tales, Metagross had become interested in reading about the Hoenn Region's myths.
However, there were very few documented legends available.
Garchomp watched as Metagross chatted so easily with her Cynthia, becoming so furious that her teeth were practically grinding to dust.
"Garchomp's temper can be a bit short. I'm truly sorry about that."
"Metagross."
Metagross shifted one of its legs, erasing the previous words, and wrote a new phrase.
It's fine.
Metagross maintained its usual expression: Anyway, that annoying shark can't defeat me right now.
Cynthia sensed Garchomp's intense stare and quickly hurried over to her partner, saying gently:
"Garchomp, you can't be so rude. You two need to learn to get along."
"Grrr..."
Get along well with that iron crab?
Metagross maintained its neutral expression.
Garchomp's frustration intensified.
That expression of his—
I just can't stand it!!!