Pokémon: My Parallel World Daughters Revealed

Chapter 88: Cynthia’s Choice (100 Stones Extra Chapter 1/2)

In the real world, Cerulean City.

When Misty pushed open the doors to the Gym, she carried seven or eight shopping bags in her hands, and a faint blush colored her cheeks.

”I’m back!”

Asher poked half his head out of the kitchen. When he saw the pile of bags in her hands, he froze for a moment.

”Darling, why did you buy so many things?”

”This isn’t even that much. They’re only clothes.”

Misty quickly hid the bag containing the nightgown behind her back, the tips of her ears turning red.

”Anyway, don’t worry about it. I have my own plans.”

After dinner, Asher sat on the living-room sofa watching television.

”Honey~”

Hearing Misty call him, Asher raised his head.

Misty stood in the bedroom doorway wearing a dress he had never seen before.

It was pale blue, with a narrow silver trim around the neckline. The belt fit perfectly around her waist, and the skirt fell slightly below her knees.

Rather than tying her hair casually as she usually did, she had pinned it behind one ear with a silver hair clip.

Asher stared at her for several seconds before slowly speaking.

”...Darling, did you buy that especially for me?”

Misty crossed her arms, the faintest hint of a smile on her lips.

”I happened to see it while I was shopping. I thought it looked all right, so I bought it.”

She turned in a circle.

”Does it look good?”

She had clearly practiced that turn. The movement wasn’t too broad, allowing the hem of her dress to rise slightly without making the gesture seem deliberate.

”It looks beautiful.”

”...That’s all? I spent so long getting ready, and you only have two words to say?”

Asher remained silent for a moment.

Then he reached out, caught her wrist, and gently pulled her toward him.

Misty lost her balance and fell directly into his arms, her forehead bumping against his chest.

”What are you—”

Before she could finish protesting, Asher slipped one arm around her waist and lifted her from the floor.

”Compared with verbal praise, wouldn’t actions be more convincing?”

Seeing the smile on Asher’s face, Misty’s blush deepened, and her arms tightened around his waist.

...

Meanwhile, in the real world, Sinnoh region.

The historical research institute in Celestic Town.

Cynthia sat beside a window, staring blankly at the light screen, which had already gone dark.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Cynthia rose and went to open the door.

Diantha stood outside.

She wore an ivory overcoat and carried two paper bags.

”Good evening.”

Diantha lifted the bag containing dessert.

”I brought you a late-night snack. Chocolate lava cake from the place you said you liked.”

Cynthia stared at her for a moment.

”...Why are you here?”

”To provide you with emotional counseling.”

Diantha naturally stepped inside and placed the dessert bags on the table. She looked around at the research institute’s bookshelves and fossil specimens.

”This place is still as scholarly as ever.”

”How did you know I was staying at the research institute?”

”Because you almost certainly haven’t gone home for the past few days.”

Diantha pulled out another chair and sat down.

”You’ve been staying here since the first episode began, haven’t you?”

Cynthia remained silent for a moment before returning to the chair beside the window.

”...I couldn’t sleep, so I decided to examine some research materials while I was here.”

Diantha leaned against the back of her chair and folded her hands over her knees.

”Cynthia, I’m your friend. You don’t need to pretend in front of me. Tell me—what did you think when you saw Tiana?”

”...I don’t know how to answer that question.”

Diantha sat straighter, her tone becoming more serious.

”You haven’t forgotten the reward the System gave at the end of the first episode, have you?”

Cynthia’s fingers tightened slightly.

”Misty received her parallel-world memories,” Diantha said slowly and clearly. ”And now she and Asher are together.”

She paused and looked directly into Cynthia’s eyes.

”Tiana is the protagonist of the second episode. If the System also gives you a lifetime of parallel-world memories when this episode ends, what will you do?”

Cynthia remained silent for a moment.

”I don’t know.”

After a brief pause, she continued:

”I’ve been thinking about it constantly. If those memories truly enter my mind, what will happen to me? Will I still be who I am now, or will I become the Cynthia from that parallel world?”

”Do you think Misty became her parallel-world counterpart?”

Cynthia raised her eyes toward Diantha.

”No. She is still herself. She merely... gained another lifetime of experiences.”

Diantha opened the dessert bag beside her.

”Then there’s your answer. You won’t become someone else either. You’ll merely gain another set of experiences. However...”

”The feeling of loving someone cannot be diluted so easily. Misty’s transformation is the best example. The only reason you can still sit here and discuss this so calmly is that you haven’t received those memories yet.”

Diantha handed her a piece of cake.

”I’m not trying to pressure you into doing anything. I’m merely offering a friendly warning. No one else can make this decision for you.”

Cynthia accepted the cake and remained silent for another moment.

”...Diantha.”

”Mm?”

”Thank you.”

Diantha picked up her own piece of cake, her tone becoming lighthearted once again.

”There’s no need to thank me. Just don’t suddenly lose control after receiving those memories and march into Cerulean Gym to steal him away.”

Cynthia froze before immediately responding:

”I would never do that!”

”All right, all right. I believe you.”

Diantha took a bite of cake, her eyes curving into crescents.

”For now, you need rest more than anything else. Try to relax properly.”

...

Twenty-four hours later.

The light screen illuminated once again, and viewers gradually began pouring into the chat groups.

[VIP Chat Group]

[Ash]: Twenty-four hours are over! It’s time! It’s time! It’s time!

[Pikachu]: Pika, pika!

[Delia]: Ash, you went to sleep so late last night, and now you’ve set your alarm this early. Can your body really handle that?

[Ash]: Don’t worry, Mom! I’m still bursting with energy today!

[Brock]: I remember when Ash used to set his alarm for training. Now he sets it for the livestream.

[Ash]: I’m still training too! Pikachu and I trained until midnight yesterday!

[Pikachu]: Pika... (Dark circles hung beneath my eyes...)

[Iris]: It’s here! The second stage! We’re finally going to see what happens after Tiana grows up!

[Dawn]: I’m really looking forward to Tiana’s journey! I wonder what she’ll be like when she sets out for the first time!

[Steven]: I wasn’t idle yesterday either. I organized all the recordings of Brother Asher insulting me and made a compilation of the best moments.

[Wallace]: How bored were you?

[Steven]: We had twenty-four hours to fill. I needed to find something to do.

[Asher]: Steven, the video is about to begin. Are you certain you want to open a new front right now?

[Steven]: I was only joking. Today, I’m a pacifist.

[Asher]: You had better be.

...

TL: Hmph, here’s an extra Chapter for the stones.