A thank you to Key321 for keeping up with the story! Have some onion soup! And apologies for the wait for the chapter... I've been having writer's block lately, which isn't good! I need to keep exercising my imagination somehow. To think I intended to have this written last year but I got sidetracked...

Now! Enjoy the last round of the competition! (But the story isn't over yet!)

Chapter eight: Comfort Food

It was like Steven was a burning fire that had more fuel added to it. His pacing was faster and, unfortunately, inconsistent. Could that possibly throw off Steven's timing? Cynthia wondered just as much. At his current rate, he might burn out.

Well done, Wallace. You really started something, Cynthia thought.

In the Pokémon Centre, after having sampled each dish, the staff had moved on to the last part of the meal. If the initial parts of the meal made them appreciate it, the last part was to make them look forward to it. Looks of anticipation were on their eyes, a kind of excitement.

And having removed the lids, there were two slices of nori layered on top of the rice, which filled the entire container. Combined with the fried fish and the soup, it really did look like the complete meal it was supposed to be.

Martine had arrived in time to deliver the next batch of lunch jars to the Pokémon Centre, and also in time to see what the staff were up to. A few seats away, Sophie and Laurent were already having some the rice. They lifted the nori to look at the rice beneath.

"That… Well, isn't that something?" Laurent remarked.

"It is," Sophie agreed.

"What?! Let me see," Martine said.

She looked over Laurent's shoulder. Underneath the nori, there were tiny cubes that looked like jelly. They should have melted by now but that was not the case. Looking at the other staff, Martine saw the others examine the cubes curiously. Martine watched Sophie pick up a spoonful of the rice to look at the cubes closely. Sophie swallowed, as if having an appetite, and Martine couldn't blame her.

The cubes had dissolved into the rice.

Sophie swallowed again and then ate the rice.

An explosion of flavour filled Sophie's senses. The cubes that had dissolved into the rice were in fact soup in a jelly form. It was the Leppa onion soup that had been seasoned and then chilled momentarily, so it was like enjoying soup in a small, solid, and extreme package with every bite. It was so heartwarming that it was like she wanted to dive into the box to cuddle up with the ingredients.

And in Laurent's opinion, it tasted excellent together with the nori, the flavour of the sea blending with the Leppa berry perfectly to create a medley. Its well-balanced flavour, leaning to slightly sweet and less dry, had such a fragrant aroma that it would have moved the coldest of hearts. In fact the soup made the rice easier to eat.

When Martine looked at the Pokémon Centre staff, they were already eating their meals nonstop. Either they were hungry, or too busy to care, or simply comforted. This was the literal definition of comfort food, Martine thought. She could tell from their faces, they were satisfied.

One of the two nurses stood up when she was done.

"The patients have to try this!" she said.

Nods and murmurs of agreement followed. Then to Martine's amusement, the entire staff had cleaned off their meals. They ate the fried fish, the nori, and the rice in tandem, appreciating how the flavours worked together. And once they were done, they sorted the empty jars into a neat group and thanked Martine, Sophie, and Laurent for the meal.

The three continued eating and watched the staff get back to work. The nurses and doctors collaborated in unloading the mass of lunch jars that were still piping hot and went to distribute them. Assuming no emergencies for now, they brought the lunches to every ward in the building.

The strong aroma of fish and soup wafted throughout the building. There was not one room where the aroma didn't reach. The entire Pokémon Centre could smell it. And with that aroma, it also seemed to make the mood come alive. Martine was more or less encouraged that the effort in making this fundraiser happen was worthwhile.

It might have been for Wallace's entertainment but it was having a positive effect on the Pokémon Centre. When the staff entered the wards with the lunch jars for the patients, Martine saw them come out with smiles on their faces – as if they had brightened up. It was in stark contrast to what they looked like earlier when she, Sophie, and Laurent and had come in. Now it looked like they were looking forward to continuing work.

"Either way, whoever wins, I would still call it successful," Laurent remarked.

Thankfully, Laurent's voice helped Martine snap back to reality. "Oh right, right," she replied. "You know, either way, is this going to end up as a tie? It's not really a competition at this point."

"You sure? Because Steven looks like otherwise."

And it was mainly because Steven looked like he had a fire in his eyes, as if he had lost sight of what the point of this fundraiser was. Plus, he was extremely wary about the mistletoe placed everywhere and decided to keep his distance from Cynthia – wherever, whenever. Because of that, he also looked like he was about to burn out.

But apart from Steven tirelessly assembling the blue lunch jars, Martine could tell that the lunch was a success. The event had attracted a lot of media attention and people were frequently arriving to dine, while also generously donating to the fundraiser. Perhaps the media attention was in itself advertising. Martine supposed Wallace couldn't complain about that. Rather, he embraced it.

Close to the cooking station and within sight of the chefs, Astrid had grabbed a table with the schoolchildren she was supervising. Because the lunch jars were meant to be single adult servings, Astrid only needed to split one jar for every two children. Of course, she had one for herself. It was very tasty, and watching Steven and Cynthia compete together was entertaining.

"Keep it up, Cynthia! You've got this!" Astrid said brightly. Cynthia seemed to have heard her, as she showed the slightest of smiles. Then Astrid helped herself to a bite of fried fish. The crunchy sound of it being eaten also made the schoolchildren at her table hungry for another bite of their own. It was a good thing that the portion of the lunch jar was just right – enough to be fully satisfied from a single serving without need for more.

Then as Astrid put her spoon down, she watched Steven and Cynthia constantly cook the fish, fill the jars with rice and carefully – but sloppily – layer the nori in them. It was like he was on overdrive or something. She wondered if he was doing okay. Meanwhile, Cynthia was looking steady. To Astrid, she hadn't seen a fire like that in Steven's eyes since the cook-off in the Lumiose, albeit it was different. It wasn't long that he was push out jar after jar of meals with no end in sight.

It also looked like that because of… whatever was driving Steven, he was deliberate staying away from Cynthia whenever he could. He must really want to win badly. Astrid couldn't tell. At this rate, it seemed that Cynthia had the upper hand.

"How is the food?" one of the children asked her, snapping Astrid out of her thoughts.

"It's very nice! Wouldn't you say the same?" Astrid replied. The cooking competition before her aside, the meal delivered on its promise on bringing comfort to those who had it. It was like being wrapped in a warm blanket amid the cold.

From the looks of the children and the Pokémon Centre staff, and everyone who came to attend this event, it looked successful. And she also spotted Lisia carrying the donation bucket which had to be emptied to make room for more donations. The Pokémon Centre here at Geosenge Town would surely be grateful for what was done here.

She smiled to herself. Whatever the outcome, the competition would be remembered as a pleasant one.

The last lunch hour eventually came to a close. Frankly, the energy of the media had died down when the meals were served, and it was no surprise. The meals were so comforting that it brought expressions of relief and bliss on everyone there. And for that reason the atmosphere had also become mild and quiet.

Now the lunch jars were being returned in hordes, albeit in neat rows put on trays. Martine, Sophie, and Laurent voluntarily helped with collecting them so they could be washed and cleaned. And Steven and Cynthia were cleaning the cooking station. They looked tired.

The Christmas lights twinkled on the Pokémon Centre as the sky turned dim, and the trees surrounding the venue were lighting up in comforting lights of green and yellow. Like the meal they just had, it was comforting to look at. As the lights were on, Wallace was about finished sorting the blue and yellow jars to tally up the points.

"Tout le monde, I know you've all been waiting for this moment and it's been a great journey these past few days…" Wallace announced, despite the snow slightly muting his voice. "I also want to say thank you to everyone showing up and making this fundraiser possible. The supervisor of the Coastal Kalos Pokémon Centres is also grateful! And I assure you, your donations will not be wasted.

"And we also had over five hundred orders given tonight! That's a record! Now without further it is time to announce our winner for the final round!"

The count was 254 to 251, in favour of Cynthia. Considering the numbers and the time they had, that wasn't bad at all.

Steven's mind was on other things. In the end, he hadn't lost the competition and Cynthia tied with him, but it was still a personal loss. He was unable to beat her so that she could tell him her plans. As Wallace started closing remarks, he went to meet up with Cynthia who was watching Lisia and Winona count the donations from today.

"Hey," he greeted her quietly.

Cynthia turned to him with a slightly smug grin. "Hey."

"Um… About your plans later today… Want to go visit the ultimate weapon later? If you're not too busy…" Gosh, why did he sound nervous? It was as if he was afraid to know the answer.

There was a brief silence from her and her eyes were lost in thought. Steven's heart sank. He could tell Cynthia was enjoying this too much. Like she knew his emotions were being played with.

"I have plans. Astrid wants to train with me. I'm sure I'll be free tonight though… Oh hey! Astrid!" Cynthia waved to the platinum blonde teenager in purple. Astrid waved enthusiastically at them and was on her own, apparently. The schoolchildren had been reunited with their parents nearby and, just like that, Cynthia was off to meet Astrid, leaving Steven on his own.

Lisia and Winona, who watched the ordeal, also gave grins. Lisia remarked, "You'll have to try harder than that. You didn't expect to strike out like that, eh?"

He may have not lost the friendly competition, but it still felt like he had lost out somehow. Wait, hadn't he felt similar if not exactly the same since that cook-off in Lumiose last season? "I need some time alone…" he muttered and stood up to walk away from the venue.

Lisia and Winona exchanged smiles. That relationship between Cynthia and Steven was nothing short of entertainment for them. It was a perfect relationship – genuinely, no joke, even the pair themselves knew it – but it was so easily played with. No wonder Wallace had so much fun with them.

Steven walked alone after that. His Pokémon could have accompanied him but he decided not to do that. He was having mixed feelings after that awkward conversation with Cynthia who turned him down instantly. It made him wonder what to do next.

Amid the gray skies and the snow crunching beneath his feet (which the fading sunshine behind the clouds was still making the snow bright), snow lightly fell on his head and wind lightly blew on his face. Thankfully it wasn't too cold. He looked at Geosenge Town around him as he walked on the thickly snow-covered main street. Amid the fading sunlight, the twinkling lights gave him a sense of comfort as if to welcome him around.

But still, what to do about Cynthia? It was complicated. Was this Cynthia trying to play a cruel trick on him about a possible teacher complex Astrid had on Steven? He thought it was unlikely a coincidence that Cynthia mentioned it to him earlier and then suddenly went to train with Astrid. The thought of it made him blush again.

Suddenly, he was nudged by his side, snapping him out of his trance. He didn't realise that a redhaired girl had popped up beside him. It was Martine.

"You okay, boss?" she asked. "I haven't seen you this down since that night at the bar."

Oh gosh, did Martine have to bring that up, of any reference she could choose? It happened in the past season, when Steven had entered a state of depression and ended up drinking at least one cocktail from the barman. Martine chatted with him then to cheer him up because Steven was very down then. This experience couldn't possibly be comparable to that!

Because if it was, then Steven must be feeling especially down.

"I don't look that bad, do I?" Steven asked her.

"Of course not!" Martine gasped, and then smiled. "Alright, boss. What's on your mind?" To Martine, it was too obvious that it was love trouble. What else could be the explanation? Steven couldn't help smiling back. In his time of need (for romantic advice), Martine was always there for him.

"Okay. Okay, okay," he said, to Martine's delight. At least in Martine's view, Steven was opening up easier than before. "I tried asking Cynthia out again but she's spending time training with Astrid – again." He looked down and shook his head. "I struck out again."

Martine's smile didn't waver. Her smile wasn't as infectious as Astrid's but it was genuine. "Come now, boss. We've talked about this yesterday! Cynthia felt exactly the same last season… Still, I'm sure there's something you could do differently. You need to express your feelings better."

Steven shrugged. "I tried. You know me."

Before Martine could say another word, she noticed two figures ahead approaching in their direction. It was a young couple sticking close together, a handsome male and a pretty female (who had beautiful and serious eyes), as if to keep warm. Well, weren't they the ideal couple? It reminded Martine of Sophie and Laurent.

Well, the couple was Sophie and Laurent.

"Bonsoir, you two," Steven greeted.

"Salut, boss!" Sophie greeted back, smiling widely back.

"What's going on, Sophie? You seem cheerful!" Martine said.

Laurent and Sophie exchanged glances and smiles. "Oh, nothing too much. Laurent got me a gift from the local store! He sure knew what to get for me…"

"Anything for you, ma chérie," Laurent said. Already knowing that Martine would ask, he added, "I got her a set of battle aids and a set of macarons. Something to help her at the Battle Château."

And then Sophie pecked her lips on Laurent's cheek. "You're so sweet…"

"Not as sweet as you, though," he replied, causing Sophie to blush.

Their adorable exchange even made Steven smile. That was when Martine noticed exactly that and so tugged his arm. "You have your answer there, boss! Let's get Cynthia a gift!"

"Oh?" Laurent said, and Sophie turned her head too. "Did something happen?"

"He struck out again," Martine said automatically, before Steven had even a second to prepare a response. It was as if Martine deliberately roasting her boss on the spot and there was nothing Steven could do about it. Sadly, it was the truth he could not deny.

Sophie nodded (Was that pity in her eyes? Steven sure thought it was). "I'm sorry to hear that." But clearly, her serious eyes were laughing at him. Not that Steven could do anything about it. "But tell you what," Sophie added, "Martine is right. You have to show Cynthia she means something to you. It could be spending time together, an act of service, words of affection…"

Steven was no expert in love and neither did he regard Sophie or Martine as ones either. At least Sophie had a point. "Or something as simple as a gift might do, to show her you know her well," Sophie added. Her face lit up. "Okay, Steven! You're getting Cynthia a gift! No questions asked!"

It was clear he had no say in the matter because his three workers had dragged him around town, insisting he get a gift for Cynthia. As Martine put it, it was the best time to do it since Cynthia was busy and there was only so much time they had left in the day. What would Cynthia like? Steven knew she liked history and archaeology… Well, they were in Geosenge Town which had plenty of that. It should be easy enough to find a gift for her here.