... (The long-absent heroine finally appeared.)
"Hey, Cynthia!"
Xu Mu opened the video call and greeted Cynthia with a happy smile.
It had been ages since they had seen each other. They often talked by video or voice call and checked in on each other every day.
But the internet was no substitute for being together. Xu Mu missed holding Cynthia's soft hand so much it hurt...
"Oh! Xu Mu, is your match over?"
Xu Mu hadn't had a chance to tell Cynthia that he'd gone out to sing with his aunt.
But she was his own aunt, so Cynthia wasn't jealous. There was no reason to be.
After Xu Mu explained what had happened, Cynthia looked thoroughly puzzled.
"What? Jigglypuff is with you?"
"He disappeared about a week ago. I haven't seen him since! My father even posted a reward across Western Europe to help me find him. How did he end up with you?"
At the sight of Cynthia on the phone screen, Jigglypuff hurried into Xu Mu's arms. He found a comfortable spot and greeted her happily.
"Jiggly!"
[Cynthia, Jigglypuff missed you!]
His little face crumpled, and he was about to cry.
But then he remembered the new song he'd learned. His sadness vanished, and he pulled out his microphone to perform for Cynthia.
"Stop!"
Xu Mu and Xu Lan'er shouted at almost the same time.
Too late. Once Jigglypuff started singing, there was no interrupting him—and his song put listeners to sleep without fail.
As sleep began to overtake him again, Xu Mu yelled, "Arceus, Soundproof!"
Arceus, who had been eating from a fruit platter, forced himself to use Soundproof at Xu Mu's call, raising a barrier against the sound.
That had been close!
Xu Mu's heart pounded. A moment later, and Jigglypuff would have taken