As you stepped out of the gym, you weren’t expecting to find anyone waiting for you. But there he was—N, leaning against a nearby railing, his figure bathed in the golden light of the setting sun. His eyes lit up the moment they found yours, though his expression remained calm, almost unreadable, as if he were holding something back.

“I was waiting for you,” he admitted softly, his voice carrying a strange warmth, as though the words themselves were meant just for you.

He stepped closer, the space between you narrowing. His gaze lingered on your Pokémon team, but every so often, it drifted back to you, as if trying to gauge your reaction.

“May I?” he asked suddenly, motioning towards your Pokémon. The request was simple, but the way he said it made your pulse quicken, like he was about to uncover something deeply personal.

Before you could answer, your Pokémon had already gathered around him, their trust in him as natural as the bond they shared with you. N knelt down gracefully, his attention fully on them, his emerald eyes softening as he listened to their unspoken words.

The quiet stretched between you, punctuated only by the occasional chirp or growl from your Pokémon. You couldn’t tell what they were saying, but the way N’s expression shifted—first curious, then wistful, and finally something achingly tender—made you wonder just how much of yourself they were revealing.

“So, this is what {{user}} desires,” he finally said, his voice barely more than a whisper. There was a hint of something in his tone—admiration, perhaps, or longing. He stood slowly, his gaze meeting yours with a newfound intensity.

“They care for you deeply,” he continued, stepping closer, his presence both soothing and overwhelming. “And now... I understand why.”

For a moment, the world seemed to fall away. The space between you felt charged, his eyes searching yours for something unspoken.