Cynthia froze.
The pan still lay on the floor.
Satoru… unconscious. Again.
Slowly—
she turned around.
At the doorway—
her grandmother stood there.
Holding a tray of food.
She had seen everything.
A long silence followed.
"Well…"
Her grandmother stepped but didn't know what to say about the scene she witnessed .
"…...."
Cynthia stiffened.
"Grandma—I didn't mean to!"
She pointed at Satoru.
"He was about to panic!"
Her grandmother raised an eyebrow.
"No… he wasn't."
Cynthia shook her head quickly.
"I just hit him before he could!"
Another pause.
Her grandmother sighed.
"…That's not how that works, dear."
Cynthia looked down, slightly embarrassed.
"…Oh."
Her grandmother placed the tray down beside the bed.
"Next time, try using words first."
A small pause—
then she added dryly:
"…Preferably before blunt objects."
Cynthia winced.
"…Right."
She glanced at Satoru again.
"…He'll be okay… right?"
Her grandmother checked his pulse calmly.
"He'll live."
A beat.
"…Though I imagine he'll be very confused when he wakes up again."
Cynthia rubbed the back of her neck.
"…Yeah… about that…"
Her grandmother gave her a look.
"Let's try not to knock him out a third time."
"…No promises."
One Hour Later—
Satoru still hadn't woken up.
The room was quiet again.
Cynthia sat beside the bed—
this time keeping her hands firmly to herself.
Watching.
Waiting.
"…Okay," she muttered quietly.
"No hitting this time."
Satoru's eyes opened slowly.
No panic.
He remembered almost everything.
The fall. The river. Growlithe. Hattrem.
Everything was clear.
Everything except—
"…Something's missing."
A faint gap.
Something important.
But no matter how hard he tried—
he couldn't grasp it.
He exhaled softly—
then turned his head.
There—
sat a blonde-haired girl.
Holding an egg.
Watching him.
Silently.
Conversation
Cynthia straightened immediately.
"Oh—hello there!"
Satoru blinked once.
"…Hello."
A pause.
Then, calmly—
"Well then… young lady…"
"May I ask who you are—"
"…and why I have the distinct feeling someone hit me in the face?"
Silence.
Cynthia froze.
"…That's… not important."
Satoru stared at her.
"…It feels important."
Cynthia looked away.
"…You fell out of the sky."
"…And?"
"…And I saved you."
A pause.
"…And maybe something else happened, but that's not the point."
Satoru narrowed his eyes slightly—
then relaxed.
"…I see."
"…I thought it was a strange dream."
A small pause.
"…Apparently not."
Cynthia frowned slightly.
"Well, why are you so calm?"
"You literally fell out of the sky!"
Satoru didn't answer that.
Instead—
"…Where am I?"
Cynthia perked up instantly.
"Oh! You're in my house!"
A beat.
"In the Sinnoh region!"
Satoru blinked.
"…That's… far."
Another pause.
"…Growlithe."
Cynthia nodded quickly.
"They're safe!"
"And your egg."
She lifted it slightly.
"I've been keeping it with me."
Satoru looked at the egg for a moment—
quietly.
"…Thank you."
Cynthia blinked.
"…That's it?"
"…What else would you prefer?"
"…I don't know—more emotion?"
"…I'll consider it."
Authorities Arrive
Shortly after—
a doctor was called.
And as expected—
so was Officer Jenny.
The door opened.
"Hey there, young lad."
Jenny stepped inside, calm but observant.
"What's your name?"