How could Luke's current mood be described?
Perhaps it was like the feeling of being in a cozy cabin on a snowy night, warming up sake, and then opening the door to be greeted by the pristine moonlight. There was a hint of joy, but it was difficult to put into words, so he simply shook his head.
Luke sighed helplessly and warned, "I won't be able to wake up tomorrow morning, so don't blame me if you miss anything!"
Cynthia grinned and reassured, "Don't worry, I'll head to bed after I clear this level!"
Luke lounged on the sofa, observing Cynthia's profile for a moment before getting up and saying, "I'll get the room ready for you."
"I can sleep on the sofa," Cynthia replied.
"Are you trying to teach me how to be a proper host?" Luke retorted playfully, heading into the room to grab a pillow.
Luke had rented a small apartment with three bedrooms and a living room. With the bedrooms already occupied, he could only offer the sofa to Cynthia.
"The bed sheets have been changed, and the duvet cover and pillowcase are freshly washed," Luke informed her, producing a calculator from seemingly nowhere. "Though it's quite basic here, I think the charge would be reasonable, like a family hotel..."
Cynthia nodded in agreement, realizing that being charged was quite understandable.
As she navigated the checkout process in the game, Cynthia brushed her blond hair behind her ear and moved closer to Luke. "What are you calculating?"
"Bills," Luke replied.
"Give me a piece of paper, and I'll do the math for you."
"Huh?" This time it was Teacher Luke's turn to be surprised. He handed over the pen and paper, watching as Cynthia calculated expenses while muttering to herself.
"Pokéblocks: 50,000, accommodation: 3,000, meals: 2,000..."
In no time, the tally on the paper reached an astonishing amount!
Luke's eyebrows twitched.
Am I mistaken, or did I not spend this much money?
Accommodation for 3,000? Am I running a luxury hotel here?
And a bowl of soba noodles costs 1,000? Well, I guess that's true.
This doesn't seem so frugal after all!
Noticing the perplexed expression on Luke's face, Cynthia turned and raised an eyebrow. "Too much?"
Luke remained dumbfounded for a while before responding, "Almost... that's about right."
"The cost of Pokéblocks of this quality... I'm not entirely sure. I'll reimburse you when I return," Cynthia said, a slightly worried expression crossing her face.
Luke nearly burst into tears.
Is she truly wealthy, or is she an angel in disguise?
...
The night grew late.
The bathroom light illuminated the room, accompanied by the sound of running water.
Lucario half-squinted his eyes, keeping his Aura locked onto Luke.
Luke smirked.
Thinking you can hide from me? Rare chance to spy on by Teacher Luke in his own place!
Merely the sound of water splashing was enough to make Luke's imagination run wild!
Of course, this was all in jest. If Lucario sensed his thoughts, he might very well give him a stern lesson.
Yawns overcame Luke as drowsiness set in.
In his half-asleep state, a frightened Eevee hopped into Luke's arms.
Gently rubbing Eevee's head, Luke held onto the little Pokémon and settled into the sofa, gradually drifting into slumber.
Silent night.
As dawn's light began to fill the sky, Luke was roused from his sleep by a ringing phone.
He hesitated to pick up, since it was Boss Red who was calling.
"Teacher Luke, are you planning to attend the Masters League Tournament in Magic City?" Boss Red's voice came through.
Still groggy, Luke responded, "Yeah, I got some extra tickets, so I'm planning to go."
Red's voice carried a smile as he continued, "I introduced you to Mr. Lance, and he's quite intrigued by you."
"If you can, please have a chat with him for me!"
"Chat? Will he even want to chat with me..."
Luke's spine tingled at the thought, immediately driving away any remnants of sleep.
What's going on?
Could it be that...
Dragon Tamer Lance wants me to battle him?!
Before even leaving Novice Village, I'm being thrown into a match against the Elite Four directly?
This is incredibly exciting!
Luke swallowed hard, "So, Boss Red, I'm not really a Trainer..."
"I'm aware!"
Red responded with a cheerful tone, "Breeders can also be incredibly strong. Blue and Mr. Lance have been rivals for a long time."
"I... I mean," Luke stammered, feeling out of his depth.
"Then it's settled!"
Red ended the call, muttering to himself, "I'm curious... I wonder what tactics Teacher Luke will use against Mr. Lance."
Luke hung up the phone, looking dazed.
What if I suddenly don't want to go watch the match anymore?
What if a friendly match with Lance ends up with Haunter embarrassing me on the spot?
Not even ten Haunters would be enough to take down a red Gyarados!
As Luke was lost in thought, the bedroom door swung open.
In loose pink pajamas, Cynthia walked out with bunny slippers on her feet, rubbing her eyes and tousled blond hair.
Then, as if she realized something, a rare blush spread across Cynthia's cheeks.
With a loud "thud," the bedroom door quickly closed again.
Luke:...
Did he catch a glimpse of something surprising just now?
Suddenly, a burst of red light emerged from a Poké Ball.
Lucario was released from the ball and swiftly struck Luke's neck with a precise Karate Chop.
Luke's vision darkened.
When he finally regained consciousness, he found himself lying on the sofa in his living room.
"Gosh, where am I..." Luke groaned.
"Are you awake?"
Cynthia, now dressed in her familiar black trench coat, stood before him. Her soft blond hair cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall, and she sipped her black tea elegantly.
"I brewed some tea for you from the cupboard. Would you like to try it?"
"Oh... not necessary," Luke replied, gazing up at the ceiling.
What was I about to say just now?
Something about a match with Lance?
Luke scratched his head in confusion, "Did I forget something..."
Even short-term memory loss could be achieved with Aura.
Lucario, with a sympathetic expression, handed Luke a cup of black tea and sighed softly.
...
Despite staying up until two in the morning, Cynthia seemed to be in high spirits now, with a charming smile at the corner of her mouth that made hearts flutter.
"Teacher Luke, are you planning to attend the match later?" Cynthia inquired.
As Luke pondered a possible invitation to battle Dragon Tamer Lance, his expression changed slightly. But then, it was a game for Cynthia after all...
Gritting his teeth, Luke made up his mind, "Yes, I'll go!"
What does he know? With so many spectators around, Lance won't be able to single me out, right?
Worst-case scenario, I'll just slip away after watching the match, Luke thought to himself.
And if he wants to enjoy some great food, there's no way he can skip out on this!
"In that case, come with me," Cynthia said, nodding.
"I have an exclusive VIP seat that offers a more immersive experience."
The difference between watching a Master Rank battle in person and through a video feed is immense.
Even though Luke has no intentions of becoming a Trainer, he still wants to enjoy the excitement of the event, akin to watching an NBA game.
Besides, he was getting a VIP seat, where even bloodstains might be visible.
Perhaps witnessing such intense battles will deter his two mischievous companions from their training aspirations!
Luke nodded, saying, "Regardless of the invitation, the main draw is the family and friends seat."
Cynthia raised an eyebrow.
"My dear, it's called the family and friends seat."
"Let's go."
Cynthia smiled, returning her Pokémon to their Poké Balls and securing them in her waist pouch. Her demeanor grew increasingly resolute.