Judging by his expression, it was clear that he hadn't expected to run into Logan here at all—much less see him sitting together with Valerie.
"And this gentleman is…?" Logan nodded lightly toward the man before him. With his status, there was no need for him to stand up in greeting. As the Kanto Champion, Logan never lacked the pride and aloof confidence befitting his title.
"This is Siebold," Valerie quickly explained. "He's a friend I met in the Kalos region. This time, when I came to Kanto, he said he wanted to see things for himself, so he came along with me."
"Hello, Mr. Siebold."
Seeing that the man harbored no hostility toward him and carried himself with courtesy, Logan naturally didn't put on airs. Smiling, he took the initiative and extended his hand.
"Hello, Champion. It's truly an honor to meet you!"
Siebold hurriedly shook Logan's hand, lowering his head slightly as he spoke.
"Please, have a seat, Mr. Siebold."
Logan gestured for him to sit. As Siebold took his seat, Logan's sharp eyes noticed the Poké Balls hanging at the man's waist.
"…Mr. Siebold, you're a Trainer as well?"
Before Siebold could answer, Valerie spoke up for him.
"Siebold is a very capable and outstanding Trainer—and he's also an amazing chef. His cooking is incredible."
"You flatter me, Valerie," Siebold said quickly. "Whether it's my cooking or my skill as a Trainer, I still have a long way to go. I'm working hard to improve."
Though his words were modest, the confidence written clearly across his face told a different story.
"So Mr. Siebold is a chef as well," Logan said with a chuckle. "If you ever travel the Grand Line, I'm sure your culinary skills would improve even faster."
"The Grand Line? Where is that?" Siebold froze for a moment, puzzled. "Is it some hidden region unknown to the world?"
"No, I was just speaking casually," Logan waved it off. "Please don't mind it."
He glanced at Valerie, then at Siebold, leaning slightly forward as he asked,
"…Miss Valerie, are you and Mr. Siebold a couple?"
After all, Siebold had accompanied her all the way from Kalos to Kanto, and Valerie had been rather proactive in praising him. It wasn't an unreasonable guess.
"Oh no, we're not a couple at all," Valerie shook her head with a smile. "Champion, you guessed wrong. We're just close friends—nothing more."
Siebold had just opened his mouth to speak, but upon hearing her answer, he simply nodded as well.
Logan carefully observed their expressions. From what he could tell, neither of them was lying.
If they were lovers, they would have answered firmly and decisively. If the girl were simply shy, there would have been embarrassment—perhaps even a glance toward the man beside her. And even if there were unspoken feelings between them, their eyes would not have been so calm and unruffled.
Valerie's response was open and composed, her expression and gaze steady. Logan was certain that this beautiful girl truly regarded Siebold as nothing more than a friend—there was no trace of romantic ambiguity.
However, when Logan asked the question, Siebold had instinctively glanced at Valerie.
That alone revealed something.
Men, after all, couldn't help harboring expectations toward beautiful women—it was perfectly natural.
From just a few subtle reactions, Logan gleaned quite a bit of information. Compared to a seasoned old fox like him, Valerie and Siebold were still far too green.
Not in terms of age—but in life experience.
At that moment, Logan's Pokédex—equipped with communication functions—began to vibrate.
He took it out and glanced at the message. It was from Erika and Cynthia, asking where he was. They had finished treatment in the medical room and were about to come find him.
After a brief moment of thought, Logan sent them his current location.
If it had just been Valerie sitting across from him, it would've been awkward—having others walk in on him chatting with a young woman might invite misunderstandings. But now that Siebold was here, the excuse practically wrote itself.
With that thought, Logan glanced at Siebold again, suddenly feeling that this man was rather useful after all.
Siebold, meanwhile, was completely baffled by that look.
"…Is something wrong, Champion?" Valerie asked, her fairy-like eyes fixed on Logan.
"It's nothing," Logan waved it off. "Just some friends asking where I am. They're coming over soon."
Then, suddenly, he turned his head toward Yellow, frowning slightly.
"…Yellow, what's wrong? Why have you been staring at Miss Valerie this whole time?"
Ever since earlier, Yellow's expression had been strange. She kept looking at Valerie, as though there was something unusual about her.
After hesitating for a moment, Yellow finally spoke.
"…I don't know why. I just feel a sense of closeness coming from Sister Valerie."
"Huh? You feel it too?" Valerie gasped, covering her lips with her butterfly-like sleeve. Her fairy-bright eyes filled with surprise. "When I first saw you, little sister, I felt the same thing!"
"…Hmm?"
Logan frowned slightly, then said slowly,
"…Miss Valerie, is there something special about you?"
"Something special?" Valerie looked confused.
"Yes," Logan continued. "For example—unusually sensitive senses, or some kind of special ability."
"Well…" Valerie hesitated shyly. "Now that you mention it… since I was little, I've always felt very close to Pokémon. It's almost like I can understand what they're thinking."
She lowered her voice, embarrassed.
"That's why I dress like a Sylveon. I want to become like a Pokémon—to communicate with them."
Perhaps she found her own thoughts childish; her tone was bashful, yet she spoke openly without fear of ridicule.
"I see," Logan nodded. "That explains it. That's why you and Yellow feel this connection."
"In fact, Yellow has the same ability. She can sense Pokémon's thoughts and emotions."
He paused briefly before adding inwardly—
Though compared to Yellow's Viridian Power, Valerie's ability was far weaker. Valerie could only sense emotions, while Yellow could heal Pokémon.
"So you have this ability too?" Valerie exclaimed happily.
Among the vast sea of people, discovering someone else who shared her rare trait stirred genuine joy within her.
Finding common ground, Valerie immediately began chatting with Yellow. She still felt a bit reserved around Logan, but with a younger girl, all restraint vanished.
Seeing them chatting happily, Logan didn't interrupt. Instead, he casually exchanged small talk with Siebold.
They sat in the dessert shop for about half an hour.
Then Logan's Pokédex vibrated again.
He assumed it was another message from Erika or Cynthia.
But the moment he took it out and saw what was displayed on the screen—
His expression instantly turned serious.
The message was from Green.
There were only two words.
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