Read up to 30 advanced chapters exclusively on my Patreon at - patreon.com/LoverrBoy
---------------------------------
"I'm back~"
Knock knock~
"Excuse us~"
In a high-rise apartment in Goldenrod City, Max brought Liam and Delia into the building, then pulled out a key and opened the door.
"Ah, you're back? Welcome home~ Eh? And these two are…?"
As they stepped inside, a lively young woman came happily out of the kitchen. But upon seeing Liam and Delia, she blinked in surprise.
"Lina, these are my friends. I ran into them while shopping earlier. Like me, they're both from Pallet Town."
Max set the shopping bags down on the living room table, then quickly walked over to the girl's side. Holding her arm, he frowned slightly as he continued.
"Didn't I tell you to just rest at home? Cooking should be my job. You don't need to lift a finger—go sit down."
Without waiting for her reply, Max gently pushed the young woman onto the sofa.
"I was just bored. Besides, it's still early—I'm not bedridden, you know. Cooking a little isn't a big deal~ I'm just surprised… Max, you actually have friends?! Hehehe~"
Max: "..."
Sensing Max's concern, the girl smiled sweetly. Stroking her clearly swollen belly, she stuck out her tongue at him playfully.
Meanwhile, Liam and Delia, still standing at the doorway, gawked in shock. Their eyes were glued to Lina's round stomach, their faces full of disbelief.
"Ah! We still have guests! … Hehe, hello, welcome to our home. Please, make yourselves comfortable, don't be so formal…"
Feeling their stares, Lina quickly came to her senses. A little embarrassed, she looked back at Liam and Delia, scratching her cheek with her finger as she spoke shyly.
"Ahem, uh… right, sorry to intrude…"
Liam coughed, snapping out of it first. Tugging at the still-stunned Delia, he pulled her over toward the sofa.
"…You don't get to meet your friends often, so I'm sure you have a lot to talk about. Come on, Max, sit down and chat with them. I'll go make tea."
Not very familiar with Liam and Delia, Lina pressed Max firmly down onto the sofa, then quickly got up herself and fled into the kitchen to prepare tea.
As she disappeared inside, Liam immediately leaned in toward Max, pointing at the kitchen, then at Max himself, and finally poked Max hard in the stomach. His face full of outrage, he whispered furiously:
"Are you showing off?! You brought us here just for this? Let me tell you—I've already seen what my son looks like, you know!"
"…Huh?"
Max froze, totally lost at Liam's words.
"Shut it!"
"Ow!"
Delia grabbed Liam by the ear and dragged him back.
"Ahem… I never asked you two to come over. You were the ones who insisted on coming, remember?"
Max curled his lip at Liam with a look of disdain, though he still didn't quite understand what Liam had meant just now.
Liam: "…Ahem, forget that. What I really want to know is—how did you two meet? What's your relationship now… and that baby in Lina's belly… is it yours?"
As an "old acquaintance" from Pallet Town who once lived together with Max, Liam felt it was his… duty to get to the bottom of things.
"What exactly are you getting at?!"
Max frowned, his voice hard.
"How we met—I don't feel like telling you. Our relationship—you can see it for yourself. We haven't held a wedding yet, but she's already my wife. And the baby in Lina's belly is, of course, mine. Do you have a problem with that?"
Max locked eyes with Liam, his expression carrying a hint of anger.
"Uh… Does Professor Oak and Auntie Fumiko know?"
Before Liam could respond, Delia asked the question that made Max stiffen.
"Uggh!"
In an instant, Max's angry look vanished. Huge beads of sweat rolled down his cheeks.
"Ooooh~ Such an important thing, and you haven't told Professor Oak yet?! You're doomed! I'm calling him right now!"
Seeing Max's guilty expression, Liam's eyes lit up. He jumped to his feet, looking ready to rush off and tattle.
"W-wait! Stop right there!"
Panicked, Max leapt up as well, grabbing Liam's arm, his face twisted with desperation.
"My relationship with Lina is none of your business. I'll handle this myself… After some time, once we're ready, I'll tell them personally. I'll tell them… that they now have an amazing daughter-in-law."
Max let go of Liam's arm, his expression serious.
"Mm! Max, I support you!"
Delia's eyes sparkled, thrilled as though she were watching a scene straight out of a TV drama.
"Heh, I was just messing with you. Since you've made your decision, I won't pry further. As your friend, I just wish you happiness."
Liam turned around with a smile, holding out his hand.
"Hmph, don't worry. I'll definitely live happily."
Max glanced at the hand, then reluctantly reached out and shook it.
"Heh, I just hope Professor Oak doesn't break your legs when he finds out…"
Liam grinned mischievously.
Max: "..."
Speechless, Max squeezed harder than necessary, clearly rattled.
"Ahem, haha~ Tea's ready~ Everyone, please sit and drink~"
A cough came from the doorway. Lina, carrying a tray of tea, walked back from the kitchen, her face tinged with awkwardness—she had clearly overheard Liam and Max's entire conversation.
"Ah, let me, let me. Lina, you sit down."
Max quickly dropped Liam's hand and scurried to Lina's side. Taking the tray from her, he helped her back to the sofa.
"H-hello… My name is Lina. I'm… Max's girlfriend. It's very nice to meet you both. I… I'm not very capable, so please take care of me…"
Back on the sofa, Lina blushed deeply, fidgeting as she introduced herself.
"Pfft…"
Just as he raised his teacup, Liam suddenly snorted with laughter. Under Delia's eye-roll, Max's glare, and Lina's embarrassment, he chuckled:
"Those words should be said to Professor Oak, not us. What's the point of saying them to us? Haha, I really didn't expect the icy Max I knew to actually find such a wonderful girlfriend. If Professor Oak knew, he'd probably jump for joy."
"Anyway, let me introduce myself. I'm Liam, and this is Delia. We're both from Pallet Town—friends of Max. Seeing how happy he is now makes me really glad. And to change the cold, aloof Max into the man he is now… you must have worked hard."
Liam spoke slowly, his tone calm yet strangely reassuring. Lina, who had been flustered, found her nerves melting away. Smiling, she wiped the corner of her moist eyes, then laughed softly.
"Oh, you don't know. When I first met him, he was such an annoying guy!"
Max: "..."