Recaps

Kaim and Cynthia shared a quiet evening as they encouraged each other to grow, but Kaim could not accompany her to an academic conference because he had become a substitute Gym Leader. Cynthia traveled alone to Alamos Town for her presentation and began exploring its distinctive landscape and history.

• Cynthia told Kaim she wanted to learn housework from him, and he promised to teach her as they ate with their Pokémon.
• After dinner, a tipsy Cynthia urged Kaim to accept himself, and he reassured her that he liked her.
• Cynthia invited Kaim to accompany her to a conference in Alamos Town, but he declined because he had Gym Leader duties and scheduled challengers.
• Cynthia told Kaim that Sumo would study abroad in the Galar Region, and they discussed the conference and Alamos Town’s Space-Time Tower.
• Cynthia arrived alone in Alamos Town, missed Kaim’s company, and went out to explore the city’s distinctive buildings and preserved natural scenery.

Cynthia met Alice, a tour guide and music student, in a garden in Alamos Town and learned about its history and Alice’s memories of her grandmother. After Alice played the soothing song Oración, she led Cynthia toward the Space-Time Tower.

• Cynthia entered a garden and met Alice, who recognized her as Champion Cynthia.
• Alice explained that architect Godi had designed the garden and helped develop Alamos Town, including the Space-Time Tower.
• Alice shared memories of her grandmother, who had taught her stories about Godi, the tower, and a Pokémon.
• At Cynthia’s request, Alice played Oración on a leaf and explained that the song could soothe and heal Pokémon.
• Alice led Cynthia from the garden to the Space-Time Tower.

Cynthia visited Alamos Town’s Space-Time Tower with Alice and learned that the twin towers honoring Dialga and Palkia were also a century-old musical instrument. As they prepared to explore inside, Alice’s childhood friend Tonio joined them to share his knowledge of the tower.

• Alice showed Cynthia the Space-Time Tower from the balloon and explained that its two towers represented Time and Space and could play music using Soundboards and electricity.
• Cynthia asked why the tower had been built, and Alice recalled vaguely that it was meant to prepare for battles in the future.
• Cynthia and Alice approached the tower, where Cynthia reflected that different perspectives revealed different aspects of things and told Alice she had an apprentice.
• Tonio arrived while investigating the tower, and Alice introduced him to Cynthia as her childhood friend who knew a lot about the tower.
• Cynthia welcomed Tonio’s offer to join their tour, and the three headed inside the Tower of Time.

Tonio guided Cynthia and Alice through the Space-Time Tower, explaining how its sphere and pendulum symbolized space and time and how the tower functioned as a musical instrument. Cynthia learned that Tonio was descended from the tower’s architect, Godi, and encouraged his research before the group prepared to explore the rest of the city.

• Tonio showed Cynthia and Alice the sphere in the Space Tower and explained that it represented the universe and Earth.
• Cynthia discussed the legends of Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina, recalling her recent visit to the Distortion World.
• Tonio showed them the machine that operated the Space-Time Tower as a musical instrument and revealed that he was Godi’s descendant.
• Tonio explained that he was researching Godi’s intentions, and Cynthia praised his dedication.
• Tonio and Alice offered to guide Cynthia around the rest of the city.

Cynthia toured Alamos Town with Alice and Tonio, then called Kaim from her hotel and talked with him about the town and his new Gym Leader duties. She ended the call by admitting she had almost called out Kaim’s name when she arrived in town.

• Cynthia thanked Alice and Tonio for showing her around Alamos Town and paid for their dinner before giving them her contact information.
• Alice noticed Cynthia’s red ring and asked Tonio whether Cynthia had a girlfriend, but he did not know.
• Cynthia called Kaim after receiving his message, and he told her that the house felt quiet without her.
• Kaim explained that he was learning to adjust his Gym battles to challengers’ badges and was still getting used to the Gym’s Pokémon.
• Cynthia opened her hotel window to see the illuminated Space-Time Tower and told Kaim she had almost called his name when she arrived in Alamos Town.

Cynthia enjoyed a phone conversation with Kaim, then attended an academic conference and social gatherings while reflecting on how much she valued having him as her assistant and boyfriend. The chapter ended with Professor Oak Door praising Cynthia’s research environment as she thought of Kaim.

• Cynthia told Kaim she wanted him beside her, and they chatted by phone until they were ready to sleep.
• After her presentation, Cynthia met Alice for dinner and dessert, showed her the ring she had bought in Alto Mare, and revealed that Kaim was now her boyfriend.
• Cynthia attended the conference’s social gathering, declined to pursue joint research with strangers, and spoke with Professor Oak Door.
• Cynthia told Oak Door that she had an assistant who had helped her greatly, while he inferred the closeness of her relationship with Kaim.

Cynthia learned that Green had become the Viridian Gym Leader after losing to her, then accepted Oak’s old sea chart marking a remote island in Hoenn. She returned home to Kaim and prepared to make Hoenn their next destination.

• Cynthia asked Oak about Green, and Oak explained that his grandson had become the Viridian Gym Leader after Team Rocket’s Giovanni disappeared.
• Oak gave Cynthia an old chart marking a remote island in southern Hoenn, where rare and powerful Pokémon were said to live.
• Cynthia accepted the chart because she wanted to investigate the old man’s intentions and explore a region she had never visited.
• The next day, Cynthia left Alamos Town and returned home near Mio City.
• Cynthia reunited with Kaim and told him she wanted to hear about his experiences as a Gym Leader over a meal.
• Cynthia and Kaim set Hoenn as their next destination.

Substitute Gym Captain Kaim defeated a challenger named Gangshi after Nidorino fell to Murkrow, then let the arrogant boy leave with a Cobol Badge and a warning. After tending to the battle Pokémon, Kaim confirmed he would be away for about a week to investigate again.

• Gangshi's Murkrow defeated Kaim's Nidorino, making Gangshi the winner of the Gym battle.
• Kaim awarded Gangshi a Cobol Badge and a Technical Machine, but Gangshi mocked Kaim and the Gym Trainers for being weak.
• Kaim warned Gangshi not to let his talent and quick badge collecting make him arrogant, and Gangshi left without accepting the warning.
• The Gym Trainers complained about Gangshi's insults, and Kaim said they should let the boy reach his potential before showing him the difference in strength.
• After treating the Pokémon and planning more training, Kaim confirmed he would take the next day off to investigate again.