"Grandma… I'm back."

Cynthia opened the door and called softly inside. Behind her, Sato and the others saw for the first time… a cautious side of Cynthia?

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump…

The sound of a cane striking the floor echoed closer and closer, until a gray-haired, stern-faced old woman slowly emerged from one of the rooms.

"You're back."

"Mm… Grandma, these are some friends I met during my journey, Sato, Joseph, and Mark."

Cynthia nodded "obediently". It took her a couple seconds to remember to introduce them.

Soon, Cynthia's grandmother turned her gaze to the three of them, and for a moment, all three felt like they couldn't breathe.

She was definitely a formidable person!

The three gave a polite greeting, then stood quietly off to the side, stiffly enduring Cynthia's grandmother's silent scrutiny.

"…Mm, let's eat first."

Unless they were imagining it, a full two minutes passed before Cynthia's grandmother finally spoke, then turned and headed to the dining room, leaning on her cane.

"Hah~ My legs almost gave out from the tension just now," Mark slumped weakly against the wall the moment her back disappeared, clearly still shaken.

"…Grandma's just strict with younger people. You'll… get used to it," Cynthia mumbled, giving up on trying to defend her grandmother.

"Come on, let's not keep her waiting." Joseph patted Mark's defeated face, then followed her in.

The three sat at the table without saying a word, watching Cynthia and her grandmother bustling about. None of them dared to offer help.

Just moments ago, Joseph had instinctively tried to go into the kitchen to help carry dishes, only to be firmly shot down by a sharp, "Go sit down."

He could tell… Cynthia's grandmother wasn't just being polite. She genuinely meant for him to stay put.

Once Cynthia and her grandmother were seated, the table was already filled with all sorts of delicious-looking dishes. At first glance, it wasn't any less impressive than Joseph's cooking.

"…Eat."

With that single "command" from the grandmother, she picked up her chopsticks first, prompting Sato and the others to cautiously follow suit.

"Huh?"

Mark, who had been acting timid ever since he stepped through the door, nervously picked up some leafy greens in front of him under Cynthia's grandmother's "imposing" presence.

Then, he let out a strange hum.

The grandmother turned to look at him.

Mark froze in fear and instinctively chose to swallow.

Mark choked.

"…"

"I… I just thought obaasan's c-cooking was so good that I got a little too excited."

After downing a big glass of warm water, Mark finally managed to swallow the greens and gave a feeble explanation.

"Then… eat more." Cynthia's grandmother replied, then switched out the other two plates of different vegetables and placed them right in front of Mark.

Now his entire field of vision was green…

Mark felt wronged. He genuinely thought the food was delicious, that's why he made that surprised "huh?"

But looking at the three plates of leafy greens now surrounding him, he just didn't have the courage to stretch his arm over to grab a piece of meat.

---

"Thank you for the meal!" x2

"…Thank you, for the meal." Sato.

The three of them completely gave up the idea of staying at Cynthia's house and instead asked for the location of the only inn in Celestic Town.

"Thank you as well for looking after and putting up with Cynthia along the way, even though… she hasn't grown much this time." Cynthia's grandmother's tone remained as stern and serious as ever.

Hearing that, the three could only stay quiet. 'Not much growth?'

Her granddaughter was already the youngest genius Trainer they'd ever met. Compared to Lance or Steven, she was no less talented; maybe even more so, considering her exceptional skills as a Breeder.

They had no idea just how fast Cynthia would have to grow to finally earn a word of praise from her grandmother…

With that thought, the three of them couldn't help but feel a little sympathy for Cynthia.

Then they took their leave and headed to the inn.

"Rest up today. Tomorrow I'll play tour guide and show you around Celestic Town," Cynthia said said apologetically as she walked them to the door.

"Take care of your business, don't worry about us," Sato nodded. From the corner of his eye, he saw Cynthia's grandmother approaching with her cane… he immediately stopped talking and slipped away.

"Grandmother," Cynthia turned and lowered her head slightly, her tone respectful.

"Come. Let me see how much you've grown."

"Yes, Grandmother."

When they reached the backyard, a Garchomp with fully restrained aura slowly descended beside them.

Seeing this, Cynthia sent out her own Garchomp.

Clearly, the two Pokémon knew each other. And they also clearly understood what was about to happen. Without needing to be told, they both flew to the designated battlefield in the backyard.

Ten minutes later, Cynthia's Garchomp lay on the ground, defeated and dazed, eyes spinning.

The other Garchomp stood quietly in place, nearly unscathed, looking down at its fallen counterpart with a gaze full of approval.

"While there hasn't been a major progress, your control over power has improved noticeably, and your tactics are more flexible… These are things you picked up from those three, aren't they?"

Her grandmother released a Chimecho to help heal Garchomp's injuries as she spoke with certainty.

Cynthia froze. Honestly, she had learned far more than just that, but she was long used to not contradicting her grandmother; it was pointless. So she said nothing, as if silently agreeing.

"That's enough. Time to move on. I've already applied for a Sinnoh League Investigator position for you. Report to Lily of the Valley Island in one week." Her grandmother announced the decision without room for discussion.

While tending to her injured Garchomp, Cynthia silently clenched her fist.

"Grandmother… could I delay the investigator assignment…?" Cynthia asked softly, head lowered.

Time seemed to freeze. Garchomp and Chimecho remained completely silent.

After she spoke, Cynthia kept her head down, quietly applying medicine to Garchomp's wounds.

"…Why?"

After a long, long pause, her grandmother asked in a flat voice. The lack of an outright rejection already made Cynthia secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

"I originally planned to visit all three lakes and try to communicate with the Lake Guardians. I still haven't gone to Lake Acuity in the north. And… I also promised Sato that I'd travel with them to all three lakes."

Cynthia didn't hide anything. Her experience growing up told her that hiding things from her grandmother only made her angrier… and more likely to oppose.

After another long silence, her grandmother finally said, "Do as you wish then. But the investigator position slot will only be held for a month."

"Understood. Thank you, Grandmother!" Cynthia stood up immediately and replied seriously, a hint of joy in her voice.

"You can have your fun, but don't forget your mission. Our entire clan is raising you, not so you can become someone's little girlfriend."

"I AM NOT!"

Cynthia's face flushed red…