As expected, when Lucas woke up, Gallade had already left.
"Did something happen yesterday? I felt like Garchomp was really excited."
Diantha asked Cynthia while eating breakfast.
Cynthia shook her head, indicating nothing was wrong.
Caitlin looked at Cynthia; she had been awakened by the aura from Garchomp yesterday, and then she had quietly sat in bed watching Cynthia and Garchomp outside on the balcony.
Powerful and domineering.
Dammit, the distance to defeating her has grown even further.
Caitlin took a fierce bite of the fried egg in front of her.
After Lucas asked Gengar and the others about what had happened last night, his reluctance was followed by happiness.
Because the strength of Gengar and the others had also improved a bit.
Especially Dash, who had made great progress in combat techniques.
After finishing the work at the Breeding House, Lucas took Ninetales to Twinleaf Town to deliver fresh milk.
Recently, people from Sandgem Town had also come to ask if he could deliver fresh milk there, but Lucas turned them down for now because, after accounting for the milk used by the school and the Breeding House, the rest was just enough for the residents of Twinleaf Town who had already ordered.
However, Lucas told them that the Breeding House would soon bring in more Miltank, and then he would be able to deliver fresh milk to Sandgem Town.
Returning from Twinleaf Town, Lucas lay in the lounge area and had Gengar bring over the ledger to take a look.
This ledger was made by Gengar, who carefully recorded every bit of income and expenditure.
With the help of Lilligant and Gothitelle.
Seeing that the Breeding House's recent income was enough for him to buy more Miltank, Lucas sent another message to Lance explaining his intention.
Not long after, Lance replied saying it was no problem.
Finally, he recommended and sold two pokémon eggs to a couple who came by wanting to buy birthday gifts for their twin children.
After lying in the lounge area for a while and seeing that no more customers were coming, he returned to the backyard.
"Lucas—"
Diantha saw Lucas walk in and asked him in a listless tone.
"What are we having for dinner tonight?"
Lucas glanced at the time: 10:39 AM.
"It's not even noon yet, and you're already thinking about what to eat for dinner?"
"So what? We've been here for a while now and have to go back in two days. Then we won't be able to eat your cooking anymore, and we'll be working all day with no time to rest."
Shauntal also looked very sad at this time and said, "So, Lucas, what's for dinner tonight?"
Lucas: —
"What do you all want to eat?"
"Anything is fine."
"Me too."
"I'll listen to them."
"I'll listen to them too."
Cynthia noticed Lucas looking at her and spoke with a smile.
Lucas: —
"Anything is fine" again.
Lucas sighed and sat down, then glanced at the Lake area, suddenly feeling like he hadn't eaten fish in a long time.
"How about eating fish?"
Lucas asked.
Cynthia and the others looked at each other and nodded.
"It's a pity it's late autumn now, otherwise we could go fishing. Fish you catch yourself are the tastiest."
Lucas said regretfully.
"Can't you catch fish in late autumn?"
Cynthia asked curiously.
Lucas shook his head. "No, it's just that the weather is too cold in late autumn and the wind at the harbor is strong, so it's easy to catch a cold."
"Is it cold?"
Diantha suddenly chimed in.
"It's alright."
Shauntal replied.
Lucas looked at them and noticed they were indeed dressed more lightly than he was.
He almost forgot, they were all Super Sinnohans, Super Unovans, and Super Kalosians.
"In that case, why don't we go fishing this afternoon?"
"Yay!"
Shauntal and Diantha high-fived.
Seeing this, Lucas stood up and went to the warehouse to prepare the fishing rods.
At the same time, he called Rhys to ask if he could borrow his boat, since if he let them fish at the harbor, it would likely be packed to the brim with people.
Rhys said it was no problem.
After lunch, Lucas sent a message to Gothitelle and then entrusted Mr. and Mrs. Fujino to look after the Breeding House before taking Cynthia and the others to the Twinleaf Town harbor.
They went by air.
Directly onto the boat.
Rhys, wearing a boatman's hat, looked at Lucas.
"Lucas, everything is ready."
He was still wearing his quilt, but his skin was a more bronzed color, already comparable to Brock's skin tone.
Since Lucas had informed him about Cynthia and the others beforehand, Rhys wasn't too surprised.
The speedboat started, kicking up wave after wave as it headed into the distance.
Cynthia and the others stood on the deck at the bow, feeling the sea breeze.
Diantha spread her arms in a gesture of embracing the sea.
"This is so nice, I really don't want to go back."
Diantha said regretfully; unfortunately, it was impossible, as her manager was already rushing her.
Moreover, as the Champion of Kalos, it wasn't good to leave her jurisdiction for a long time.
"Exactly."
Shauntal was equally reluctant beside her.
"I don't have to worry as much, since I'm in Sinnoh."
Cynthia's words were like a knife to their hearts.
"You've turned bad, Cynthia."
They said in unison.
Then they reached out together to grab Cynthia's arms and began to Play Rough.
Lucas was in the cabin preparing the fishing rods.
Gengar was humming a little tune while wearing a straw hat, preparing its own Gengar fishing rod.
It was time to show off its skills again.
Gengar was full of confidence; today was definitely going to be a big harvest!
After the speedboat stopped, Lucas and Gengar walked out of the cabin with the fishing rods to find Cynthia and the others already eager to start.
Lucas smiled, handed them the fishing rods one by one, and after showing them the basic method, he watched as each of them cast their hooks before finding a spot for himself to fish.
"Got one!"
"Another one!"
"Gengar gar—"
Me too~
"Here's another!"
It was so noisy; that was the only feeling Lucas had right now.
Looking at his motionless float, he felt a bit of a breakdown.
Shouldn't he be a fishing genius?
How could he be coming up empty?!
—
After a while, Lucas simply pulled in his fishing rod.
He wasn't going to fish anymore; it was just upsetting him.
Then he quietly gazed at the sea.
Seeing Lucas's actions, Cynthia also put away her fishing rod and brought a small stool to sit beside him.
"Didn't catch anything?"
"Yeah."
Lucas said pitifully.
"I have five, and even Caitlin, who has the least patience, has one."
Lucas: —
That stung even more.
Seeing Lucas's distressed look, Cynthia couldn't help but laugh, then rested her chin on her hand and quietly watched the sea.
Occasionally, Magikarp would leap out of the water.
Lucas suddenly remembered that it was here that he had met Lugia last time, which led to the promise he made with it later.
Lucas spoke up: "It was here that I met Lugia last time."
"Hmm?"
Lucas explained what had happened back then.
Cynthia gave a soft laugh. "And you didn't ask it for any benefits?"
"Like... hooking a fish onto your fishing rod?"
Lucas suddenly slapped his thigh. "Oh right, Lugia is so stingy."
"I know it's stingy, but could you please pat your own leg?"
The voice beside him was ice-cold. Lucas snapped out of it and realized that he had actually patted Cynthia's leg.
Seeing Cynthia's narrowed eyes.
Uh-oh—
The next second, Lucas took flight and then landed in the water.
Splash~
Garchomp stood where Lucas had just been sitting, sharpening its claws.
Cynthia looked at Lucas, who had been tossed into the sea by Garchomp, and the corners of her eyes crinkled.
Under the twilight glow, it was hard to tell if it was a blush or the sunset.
The distance suddenly lit up, and everyone looked over.
It was a migration of Tentacool and Tentacruel.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star—
The sunset glow, the deep blue, the fusion of sky and sea in the distance, and the migrating schools of jellyfish nearby; Lucas floated quietly on the water.
So beautiful—
Cynthia also gazed at the beautiful scenery before her, lost in thought.
"Garchomp, it's as beautiful as you."
"kao!"
It's as beautiful as you, too.