The next morning, Cynthia woke up early. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Aoki sitting nearby. The memory of last night's awkward encounter immediately surfaced in her mind, causing her face to flush red. She hesitated to meet his gaze.
In contrast, Aoki remained composed, pretending as if nothing had happened. After all, he felt that the incident had worked in his favor.
For breakfast, Aoki personally prepared a meal and even made a special treat—ice cream.
"I noticed you really like ice cream, so I made another one for you. It's vanilla-flavored today," Aoki said casually, setting the dish in front of her.
Cynthia's eyes lit up as the rich aroma of vanilla filled the air. The previous embarrassment was temporarily forgotten as her focus shifted to the delicious food in front of her.
"It's delicious! Aoki, I really like the food you make!" Cynthia said, enjoying the ice cream with genuine delight.
Aoki sat beside her, watching her quietly. Cynthia soon noticed his gaze and felt her face grow warm.
Why is he looking at me like that? she wondered.
Could it be that Aoki had feelings for her? The thought made her heart race.
She had to admit, Aoki was an excellent trainer—talented, intelligent, and full of potential. She had already developed a fondness for him, and after what happened last night, she felt even more connected to him.
However, if they were to truly be together, Aoki would have to grow even stronger. Cynthia wasn't just any trainer—she was the Champion of Sinnoh. If Aoki wanted to stand beside her, he needed to reach at least an Elite level, or better yet, become a Champion himself.
That's it. I'll help him get stronger, so he can stand as my equal one day.
With that thought, Cynthia became determined.
After finishing breakfast, Aoki packed up, and the two resumed their journey toward Slateport City.
Throughout the trip, Cynthia found herself feeling shy whenever she looked at Aoki. Every time their eyes met, she would recall what had happened that night and blush uncontrollably.
Days later, they finally arrived at Slateport City.
As they stood outside the bustling city, neither of them rushed to enter. Instead, they stood still, gazing at the sight before them.
Their journey was coming to an end.
Aoki and Cynthia both felt a sense of reluctance. Their time together had been brief, yet meaningful.
Aoki turned to her and spoke with an unusual seriousness in his voice.
"Cynthia, you're not just strong—you're beautiful, intelligent, and inspiring. To be honest, I'm really interested in you."
Cynthia's heart skipped a beat.
Is he… confessing to me?
A deep blush spread across her face. She hadn't expected Aoki to be so direct.
To be fair, she did feel something for him as well. He was handsome, confident, and—most importantly—an incredible cook.
She loved the ice cream he made. The taste was sweet, just like the way he treated her.
For a brief moment, she thought about accepting his confession. But in the end, she held herself back.
"Yes, but if you truly want to be with me, you need to be strong enough to gain the recognition of my people," she said with a small smile.
She was referring to the people of Sinnoh, as well as her team. If Aoki wanted to stand beside her, he needed to become an Elite-level trainer at the very least.
Aoki understood what she meant. His expression didn't waver. Instead, his eyes burned with determination.
"Don't worry," he said with confidence. "One day, I'll defeat you. And when that happens, you'll be mine."
Cynthia felt her heart flutter.
There was something incredibly attractive about a man who was both ambitious and confident.
She believed in Aoki's potential. If he worked hard, he could definitely become a Champion like her. Together, they could be a couple that stood at the top of the Pokémon world.
Realizing she was getting lost in her imagination, Cynthia quickly snapped out of her thoughts and lightly tapped Aoki's shoulder.
"It's almost time for me to leave. I just became Champion, so I can't take a long vacation."
Aoki hesitated for a moment before saying, "Since we're parting ways… shouldn't we at least hug?"
He spread his arms slightly, waiting for her response.
Cynthia was taken aback.
A hug…?
Unlike in romance stories, where the protagonists fell in love in just a few days, their relationship was still developing. But even so, she already had feelings for him.
Since Aoki had already seen her in an embarrassing situation before, there was no need to overthink things now.
"…Fine, just a hug," she agreed.
Without hesitating further, Cynthia stepped forward and embraced him.
Aoki held her close, taking in her warmth.
"Not only are you strong, but you're also incredibly beautiful," he murmured. "You better keep that figure, so you'll be worthy of being the Champion's future wife."
Cynthia blushed furiously at his teasing remark. She didn't pull away, though. Instead, she responded in a firm, yet playful tone.
"Then you better work hard. If you want to be with me, you need to become stronger. Only then will you be worthy of being the man beside a Champion."
They held each other for a moment longer before finally letting go.
Aoki didn't want to part ways so soon, but Cynthia's vacation was ending. Today, she had to leave Hoenn and return to Sinnoh.
"Well, let's go into Slateport City. I'll treat you to a nice meal before you leave," Aoki offered.
Cynthia's eyes brightened.
"Alright! I want to eat more of your delicious cooking," she said with a smile.
The two entered the city together. Aoki booked a high-end restaurant and prepared their final meal together.
That evening, Cynthia had to depart.
At the Slateport Harbor, Aoki personally came to see her off. Neither of them wanted to part.
Before she boarded the ship, Aoki pulled her into another hug.
"I didn't expect us to confirm our relationship so soon. But don't worry—I'll get stronger. Soon, I'll challenge you, and when I defeat you, you'll be mine."
Cynthia leaned into his embrace.
For the first time, the strong and composed Sinnoh Champion showed a softer, more delicate side. She wasn't just a Champion—she was a young woman in love.
"You better train hard," she murmured. "When you reach the Ever Grande Conference, I'll be there to cheer you on."
With those final words, Cynthia boarded the luxury cruise ship.
As the ship set sail, Aoki watched her figure grow smaller in the distance.
With a determined look in his eyes, he made a silent vow.
I will get stronger. I will stand beside her as an equal.
And with that, the next chapter of his journey began.
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