I just want to be with Kaim

She had considered it before. But Cynthia truly intended not to express those personal feelings this time.

Watching Cynthia ponder how to answer, Kaim spoke.

"Is there anything you want?"

"Hm?"

"You went shopping with Caitlin this morning, so you didn't get to shop on your own."

Cynthia rolled her eyes.

Cynthia had never said, "I want to buy things on my own." He had read her thoughts from nothing but circumstantial evidence and her expression.

"Ah, then would you go out with me?"

"Yes."

"Are you three going to the bookstore?"

"Yes. We won't stay there forever, but for now."

"Right."

"If we split up, that makes it a date for you two!"

Iris's words made Cynthia freeze, and Kaim looked away.

"It's a date."

"A date! How wonderful!"

"You two have fun!"

"It looks like we'll need a third girls' get-together."

"Excuse me."

Kaim could only wait for time to pass as the women grew loud over their drinks. Intervening would only make things harder for Cynthia. Honestly, he hadn't expected Caitlin to be so upset.

Lamenting his helplessness here, he could only hope Cynthia would be released soon.

"So, what exactly do you want to look at?"

After lunch, Cynthia and Kaim walked through town. They had parted from the other three for the time being, but now they were simply wandering aimlessly through the mall.

"Honestly, I haven't really thought about it."

"You haven't?"

"No. I just wanted to be with you, Kaim."

"Is that so?"

There wasn't really anything she wanted. She had traveled all this way to a major city in another region, intending to buy something, but hadn't decided what.

"After this morning, Kaim, I think I've had enough of clothes. I'd like to look at little things and general goods for now."

"I'm grateful for that. Honestly, I was getting a little bored."

"It's not a field you're interested in anyway. It can't be helped."

"Wouldn't it be better to decide on a shop first?"

"Yes. There's a map over there. Let's look at it and decide."

Cynthia took Kaim's hand and headed toward the map.

She quickly scanned the map and picked a shop that seemed to sell things she might find interesting.

"Let's try this shop first."

"Sure."

Just as they were about to move, Shirona stopped.

Kaim stopped too, wondering what had happened, and Cynthia timidly asked him a question.

"What is it?"

"I want to hold your hand."

"Sure."

Kaim held out his hand. Cynthia stared at it.

"...?"

"Uh, what?"

Kaim was confused, unable to understand Cynthia's reaction.

She had said she wanted to hold his hand, so he had offered it, but she hadn't even tried to take it.

"Is that okay?"

"Of course. You're helping me out. Is there a problem?"

"I thought you'd refuse."

"We're on a date, so it's perfectly normal. Come on, let's go."

Kaim took Cynthia's hand and started walking.

For a moment, she was tugged along, but soon she matched his pace and came up beside him.

Cynthia chuckled when she saw that Kaim's profile had grown more tense than before. They intertwined their fingers and walked toward their destination together.

"Oh, how about this?"

The first place they stopped wasn't their intended destination, but a hat shop along the way.

Their being here was entirely Cynthia's idea. It had simply caught her eye. That was the only reason, but it was enough to draw a woman inside.

Cynthia picked up a green hat and put it on Kaim's head.

"No good. Then how about this one?"

Cynthia picked up hat after hat, repeatedly putting them on Kaim's head and swapping them out.

"Am I going to become a dress-up doll?"

"It's just hats this time, so that's fine, right?"

"It's much easier than clothes."

"Right? This one's next, then."

"I don't remember agreeing to that."

Ignoring Kaim's words, Cynthia put the hat on him and laughed.

As he stared blankly at his reflection in the mirror, Cynthia's face appeared beside his. With little difference in their heights, their faces were level. That was when Kaim noticed that his hat matched Cynthia's.

"These hats are sold as a pair. What do you think?"

The hat had a white moon design against a black background. Kaim liked it because the moon also symbolized his partner, Kuroko. Cynthia's, on the other hand, had a sun design.

"Heh, not bad."

"Really? With sunglasses, even people in Sinnoh wouldn't recognize me."

"No way. You have long hair, Cynthia, and more importantly, you have a strong presence."

"I think it'd work. Look, these cover most of my face."

Cynthia put on the sunglasses displayed with the hats. Strangely, that alone made her look like a celebrity.

"You seem to stand out in a different way than usual."

"Huh, really?"

"To begin with, a beautiful woman will stand out no matter what. Give it up."

"I see. Sorry."

Cynthia took off the sunglasses and returned them to the shelf.

She was happy to be casually called beautiful, but he had often said that even before they started dating, so she didn't dare read too much into it.

"But the design is nice. Even you would like it, Kaim, since it isn't too flashy, right?"

"Yeah. It reminds me of Little Black. I think it's nice."

"Hehe. The sun and moon contrast with each other, but they also support each other's existence. How lovely."

"Do you like it?"

"Yes."

At Cynthia's answer, Kaim removed both their hats and headed to the register.

"Hm? Are you buying them?"

"Yeah, I like them. I'll give you the sun one, Cynthia."

"Is that okay?"

"I'll buy them because they're nice."

"Then I'll pay half."

"No, no, no. I don't make as much as you, Cynthia, but my income's pretty good. I can afford this much."

Kaim gently pushed Cynthia back and took the hats to the register to pay.

"Here."

Kaim placed the sun-patterned hat he'd bought on Cynthia's head. Being black, it went well with her black sleeveless top and black fitted trousers.

"Looks good. Black really is your color, Cynthia, so it suits you."

"Thank you. I'm happy."

"If you're happy, that's what matters most."

Kaim spoke in his usual tone.

Standing beside Kaim, Cynthia gently stroked the hat he had put on her.

"Maybe you wanted something matching?"

"Sure."

Kaim gave no answer. Nothing seemed wrong, but she didn't know what his true intention was.

Well, besides this, I'd like matching rings too.

Cynthia murmured inwardly as she stroked the red ring on her right ring finger. It had been given to her during her visit to Alto Mare, chosen without consulting Kaim because it looked good on her. Although Kaim liked it, it wasn't something they had bought together. Now she wore it on her right ring finger as a symbol of her lover, but if anything, it was more of a souvenir from her travels.

Thinking of it that way, although they had decided rather quickly, this could be called their first purchase together.

"Our first matching things."

"There's the ring."

"I chose that ring, but we decided on these hats together, right?"

"Ah, that's what you mean."

"I want to gradually have more things we share."

Despite having known each other for a long time and being close, they didn't know everything about each other. They had originally been strangers. Even one's family, or oneself, couldn't grasp everything about a person, so knowing everything was impossible.

But they could increase what they understood and shared. They could correct misunderstandings and come to understand each other. Cynthia believed repeating that process was the key to building a harmonious relationship. Of course, even without that reasoning, she wanted to know more about Kaim.

"Yeah."

"Yes. That's why I want to spend as much time with you as possible."

"Ah."

Someday, I want us to choose a different, 'proper ring' together.

She didn't say what that ring would represent. Their romantic relationship had only just begun, after all. For now, she needed to cherish what they had.

Even so, Cynthia hoped she could have that kind of relationship someday.

She hoped Kaim felt the same, but it wasn't something she should say now. Understanding that, Shirona left those words unspoken and instead linked her arm through Kaim's.

The two reached their destination, the general goods shop, and looked around inside.

As a general goods shop, it offered a wide selection, from everyday necessities to small ornaments and food.

"Oh, this cup is cute."

Cynthia picked up a cup featuring a Milotic design. The red and blue of Milotic's scales were vividly depicted against the white background.

"Uh, a Milotic theme?"

"Isn't it nice? It's beautiful."

"Oh, I suppose so."

"Right? Let's buy it."

In a good mood, Cynthia picked up a box containing the same item.

"Milotic is popular in Unova too."

"It's said to be the most beautiful Pokémon. It lives in Unova, so it's no surprise it's popular."

"Hehe, so it lives in Unova."

The Hoenn Region was known as Milotic's main habitat. More precisely, it was the main habitat of Feebas, Milotic's pre-evolved form. Milotic was extremely rare in the wild, and because its evolution required conditions beyond simply leveling up, few trainers could add one to their team.

To add a Milotic to one's roster, one had to patiently train a Feebas, but like Magikarp, Feebas learned almost no combat moves. Raising one was therefore extremely difficult, and Cynthia's ability to raise Milotic, as well as her affection for her Pokémon, was clearly extraordinary.

Of course, being its main habitat didn't mean it couldn't live in other regions. Milotic themselves had been found in the wild, though in small numbers. However, they were not only scarce but also highly intelligent, making them wary and difficult to encounter.

"Unova is a region that reveres Dragon-types. Milotic isn't a Dragon-type, but it looks like a dragon, so perhaps it's regarded as one."

"Maybe. It does look more like a dragon than a sea serpent. By the way, does that reverence for Dragon-types refer to the legendary Pokémon in Unova's folklore?"

"That's right. In the Isshu Region, people believe in two Pokémon, Zekrom and Reshiram. Apparently, they serve heroes who pursue ideals and truth."

"Ideals and truth, huh?"

He didn't know what they were searching for. But one thing was certain: someone acknowledged as a hero had something they deeply wished to accomplish. Even Kaim understood that.

"Is that why there are so many monochrome things in the Isshu Region?"

There were many black-and-white things in the Isshu Region. Of course, they weren't the only colors, but they were everywhere, and he had the impression there were more than in other regions.

"Perhaps. According to legend, Zekrom is a black Pokémon, and Reshiram is a white Pokémon."

"I see."

"Oh, look. That's why they have things like this."

Cynthia picked up the item that had just caught her eye: a black choker. A white bracelet was displayed beside it.

"These are a pair too. They seem to use contrasting black and white. I suppose they're accessories themed after Zekrom and Reshiram."

"If people worship them, that means there's somewhere dedicated to those two deities."

"Yes. If I remember correctly, it's a place called the Dragonspiral Tower."

"Dragonspiral Tower."

"Are you interested?"

"Yeah. I want to go."

"I thought you'd say that. Let's spend a week here, then head over."

"I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of place it is."

Kaim was a little surprised by how eager he felt to discover what Dragonspiral Tower was like. It was unlike him.

I kept that thought to myself and picked up the anklet in front of me. It was white, decorated with something resembling a white stone.

"The 'Float Stone Bracelet.' It's a Float Stone anklet symbolizing Reshiram."

"This choker is the 'Black Stone Choker.' It's an accessory modeled after Zekrom."

"Almost everyone knows the legend."

"How much people know about legends and folklore varies from region to region. In our Sinnoh Region, the myths of Dialga and Palkia are well known, but the Legendary Birds of the Kanto Region aren't very famous. Still, I'd like to know how many things in this city symbolize faith in that Pokémon."

"If you keep it with you, you'll have more chances to learn about the history."

"Of course."

In fact, the Unova Region had not only Dragonspiral Tower, but also a town called Soulflow City, Alice's hometown, where dragons were revered. The town itself was a symbol of that faith, so the legend might already have taken root in the townspeople's hearts.

"This bracelet is nice."

"Oh, so you like accessories yourself, Kaim."

"I like how it looks. The color isn't pure, but it's a simple white, nothing flashy. I like it."

"Are you going to buy it?"

"Yeah."

"Then I think I'll buy this choker, too. It's black, so I should be able to wear it often. Oh, you just bought me a hat, so let me buy that for you."

"No, I'll pay. I bought this ring and these earrings with your money in the first place, Cynthia."

"Does that bother you?"

"I want to be on equal footing with you, Cynthia."

Kaim owed everything he was now to Cynthia.

If Cynthia hadn't invited me to be her assistant that day, I would never have become the Kaim I was today. I was deeply grateful to Cynthia for encouraging me to grow, not only for my Pokémon's sake, but for my own as well. Kaim felt he owed her so much.

"I'm grateful to you, too."

"Even so. Well, it's fair to say half of this is just me being selfish."

"You're really serious about this, aren't you?"

Cynthia felt he was unlikely to budge, so she tried going along with what Kaim said and handed over the choker.

Then Cynthia had an idea.

"Oh, then how about this?"

"Yes?"

"I'll buy this bracelet and give it to you, Kaim. You'll buy this necklace and give it to me. What do you think?"

"Oh. That sounds good."

"Settled!"

Cynthia and Kaim exchanged the accessories they were holding and paid for them. Cynthia also picked up a cup on her way past.

After leaving the shop, they exchanged the accessories they had bought for each other.

"Then let me put this bracelet on you."

"Okay."

Kaim sat on a bench in the shopping mall and held out his left hand, the one without a watch. I fastened the bracelet around his well-toned arm.

"Nice."

"It looks good. It really suits you."

"Then it's my turn next."

After Cynthia handed him the choker, Kaim swept her long hair forward over her shoulders, exposing her neck. Then I fastened the choker around Cynthia's neck and adjusted its length.

"Does it hurt?"

"It's just right. No problem."

"...Good."

I gathered my hair behind my head and checked my reflection in the small mirror I carried with me. The choker was made around a replica of a dark-looking stone, and it matched my current outfit well. It wouldn't look out of place even with my usual black coat.

"Does it suit me?"

"Yeah, it really does."

"Thank you. I'm glad we bought it."

"Yeah."

"Hehe, let's take a picture together to remember this."

"A picture?"

"Yes."

"All right, let's take one together."

After getting Kaim's approval, Cynthia opened her smartphone's front-facing camera, pulled him closer, and tapped the screen.

The photo showed Cynthia smiling gracefully, with Kaim's usual expressionless face beside hers.

"Why don't you smile when you take pictures?"

"My facial muscles have always been weak."

"Hehe, yes, you've been like that ever since we met."

"Leave it alone."

"That's so like you, Kaim. I like that part of you, too."

Kaim shrugged at Cynthia's words.

Looking at the photo of the two of them on her smartphone, Cynthia smiled happily again.