True love was right before his eyes

"Kaim, do you only have clothes like these?"

"Well, all right."

Kaim did not care much about clothes. As a result, he only owned similar, safe choices.

"I can't deny it."

"I see..."

"You really don't care about clothes, do you, Kaim?"

"I spend so much time in sportswear that I can't help it."

The Veilstone Gym, where Kaim worked, was a Fighting-type Gym, so they trained their own bodies alongside their Pokémon. He ended up spending more and more time in those clothes, and his personality only encouraged the habit, leaving him wearing the same things even when he went out.

"Is that so?"

"Wouldn't it be better to add a little variety?"

"Ah, of course."

"Kaim, next time, I'm going shopping in Nimbasa City with Miss Cynthia."

Kaim had a bad feeling.

"I see. Go ahead."

"You're coming with us."

Kaim clutched his head. Thanks to his older sister, he knew all too well how long women took to shop. Accompanying them meant not only carrying their bags but also keeping them company for hours.

"If you want to stand beside Miss Cynthia, you need to dress properly, not just perform well in battle."

"Ah."

Kaim's clothes were never tacky, and he looked clean and neat. Still, he knew that was not enough. Standing beside someone as beautiful and famous as Cynthia, he realized this was necessary to avoid diminishing her image.

"Come with us. It's for your own good."

"Do I have the right to refuse?"

"If you beat me, I'll grant you that."

"Isn't that the same as saying no?"

"What do you think, Miss Cynthia? By the way, have you been looking at Kaim's clothes?"

"I think it's a good idea! Kaim is a little careless about fashion, so he should take this opportunity to learn!"

"You seem to be enjoying yourselves, but this is terrible for me."

Not only Caitlin but Cynthia, too, seemed to be having a wonderful time, so Kaim gave up while grumbling. There was no way he could win against these two women.

"That's a rule."

"Don't do that. Just do whatever you like."

Having surrendered, Kaim looked resentfully at the two women, who seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely.

Still, he was somewhat relieved that Cynthia seemed to be genuinely enjoying herself. Of course, he would never say that aloud.

"We go through here."

Caitlin led him onto a deserted path. Beside it was a passage just wide enough for one person.

"I can't believe you found a place like this."

"I found it while taking a walk earlier."

"It looks like a good place to call a hidden spot."

"It's right here."

They passed through a narrow gap. Their route took them through a small space between trees and rocks. Though it was not maintained, the path itself was firm enough to walk along without difficulty, even in sandals.

Before long, they reached an open area. It was a small but very quiet and beautiful beach.

"Wow, it's beautiful."

"Almost no one comes here, so you can spend time without worrying about other people. It's my favorite place."

"Amazing."

All they could hear was the gentle sound of the waves.

The rolling waves were so clear that they could see the seabed.

The white sand was perfect for bringing out the blue of the sea.

"I've seen all sorts of seas, but this might be the first time I've seen one this beautiful."

"It's even prettier than Mio City."

"Oh, it's prettier than my hometown, Nanjō City, too."

"The only seas this beautiful are probably around the Sevii Islands in the Kanto Region and parts of the Alola Region."

The seas around Nanjō City and Mio City were not dirty. Still, wherever people lived, there was human interference. Moreover, seawater differed from place to place, so there were few beaches in the world with water this clear and waves this calm.

"What a nice place."

"You can spend some quiet time here. It's also a good place to look after your Pokémon."

"Yes, let's get to it, then."

Cynthia tossed all her Poké Balls and called her Pokémon out.

"I'll do the same."

Caitlin also let her Pokémon out of their balls.

Kaim followed suit and let his Pokémon do as they pleased.

"You all worked hard during the League. Let loose here."

The Pokémon happily began playing in their own ways.

"Hehe, everyone looks like they're having fun."

"Yes."

The three watched the Pokémon play from beneath a beach umbrella. Kaim's Kuroki played with Cynthia's Glaceon and Caitlin's Reuniclus, while Lucario and Blaziken sparred with Cynthia's Lucario and Caitlin's Gothitelle. Staraptor was taking a nap with Caitlin's Musharna.

"They're much stronger than the last time we met."

Watching Blaziken and the others battle, Caitlin noticed that their movements were better than during their battles when they met the previous year.

"If you keep working hard for a year, you get stronger."

"Because you've been training me."

"You're not wrong."

In any region, few Trainers received ongoing instruction from a Champion. With training from the strongest Trainer in the region, even someone without talent like Kaim could become strong.

"I'm looking forward to our battle later."

"I'm not strong enough to satisfy one of the Elite Four."

"I hope you're as strong as a Gym Leader."

"Let's aim higher."

Just then, Caitlin's stomach let out a desperate growl.

"Oh dear, how embarrassing."

"Is it already one? It's a little late for lunch, so that's only natural."

"Yes, it's time for Kaim's lunch."

Kaim took a lunch box from his bag and opened it. It contained rice balls, sandwiches, and side dishes such as sausages and omelets-a standard packed lunch.

"I prepared Poffins for the Pokémon, too. I was allowed to use plenty of berries, so feel free to feed them."

"Oh, I'm so happy."

"You made this much in such a short time? That's amazing."

"Mr. Cochran helped me. I couldn't have done it alone."

Cochran was a butler, and his cooking was as good as Kaim's. The villa had a large kitchen where they could cook simultaneously, allowing them to prepare the packed lunch in a short time.

"Everyone, it's lunchtime."

When he called the Pokémon, they gathered around.

Each Pokémon chose its favorite Poffin and stuffed it into its cheeks.

"Hehe, my Pokémon are particular about flavor, but they look happy."

"I'm glad they like it. Come on, let's eat, too. Help yourselves to whatever you like."

"Thank you."

Cynthia and Caitlin picked up rice balls and began eating. Cynthia's contained salt-grilled fish, with just enough salt to whet her appetite. Caitlin's contained kelp, and she was impressed by the Japanese flavor, which was uncommon in the Isshu Region.

"It's delicious."

"This is wonderful. I don't get many chances to eat Japanese food."

"That's good."

Kaim picked up a sandwich. Filled with Spam and lettuce, it was easy to eat and filling.

While they ate, Umbreon climbed onto Kaim's lap with a Poffin in its mouth.

"What's wrong?"

"You want to eat with us, don't you? You really love Kaim."

"I still had work to do during the League, so I couldn't give it much attention."

Little Black held the Poffin tightly between its front paws as it chewed. Kaim continued eating while stroking Little Black's head.

Then Caitlin asked Kaim a question.

"Kaim, do you only have Kuroki, Blaziken, Lucario, and Staraptor?"

"Ah. Yes."

"No others?"

"No. In the Hoenn Region, Little Black, Blaziken, and the Zhu Kaien my sister gave me got me through."

"Your sister?"

"Yes. Cynthia probably knows, but I haven't done much Pokémon catching. Or rather, I was a bit of an idiot, so I ignored the Pokédex during my journey."

Thinking back now, he did not know why he had been so stubborn about not catching wild Pokémon. He had caught no others because he felt he did not need them. Little Black and Blaziken had gotten him through almost every Gym battle, though those battles had all been incredibly difficult.

His older sister had given him Zhu Kaien when she left to travel somewhere after collecting all her Badges in three months. "Maybe she'll suit you," she had said. Zhu Kaien's expression was so serious that he could hardly believe she was his sister's Pokémon. Her level was extremely high, so he did not use her in official matches such as Gym battles, but he often used her in battles out in the wild.

"Your sister sounds incredible."

"Well, I don't even know where she is now."

"Is that so? Let's get back to the subject. Aren't you going to add two more to your team?"

At present, Kaim had his hands full with four Pokémon. Cynthia had decided that adding more before he could establish a training plan would prevent him from training them all properly, so she had put a stop to it.

"That's Cynthia's training policy."

"First, if a Trainer doesn't learn how to properly raise the Pokémon they already have, they won't be able to raise any additional ones properly, either."

"That's true. I can raise my own Pokémon, but I've never taught anyone else, so I hadn't thought about it that way."

"As long as you can manage it, a Trainer should treat them all equally. That's why I try not to increase their numbers until the Trainer is mature enough to care for everyone."

"I haven't reached the point where I can add more yet."

At Kaim's words, Cynthia put a hand to her chin.

"But, yes. Kaim has grown a great deal, so it might be a good idea to add more soon."

"Hm?"

"I think you know it yourself, but you've become much stronger. You've improved considerably compared with when you first became a Gym Trainer."

"Uh, well."

He had hardly ever beaten Sumomo, his Gym Leader, but lately his win rate had risen to about half. Kaim had no talent for battling, but he certainly had the potential to grow stronger. In addition, he had traveled for a long time, so he had plenty of experience.

In Cynthia's view, what Kaim most lacked in order to become strong was a tactical mind and confidence. He still lacked confidence in some areas, but now that he had learned how to think, she believed that developing his ability to make split-second decisions would bring him to the level of a Gym Leader.

"You've learned how to raise them and how to think, so I believe it would be a good idea to try expanding your team now."

"Add more Pokémon?"

Hearing his somewhat reluctant reply, Caitlin tilted her head.

"Couldn't you decide whether to use them as regular members based on how their training goes?"

"Oh, no, it's not that I dislike adding more, or that I have something else to consider. That's not it. Even though we've talked about adding more, I haven't thought at all about which Pokémon to raise."

"Kaim's team is mainly Fighting-type, yet his ace is Kuroko. What a jumble."

"Lucario joined me when I joined the Veilstone Gym. I'm a Gym Trainer, so I mainly use Fighting-types, and I thought another Fighting-type would be best."

"I don't think the type necessarily matters. If Fighting-types suit you, you can pursue that. If you want a balanced team, you can add a Pokémon that covers your weaknesses, or one that makes the most of your current strengths. I think it's fine to leave that up to you."

Did he want to specialize in Fighting-types, or did he want a balanced team like Cynthia's?

Kaim had not yet considered expanding his team, so he had to decide which path to take first.

"You don't need to decide right now. I think you can take your time considering it."

"No, I've already decided."

"Hm?"

"That was a very quick decision. What are you going to do, then?"

"I'll keep a good balance. I think mastering Fighting-types would be nice, but I prefer this."

"Something tipped the scales, didn't it?"

"A few things. First, I don't have any talent for Fighting-type battles. They don't suit me very well."

"Yes. Perhaps that's why your ace is Kuroko."

"Besides..."

"Besides?"

"I thought that if I had a balanced team like Cynthia's, it would be easier for her to teach me."

Hearing that, Cynthia froze for a moment, then smiled.

"Oh, so you thought of that?"

"Is that bad?"

"No, I'm happy. I'd be even happier if you told me what you really meant."

"You're so noisy."

"If you want to flirt, could you do it when I'm not around?"

Caitlin marvelled, and the two exchanged a look. Cynthia blushed, and Kaim shrugged.

"I know very well that the two of you were close before you started dating. Getting along is fine, but please don't forget that I'm here too."

"Hehe, that's no good."

"Oh, this is too surprising."

Hearing Caitlin's words, Kaim tilted his head.

"What?"

"Of course. When you say things like that, you blush too."

"Don't joke."

Kaim made a wry face, sighed, stood up, and walked over to the Pokémon.

"You two get along well."

"Are you kidding me?"

"No?"

Cynthia looked at Caitlin, who was gracefully covering her mouth with a smile, mischief in her eyes.

"Still, this is surprising."

"Yes."

Cynthia vaguely understood why Kaim had become somewhat compliant. Just the other day, after winning the Pokémon League, when Shirona told him her feelings at the stadium roof entrance, Kaim revealed his inner thoughts as well. At that time, Kaim told Cynthia what he truly wanted in his heart. Kaim had always hidden his true feelings and deceived them, and until now, he had not known how difficult and embarrassing it was to tell others about his heart. That experience changed Kaim.

Having experienced the utmost embarrassment of revealing one's heart to the one they loved, the embarrassment of other genuine feelings fell far short of it. Therefore, Kaim evolved a mindset that would not be shaken even by a trivial matter.

"Do you have any idea?"

"Eh?!"

"Please listen carefully tonight."

"Take it easy, okay?"

Above all, she was allowed to use the villa.

"Well, I'll take it easy. It depends on the circumstances."

Watching Caitlin smile from the bottom of her heart, Cynthia thought perhaps she should think carefully about what she was going to say next, and broke out in a cold sweat.

Evening.

When I returned from the beach, Cochran greeted me.

"Welcome home."

"Yes, I'm home."

Taking off his shoes at the entrance, Kaim suddenly felt something was amiss.

There were shoes I didn't recognize.

Some shoes weren't there when Kaim and the others went to the beach.

There should only be four people in this villa: Caitlin, Cochran, Cynthia, and Kaim, but there were shoes that shouldn't have been there. There were two pairs.

The women's shoes were pink, and the other pair was small-were they a child's?

Kaim somehow guessed whose shoes they were, but he didn't know about the other pair. As I tilted my head inward, Cochran continued.

"Lady Caitlin, a guest has arrived."

"Oh, so you've come."

"A guest?"

"Ah! Long time no see, Ms. Cynthia! Ms. Kaim!"

Behind Cochran was a woman wearing glasses with a purplish tone.

"Good day, Shimi. Have you finished writing?"

"Yeah! I managed it with the super express!"

The person who appeared was Writer Shikimi, one of the Elite Four. The two had met before when they came to Caitlin's villa.

"Long time no see, Shimi."

"Long time no see! I'm so glad to see you again! Oh, yes. I brought this to celebrate the defense of the Sinnoh Region Champion title, so if you don't mind, please accept it."

With that said, the box Shikimi handed me contained a fairly decent platter of meat and vegetables.

"Is it really okay to have this?"

"Yes."

As for Kaim, I was glad that sort of thing was easier to do.

"Thank you."

"Yes!"

"Who do you want me to see?"

"Little Alice, you two have returned."

"Eh, really?"

A young girl with long hair and brown skin poked her face out from the back door.

"I've been waiting!"

"You?"

"Pleased to meet you! I'm Iris!"

"He is the champion of the last Isshu League."

Cynthia and Kaim widened their eyes.

The young girl in front of them was said to be the champion of the Isshu Region. She was the youngest champion yet.

"Yes, you are."

"Yeah! We won the last Isshu League! Ms. Cynthia is a champion too, right?"

Cynthia's eyes gleamed as she confidently spoke to Iris.

"Yes, I am the Sinnoh Region Champion."

"Awesome! Let's battle later!"

"Yes."

"Nice to meet you! Who's the brother over there?"

"I'm Kaim. I'm Cynthia's assistant."

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Kaim!"

Iris grabbed Kaim's hand and shook it. Kaim smiled wryly in his heart at her boundless energy.

"...Oh, nice to meet you."

"Alice will be staying here too, so please get along well, Kaim."

"Why mention only my name?"

"Isn't it because you're bad with children?"