An excellent trainer

I set it down and turned to Cynthia.

Cynthia looked at me and smiled.

"It's all right. I'm not used to being thanked, so I'm a little embarrassed."

"I can't hear you."

"I told you to speak up."

Cynthia winked at Celebi, telling him that Kaim simply wasn't being honest.

Celebi relaxed, then remembered his connection to Kaim and asked Cynthia about the look in her eyes and her crying.

"Hm? Oh, about that business. We can talk about it later. I'd like to hear how you're doing."

Hearing Cynthia laugh, Celebi relaxed and smiled at her.

"Oh my, I've missed you so much."

"Looks like it."

Towa said that as he watched Cynthia playing with Celebi.

After that, Celebi grew fond of Cynthia. Since Cynthia had always loved Pokémon as a whole, she easily became attached to them. People said Pokémon liked Kaim, but they were probably just as likely to like her. In her case, however, both Pokémon and humans liked her. Kaim wasn't friendly, so humans weren't especially fond of him. That was the difference.

"You're a top trainer to begin with, and an excellent one. It's easy for Pokémon to like you."

"Oh, are you any different?"

"I'm an ordinary trainer. I could never become one of the best."

"But you're training, aren't you? Miss Cynthia said so yesterday."

"I'm aiming for the top, but I can't reach it. Even with the same training, top trainers gain more experience than I do."

"You're aiming higher while looking at yourself objectively. That's good. It's important."

While we were talking, Cynthia returned with Celebi. Celebi held a berry and offered it to Kaim.

"A tome?"

"Thank you for the delicious food."

"I see. Then I'll accept it as thanks."

Kaim accepted the mushroom without changing his expression. The mushroom was an oblong nut, and it was more expensive than I'd expected.

Celebi seemed a little confused by Kaim's unchanged expression, but when Cynthia whispered something in Celebi's ear, Celebi suddenly smiled, grabbed Kaim's arm, and pointed toward the forest.

"You want to go?"

Celebi nodded at Kaim's words.

"Yes, yes."

"Be careful."

"Yeah."

Kaim answered Towa casually as Celebi pulled him away.

"Do I have to follow you?"

Towa asked Shirona, who had stayed behind. I thought that was bound to happen.

"Yes. Now that you've become friends with me, I'm sure you want to get to know Kaim better next."

"I see. Well, with Kaim there, you'll be safe."

"Oh, you have a lot of faith in Kaim."

"He's your student, Miss Cynthia, the Champion, isn't he? Then I know he can hold his own. Looking into his eyes, I can tell you haven't given him halfhearted training."

Towa wasn't a trainer, but I'd seen excellent trainers before. Their strength differed somewhat, but the air around them and the light in their eyes were the same. That strength existed not only in Cynthia, but in Kaim as well.

"You have a good eye."

"I've lived a little longer than you."

"I'll see you when I get back."

"Thank you."

Kaim returned after sunset. By then, Celebi was exhausted and had fallen asleep, resting peacefully against Staraptor's back.

"Played until he wore himself out and fell asleep."

"Oh my. What an adorable sleeping face."

"He seems to have opened up a little."

"Hehe, of course he would with you."

"Go take a bath first. Did you get covered in mud playing?"

"I will."

Looking at Kaim, who was covered in mud, I thought Cynthia had been taking Celebi seriously and playing with Celebi. Blackie and Basamo, standing beside Kaim, were muddy too, showing that they'd all been playing together.

"Staraptor, look after Celebi. I really like your back."

Staraptor gave a quiet cry, as if agreeing, and sat down. Kaim laid Celebi on Staraptor's back.

"The bathwater's just been heated. Go take your bath first."

"Thanks."

"Phew."

I came out of the bath and looked for Towa and Cynthia. I was sure Celebi was still asleep, but I wanted to see Celebi.

They weren't in the living room, so I searched around and heard voices coming from Towa's bedroom. The two of them seemed to be chatting.

"Wow! Forty years from now, can we contact each other with such a tiny little panel?"

"Yes, but in this era, the infrastructure isn't in place yet, so it's hard to use."

"Oh, you can take pictures too? Could you show me?"

Being close in age, the two seemed to get along well.

Kaim didn't want to eavesdrop, but he stood outside the door with his arms crossed, wondering what to do when he couldn't find the right moment to enter.

"Huh, is this Alto Mare?"

"Yes. I went there just a few days ago. It's a wonderful place."

"Lovely. Oh, is that ring from Alto Mare?"

"Yes. These are Latias's colors."

"It's so pretty."

After all, she seemed interested in women and accessories.

"Kaim wears an earring. Is that one too?"

"Yes."

"Oh, did you get a chance?"

"It's a different color."

"Oh my, ooh."

"A good idea?"

"Yes. I can understand that mutual trust."

I couldn't follow their conversation. Just as I was about to leave, Towa lowered his voice slightly.

"Hey, when I was cooking with Kaim the other day, you said something that bothered me."

"What?"

"I'm a little uncertain about the term 'good person.' I wondered if you'd touched a nerve. If so, I should apologize."

"Oh, 'good person.' It's fine. You didn't touch a nerve. It's a theory of his."

Cynthia continued, apparently not particularly concerned.

"For some reason, he doesn't like being called a 'good person.'"

"Why?"

"Ultimately, that 'good' is just whatever suits those people."

There was nothing in this world that could be declared absolutely true. What counted as a good deed therefore varied from person to person. No good deed was universally shared by everyone.

There was no fixed way the world ought to be. Whether humans or Pokémon, everyone looked at what suited them. Good and evil were no different.

Of course, I didn't think Kaim calling me a "good person" was bad, nor did I think he meant any harm. So I couldn't even bring it up. But for Kaim, I thought it was something we needed to keep considering. What was "convenient" in distinguishing good from evil changed with every era, and he believed that understanding that "convenience" was what studying archaeology meant for him.

"Hehe, you're thinking about something so difficult?"

"Yes."

"It's all right. I don't really understand Kaim's views on good and evil, because they're complicated, but I know they're important to him."

"Fufu, I see."

"Even so, for a student to think about something so difficult..."

"That isn't something I taught him. It's the result of his own thinking."

"Isn't he a good student? What do you think?"

"But surprisingly, he wasn't like this for quite a long time."

"Oh, he looks clever, doesn't he?"

"Yes, though he looks like he's good at using his head."

"My face has nothing to do with it."

Kaim entered the room and interrupted.

"Oh, Kaim, were you eavesdropping?"

"Sorry. Where's Celebi?"

"Still asleep. What were you playing?"

"I just wandered around with my cousins wherever Celebi wanted to go. I only ate the mushrooms we found along the way."

"You all get along well."

Kaim shrugged. I knew that, so I said nothing.

"So?"

"I wasn't being disrespectful. That's just how I look."

"Right. But I really didn't use my head before."

"Aren't you smart enough to go to university?"

"Studying and battling are different."

Kaim had become much stronger in battle, but collecting all the badges had taken him nearly four years. That was long enough for Kaim to gradually realize he wasn't good at battling. Although he'd grown stronger under Cynthia's guidance, he still thought Kaim wasn't suited to battle.

"I can't think on the spot, so I'm not suited to battling, and I overthink things. It's not that I hate battling. I just can't reach the top."

Celebi was still sleeping on Staraptor's back. Although the injuries had healed considerably, Celebi had surely played too much so soon after recovering.

Kaim smiled and stroked the chin of Staraptor, who was carrying Celebi. Staraptor shivered all over, as though being tickled.

The movement woke Celebi.

"Oh, sorry. You woke me up."

Towa stroked the half-asleep Celebi's head.

Celebi rubbed sleepy eyes and floated in front of Cynthia, giving a slightly worried cry.

"What's wrong?"

Cynthia listened kindly, and Celebi looked at Kaim.

I didn't understand what Celebi meant at first, but soon it became clear.

"Oh, about that 'business' I mentioned?"

Celebi nodded.

"It's nothing serious. I just wanted you to take us back to the past."

Celebi's eyes widened. Using the energy gathered while recovering, Celebi had traveled through time and space, only to be shocked that both of them had been dragged along. It had been such a careless thing to do.

"I'll tell you right now: I don't mind at all. On the contrary, I'm grateful for the valuable experience I've had."

"Yes. Besides, you needed it too, didn't you? So don't worry."

When Cynthia hugged Celebi, Celebi cried quietly. Having finally escaped, only to be chased again, Celebi had felt frightened and regretted involving unrelated people. But they said they didn't mind. They had become friends with the very one who had dragged them into it. That fact brought comfort. Cynthia and the others had buried the loneliness of fleeing.

"I'm glad you're safe."

Cynthia's words enveloped Celebi.

"Let's have dinner. Celebi, are you hungry? Eat plenty of the food Kaim and I made."

Towa spoke softly, stroking Celebi's head as Celebi cried silently against Cynthia's chest.

Kaim left the room without a word and began serving the food.

A few days later.

"Tomorrow."

Celebi's wounds had completely healed, and recovery had progressed enough to travel through time and space. Tomorrow, Cynthia and Kaim would return to their own time.

Hateno Village had welcomed them warmly. I'd stayed for about a week, but I felt I'd gotten along well with the villagers.

That was why I felt a little lonely. If you returned to the past, they wouldn't be the people you knew anymore. After forty years, the elderly would be dead. Even Towa, who was my age, would be in an uncertain position by then.

Still, I should never have met them in the first place. Kaim was grateful for the chance to meet people he had never seen before, and for Celebi, who had created that connection.

"Yes."

When I heard the voice, I looked over and saw Cynthia and Celebi.

"King."

"You're awake."

"I couldn't sleep."

Celebi gave a wry smile and hugged Kaim's head.

"You're heavy."

"Fufu, I've missed you."

Seeing Celebi having fun on top of Kaim's head, Umbreon, who stood at his feet, rubbed its head against Kaim's leg.

"We've been spotted, we've been spotted."

Kaim picked up Umbreon, thinking he might want some attention too. Umbreon settled contentedly on Kaim's lap.

"Little Black is acting normal."

"He always wants to be spoiled. He's wary, but once he opens up to someone, he lets them spoil him completely."

As proof of that, Kuroki was very attached to Cynthia, and he had even been known to shower her with affection at home.

"Celebi trusts you too."

Cynthia stroked Celebi, who was happily perched on top of Kaim's head. Celebi then sat on Cynthia's lap and began to hum.

"You too."

"Fufu, I'm glad."

"I'm going back tomorrow."

"Will you be lonely?"

"A little. But even in my own time, I'd have to leave this place someday."

"Me too. People keep meeting and parting throughout their lives. Professor Qizhongtang said that meeting lots of people makes life richer."

"Don't dress it up with pretty words."

"He's my teacher."

Umbreon on Kaim's lap and Celebi in Cynthia's arms played together. Kaim and Cynthia laughed at the sight.

"This is fun. I wasn't expecting this."

"Yeah."

"I got to see an unusual expression on your face, Kaim."

"You're noisy."

Kaim set Little Black down and stood up. Then he picked up the coat hanging on the wall.

"Where are you going?"

"I can't sleep, so I'm going for a walk. Want to come?"

"Of course. Are you coming too, Celebi?"

At Cynthia's question, Celebi smiled and nodded.

"Then it's settled. Let's go."

They walked for a few minutes.

They arrived at the lakeshore.

"Wow, it's beautiful."

"Celebi brought me here. It seems to help heal wounds."

In fact, drinking the lake's water had greatly accelerated Celebi's recovery.

"Yes."

"Yeah."

The two sat down on a large rock nearby.

Moonlight reflected off the water, illuminating Cynthia's face. Celebi loved this lake and picked berries from a nearby tree to eat, a happy smile spreading across her face.

"It's calming."

"I like the sound of waves. Maybe it's because I'm from South Sea City."

"Mio City is the same. You have a connection to the sea, Kaim."

"Seems that way. Though this is a lake."

"I hope this lake is still here in our own time."

"It is. I'm sure of it."

Celebi, who had been having so much fun, took Cynthia's hand.

Wondering what was wrong, Cynthia turned to Celebi and saw that her large eyes were filled with tears.

Tomorrow, when they traveled back to their own time, the two of them would disappear. To Celebi, who had always lived alone, these past few days had been so much fun. That was why she was sad to lose them.

But Celebi couldn't go with them. She played an important role in protecting the forest. Living as one with the forest, Celebi couldn't live with Cynthia and Kaim. A few days apart would be fine, but they couldn't stay together forever.

"Celebi."

"Are you lonely?"

Celebi nodded at Kaim's question.

"We're sad to leave you too. I'm glad we became friends. That makes it all the harder."

"Yes."

"But we'll never forget you. We'll meet again someday. So don't forget us, Celebi. We'll see each other again one day. I promise."

Cynthia spoke as she gently cradled Celebi's tear-streaked face.

At those words, Celebi shed more tears and nodded firmly.

"I'll come back."

Kaim stroked Celebi's head.

Celebi held her hands in front of her chest. Light spilled out, and when it settled, two small yellow-green crystals appeared.

"What are these?"

"I don't know. But I can sense Celebi in this crystal."

"Could they be crystallized forms of Celebi's power?"

"Probably."

Celebi handed them the crystals.

The crystals were cold, yet held a warm glow within. They shone like the power of the forest itself.

"Thank you, Celebi."

Celebi wiped away her tears and nodded. Even if they parted tomorrow, it wouldn't change the fact that they had met here. They would surely meet again. With that belief, Celebi entrusted them with her power and the crystals.

Little Black raised his head.

"Little Black?"

Kaim followed Umbreon's gaze. A pale blue silhouette stood there.

"That's Suicune."

"Isn't that a Legendary Pokémon from the Johto Region?"

"They say Suicune can purify water."

Suicune turned toward them. A piercing gaze caught the two of them. It felt like being doused with cold water, but Suicune immediately looked away and disappeared somewhere.

"Between this and Alto Mare last time, we've been running into far too many Legendary Pokémon lately."

Kaim gave a wry smile as he looked at the spot where Suicune had disappeared. He had never encountered Pokémon like these before. Latias and Latios had been the first rare Pokémon he had met, but he had never expected encounters like that to happen one after another.

"It's a precious experience, isn't it? Getting to meet Celebi."

Sitting on Cynthia's lap, Celebi smiled and nodded.

The night went on.