Cassia’s thoughts moved quickly, and she immediately came up with a suitable excuse.
"I often accompany my friend to watch Pokémon battles. After listening to her analysis so much, I’ve picked up a little judgement myself."
"I see."
Julian suddenly wanted to meet this friend of hers.
Cassia’s gaze shifted.
"I’m going to the bathroom again."
After she left, Julian looked a little puzzled.
She had not drunk that much tea.
Why did she keep going to the bathroom?
Could her kidneys be weak?
Should he make her some medicinal food tonight?
If this kept happening, it would not be good for her health.
Once Cassia entered the bathroom, she immediately took out her phone and called one of her close friends.
"Hello, Caitlin. In fifteen minutes, call me and say the research institute has discovered a new ruin, and I need to return for the excavation work."
"Huh?"
Caitlin sounded confused.
"Why?"
"Don’t ask. Just call me when the time comes and say what I told you. I’ll explain when I get back."
"...Fine."
Meanwhile, after Maylene returned, she punched Julian directly.
"Julian, how can you keep talking to a girl about Pokémon and training? And you even praised Cynthia in front of Cassia. Do you know how many points that loses you?"
He scratched his cheek, confused.
"Really? Then what should I talk about?"
Maylene answered bluntly.
"Perfume from Eterna City, obviously. Fashion from Hearthome City."
Julian spread his hands helplessly.
"But I don’t know anything about those."
Maylene punched him again, frustrated by his hopelessness.
"If you don’t know, then learn! Aren’t you good at making incense to relieve fatigue after training? Make some for Cassia."
"Let her take it home. Once she lights it and relaxes in the quiet it brings, she’ll think of the person who made it for her."
Julian suddenly understood.
"That’s a good idea."
Remembering how much Cassia had seemed to like the jasmine tea earlier, he immediately had a thought.
"I happened to make a jasmine tea incense a few days ago. When Cassia leaves, I’ll let her take some with her."
Maylene hurriedly waved her hands.
"Not too much, but not too little either. You have to make her fall in love with that jasmine tea incense, but leave her without enough."
"That way, next time you meet, you’ll have something to talk about."
Julian patted her shoulder.
"My good sister. I’ll add extra chicken thighs for you tonight."
Cassia calculated the timing and returned from the bathroom to the training field.
The siblings were already training their Pokémon with great energy.
When it came to Veilstone Gym’s actual work, they had to look professional.
Since Cassia had some understanding of Pokémon, they absolutely could not slack off.
She quietly stood at the edge of the field, watching Julian train Jangmo-o and the Machamp line.
From her professional perspective, his technique was very solid.
At that moment, her phone rang.
"Hello... Really? All right, I’ll return immediately."
After hanging up, Cassia showed an apologetic expression.
"I’m sorry. The research institute has discovered a new ruin, and they need me to return for the excavation work. It’s such a shame that I can’t stay and taste more of your cooking."
Julian waved it off.
"It’s fine. If you come to Veilstone City again, you’re always welcome to visit."
"Julian, go get that thing."
Maylene elbowed him.
"Cassia, wait a moment. I have something for you."
Julian hurried into his workshop, opened a drawer, took out a sealed bundle of incense sticks, and put them into a small bag.
When he returned to the training field, he handed the bag to her.
"This is incense I made myself. It can relax the body and mind and ease fatigue. As a historian, your work must be tiring, so it should help."
Cassia accepted it with a smile.
"Then I won’t be polite."
The siblings walked her to the entrance of the Gym.
Cassia smiled.
"This is far enough. You should go back and keep training your Pokémon. I don’t want to delay you."
"All right."
For some reason, Julian felt a little disappointed.
Maylene looked up at her.
"Cassia, you have to come again next time."
Cassia touched Maylene’s cherry-blossom-pink hair.
"I know. I’ll come back to see our little Maylene."
"Goodbye."
Julian waved slightly.
Cassia nodded too.
"Goodbye."
Only after her figure disappeared around the corner did Maylene sigh.
"We finally met a beautiful older girl, and she even got invited home for food."
"I can’t believe she still left. It must be because you mentioned Cynthia and made her unhappy."
Julian sighed too.
"I’ll start studying perfume and fashion tonight."
Elsewhere, Cassia arrived at the car park.
She took off the hair tie and black-framed glasses, placed the incense in the car, and took out the black coat she always kept in her red sports car.
After sitting down, Cynthia glanced at the incense on the passenger seat, then started the car and drove towards Celestic Town.
A purple-haired young man passing by heard the roar of the engine and turned to look.
The driver was Cynthia.
Unfortunately, she was already driving away. Otherwise, he would have challenged her on the spot.
The young man turned the corner and soon saw the siblings standing at the Gym entrance.
He waved and called out to them.
"Julian! Maylene!"
Julian looked carefully.
It was an old friend from childhood.
After the other boy set out on his journey at ten, they could only meet once or twice a year.
Paul’s older brother.
Reggie.
"Reggie, long time no see."
Reggie ran to the Gym entrance and rubbed Maylene’s head.
"Little Maylene, why the long face?"
She knocked his hand away.
"I thought I was about to get a beautiful older sister as my sister-in-law, but she still ran away."
Reggie patted Julian’s shoulder.
"You need to work harder. With your ability, finding a girlfriend shouldn’t be difficult."
"Speaking of which, I just saw Cynthia, the new member of Sinnoh’s Elite Four. Why don’t you try pursuing her?"
Julian punched him.
"Enough nonsense. Why are you back?"
Reggie spoke with high spirits.
"The head of a new battle organisation invited me to challenge the Battle Frontier. If I win, I’ll be able to become the head of a battle facility."
"Apparently, every Frontier Brain has strength comparable to the Elite Four."
Maylene pouted.
"If they’re comparable to the Elite Four, why don’t they become Elite Four members? Did they just not want to? Or are the Elite Four not good enough anymore?"
Julian smiled.
"There are only so many Elite Four positions. The Battle Frontier is probably inviting Trainers who can fight Elite Four members but are still one step short."
"They might not be able to beat the Elite Four, but against Trainers like you, crushing them would be as easy as crushing an ant."
Reggie nodded.
"I’m not really interested in the title of Frontier Brain. I want to use the Battle Frontier to understand how large the gap is between me and the Elite Four."
Then he looked at Julian with excitement.
"So, Julian, how about a battle?"
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