"This is practically a private room, but please make yourselves comfortable."
Susuna poured hot water from the pot and made tea for them both.
"Thank you."
"Oh, it's nothing."
After taking a sip of tea, Suzuna began to speak.
"Still, you came all the way to Kizaki Temple through so many hardships."
"It was difficult, yes, but I managed because I enjoyed it."
"If you love what you do, you can throw your whole heart into it! And if you throw your whole heart into what you love, you can do anything!"
Suzuna placed great importance on spirit in everything she did. In her own words, "Battling, fashion, and love all fired me up." Kaim did not quite understand, but through these years of training, he had come to understand the importance of having such a philosophy.
"But this time, it isn't about me. It's about Kaim."
"Ah, so it's about you, Mr. Kaim."
"Is that strange?"
"No. There's nothing strange about it. But it would be easier to understand if it were about Miss Cynthia!"
Suzuna's impression of Kaim as a Gym Leader was stronger. Ever since hearing that he was Cynthia's assistant, she had known he was also a scholar. More importantly, however, Suzuna strongly associated Kaim with being an excellent supporter of Shirona and a Gym Leader.
"Sorry."
"People who aren't students usually serve as Gym Leaders."
"Is it hard to picture?"
At Shirona's words, Suzuna nodded with a wry smile.
"Yes. Right now, all I want to do is battle. I'm an instructor at the Trainer School too, but I can't keep doing that forever. So I'm a little worried about what I'll do afterward."
"Are you worried about your career? I understand how you feel. Sometimes you worry about what your future will look like."