Would You Be My Assistant?

When Kaim became a fourth-year student, he was assigned to the lab of a professor who was in contact with Cynthia.

After learning from that professor that the university would hold a seminar on Cynthia's archaeological work, Kaim attended with his fellow students. Naturally, a considerable number of students came, including some who did not major in archaeology. After all, opportunities to hear the reigning Champion speak were rare. Even without specializing in archaeology, he could understand why they wanted to listen.

The seminar went smoothly. Cynthia began with a discussion of Sinnoh Mythology and went on to explain various aspects of history. She seemed positively radiant.

After the seminar, many students surrounded Cynthia for a question-and-answer session. Although they were only allowed to ask questions related to the seminar, plenty of students still raised their hands.

Kaim expected it to take quite a while, so he left the lecture hall. Although he wanted to hear Cynthia speak, he did not want to spend too much time there and quickly returned to the lab.

Once back in the lab, Kaim kept working on his tasks, and before he knew it, evening had fallen. He was thinking it was time to head home and gathering the materials at hand when the lab door opened.

Cynthia stood there.

Her sudden visit surprised Kaim, but he remembered that the professor in charge of this lab was in contact with her, so he managed to stay calm.

"Oh, are you a student here?"

"Ah, yes. My name is Kaim."

"All right, Kaim. I'm Cynthia. I work in archaeology in the Sinnoh Region."

Speaking with such grace, Cynthia looked incredibly beautiful up close.

Her hair flowed like silk almost to her knees, and she had beautiful silver-gray eyes and a confident curve to her lips.

As Kaim looked at Cynthia, he thought that beauties like her were rare, though it felt rather inappropriate to be thinking that.

"I know. I attended your seminar earlier."

"Oh, did you? That's wonderful. What did you think?"

"It was fascinating. As an archaeology student, I learned a lot."

"Thank you."

"I came to see the professor."

"Right. The rush of student questions is over, so I came to ask a good one."

"I'm sorry, but the professor is in a meeting right now. It might take a while. The professor only stepped out a little while ago."

"We just missed each other. Bad timing."

Cynthia's gaze fell on the materials on Kaim's desk.

"What's this?"

"Oh, this is a proposal for my research project. It's about Unown, which still haven't been fully understood."

"Unown? That certainly is an interesting subject. May I take a look?"

"You can, but wouldn't a professional find a student's work little more than entertainment?"

"Not at all. Work isn't worthless simply because its author lacks experience. Even if someone is inexperienced, if they put everything they have into it, their work holds great value, mistakes and all."

"Is that so?"

She really is a Champion. Or perhaps an ordinary student like me simply can't compare to her, Kaim thought as he handed Cynthia the report.

Cynthia took the report without a word and began to read.

After a brief silence, Cynthia drew a deep breath, handed the report back to Kaim, and said:

"This report is excellent."

Kaim wore an indescribable expression as he faced Cynthia, whose eyes were sparkling. Having a professional archaeologist praise his report was something to be delighted about, but his twisted way of thinking told him she was only being polite, preventing him from feeling genuinely happy.

"Uh, thank you."

"Ah, do you think I'm just being polite?"

"Yes."

"Honestly, can't you just be happy about it? But this report really is good."

"What exactly is good about it?"

"First, your observations of Unown. Unown are still very mysterious Pokémon. Ancient ruins contain writing known as 'Unown Script,' so we know these Pokémon have existed since ancient times. But we know almost nothing about their ecology. Although we can identify their habitats and narrow them down to some extent, their breeding methods, diet, and so on remain almost entirely unexplained. So you focused on their habitats first."

"How could a student understand something that even working adults haven't managed to investigate thoroughly? Starting with what we can find out seems only natural."

"Yes. But surprisingly few people can actually do that. Gradually unraveling their ecology takes a tremendous amount of time."

Ecology might be summed up in a single word, but individual differences could still produce significant variations. Studying it therefore required collecting a considerable number of samples.

"It certainly wouldn't be easy if I went through with it. Actually carrying out the research would be difficult."

"I know. But in this report, you've already collected samples based on what you found online and in reference books. Once you decide to do it, you'll follow through, won't you?"

"Then I'll do it."

"See? Your enthusiasm is genuine. And that isn't the only thing you noticed. Every Unown has a different shape. Their shapes vary depending on where they live, but few people have organized that information to 'identify a location's characteristics based on the shapes found in different habitats.' That makes this a study with a very promising perspective."

Unused to such direct praise, Kaim felt bewildered.

"I didn't expect you to praise an unfinished report this much."

"That's because you have such a good eye."

"Thank you."

"Archaeology needs people with fresh perspectives like yours. Preserving fine cultural traditions matters, but so does bringing in new ideas."

"Wouldn't you be enough for that, Cynthia?"

"I can't do it alone. If no one follows me, then once I'm gone, it all ends."

"You make it sound as though my going into archaeology is a given."

"Isn't it?"

"Maybe."

Kaim looked out the window.

The sun had set completely, and streetlights illuminated the university campus.

"I came to university to find something I wanted to do, but in the end, I never found it. I only chose archaeology because I liked history and Pokémon. I don't even know if it's what I really want to do."

"I see. What you want to pursue and what you like aren't necessarily the same thing."

"I always overthink things and end up more lost than ever. It doesn't make me look good to these guys, either."

Kaim stroked the Poké Ball on his desk and lowered his head.

Watching him, Cynthia folded her arms.

Then, suddenly, she said something unexpected.

"Kaim, would you be my assistant?"

The unexpected offer left Kaim speechless.

"What?"

"You're looking for something you want to do, right? So, would you like to study archaeology with me? If you discover an interest in studying archaeology while working with me, that would be wonderful. By my side, you could see different worlds and perhaps find what you want to do. Besides, I'll be very busy next year, and I happen to need an assistant. What do you think? I don't think it's a bad idea."

For any other student, this offer would have been an opportunity to drool over. Even Kaim himself was deeply grateful and could have nodded without hesitation.

But even if he wanted to accept, Kaim had one major question. Until it was answered, he could not take her up on the offer.

"I'm very grateful for the offer, and I'd love to accept right away, but..."

"Oh, is there something you want to ask?"

"Why would you show so much concern for a student you only just met?"

Kaim and Cynthia had only just met. Even if he had a good eye for archaeology, he found it hard to imagine why she would be so generous to him.

Cynthia was both a scholar and a Champion, and her time was incredibly valuable. Why would she take time out of her day to concern herself with Kaim? He did not understand.

"Because you have good qualities. I can tell you care deeply about Pokémon."

"Hm?"

"And I trust my judgment of people. I can't let a promising young person waste his potential just because he 'doesn't know what he wants to do.'"

The Champion's words gave Kaim no reason to doubt himself. Although he still could not quite believe it all, her enthusiasm for his immature ideas brought a slight smile to his face.

"If you put it that way, I have no reason to refuse."

"Then, would you be my assistant?"

"After I graduate, right? Please wait until then."

"Of course. Before you graduate, I'll teach you plenty of things. I can even give you some battle Coaching."

Faced with Cynthia's enticing gaze and outstretched hand, Kaim did not know how to respond. With a wry smile, he took her hand and shook it.

Afterward, they exchanged contact information. Kaim occasionally consulted Cynthia, asking for revisions and guidance, and she replied whenever she had time.

As they kept in touch, however, Kaim discovered that Cynthia was actually rather slovenly.

For one thing, Cynthia usually called him using a computer with a camera, but research materials and other things were always scattered behind her. It was hardly a tidy room. On top of that, she seemed to pay little attention to her diet because she was so busy. Apparently, she sometimes ate nothing but ice cream for breakfast. This was so at odds with her usual elegant demeanor that Kaim was bewildered.

Cynthia was human too, and Kaim did not think she was some perfect superhuman. Still, he planned to rent a room near her combined laboratory and home after graduation to study under her, so the thought of visiting her room gave him a terrible headache.

Kaim had something of a neat streak and wanted to do everything properly. Although he would not force others to be tidy, he could not bear it when someone's lifestyle was too unhealthy or sloppy. As a result, his fellow students called him "Mom."

Since he was not there, Kaim could do nothing about Cynthia's room himself. He decided that the first thing he would do after graduation was tidy it up.