Time flew by like an eyelash.
Seven days had already passed since Cynthia had come back from Lily of the Valley.
A sunny Sinnoh morning, warm sunlight poured softly into the bedroom through half-opened curtains.
The light fell gently on Cynthia's face, illuminating the fair skin and causing her fluttering eyelashes to sparkle like snowflakes under the sun.
Sam stretched out lazily next to her and swept a few strands of hair off her cheek.
Her breathing was soft and regular.
He leaned forward with a small smile and whispered, "Wake up, sleeping beauty. The sun's already up."
"Mmm… still tired," Cynthia whispered, curling into a ball like a sleepy Glameow unwilling to budge from her warm patch.
She cinched the quilt around herself, only her golden hair and a glimpse of her forehead protruding.
She finally sat up, still wrapped in the quilt like a slumbering fairy queen, clad only in a silky fringed camisole.
Her cheeks remained rosy from sleep.
She pouted, narrowed eyes at Sam, who was buttoning his shirt in front of the mirror.
"This is your fault, you know…" she said with mock glare.
"I can't even keep my eyes open now."
Sam laughed, turning towards her before hesitating for a moment.
There, half-hidden under the edge of the blanket, Cynthia's slender, white feet protruded and hung suspended over the floor, gently swaying.
Even this minor, heedless movement possessed a balletic beauty to it.
Sam's eyes paused, involuntarily entranced.
Cynthia saw.
Smiling smugly, she raised one foot into the sunlight deliberately, whimsically wiggling her toes.
"You enjoy them?" she taunted, golden eyes regarding him with mischief.
He cleared his throat and answered truthfully, "Yeah. I do."
He wasn't a person with any odd tastes, but at this moment, confronted by someone as lovely and assured as Cynthia, fighting was utterly unnecessary.
His heart pounded faster.
The morning sun highlighted her complexion like porcelain.
He glanced at the wall clock.
9:30 AM.
"Too soon," he muttered to himself, grudgingly starting to take off the coat he had just buttoned up.
The change in his pace wasn't ignored.
Cynthia's confident smile vanished at once, replaced with alarm.
She recognized that glint in his eyes.
She tugged her blanket up to her chin hastily, drawing back under the covers like a frightened Togepi.
"W-Wait, Sam! Not yet… I still have things to do today!"
She stared at him with wide eyes, her cheeks now red.
"L-Let's… save that for tonight, okay?"
Sam halted, let out a sigh, and rubbed the back of his neck.
He laughed in defeat.
"Alright, alright… I get it."
He sat down on the edge of the bed and pulled beneath the covers.
"Hey!" Cynthia squeaked.
He playfully grasped her foot and cradled it in his palm, kneading it.
Teasing went on for a few seconds before her muffled laughter and soft gasps became pleas for mercy.
"Samuel~ stop it already!" she laughed.
"I give up!"
He only stopped and assumed an exaggerated stern face then.
"I'll let you off this time," he said, wagging a finger.
"But next time you tease me like that, don't hope for me to be so merciful," he added.
Cynthia poked her head out from under the blanket and smiled innocently.
"Got it~"
She nodded like a good girl, her voice soft and obedient.
Sam let out one last sigh, running his fingers through his hair, then stood up.
"Alright then," he said, straightening his collar.
"Grandma's already made breakfast."
As he left the room, Cynthia peeked out from the covers once more, lips curled into a secret smile, eyes full of warmth.
Outside the living room, the dinner table was also set with great care.
There was fresh milk from a world-famous Miltank ranch in the Kanto Region, chilled and served in tall glasses.
Bows of vibrant fruit salad sparkled in the daylight.
A bamboo steamer held a tray of soft, juicy meat buns, warm and fragrant.
It was apparent that Professor Carolina had prepared the meal in advance before she left; she was probably already at the Celestic Laboratory.
Sam sat down unobtrusively and sipped milk, relishing the rich, creamy flavor.
He grabbed a meat bun, took a bite, and heaved a sigh of satisfaction.
The soft texture of the dough and the flavorful filling were perfect.
Just then, the bedroom door creaked open.
Cynthia emerged, dressed in her standard black duster coat over snug travel clothes, her trademark style once again out in force.
Her long golden locks were pulled back loosely, a few strands falling casually over her shoulders.
Without so much as a hesitation, she strode over, picked up Sam's glass of milk, and drank the better part of it down.
Then she grabbed one of his meat buns, stuck it in her mouth, and sat down next to him.
Munching, she spoke, "By the way, Sam…"
He glanced at her as she swallowed.
"I've decided I'll be remaining at Lily of the Valley for a while," she said clearly now.
"First, to complete some League work… and second, to begin preparing for the Championship Qualifying Tournament."
"I want a top-shelf ranking this time."
She leaned back in her chair with a reflective sigh.
These last few days back in Celestic Town had been balmy, serene… and perilously cozy.
Cynthia was acutely conscious of how simple it was to become lost in Sam's peaceful company.
If she lingered much longer, she suspected she'd never wish to depart again.
Sam regarded her with a warm smile, his voice soothing.
"Leaving so soon?"
"I'll miss you… and Grandma, too…"
Cynthia leaned over and hugged his arm, her voice laced with reluctant affection.
Sam smiled and patted her golden hair, his caress comforting.
"It's alright."
"While you're away, I'll go out on a journey myself. I'll assist in searching for information about Garchomp's Mega Stone while I'm out."
Cynthia's eyes lit up with a hint of gratitude, though she tried to hide it behind a playful grin.
"You better not miss me too much," she said teasingly, resting her chin on his shoulder.
"Just… 86,400 times a day."
Sam smiled without missing a beat.
"Got it. Once every second."
She laughed, pleased with the response, and playfully tilted her face upward.
"Kiss?"
Sam leaned in without hesitation and captured her lips.
The kiss grew deeper, soft at first, then stronger as their hearts reconnected.
When they finally broke apart, Cynthia blushed and was a bit out of breath.
"Meanie…" she whispered, her cheeks flushed as she playfully punched him in the chest with her small fist.
She rose slowly, reluctantly uncurling from his arms.
"Alright then, Sam… I'm leaving."
Sam accompanied her to the door, still clutching her hand.
"Be careful."
Cynthia nodded, her gaze still on his.
She grasped her Poké Ball.
"Garchomp, come out."
With a bellow and a burst of wind, Garchomp materialized and lowered himself into a kneeling position, presenting his back.
With effortless ease, Cynthia mounted and turned to wave at Sam.
"I'll call you when I arrive!"
"Okay," Sam replied, his eyes holding her steady.
Garchomp burst its fins and took to the morning air, leaving behind a path of white against blue.
Sam stood in the doorway, waiting until she'd disappeared.
High above the town, Cynthia's smile slowly disappeared.
The warmth in her eyes cooled into reserve. Her posture became ramrod stiff, her eyes hard.
The teasing, silly girl she was with Sam ceased to exist, replaced again by the cold, commanding Champion of Sinnoh.
Only with Sam did that aspect of her, the warm, silly, loving half, ever emerge into the light of day.
To the world, she was Cynthia: elegant, haughty, unbreakable.
But in the privacy of homes, in the secluded areas of Celestic Town… she was just the girl who adored Sam.