Chapter 076: Just a Little Longer

Logically speaking, Cynthia was supposed to face Lance tomorrow, so today should have been a day of intense preparation.

However, reality had other plans.

Natsume pulled out a console and two controllers, and Cynthia began to feel a bit uneasy.

"What are we playing?"

"Aren't you supposed to head to the hotel?"

"I can go later. It's fine."

Eevee's check-up was already done.

With so many unfamiliar Pokémon in the house, Eevee seemed a bit shy, staying hidden in its cat bed and refusing to come out.

By the windowsill, the unexpectedly assertive Glaceon licked its paw, a graceful smile playing on its lips.

Meanwhile, Professor Rowan's video call came through, mainly to check in on things.

Upon learning that Cynthia was staying at Natsume's place, he didn't seem too worried.

Given Cynthia's strength, anyone who dared to mess with her would probably regret it instantly.

If anything, the one who should be worried is Natsume...

...

In the living room.

"Are you sure this is okay? You have a match tomorrow..."

Cynthia sat on the couch, gripping the controller, her expression unusually serious. "Balancing work and rest is crucial."

Natsume nodded.

"Rather than being nervous before the match, it's better to relax and get into the perfect condition."

Cynthia tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, raising a finger. "That's my battle strategy."

Natsume's expression turned odd.

It had to be said, every Trainer had their optimal condition.

Could it be that Cynthia's optimal condition was staying up late playing games?!

"What game should we play?"

Natsume scrolled through a list of games, asking Cynthia.

"Hmm..."

"Do you really need to think that long?"

"Let me think a bit more..."

Cynthia frowned, twirling a strand of golden hair, clearly struggling with the decision.

Natsume paused, suddenly remembering.

This Sinnoh Champion was also a chronic overthinker when it came to choices!

"Fine, I'll pick."

Cynthia let out a sigh of relief, smiling as if a weight had been lifted.

...

While the Trainer was busy playing games with the Wealthy Patron to earn a living,

Haunter was deep in thought, trying to figure out how to ask the big shots for move advice.

Garchomp, Lucario... these guys didn't really vibe with it.

Looking around, the only one left was the Spiritomb, disguised as a potted plant under the air conditioner.

Legend had it that Spiritomb was formed from 108 souls, with traces of it dating back to ancient times.

Its Ghost and Dark dual typing, combined with the eerie gusts of wind, made Haunter pale with fear.

But thinking about Natsume's contributions to the household,

Haunter gritted its teeth and floated over to Spiritomb, greeting it.

"Haunter? (￣▽￣)／"

In an instant, Spiritomb's still face began to shift.

On its red, fan-like surface, seven or eight pairs of glowing green eyes suddenly appeared, scanning Haunter from top to bottom.

Then, a sinister crack opened, like a gaping mouth, and eerie whispers emanated from within.

"Haunter!!" Haunter fled in tears.

"Sigh..."

Spiritomb, unable to get a word in, closed its fan-like face, looking dejected.

Not wanting to scare anyone,

Spiritomb silently resumed its disguise as a potted plant...

...

As the sun set,

Natsume, sore and exhausted, tossed the controller aside, rubbing his temples. "Let's call it a day..."

Gaming was seriously draining.

Especially with Garchomp constantly watching over him.

Natsume's gaming experience was practically nonexistent.

"Ah... we're done?"

"Time to cook. Or you can keep playing something else."

"What else is fun?"

The faint glow of the setting sun filtered through the window, illuminating even the dust particles in the air.

Cynthia's upturned face seemed to glow with a soft light.

Staring into those deep gray eyes, Natsume felt his heart skip a beat.

Snapping out of it, Natsume coughed lightly.

"I have a game I made myself. Want to try it?"

"Hmm?" Cynthia's interest was piqued.

Natsume brought out his computer, placing it in front of Cynthia, and opened the early version of Plants vs. Zombies.

"It's not finished, but the core gameplay is there."

Natsume explained the mechanics to Cynthia.

Cynthia nodded occasionally, smiling softly. "Seems fun."

"It's pretty hard. I even added a death difficulty and an achievement system."

Natsume scratched his head.

Cynthia didn't respond.

The faint blue light of the screen reflected on her face as she became completely absorbed in the game.

Listening to the familiar and comforting BGM of Plants vs. Zombies, Natsume shook his head helplessly.

...

While cooking, Natsume checked the BP Points in his system.

In Natsume-sensei's eyes, BP = Berries = food expenses.

So most of the BP Points from video rewards were exchanged for rare Berries.

Aside from the occasional 10x gacha to ease his nerves,

Natsume, with his non-gacha luck mentality, mostly aimed for guaranteed exchanges.

"Once the game launches, I should get another wave of BP Points," Natsume muttered.

Considering a balanced diet, dinner was relatively simple: just sandwiches and a vegetable salad.

Natsume stepped out of the kitchen to find Cynthia still clicking away.

Suddenly, Cynthia looked up, her expression serious. "This is fun."

"If it's fun, keep playing."

Natsume replied casually.

"Make sure to record that line later. I'll use it for promotion."

Cynthia nodded. "Okay."

...

The streetlights outside had already turned on.

Under the dim evening light, Natsume lay on the couch, staring at Cynthia with a complicated expression.

I said you could play a bit longer, not until midnight!

"Hey, aren't you leaving yet?"

"Just a little longer."

Natsume looked up at the ceiling.

If you're this hooked on Plants vs. Zombies,

what would happen if I made Civilization VI? Would you pull all-nighters every day?

"You have the Master League tomorrow morning."

"Let me finish this level."

In truth, Cynthia's Pokémon were in excellent condition.

After eating Natsume's Pokéblocks, they had already returned to their Poké Balls, sleeping soundly.

Even though Cynthia wasn't preparing for battle,

perhaps, as she said, this was her way of getting into the right condition.

Natsume's expression turned odd.

Could someone really adjust their condition by playing games?!

"Where are you sleeping tonight?" Natsume suddenly asked.

Cynthia looked up, glancing at the clock on the wall, then frowned at the game screen.

"Does your house... have any spare rooms?"

"Huh?"

"The couch is fine too."

Natsume stiffened, unable to refuse.

Cynthia brushed her golden hair back, making a call, her voice calm.

"Yes, bring my luggage over. Yeah... to this location."

Natsume was slightly stunned.

In less than five minutes, a Pelipper appeared at Natsume's window, carrying a suitcase.

Cynthia patted the Pelipper, retrieved the waterproof suitcase, and nodded at Natsume.

"Sorry for the trouble."

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