Chapter 183: Farewell

The crowd on Lovers' Hill bustled with activity, filled with young men and women in love everywhere.

A few trainers carrying Luvdisc wandered through the crowd, "Selling love locks~ Also offering free name engraving by Steel-type Pokémon."

"Come check out our love plaques. Just tie them together and hang them on the tree, and legend says you'll receive Jirachi's blessing."

Cynthia, familiar with the routine, bought a love plaque, had Garchomp engrave Gardevoir and Axel's names on it, and took Axel to the spot where she and Eva had tied their plaques last time.

Once they arrived, the two of them simultaneously and slightly turned to the side.

Axel scratched Eva's plaque with his fingernail, writing down Pheromosa. Cynthia had Garchomp engrave Caitlin's name on her plaque.

While tying the plaques onto the love tree, the two sneakily glanced at each other's plaques, and both let out a sigh of relief.

'Phew~ now it's even!'

After hanging the love plaques, the two went bungee jumping.

Garchomp still had a pale face, but Axel's Duraludon was having a great time.

The only blemish was that midway through, their bungee jumping was forcibly interrupted by Garchomp.

Before anyone could react, Garchomp caught Axel and Cynthia midair and insisted on taking them away from this heartbreaking place.

Then the two of them went to a hot spring hotel and had the most authentic Aurient cuisine.

In the afternoon, the two soaked in the hot spring where they had nearly developed feelings the first time, quietly watching a movie starring Korrina and Gardevoir.

As the movie was nearing its end, Cynthia tilted her face upward and bit down on Axel's chin.

"Axel, I thought you'd go crazy today… didn't expect you to have a real, genuine relationship with me."

Axel rubbed Cynthia's head hard, messing her beautiful hair into a bird's nest, and half-jokingly said, "You're leaving, so I had to leave you with some sweet memories, right?"

"When I come to Sinnoh to find you, I'll definitely keep you in bed."

"Hmph! I'm not afraid of you!"

After a while, Axel seriously explained, "Actually, what I want to say is… meeting people is such a strange thing."

"Whether it's encounters between people or between people and Pokémon, it creates all kinds of unbelievable events."

"Although we progressed a bit fast due to circumstances… but, I really like you."

Axel's words made Cynthia's heart itch, her pretty face flushed with red.

"You scumbag~"

"I'm not."

"You are!"

"Fine… whatever you say is right. Do you have anything you want to do tonight?"

Hearing that, Cynthia revealed a mischievous smile.

"What if I said I've got a date with Eva tonight, would you believe it?"

Axel: o(ﾟДﾟ)っ!

At that moment, Axel's Rotom phone rang.

Eva sent a message:

'Axel, Cynthia said she's coming to say goodbye to me tonight, can you come and cook something?'

Axel looked up at the sky.

Last time he barely escaped a love triangle situation, and now another one had been set up for him.

And this time, there was nowhere to run.

"Cynthia!"

"Ah?", Cynthia feigned a frightened look and stepped closer to the window.

Axel glanced at the nearly 200-meter height below and quickly warned, "Don't lean over, this is the top floor, it's dangerous."

"How else am I supposed to reward you if I don't get to the window?", Cynthia twirled her golden hair with her right hand, held onto the railing.

Then slightly tilted her head, winked her left eye, and beckoned Axel with her finger.

When Axel returned to the research institute riding Gyarados, Cynthia and Garchomp had already arrived.

Eva was excitedly holding Cynthia's arm, introducing her research results.

Seeing Axel approach, Eva gave him a subtle wink and placed Cynthia and Axel's hands together.

"Let me reintroduce you."

"This is my idol and good sister Cynthia. This is Axel, the man who cooks the best, best food in the world."

Feeling the awkward touch of three hands joined together, Axel couldn't help but feel uncomfortable and tried to pull his arm back.

"We already know each other~"

"Doesn't hurt to be reintroduced."

Seeing Eva matchmaking herself and Cynthia, Axel couldn't help but feel a bit guilty.

"I'll go cook then..."

Things went smoother than expected, and the dreaded love triangle scene Axel feared didn't appear.

After dinner, the three played games together all night, and it wasn't until the eastern sky lightened that Cynthia reluctantly put down the Rotom.

"Whew, that was such a great gaming session tonight!"

Maybe because there were fewer people online at night, or maybe the system intentionally matched them up, Axel and his group repeatedly queued into that same Pikachu player from last time and beat him so badly he dropped his gear, sending friend requests repeatedly.

"You leaving already?", Eva's tone sounded a little disappointed.

"I always played with Axel before, and finally we added you, this big beauty, now I haven't played enough~"

Cynthia was also a little reluctant to leave, "Once I finish things in Sinnoh, I'll definitely come back."

"Alright, let Axel send you off. I've got work today and need to catch up on some sleep."

"Okay, then you rest well."

The two hugged goodbye, and Axel took Cynthia on Gyarados, flying toward east direction...

———

Arriving at the Azure Port, Axel spotted a familiar massive convoy from afar.

Blonde-haired Caitlin stood with her arms crossed, looking up at Gyarados descending from the sky, a faint smile in her eyes.

"Cynthia, Axel, you're here?"

"Caitlin!", Cynthia threw herself into Caitlin's arms, excitedly rubbing her face against Caitlin's pale cheek.

"Didn't you say you were busy these days? How come you had time to see me off?"

"No matter how busy I am, I have to come see you off."

"Thank you, Caitlin. Make sure to come to Sinnoh and play sometime."

Axel didn't interrupt their reminiscing. He casually sat to the side, quietly watching Caitlin's bodyguards hand out money to clear the way from the crowd.

Ten minutes later, Cynthia wanted to hug Axel but felt embarrassed in front of Caitlin.

She tilted her head slightly, making a very bold decision.

Before Axel or Caitlin could react, Cynthia pulled both of them into a group hug.

Caitlin and Axel's faces immediately turned red...

Axel waved hard, "Cynthia, I'll be heading to Blueberry Academy soon. Once I'm done there, I'll come to Sinnoh to find you!"

"Okay, I'll wait for you!"

Once Cynthia's ship had departed, Caitlin finally looked at Axel with a firm gaze, "Cynthia… has your scent on her…"

Axel: "Ah?"

"Cynthia is my best sister. Now… you can't run away…"

Axel: "..."

Gardevoir: "..."

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