Cynthia's pretty face flushed slightly as she pinned the brooch to Steven's left lapel.
"Thank you, Cynthia." Steven looked down at the Key Stone on the brooch and grinned.
"Is the Sinnoh Region cold lately?"
"Huh? Why do you ask?" Cynthia was startled and asked back.
"Because I see you're wearing gloves." Steven pointed to Cynthia's hands.
"Ah... right, Sinnoh is colder than Hoenn." Cynthia hid her black-gloved hands behind her back, looking a bit shy and uneasy.
"Nyu?"
The Honedge in his arms looked a little bewildered.
Does my blade feel a bit full?
Is it an illusion?
Steven nodded lightly.
It seems I'll need to wear more clothes next time I go to the Sinnoh Region.
"Speaking of which, Steven, are you confident about the Elite Four battle?" Cynthia quickly changed the subject.
"I'd say about seventy percent confident."
"Why don't you train a bit longer before challenging?" Cynthia didn't understand.
After all, the Ever Grande Conference was only a little over a month earlier than the Lily of the Valley Conference.
"This was a joint decision by my Pokémon." Steven chuckled.
"Besides, there are things I want to do after becoming Champion."
Thump!
Garchomp inside the Poké Ball: Good strike! Let me have a turn too!
"Ah—"
Steven clutched his head, looking at Cynthia, who had withdrawn her hand and pouted in dissatisfaction.
Quite cute.
"You reminded me—why didn't you ask me to go with you for that thing before!"
"Wallace was with me then, so I thought I wouldn't trouble Cynthia." Steven rubbed his head and explained.
Wallace?
Cynthia lowered her head, preventing Steven from seeing her suddenly stern expression.
He didn't ask me to go, but asked Wallace?!
"Cynthia? What's wrong?" Steven looked a bit bewildered.
"Nothing, it's good that you're fine!" Cynthia suddenly raised her head, the smile on her face undiminished.
Steven always felt a chill down his spine.
Perhaps Hoenn will also get colder soon.
"Mm, I'll take you around later."
"Okay~"
After retrieving the Poké Ball stored with Nurse Joy, Steven returned to his room.
He handed the differently colored Honedge to Empoleon and only brought Metagross's Poké Ball with him.
"Speaking of which, Steven..."
As the two walked down the street, Cynthia seemed to hesitate to speak.
She had been holding this question in all the way.
"What's wrong?"
"Why are you dressed like this?"
Steven wore a black hat, covering most of his hair.
He also wore a black mask, and his casual suit had been replaced with a black overcoat.
The Key Stone brooch was pinned to the white shirt underneath.
"Because I'm afraid someone will disturb us. This way people won't recognize me." Steven smiled helplessly.
Thank you, Wallace!
"Oh, right, you're the Conference Champion now." Cynthia's tone was a bit sour.
She also wanted to become a Conference Champion quickly, and then reach the Sinnoh Champion position.
"Steven!"
A familiar voice sounded behind Steven, who was startled and quickly turned to look around.
No! Can they recognize me even like this?!
Fortunately, there were few people here, and no one noticed them.
As Steven breathed a sigh of relief, he looked at the person who had greeted him from behind.
Familiar sunglasses, familiar mask.
Isn't this Wallace, who hasn't revealed an inch of skin!
"Can you speak any louder?" Steven took a step forward, closing the distance with Wallace, and looked up, saying.
"I thought you weren't afraid." Wallace chuckled.
Cynthia looked at the two, who were so close, feeling a bit uneasy.
Wallace turned to look at the blonde beauty beside him and asked curiously:
"And this is?"
"She's Cynthia from the Sinnoh Region." Steven introduced the two to each other.
"Cynthia, this is Wallace, the Gym Leader of Sootopolis City in the Hoenn Region."
"Hello there, Cynthia." Wallace smiled and waved at Cynthia.
However, Cynthia, standing behind Steven, stared at Wallace with an icy expression.
Wallace's expression froze, looking somewhat puzzled.
"What's wrong, Cynthia?" Steven didn't hear Cynthia's voice and turned his head to ask curiously.
Seeing Steven turn back, Cynthia suddenly put on a smiling face and said to Wallace:
"Hello, Gym Leader Wallace. My name is Cynthia."
The name "Cynthia" was deliberately emphasized.
"O-Okay, Cynthia, you don't have to call me Gym Leader." Wallace chuckled awkwardly.
It was a good thing Wallace's expression couldn't be seen. Otherwise, one would see how strange his expression was right now.
"Cynthia specially came from the Sinnoh Region, so I thought I'd show her around here." Steven explained.
"I see. Then I won't disturb you two. I also need to buy some things for Winona, so I'll take my leave first." Wallace was also very perceptive.
He mostly understood.
The relationship between the two in front of him was not simple.
This sudden hostility reminded Wallace of Winona.
It was probably the previous rumors at play.
He must have been regarded as a "love rival" by the girl in front of him.
It's well known that when love rivals meet, their eyes turn red with envy.
So Wallace also found an excuse to slip away first.
Moreover, revealing Winona's existence would help alleviate the girl's hostility toward him.
Alas!
Being too good-looking is also a troublesome thing!
Watching Wallace leave, Steven said to Cynthia:
"Let's go too. There's a really good donut shop up ahead!"
"Okay!" Cynthia looked into Steven's eyes, smiled sweetly, and agreed.
Steven and Cynthia sat on a bench, eating donuts.
"Steven, who is Winona that Wallace mentioned?" Cynthia asked curiously, taking small bites of her donut.
"Winona is the Gym Leader of Fortree City, and also Wallace's girlfriend." Steven explained.
"Then how did you and Wallace meet? Can you tell me?"
"Of course. Wallace and I met in Verdanturf Town. I wanted to experience a Contest..."
Steven told Cynthia the whole story from beginning to end.
Especially the part where he helped Wallace win back his girlfriend, Winona.
"So that's how it is..." Cynthia nodded, understanding.
Crisis averted...
"After going through so much, you two were able to become good friends..."
Cynthia thought carefully. She and Steven didn't seem to have experienced much together.
Only the short time they lived together in Celestic Town and some childhood memories.
Cynthia absently bit into the air and began to chew.
Thinking to herself.
How did Steven really view that promise?
Her goal arose from that promise, but she wasn't just aiming to fulfill the superficial promise.
This was also a certificate of qualification.
A very important certificate of qualification!
Perhaps it was destiny. Steven's childhood image was already imprinted in her heart like a brand.
Why did those small things remain so deeply ingrained in her mind?!
"Huh?"
Cynthia suddenly felt her head sink and came back to her senses.
She looked up, seeing Steven, who had stood up at some point and was now in front of her.
Steven stroked Cynthia's head with one hand and took the paper wrapper from between Cynthia's hands with the other.
He smiled dotingly at Cynthia.
"You've already finished eating. Why are you still moving your mouth?"