Your head really is full of just yourself, huh?
Hearing Damian say that, Cynthia froze. No one had ever said something like that to her before.
Dignified, elegant, calm, rational—that was the first impression Cynthia left on everyone.
And her personality really was kind and approachable. Even after becoming Sinnoh's Champion, that hadn't changed. Anyone who'd actually interacted with her knew that.
Because that was who Cynthia was. Pokémon with Pokémon, Pokémon with humans, humans with humans—no matter who met whom, that encounter was a kind of "fate." And from that "fate," something beautiful would always be born.
She'd always believed that, and she never doubted it. She believed in the bonds between humans and Pokémon. She believed the world's future would be bright and brilliant.
Responsibility, strength, conviction, knowledge—in the eyes of most people in Sinnoh, Cynthia was practically flawless.
Because she really was "perfect" like that, aside from the way she got indecisive whenever she was choosing ice cream.
But didn't that just add a cute, adorable little quirk to the cool and composed Cynthia?
Even her looks were almost impossible to nitpick: tall and graceful, neither overly voluptuous nor flat, an exquisitely beautiful face, fair skin, a dazzling waterfall of golden hair, and the kind of figure and beauty that made other girls jealous.
To outsiders, Cynthia was almost perfect. You could hardly find a real flaw.
And yet this Team Rocket guy in front of her had just said she was "full of herself." In other words, that she was selfish.
Was she?
For the first time in a long time, Cynthia went quiet.
"You never really thought about what Caitlin wants, did you? No—that's not quite right. You did think about it. You just decided, all on your own, that whatever you wanted for her was 'for her own good.'"
Damian's smile was half-amused, half-mocking.
"You people are all the same. You force your will onto someone else, and then you wrap it up with lines like 'I'm doing this for you, it's fine even if you end up hating me.'"
"It's hilarious, honestly. At the end of the day, it's just that you're strong, so you think you have the right to barge in and decide someone else's life. Have you ever actually put Caitlin on the same level as yourself?"
"Champion Cynthia?"
His tone wasn't harsh or loud, but every word went straight for the throat.
Caitlin watched Cynthia quietly.
Cynthia pressed her lips together, emotions churning. Even with all her usual calm, Damian's words had definitely hit something.
Especially with Caitlin staring right at her.
"That's not true. I've always thought of Caitlin as a close friend. I've never looked down on her like that." Cynthia answered steadily.
"So this is how you 'treat' your friends?" Damian clicked his tongue back at her.
"She's gone down the wrong path. As her friend, it's my duty to bring her back onto the right one."
But Cynthia didn't spiral into doubt. She took a deep breath and answered firmly.
"No matter what you say, I won't give up. I will save Caitlin."
Damian raised a brow. Caitlin's eyes dipped, hiding whatever she was thinking.
"As expected of you, Champion Cynthia. I really am starting to like you more and more."
After a long moment, Damian broke into a grin. His heated gaze landed openly on Cynthia's face.
Cynthia… was even more "beautiful" than he'd imagined.
A woman like this, he really wanted to—
Her brows knit. Damian's look made her distinctly uncomfortable.
"Shame it's not the right time yet. Don't worry, though, Champion Cynthia—we'll meet again."
He forcibly reined in the possessiveness flaring up inside him, his expression smoothing back into an easy smile.
It was time to go. Staying here to fight Cynthia was pointless.
Caitlin released Alakazam.
"Wait!" Cynthia's expression shifted.
"Caitlin, don't—"
"Cynthia."
Caitlin lifted her head and met Cynthia's eyes, cutting her off. At some point, a faint blue glow had lit up once more inside her gaze.
"Please wait—for our battle."
Her voice was even, but just as unshakably firm.
She believed she and Cynthia were destined to fight. Just not yet. It wasn't time.
"Caitlin…"
Cynthia's eyes grew more conflicted. How had it come to this? But even now, she still couldn't just stand and watch.
"Garchomp!"
The already-tense Garchomp launched toward Alakazam, Dragon Claws gleaming.
But before it could get close, another black orb shot in—Shiny Gengar's Shadow Ball.
Still wearing that eerie, malicious grin, Shiny Gengar slid in front of Damian and the others, blocking Garchomp's charge.
Garchomp had no choice but to dodge the Shadow Ball. At the same time, Alakazam lifted its spoons, psychic energy flowing out.
In an instant, Damian and the others vanished from the spot—Psychic-type Teleport.
Only Shiny Gengar stayed behind, anchoring the Teleport so it went off cleanly.
"Ke-ke-ke~"
Once Damian and the others were gone, Shiny Gengar gave Cynthia and the rest a little chubby wave goodbye, then dove straight into the ground and disappeared, racing after its Trainer.
Cynthia didn't order Garchomp to chase. She just stood there in silence, watching the direction Caitlin had vanished.
Caitlin…
She repeated the name in her mind, feeling truly exhausted for the first time.
She had a bad feeling. Just as Caitlin had said, the two of them probably would end up in a brutal battle someday.
But that wasn't the kind of battle Cynthia wanted at all. How had things twisted into this?
Off to the side, Kukui and the others exchanged looks. Seeing Cynthia's lone silhouette, none of them knew if they should disturb her right now.
"Champion Cynthia? Are you all right?"
After a brief hesitation, Kukui finally spoke up, testing the waters.
"Sorry. I'm fine."
Cynthia pulled herself back together and turned around, offering him a faint smile.
Her heart was a mess, but that didn't mean she should dump those feelings onto everyone around her.
"I'm sure you'll be able to talk Miss Caitlin back, Champion Cynthia. If you need anything, you can reach out to us anytime."
Kukui promised earnestly.
If Cynthia hadn't shown up today, there was no way Damian and his crew would've pulled back so easily.
"Thank you. I hope so." Cynthia answered with a light smile, but her tone wasn't particularly certain or confident.
"Professor Kukui, do you know anything about this Damian's background?"
She shifted the topic. Caitlin mattered a lot—but Damian, a Champion-tier Trainer this young and this strong, mattered just as much.
"No. This is the first time we've ever seen him. But…"
Kukui looked over at Nanu.
Nanu, with nothing better to do a moment ago, had started scrolling through Kanto forums on his phone—and he really had dug something up.
"Last year's Indigo Plateau Conference Champion. Viridian Gym Leader Giovanni's… son?"
Cynthia stared at the info on the phone, stunned.
Damian was a Gym Leader's son? Then why the hell was he in Team Rocket?
For the first time, Cynthia felt like the world had officially gone off the rails.