Pokémon：Trainer's Gambit

December 25th, Light Snow, Christmas.

According to fans' later recollections,

this would go down in history as one of Natsume-sensei's most legendary streams.

As usual, Natsume-sensei settled Sylveon on his lap, edited the stream title, and went live.

Fans flooded in the moment the notification popped up.

"No face cam today? Just a tutorial?"

"Natsume-sensei, you've been gone for over three days!"

Natsume glanced at chat. "Why didn't I stream last night? Had dinner with someone cute."

Cynthia, holding Togepi, pulled up a pink gaming chair beside him and pointed at the donation alerts on the monitor.

Natsume gave a thumbs-up, making her smile.

"Thanks to 'Has Natsume-sensei found his cutie?' for the Rocket... Well, I have. Have you?"

After a brief pause, chat exploded with question marks.

"????"

"Did Natsume-sensei hit his head?"

"How can someone at the pinnacle of Pokémon be in love?!"

Realizing he wasn't joking, the stream went into meltdown.

"Damn it, Natsume-sensei has a cutie now? My life is over!"

"Thought we were both single on Christmas, but turns out it's just me?!"

"Congrats, Natsume-sensei! (╥﹏╥)"

Donation alerts kept rolling in.

Natsume barely had time to drink water, spending the entire pre-game chatter thanking gifts.

"Thanks to 'How do I find a cutie like Natsume-sensei?' for the Giant Sword... Uh, no idea. Try your luck?"

"Thanks to 'Natsume-sensei, do you wanna touch your cutie's feet?' for the Rocket..."

Natsume paused, glancing sideways.

Cynthia, adorned with black hair accessories, wore a youthful white cashmere sweater, smiling as she played with Togepi.

His gaze drifted downward—light-blue wide-leg jeans revealing pale ankles, leading to fluffy slippers peeking out.

"What are you looking at?" Cynthia whispered, leaning closer.

Her golden hair brushed his shoulder, carrying a faint fragrance. A slight tilt of his head would bring her pink lips into view.

Natsume forcefully turned away, growling, "Next question!"

Chat erupted in confusion.

"He says no, but he totally wants to."

"Damn it! Why is the cafeteria suddenly serving kibble?!"

"Nurse Joy is crying!"

"Natsume-sensei has a cutie, but I don't! So unfair!"

The stream was equal parts salty and cheerful.

Winter sunlight streamed through the window, warm but not hot.

Cynthia set Togepi down, stretching lazily, her sweater outlining her graceful curves.

She glanced at the "growling" Natsume-sensei, a soft smile playing on her lips.

"Should I say hello?" she murmured.

Chat, which had just calmed down, exploded again.

"Wait, was that the cutie's voice?!"

"Christmas is for couples to flex on us single folks!"

"Whatever! Not jealous!"

"Natsume-sensei, let the cutie co-stream with you!"

Though Cynthia was the Sinnoh Champion—

Her strategic prowess and battle instincts rivaled even Natsume-sensei's infamous "cursed luck."

But fans came for tutorials, not commentary.

If Cynthia took over, his job might be at risk!

"The man at the pinnacle of Pokémon needs a co-host?"

Natsume-sensei scoffed. "Just watch me play!"

"???"

"Sensei, please hand the mic back to the cutie!"

Amid the teasing, Natsume-sensei opened the team editor.

"Today, we're running an improved Perish Song team."

He glanced at Cynthia, who smiled faintly, as if recalling something.

"Our first Perish Song team stream..."

Natsume-sensei paused. "Was against Sinnoh Champion Cynthia."

"OG fan here! That's how I found this channel!"

"Calling her 'Cynthia' in front of your cutie? Hope you like sleeping on the couch!"

"Wait, is the cutie actually Cynthia? LOL!"

Cynthia, cradling Togepi, swayed her golden hair adorned with black accessories, smiling without a word.

"Anyway!"

Natsume exhaled. "Today, we crush!"

The double-battle Perish Song team now featured Gothitelle's "Shadow Tag" to maximize its stall potential.

"Plus, Regenerator Amoonguss for better pivoting." Natsume-sensei explained. "Though Primarina hits harder, we're sticking with Gengar as our Perish Song user..."

"Gengar! (▽)??"

Hearing its name, Gengar popped out of the shadows, waving its tiny fists excitedly.

"Pfft." Cynthia stifled a laugh.

Natsume shot her a look.

Unsurprisingly, viewership skyrocketed, and chat went wild again.

"Sorry." Cynthia giggled. "I'll behave."

From the first Perish Song team to this refined version, Gengar's return had fans typing "tears" in chat.

But even with "cutie luck," Natsume-sensei's "cursed RNG" remained.

"How did that Hydro Pump miss?!"

Natsume stared at Lapras' whiffed attack in disbelief.

Cynthia: "Ahem."

"My food just got extra sour! (╥﹏╥)"

"Whatever! (Lemon emoji)"

The two-hour stream broke records.

Though still full of blunders,

the shift from solo comedy to a duo act was super effective.

"That's all for today." Natsume coughed. "See you next time!"

"Next time might be a comedy duo stream."

"So jealous! Natsume-sensei, take this Iron Head!"

"Natsume-sensei, be happy!"

Whether it was the International Police, Team Rocket, or Officers Jenny and Nurse Joys,

no one could process the shock.

But soon, a shared thought emerged:

Aside from donations...

Shouldn't they send congratulatory gifts to Natsume-sensei?

Off-stream, Natsume kicked his desk, rolling his chair into a sunbeam.

"Thanks... That was fun." Cynthia lounged in her chair, smiling.

"You could co-host next time." Natsume grinned. "Seems like fans loved it."

Cynthia nodded. "Though your luck... remains impressive."

"Because meeting you used up all my luck."

Her heart skipped a beat.

Blushing, she tucked golden hair behind her ear, revealing a pink-tinged neck.

She wanted to say something—but Natsume was already half-asleep, bathed in sunlight.

His long lashes and sharp profile made him look like a hero from Sinnoh myths.

Cynthia smiled softly.

No words were needed.

Outside, the snow glowed gold under the warm sun.

This was enough.

...

After a night of gaming and an early stream,

Natsume napped and woke refreshed.

The quiet room held Cynthia asleep on the couch, golden hair spilling like silk.

Lucario and Togepi were playing cards—Lucario's face covered in marker scribbles.

"Togepi~! (≧◇≦)??" The little one slammed down a winning hand triumphantly.

Lucario grimaced but offered its face for more doodles...

BOOM!

The walls shook.

Natsume blinked, stepping onto the balcony.

In the yard, Squirtle and Garchomp were training.

"Garchomp!" Its Dragon Pulse morphed into a violet dragon, roaring forward.

"Squirtle!" Squirtle focused, purple energy gathering in its palms—like Hanzo charging his ultimate.

"Once it evolves into Blastoise..."

Cynthia, now awake, stood beside him. "It'll fire Dragon Pulse from its cannons."

"Yeah."

Natsume sighed. "But thinking about them evolving... feels bittersweet."

"Like watching kids grow up."

Cynthia rested her arms on the railing, golden hair fluttering as she gazed at the clouds. "I feel that too."

For a moment, she thought of her grandmother.

Leaving home young, she barely remembered her parents' faces.

From valuing strength to bonding with Pokémon, Cynthia believed encounters nurtured precious emotions.

And human connections even more so.

An ice queen with a warm smile, elegant yet playful—

Cynthia longed for a loving family, treating Pokémon as kin.

Now... she might have found someone who understood.

Her cheeks tinged pink.

"How many siblings do you have?" Natsume asked suddenly.

"Six." Cynthia answered reflexively.

"Huh?" Natsume stared. I thought she was an only child?

"N-no! Just me." She flustered.

"Oh." Natsume pondered. Then what were the six?

"We should... head to Professor Oak's lab." Cynthia laughed nervously. "Stop overthinking. Let's go!"

Natsume nodded—then paled.

Squirtle's Dragon Pulse, losing control, morphed into a roaring dragon headed straight for them!

Natsume: "Ryū ga waga teki o kurau?!"

Cynthia frowned, tossing a Poké Ball. Spiritomb emerged, unleashing eerie green energy.

"Calm Mind. Light Screen!"

The fortified Spiritomb erected a massive barrier.

BOOM!

The dragon collided, cracking the shield.

"Squirtle..." Squirtle adjusted its sunglasses.

Failed to penetrate enemy defenses...

More training needed!

"Whew." Cynthia turned to Natsume. "You okay?"

Natsume stared at her flushed face, then down.

Their hands were clasped—Cynthia had pulled him to safety.

"We'll... need to fix the wall again." She sighed, eyeing the damage.

Natsume nodded.

Recalling her touch, Natsume-sensei gave Squirtle a proud look.

Worth it!

...

The dragon collided, cracking the shield.

"Squirtle..." Squirtle adjusted its sunglasses.

Failed to penetrate enemy defenses...

More training needed!

"Whew." Cynthia turned to Natsume. "You okay?"

Natsume stared at her flushed face, then down.

Their hands were clasped—Cynthia had pulled him to safety.

"We'll... need to fix the wall again." She sighed, eyeing the damage.

Natsume nodded.

Recalling her touch, Natsume-sensei gave Squirtle a proud look.

Worth it!Beyond Squirtle's training,

Sirfetch'd and Arcanine drilled Close Combat diligently.

"Your Pokémon... are all so hardworking?" Cynthia marveled.

Natsume winced.

Cynthia laughed. "Guess they take after their Trainer!"

Group Chat:Brock: "How many people are coming? Need to prep ingredients."

Natsume-sensei: "Why not have everyone bring one ingredient? Saves you trouble."

Gold: "Great idea! I'll bring chopsticks—"

(Gold was muted by Lorelei for 5 minutes.)

Natsume-sensei: ...That was my plan too.

Steven: "Can't make it due to work. Sent a red envelope instead."

Natsume opened it—and choked at the amount.

Green: "Thanks, boss!!"

Maylene: "No more stale buns for me tonight! (╥﹏╥)"

Summary:Ruby & Sapphire: Spending Christmas with family.

Kanto's Red, Johto's Gold, Elite Four, and Gym Leaders: Attending.

Tonight's party would be chaotic.

"You're coming too, right?"

Natsume turned to Cynthia, who was slipping on her shoes.

"Of course."

She wore a black dress under her signature trench coat.

Black stockings tapered into heels as she steadied herself against the doorframe.

Natsume averted his eyes—then glanced back.

Can you blame a man for looking?

"Let's go." Cynthia smiled. "Time to party.

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