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Snowflakes drifted gently through the night sky as the hotpots bubbled away with steam.
"It's snowing," Cynthia said softly, stretching out her hand.
Lu Ye: "I'll allow you to warm your hands in my pocket."
Cynthia smiled. "No thanks."
But even so, she slipped her delicate hand into his pocket. Her pale cheeks were flushed with pink.
"How's that?"
"Not cold anymore."
"But my hand's cold."
Cynthia rolled her eyes. "My coat doesn't have pockets."
Lu Ye didn't say anything, his gaze falling on Cynthia's slender, porcelain-like fingers.
Cynthia blushed and quietly withdrew her hand from the table.
"This is just a thank-you gift. Don't get the wrong idea."
"Don't worry. I'll definitely fall asleep tonight remembering the way that felt."
"…That doesn't sound very wholesome."
Cynthia turned her attention to the bubbling hotpot: fresh vegetables glistening with dew, sizzling meatballs, and delicate slices of mutton shabu-shabu…
Beneath the table, her fingers carefully searched—and then, she felt a strong, warm hand gently wrap around hers.
Cynthia pressed her lips together and lowered her gaze, suddenly recalling the first time they held hands in the snow.
Mischievously, she used her pinky finger to scratch his palm.
"Ugh…" Lu Ye's face twitched.
"Teacher Lu, are you okay?" Ash looked over in concern.
Lu Ye nodded weakly. "Stomachache… old issue."
"When can we eat?" Gold leaned on his elbow and asked.
"At least wait for the meatballs to float," Crystal replied.
Beneath the table, their pinkies touched again. Testing the waters, Lu Ye was met with the same soft, slender fingers.
Just then, Caitlin walked into the backyard—and caught sight of the two sitting way too close together.
Her eyes widened.
Caitlin: shocked for a whole year!!
"Caitlin?" Shauntal waved a finger in front of her face. "How many fingers am I holding up?"
Caitlin shook her head and rushed over to the two.
Everyone turned and looked up in surprise.
"I… I want to join the dinner party too," Caitlin said, pouting slightly.
Green was the first to react, smiling brightly, "Just grab a seat! We've got plenty of chopsticks!"
Shauntal bowed apologetically and sat beside Erika, whispering, "Sorry! I'm really sorry about that!"
"No, it's fine," Erika replied sweetly, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Actually, I really wanted to see something like that!"
Shauntal: ???
Not far off, Sabrina squatted beside Gengar and asked, "Even on Christmas… you're still training?"
"Gengarr!" Gengar nodded firmly.
Its dream had always been to help its Trainer become the strongest Trainer there was.
And now, it could feel that its Trainer was finally starting to return those feelings.
"Gengarr! (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧" (Could there be anything more satisfying?) Gengar chuckled smugly.
"That's wonderful," Sabrina said softly, then smiled. "In that case, I'll train with you!"
Caitlin's sudden arrival genuinely caught Cynthia off guard.
"What are you doing here?" Cynthia tucked a strand of golden hair behind her ear.
"Mm." Caitlin didn't respond. Instead, she squeezed between Cynthia and Lu Ye.
Cynthia gently stroked her hair.
"I'll spend time with you after we get home, okay~?"
Caitlin eyed Lu Ye suspiciously, then looked up at Cynthia and shook her head.
That expression… like a puppy that had been abandoned, or a child whose favorite toy was taken away.
"Alright then." Cynthia grinned. "Let's all eat together!"
"…Guess I'll let go now." Lu Ye retracted his hand reluctantly, turned to the steaming hotpot, and smiled, "Let's dig in!"
Time to feast!
Gold's eyes lit up, and he lunged for a juicy meatball with his chopsticks.
Clack!
Their chopsticks clashed. Gold blinked in surprise—Ash looked just as stunned.
Their gazes locked in midair, sparking with fiery tension.
The battle between two foodies had begun.
"This guy…" Silver facepalmed. "He's hopeless…"
In Sword and Shield, dishes were ranked from Alcremie-tier, to Wobbuffet-tier, to Charizard-tier.
And Teacher Lu's cooking?
Definitely Moltres-tier.
Gold blew on the meatball to cool it, then stuffed it in his mouth. His face instantly turned red.
The spiciness exploded on his tongue like a firecracker, yet the rich, savory broth only made him want more.
Swallowing with effort, Gold gulped down some water and immediately targeted his next meatball.
"So spicy!" Lance winced—then his eyes lit up. "But so good!"
Red: "Whew, this is getting me fired up!"
Lorelei: "This flavor… is just unreasonable!"
Ash: "Another bowl, please!"
Teacher Lu smiled as he watched them all.
Fine… I'll wipe the grudge notebook clean this once.
Besides… it's probably time to start a new volume anyway.
Caitlin leaned in toward Cynthia.
Cynthia whispered into her ear, "Give me your hand for a sec."
"Huh?" Caitlin blinked, but offered her hand.
Cynthia held her dainty, almost boneless hand, tilted her head in confusion. Why… doesn't it feel the same as before?
---
Professor Oak's Lab.
Professor Oak stared at the person in front of him.
"What?" Agatha said coldly, leaning on her cane. "This old bag of bones can't come visit?"
The usually composed Professor Oak was actually a little flustered. "Of course you can—I just thought you…"
Agatha glanced around, then at Oak. "Cut back on the cigarettes."
Professor Oak froze.
This… this is the Agatha I know?
The same Agatha who used to blow up over the smallest things?!
"What?"
"…Nothing." Professor Oak shook his head, put out his cigarette, and asked, "Did someone invite you too?"
Agatha nodded slightly.
"Oh," said Oak. They both fell silent.
After decades apart, they were now two old souls, facing one another again.
And much to Agatha's surprise—Seeing Samuel Oak again… she didn't feel angry, or bitter, or full of blame.
Only—
Oh. So this guy got old too, huh.
Outside, the snow continued to fall in flurries.
"I'll go get you a cup of black tea," Oak said in a panic.
"I'd—"
"—You take sugar cubes, but no cream, right?" he added before she could reply.
Agatha was quiet for a long time, then gave a slight nod.
The lab was quiet and still.
She watched Oak's retreating figure as he bustled around.
Rising unsteadily from her seat, she leaned on her cane and walked to his desk.
And then, her pupils shrank.
A faint smile bloomed across Agatha's wrinkled face.
"Let's go, Gengar."
"Gengarr!"
Agatha hobbled toward the snowy night outside.
"I'm back—" Professor Oak returned hurriedly, holding the cup of tea.
But the room was already empty.
He scratched his head, suddenly feeling a little hollow inside.
Sitting back at his desk, he picked up an old, yellowing photo and the letter Agatha had sent him before.
As his eyes moved down the page, Professor Oak couldn't help but laugh.
At the bottom of the letter, where the crumpled page ended—a Gengar's smiling face had been drawn.
---
Snow fell heavily.
The party outside was beginning to wind down.
Red suggested everyone take a group photo to commemorate the night.
Coming from the "Battle Legend" himself, everyone readily agreed.
"C-Can I be in the photo too?" Ash scratched his face awkwardly.
"Of course!" Gold laughed, yanking Ash into the frame. "I officially recognize you, little bro!"
"Heh…" Ash rubbed the back of his head.
Lu Ye looked up at the sky.
He just hoped Gold wouldn't pass his "reckless idiot" genes onto Ash…
Green pulled out a tripod from who-knows-where and set the timer.
"One, two, three… cheese!"
At the same time, she dashed to Silver's side.
Silver blushed and barely managed to catch her.
"Cheese~!" everyone chimed in together.
"Gengarr! (๑`▽´๑)۶"
"Gengar, you blocked the camera—let's do another one!"
"One, two, three… Wait—whose Pikachu is this?!"
"I call foul—it's Ash's!"
"Ahh! Pikachu, get back here!"
"Pika—CHUU! ⚡⚡⚡"
---
Kanto Region – Team Rocket Base
In a dark office, only a suited man and a lone Meowth were present.
The entire Team Rocket base had generously been given the holiday off.
The room was dim, thick with solitude.
Beep beep beep—
Giovanni raised an eyebrow and picked up a rarely used private phone.
It was a voice message—from Lu Ye.
"Boss Giovanni, Merry Christmas! Here's your Christmas present. Be sure to leave me a five-star review~!"
"…A present? For me?"
Giovanni stared at the screen for a long while, then looked down.
It was a group photo.
Everyone in the picture was covered in soot, probably shocked by Pikachu's Thunderbolt.
But everyone was laughing.
Staring at the boy in the red-and-white cap, Giovanni couldn't help but smile.
Then, he fell silent.
In the photo, a red-haired boy stood quietly, his eyes cold and distant—so much like his own when he was young.
Giovanni slowly traced the photo with a large hand, exhaling deeply.
He made a call to Matori, who was grilling squid skewers alone.
"Y-Yes, Boss? What's up?" Matori said with a mouthful of food.
"I heard he's preparing for the Kanto League," Giovanni said. "Give Lu Ye one of our spare Earth Badges…"
"…And give him The Mysteries of the Earth as well."
Matori froze, the squid in her mouth suddenly tasting like ash. "…Understood, sir."
The Mysteries of the Earth—Giovanni's life's work, now gifted away without hesitation?
So…Teacher Lu's value was far greater than she'd imagined.
The room remained quiet.
Giovanni suddenly smiled.
"I, Giovanni, have never owed anyone in my life—except…"
He shook his head, murmuring softly, "Lu Ye… This is my gift in return. I hope it meets your expectations."