The morning sun shone brightly as Luke awakened. He found Cynthia in the midst of brushing her radiant, golden hair.
Her blonde hair cascaded around her waist in soft layers, resembling ripples on a tranquil lake. Cynthia, wearing her familiar black trench coat, combed her hair quietly. A warm smile graced her face as she met Luke's gaze, and her pewter eyes sparkled with joy, resembling the innocence of a deer.
"Did you enjoy your wanderings?" Luke asked with a smile.
"It wasn't too bad," Cynthia replied with a light smile.
Holding Eevee on his shoulders, Haunter eagerly pushed the door open, donned a pair of sunglasses, and grinned triumphantly.
Beneath the building, a top-ranked black sedan assigned by the Magic City Association awaited them in silence. President Song Pengcheng had personally called Luke the previous night to ensure that he would have a memorable day.
The driver, clad in white gloves, maintained a professional and stoic demeanor. Cynthia gazed out of the plush, comfortable back seat at the sights of Magic City.
"Where's our first stop?" she inquired.
"We're heading to the aquarium," Luke replied, glancing at his phone. "There's a Spheal performance scheduled for today."
Perhaps due to the early hour, the aquarium had relatively few visitors. Only a young girl, donned in a flowery crown with Hoppip perched atop her head, offered dew-kissed flowers for sale.
"Big brother, buy a bouquet of flowers for the beautiful lady," the little girl sweetly smiled.
"Wrap them all up for me," Luke said, unfazed by the small expense, despite already being in debt for five million yen.
Receiving the flowers from the pleasantly surprised girl, Luke handed them directly to Cynthia beside him. She blinked in surprise.
"It's for you. I saved one for Eevee as well."
Luke retrieved another bouquet of flowers and playfully teased Eevee, who blushed and eagerly consumed the petals.
A flash of red light enveloped Lucario, which had automatically go out of its Poké Ball.
Taking the flowers from Cynthia, Lucario glanced coldly at Luke before returning to its Poké Ball.
There weren't many tourists in the aquarium. Magikarp and Goldeen swam gracefully by the glass on both sides, creating sparkling water patterns.
Haunter, however, pressed its face against the glass and made faces at the beautifully patterned Seaking. The Seaking, in response, swam away, leaving Haunter somewhat dejected.
Cynthia smiled gently as she watched Haunter, and then she and Luke continued walking side by side through the lengthy tunnel in the blue seabed. The tunnel provided a sense of mystery, making them feel as though they were in a different world, all alone.
A Gyarados appeared ahead, with Mantine swimming above it, momentarily blocking the sun and casting a shadow for a few seconds.
During the performance exhibit, the Seel and Spheal received rounds of applause, and Luke and Cynthia joined in the applause.
Luke even had a momentary illusion that Cynthia was not the Sinnoh Champion, but an ordinary, extraordinarily beautiful girl.
Luke turned to look at her, and for a second, their gazes met, revealing a faint trace of awkwardness in those deep gray eyes.
Surprisingly, Luke found himself blushing slightly and said, "Onto our next destination."
Led by the driver, Luke arrived at a luxurious restaurant. Throughout the journey, Luke's table was the only one occupied, and the chef from Kalos personally explained the preparation process of their dishes.
Once the chef left, Cynthia put down her knife and fork and remarked seriously, "It's not as delicious as when you cook."
"I feel the same way," Luke sighed and nodded in agreement.
This world lacked a Disneyland, but it seemed to have its own unique attractions, such as the "Electrode Paradise," which featured a gigantic, grinning Electrode.
"Roller coaster?" Cynthia's eyes gleamed with excitement.
Luke's expression changed slightly, but Eevee and Haunter beside him appeared eager to give it a try.
Although Garchomp could fly, it was still strapped into a roller coaster seat, and its face turned pale as the ride progressed. Similarly, Lucario, with a stretched-out body, looked quite nervous.
The strong wind blew against their faces, causing Garchomp in the front row to let out a pitiful growl. Lucario, on the other hand, remained silent, but his face turned a shade of blue.
Cynthia's blonde hair fluttered in the wind as they sped along, and laughter and Haunter's barbell-like grin filled the air.
After the roller coaster ride, Luke felt a bit dizzy, and Cynthia's cheeks were flushed.
"Want to go again?" Luke asked.
"Let's try something else," Cynthia suggested.
Their rafting experience turned out to be rather tame. Luke greeted Poliwhirl, who controlled Water Spout, and ended up with a face full of water.
Finally, they reached the Ferris wheel.
From the top, they had a panoramic view of Magic City. Inside the quiet and confined space, Cynthia's breathing was clearly audible.
"I think it's incredible," Cynthia said with a smile, breaking the silence.
Cynthia fell into a brief silence, contemplating her words as she gazed at the ever-rising scenery outside the window. A faint smile played at the corners of her mouth.
"What I mean is... the connections people forge are truly remarkable," she began.
Luke nodded in agreement. "Yes."
"All the encounters between living beings bring forth something special, just as people connect with one another, and even more so when it involves people and Pokémon..."
Cynthia paused briefly, surprised to find that she wholeheartedly agreed with Luke's sentiments. "Yes," she replied with a smile, "in many ways, we are quite alike."
Luke firmly asserted, "I just don't aspire to be a Trainer, as you mentioned, the significance of a person meeting Pokémon."
Cynthia looked at Eevee nestled in Luke's arms and smiled gently. "Sometimes, our destinies are not entirely of our own choosing."
Luke rubbed his temples and chuckled, "I can take good care of them, and that's enough for me."
As the Ferris wheel continued to ascend, they reached its highest point, and the surrounding noises suddenly faded away. For a moment, their gazes locked, and neither uttered a word.
It was at this moment that Haunter let out a loud burp.
"Jie jie~ (¯﹃¯)" it exclaimed contentedly.
Perhaps this date wasn't perfect, but Luke hadn't contemplated it that far. Spending an enjoyable and unforgettable day with the Sinnoh Champion was a miraculous series of events.
Thanks to the meticulous arrangements made by the Magic City Association, the day went smoothly without any unexpected incidents. Their final stop was a suggestion from Cynthia: Diantha's latest movie, "Kirlia's Morning." While the title may have been unremarkable, and the plot wasn't particularly memorable, Diantha did bear a striking resemblance to Audrey Hepburn.
Luke appeared lost in thought but eventually nodded. After all, the character had been designed with Audrey Hepburn as the inspiration.
By the end of their day's itinerary, it was nearly eight o'clock in the evening. Cynthia had a flight to catch, and Luke was determined to see her off.
The night was tranquil, and a gentle breeze rustled through the elevated area. Cynthia's black trench coat fluttered in the wind.
Inside the Magic City Association, Chairman Song Chengpeng spoke into a walkie-talkie, "Is the Bund all set? I'll start the countdown, and the fireworks will be launched!"
"Three, two, one!"
Luke was about to speak when the sky suddenly lit up with a brilliant display of fireworks. The grand spectacle filled the sky with dazzling patterns resembling falling stars, illuminating the night.
Cynthia's eyes sparkled, and even her golden hair was touched by the smoky residue from the fireworks. She softly commented, "It's so beautiful..."
In front of her, Luke's profile featured a slight smile. "Yes, it's incredibly beautiful."
Cynthia brushed her blond hair behind her ear, turned to Luke, and smiled, "If you ever come to Sinnoh, I'll invite you to watch the fireworks."
Inviting someone of the opposite sex to a fireworks show was quite an unusual gesture for a girl. After all, fireworks were the most beautiful when they disappeared into the summer night sky.
Luke nodded with a gentle smile. "I'll definitely take you up on that offer."
Time seemed to slow as Cynthia gazed at the fireworks, her blonde hair swaying in the gentle evening breeze, her expression a mix of tranquility and wonder.
Luke captured this moment in his memory as he escorted Cynthia to the airport. Haunter waved tearfully, bidding farewell to Cynthia.
"Jie jie~ !ﾍ(;´Д｀ﾍ)"
Upon returning home, Luke found himself waking up on the morning of the second day after Cynthia's departure.