Friday, July 17th.
The weather was clear, with a sky adorned by drifting clouds.
The early-morning Catterpie had already been preyed upon by Pidgey, and those who had stayed up late playing games were still lost in slumber.
Yawning, Luke roused Eevee from the bed, prompting a groggy response from the little creature.
"vui~?"
Well... I can't shake off the feeling that buying that cat litter was completely unnecessary.
But sneaking out at night and returning covered in mud to nuzzle me, is it your doing?
Luke sighed and got up, splashing water onto his face to wake up. Droplets trailed down the ends of his hair, and he brushed his chin thoughtfully.
"Another day of being woken up by myself."
Today, he was set to pick up the Sinnoh Champion's flight. It wasn't an everyday occurrence for someone as ordinary as Teacher Luke to play the role of a chauffeur.
Dressed in a loose white T-shirt and with neatly groomed black hair, he exuded a refreshing and uncomplicated aura.
Despite his melancholic mindset and occasionally unorthodox tactics, Teacher Luke's demeanor remained quite sunny.
After all, there was a relatable factor. Readers found it inconvenient to empathize with protagonists who were too perfect over the years.
"Haunter, I'm heading out to pick up our guest!" Luke called out.
"jie jie~?" Haunter roused from its slumber, scratching its head wearily.
I wonder, I definitely finished teaching my classes yesterday!
With breakfast prepared for the two Pokémon, Luke sipped orange juice and sent a message to Cynthia.
"Are you here?"
"Arriving at 10 in the morning."
"I'll be there soon!"
"No rush, I'll wait for you as well."
Taking a taxi, Luke hurried to Magic City Airport, feeling somewhat nervous.
The driver, holding the steering wheel with one hand, glanced at the rearview mirror and quipped, "Picking up your girlfriend?"
Luke nodded earnestly, "Almost."
The driver burst into hearty laughter, "Don't tell me it's from an online dating app!"
Luke was taken aback for a moment.
Are all Orient Alliance drivers this perceptive?
"This is my business card. If you're in a fix, give me a call right away."
The driver flashed an understanding smile, "Just in case you're caught in a tricky situation and need an escape plan!"
Luke calmly accepted the business card, offering a wry smile.
It's not always clear who's chasing whom!
Amid the sultry outdoor heat, passengers with luggage bustled about, and Pokémon sightings were commonplace.
However, the combination of Eevee perched on Luke's head and Haunter hovering behind him was still relatively rare.
"Eevee... Would you like to come down? My neck feels like it's twisted..."
"vui~!" Eevee lifted its head proudly, gripping Luke's neck even more firmly.
With a chuckle, Haunter enveloped the area around Luke's head in a haze.
Though it was summer, Luke involuntarily shivered...
...
In the first-class section, there was only one passenger.
The glass window cast a reflection, as Cynthia reclined against it, her fingers gently pressed to her temple, lost in thought.
"The Orient Alliance... has quite the history here."
Going to Teacher Luke first... He should be acquainted with the city.
Suddenly, her gaze shifted to the wing that sliced through the clouds, and a rare emotion fluttered within her.
Anxiety?
No, not even when she had ascended to the pinnacle of the Sinnoh Alliance had she experienced this sentiment.
"Feeling a bit drowsy..."
Cynthia rubbed her temples, her gaze sharpening as she contemplated the upcoming duel against Dragon Tamer Lance the next day.
She sensed that she had caught a fleeting emotion.
"Anticipation, perhaps..."
Cynthia's lips curved into a faint smile.
"Indeed, it's time to savor the thrill of battle!"
...
Luke realized he had underestimated the world of the affluent.
Celebrities without boundaries would be discreetly photographed by the media, unless they deliberately courted publicity.
Just like the VIP channel he was currently in.
The marble floor shimmered beneath his feet as he stood alone in the vast airport reception hall. Four burly men, dressed uniformly in vigilant attire, observed him like tigers eyeing their prey.
The security guards stood at ease, hands behind their backs, exchanging subtle glances.
'Who's the big shot arriving? '
'No idea, all the information is being kept under wraps. He'll pick up the calls one by one! '
The security guards involuntarily cleared their throats, their eyes agleam with curiosity.
Luke felt a touch embarrassed.
He had even considered making a "Picking Up" placard; clearly, it wasn't necessary!
Then, the security guards, who previously exuded an air of gossip hunger, turned solemn.
From the far end of the long corridor emerged the distinct and composed sound of high heels.
Luke's anxiety spiked.
Da, da—
Glistening blond hair.
A sleek black windbreaker and wide-legged pants, punctuated by delicate black high heels.
She projected an air of springtime on her face, yet her smile carried a hint of detachment.
The Sinnoh Champion.
Cynthia!
Da, da—
The resonating click of high-heeled boots came to a halt.
Cynthia stopped in her tracks, her pewter-colored eyes lifting to gaze at Luke standing in the middle of the hall.
There was a silence that settled between them.
"Teacher Luke?" Cynthia tilted her head slightly.
Even Luke, who had received rigorous training, felt his heart skip a beat.
Luke was about to speak when Haunter, grinning by his side, took a step forward.
"jie jie~!"
Cynthia was slightly taken aback.
She observed as Haunter lifted the bag from Cynthia's hand and handed it over to a hurried Luke. Then, Haunter extended its paws to playfully pinch Cynthia's shoulder.
"jie jie~? (o≖◡≖)"
Cynthia smiled and said, "Thank you, that's indeed much easier."
"jie jie~!! (*ω＼*)"
Haunter blushed, its head almost appearing to steam as it buzzed around the hall like a released balloon.
Eevee clung tightly to Luke's head, as if holding onto something extraordinary and unmatched, its expression displaying a hint of nervousness.
Luke cleared his throat gently. "Professor Rowan also gave me permission."
"Ah, you were the one in the Laboratory last time?" Cynthia blinked.
She suddenly realized why his voice had sounded so familiar last time.
So, Eevee's Trainer and Teacher Luke were the same person after all!
Luke nodded in confirmation.
"Why didn't you mention it last time?"
"It was Sinnoh Champion at the time; regular people would have difficulty processing that information on the spot!" Luke sighed.
Cynthia nodded gently, her deep gray eyes studying Luke from top to bottom.
After a brief moment, Cynthia broke into a faint smile.
"Others probably never guessed... that Teacher Luke is so young."
Despite his youth, Luke's understanding of the game far surpassed that of an ordinary Master Trainer.
Cynthia found herself curious...
According to Professor Rowan's evaluation, this young Master seemed to have delved into historical legends as well?
"I didn't expect... and you played the game so skillfully."
Cynthia was momentarily taken aback by Luke's words.
"Thank you."
A soft smile graced Cynthia's lips. "But do you usually... say things like that often?"
"This is the first and last time."
Luke pondered for a moment before replying, "If you'd like to hear it again, I can say it a few more times."
"It's not necessary right now."
Cynthia smiled and suggested, "Shall we head to your place?"
If the system had a narration function, it would probably exclaim excitedly:
[It's Cynthia's turn to make a move!]
Luke was taken aback, his response a bit stuttered: "This... so soon?"
"I need to examine Eevee first."
Cynthia pondered briefly before taking a step toward Luke.
An exceptionally gentle fragrance wafted from her, an intriguing blend of maturity and vibrancy. The two contrasting scents harmonized perfectly.
They stood only a short distance apart.
Luke was momentarily lost for words.
He gazed downward, finding himself face to face with a tall, elegant nose and rosy lips.
Cynthia extended her hand, gently lifting Eevee from Luke's head and cradling the creature tenderly.
"This is the little one, right?"
Cynthia spoke with a faint smile. "The Anticipation Eevee?"
Interestingly, although Eevee appeared conflicted, once Cynthia's touch met its fur, it seemed to melt into a state of complete relaxation.
Eevee softly wriggled within Cynthia's arms, emitting a gentle Growl, its Struggle subdued.
"vui~! (〃＞目＜)"
Luke felt himself unwind and managed a slightly strained nod.
"Yes, let's head to my place first!"