It was only when Delia walked in on them that Misty snapped out of it, as if she had been hit by an electric shock.
She let out a low cry and sprang away from Roy, her cheeks turning a deep shade of crimson in an instant.
"I—I'll go pack my bags!"
Misty retreated two steps in a fluster, her eyes darting around, not daring to look at Delia. She stammered out a reminder: "Roy, the h-hamburger... and ice cream... chocolate flavored..."
With that, she turned and ran toward the door.
She nearly collided with the doorframe in her haste.
"Be careful," Roy said, unable to stifle a laugh.
"I k-know!"
Misty waved her hand without looking back and fled the room as if she were making an escape.
The thumping sound of her footsteps faded away down the hallway.
The room fell silent.
Only Roy and Delia remained.
Delia stood at the door, watching the direction where Misty had disappeared, a slow smile spreading across her lips.
She gently closed the door.
Turning around, she walked gracefully toward Roy.
Her steps were light.
The hem of her nightgown swayed slightly with her pace, revealing a glimpse of her fair calves.
"Roy~"
Delia walked up behind Roy, her voice soft and laced with a smile.
Her hands naturally came to rest on his shoulders, her fingertips gently kneading them.
"It seems you're quite the heartbreaker~"
"Yesterday it was Officer Jenny~"
"Today it's Misty again~"
Delia leaned over, her entire body practically pressed against Roy's back.
"They're all throwing themselves at you."
Her lips were nearly brushing against Roy's ear. Her voice was teasing, yet carried an indefinable undertone.
Roy narrowed his eyes comfortably.
He leaned his head back, his crown sinking into a warm, soft embrace.
"Is my sweet Delia jealous?"
"Jealous?"
Delia gave his shoulder a light pat; it wasn't hard, more like a Charm.
"Do you take me for some young girl who gets jealous so easily?~"
As she spoke, her hands returned to Roy's shoulders, and she began to massage him in earnest, the pressure from her fingertips just right.
"I'm not that petty."
Delia's voice softened.
"And... I support you."
"Which of the powerhouses these days doesn't have a crowd of companions?"
Delia spoke softly as she continued the massage.
Her fingers slid to Roy's temples, rubbing in gentle circles.
"Those top Trainers... it's well known that they have many battle partners."
"I believe the man I've chosen is destined to be an invincible powerhouse."
"Don't worry, when you're 'battling' with other sisters, I'll wait outside obediently and prepare your bathwater."
After saying this, Delia gently nibbled on Roy's earlobe.
A virtuous wife.
A devoted woman.
She played this role to perfection, thinking entirely for Roy's sake.
Roy smiled. He reached out and pulled Delia around from behind him.
Delia gave a soft cry and stumbled into Roy's embrace.
She sat on his lap.
"Wait outside?" Roy held her by the waist and smirked. "Won't you come in to give the little sister some guidance?"
"Guidance?"
Delia was stunned for a moment.
She immediately understood his meaning, and her face flushed bright red.
"Oh, you!"
She playfully thumped Roy's chest.
"You're so wicked!"
"That scene... would be so embarrassing~"
Delia spoke, but her eyes drifted for a moment as images involuntarily surfaced in her mind... She quickly shook her head.
"No, no, it's too shameful..."
"Really no?"
Roy leaned in, his nose almost touching hers.
"I, I..."
Delia's eyes darted away, her breathing becoming erratic.
After a few seconds, she whispered, "At, at least... not for the first battle..."
After a moment of intimacy, Delia looked up and became serious: "Back to business, about Misty."
"Do you want me to give you an assist?"
Sensible as she was, she had already started considering the follow-up.
"Not for now," Roy shook his head.
"It's not time yet. Misty is still a bit of a tomboy; she doesn't understand these things at all."
"The hug you just saw was purely because she was happy about the ice cream."
"Let's take it slow."
Roy understood Misty's personality very well.
She was different from Delia.
Delia longed for love and to be needed, making it easy to break through their relationship.
Misty... she was more like a tomboy who hadn't matured yet.
Her heart was full of Water-type Pokemon, getting stronger, and the glory of the Gym.
She had no concept of romance between men and women.
It would take a long journey to slowly wear her down; it couldn't be rushed.
"I see..."
Delia nodded, half-understanding. "I'll listen to you."
"Whenever you say you need my help, I'll make my move~"
This was exactly what Roy liked about Delia.
"So good."
Roy leaned down and gave her a kiss on the lips.
Delia responded immediately, wrapping her arms around Roy's neck to deepen the kiss.
It was quite a while before they pulled apart.
"Alright..."
With a flushed face, Delia stood up from Roy's lap.
"It's time to pack the bags."
"If we carry on... Nurse Joy really will come knocking on the door."
...Half an hour later.
The three of them gathered in the lobby of the Pokemon Center.
All the luggage was packed.
"Is everything here?"
Roy checked his backpack.
"All set~"
Delia nodded.
Misty also shouldered her small bag, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Roy.
"Roy, the hamburger..."
"I know." Roy nodded.
"Let's go. We'll restock our supplies first, and then I'll take you to eat."
"Yay!"
Misty cheered.
The three of them walked toward the front desk.
Nurse Joy was organizing some documents.
Seeing them, she looked up with a smile.
"Setting off?"
"Yes, thank you for your hospitality, Joy," Roy thanked her politely.
"It was no trouble~" Nurse Joy's smile was gentle, but as her gaze swept over Delia, a flash of understanding passed through her eyes.
Delia's face reddened, and she lowered her head.
"Be careful on the road."
As Nurse Joy spoke, she took a small bag from under the counter.
"These are some common Pokemon medicines; you'll definitely find them useful on your journey."
The Joy Family's favorability was starting to pay off, and she was already beginning to gift items.
"Then thank you very much, Nurse Joy." Roy accepted it without ceremony.
"It's nothing." Joy paused, then added with significant intent: "In the future, when you go to other Pokemon Centers, you must be careful. Others might not cover for you like I did."
Misty looked completely bewildered.
Delia's face was flushed red.
Roy, however, replied calmly: "We'll be careful. Thank you, Nurse Joy."
"You're welcome~ I wish you a smooth journey~"
...After leaving the Pokemon Center,
The three of them first went to a shop to restock travel essentials, followed by the meal promised to Misty.
Roy now had nearly two hundred thousand on him, so he was generous with his spending.
After eating and drinking their fill, the three of them hurried toward their next destination... Viridian Gym, Office.
"I let you three practice in Viridian City first, and this is how you practice?"
Behind the desk, a figure sat in a high-backed chair with his back to the door.
He held a cigar in his hand.
Smoke swirled in the air.
His voice was low and carried a hint of displeasure.
Jessie, James, and Meowth stood in a line, heads bowed, not daring to make a sound.
"The very first mission..."
Giovanni slowly turned the high-backed chair around. His gaze was as sharp as a blade as it swept over the three of them.
"...And I have to use my connections to bail you out?"
"B-Boss..."
"We can't be entirely blamed this time, it—it was a brat..." James tried to explain.
Jessie suddenly kicked him, then stepped forward and bowed.
"Boss, it was indeed our mistake this time."
"We guarantee that it will never happen again!"
"Please give us another chance, Boss."
Her attitude was sincere; compared to James's buck-passing, Jessie was straightforward in admitting their fault.
Giovanni stared at her for a few seconds.
He slowly exhaled a puff of smoke.
"Fortunately, Viridian City is under my control..."
He flicked the ash from his cigar.
"Bailing you out didn't take much effort."
"The cost of the bail will be deducted from your future bonuses. Dismissed!"
"Bonuses, meow?"
Meowth cried out in shock, but before it could finish, Jessie clapped a hand over its mouth.
"Yes! Thank you, Boss!"
Jessie bowed deeply.
"We will certainly make up for our failure!"
James also quickly followed suit.
"Th-Thank you, Boss..."
The two of them felt as if they had been granted a grand reprieve and fled the office with Meowth.
The door closed, and the office became quiet once again.
"Sigh, can these three really recapture Miyamoto's glory?" Giovanni shook his head and immediately threw himself back into the arrangements for another important plan.
...Outside the Gym, in an alleyway.
"Curse it! Curse it!"
James was so angry he stomped his feet.
"This time, we actually suffered at the hands of a brat!"
"Exactly, meow!"
Meowth also brandished its claws, looking furious.
"My bonus! My gold coins!"
"We must have our revenge, meow!"
"That's right!"
James clenched his fist.
"The next time we see that brat, we'll give him what for!"
"And that Pikachu!"
"Yes! Pikachu!"
The man and the cat got angrier the more they spoke.
Jessie gave each of them a punch.
"You two idiots!"
She stood with her hands on her hips and yelled.
"Don't just complain, learn to summarize! Understand?"
"Summarize?"
James and Meowth clutched their heads, looking completely bewildered.
"That's right!"
Jessie crossed her arms, her gaze sharp.
"The key to this failure was that brat's Pikachu."
She analyzed.
"That Pikachu's electrical power far exceeds that of ordinary individuals. It's exactly the rare Pokemon the Boss needs."
"If we capture it, tell me, how will the Boss reward us?"
"Promotions and raises!"
"Gold coins for meow!"
"Exactly!"
Jessie smiled triumphantly.
"When that time comes, we'll be the heroes of Team Rockets!"
"Hehehe, hahaha..."
The two humans and the cat were momentarily lost in their unrealistic fantasies...
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