After lunch, Victor was lying in the lounge area playing on his phone when he sensed someone staring at him.
He looked over and saw Cynthia watching him.
"Where's dessert?" she asked, her cherry-pink lips moving slightly.
Hearing her cool voice, Victor stood up from his chair.
"Alright, alright, I'll go make it for you right now. How does bubble milk tea ice cream sound?"
"I'm looking forward to it."
Having received a satisfactory answer, Cynthia turned and walked towards the backyard.
"I'm taking Shana and the others to the forest for a bit."
"Be careful."
"It's them who need to be careful," her "tyrannical" voice drifted back.
Victor looked at Gengar.
Gengar ignored Victor's look and happily trotted after her.
"Gengar—"
Wait for me!
Traitor! Victor cursed Gengar in his heart.
"Lilligant, you're all still good to me," he said, turning to her.
Lilligant smiled sweetly.
"Lili~"
She came over to Victor, opened her arms, and gave him a hug.
Victor, content, took Gothita and Mime Jr. to the kitchen.
After some research, Victor had successfully created the bubble milk tea ice cream Cynthia wanted.
He took a spoon, dug out a scoop, and put it in his mouth.
Mmm!
It's surprisingly good!
After he and Mime Jr. quickly finished a bowl, he began to prepare a large batch.
He was busy in the kitchen for a long time, getting the ice cream and other afternoon tea desserts ready.
Gothita arranged everything in the tea area by the flower garden. Victor pushed the small ice cream cart towards the backyard.
He saw Cynthia standing by the garden, admiring the blooming flowers, occasionally leaning in to smell their fragrance.
Today, Cynthia wasn't wearing her trench coat, but a pale blue long-sleeved sweater. She still wore her slim, wide-legged trousers, and on her feet were clear, crystal sandals.
Her golden hair, shining in the sun, draped over her shoulder and hung down among the flowers.
Seeing this, Victor suddenly smiled.
"Ice cream is here."
Hearing his voice, Cynthia stood up and looked at the cart he was pushing, her eyes shining brightly.
She quickly walked over to him.
Looking at her exquisite face, Victor suddenly said, "That flower suits you."
Cynthia paused, then followed his gaze.
A single blue flower was blooming quietly.
Cynthia broke into a radiant smile.
"Thank you."
Victor looked at her almost unfairly beautiful face, and his own couldn't help but turn red.
He coughed twice and turned his attention back to the cart, serving Cynthia a portion of ice cream.
"Here is your bubble milk tea ice cream."
Cynthia took it with both hands.
"Thank you~"
The words had barely left her mouth before she took a spoonful.
"Mmm..." She closed her eyes, letting out a tempting sound.
The ice cream is delicious. The ice cream Victor makes himself is even more delicious.
Seeing her blissful expression, Victor told her to sit in the tea area and enjoy.
He then went to serve ice cream to the others.
Since it was autumn, he only gave Shana a tiny scoop.
Shana, who was wearing a noticeably thicker dress, took the ice cream and giggled.
"Thank you, uncle!"
She then ran over to Cynthia's side.
Lucario quickly made room for her.
Cynthia and Garchomp nodded in satisfaction.
Victor told Lilligant and Roselia to come and enjoy the tea time as well; he would watch the front counter.
When he finally got to Gengar, it refused the bowl Victor offered, instead pulling out its own.
A bowl as big as its head.
Victor firmly refused.
"If you eat that much, your teeth will hurt."
Gengar didn't listen, just pushed the bowl further forward.
Victor refused again.
Gengar pushed again.
At a stalemate, Victor and Gengar each took a step back.
He gave it a portion that no other person or Pokémon could match.
Victor pushed the cart around the front of the backyard, and after distributing all the ice cream, he returned to the flower garden.
Lucario walked past, carrying Pinsir by the scruff of its neck. Gengar trotted happily behind them, and Mime Jr. followed to join the fun.
He asked the Heracross that was following them what was going on.
It turned out Pinsir had wanted to go chat with Dali, but Lucario had decided to drag it off for training instead.
Victor shook his head.
Poor Pinsir.
Why does it keep trying to squeeze into a social circle it doesn't belong in?
He looked at the group sitting around the table.
Cynthia and the others had long since finished their ice cream and were now drinking the milk tea Victor had prepared, eating different flavors of tiramisu.
Victor smiled, pulled up a stool, and sat down.
Instantly, the area fell silent.
He was wondering why everyone had stopped talking when he looked up.
Cynthia and the others were all staring at him.
A dangerous light flashed in Cynthia's eyes.
Garchomp was idly fiddling with its scythe-like claws.
Sensing the strange atmosphere, Victor asked weakly, "Am I... not supposed to be here either?"
No one answered him, but the atmosphere began to loosen a bit.
"Really, I can't?" Victor tried again.
"Lili~"
Nope~
"This is a 'girls' chat.' Do you really need to listen in?" Cynthia asked.
Hearing her words, Victor nodded vigorously.
"Alright then. Battle me. If you win, you can join."
Garchomp suddenly stood up.
"Grawr!"
Come on and fight me, old woman!
In the distance, Gengar, who had been laughing at Pinsir's plight, suddenly felt a chill down its back.
It glanced over, then turned its back to Victor.
Can't see me, can't see me.
Victor stood up and took out his phone.
"Oh, a customer's here. I'll go see to the front. You all chat."
He turned and left without the slightest hesitation.
After he left, Garchomp sat back down.
Gothita, Lilligant, and the others all started to laugh.
"Grawr."
Can't even beat me.
The group of "girls" then began to whisper amongst themselves.
The wind would occasionally carry the sound of their silvery laughter out of the backyard.
Victor, back at the front, collapsed onto his lounge chair, all alone, and shed a single tear.
But fortunately, a few customers came by and bought several Pokémon Eggs. The heavy feeling of the money in his hand made Victor feel a little better.
After seeing the customers off, Victor lay back down.
He began to think about what he should make for dinner.
He lay there quietly, waiting for customers, occasionally answering the phone and taking down orders.
All the while, he could hear the sound of laughter drifting from the backyard.
Victor's pen continued to write.
The life of a hard-working man is bitter—
He sighed.
...
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