コンテスト無し

“Hold on a second! Are you actually saying that you’ve never had roasted marshmallows? Like ever?” Roy exclaimed, his eyes wide with astonishment as he gazed at the bewildered teenager slumped against the pillows on the bed. The room was filled with an almost palpable confusion, the air thick with the unspoken thrill of winter nights and crackling campfires that seemed worlds away from the present moment on the airship.

Amethio let out a casual shrug, his fingers absently tracing the chipped edge of his worn nail, a remnant of countless days spent in battle and training. “I didn’t have time for things like that before,” he muttered, a hint of regret lacing through his words like a fragile thread.

Across from him, Roy's lively spark dimmed, his bright eyes now clouded with a shadow of melancholy. He leaned forward slightly, concern etched on his face. “You did mention something like that before,” he replied, his voice gentle yet probing, as if trying to pry open a locked door to Amethio’s past gently.

Amethio nodded slowly, the weight of memories anchoring his gaze to the floor as his expression became somber. “If I wasn’t on a mission, then I was training,” he confessed, his voice dropping to a near whisper, as though speaking too loudly might shatter the fragile silence surrounding them. The very essence of those moments—filled with fierce dedication and the sacrifice of a carefree youth—pressed heavily on his shoulders.

“And it was like that for a long time?” Roy asked, pulling his legs up onto the bed. He tucked them beneath him, his posture a picture of attentive concern, and his gaze remained unwavering, searching for the truth hidden in the depths of Amethio’s eyes.

“Ever since I got my first Pokémon,” Amethio admitted, the softening of his voice barely rising above a whisper, tinged with bittersweet nostalgia. The air between them thickened with unspoken stories, each laden with echoes of ambition, longing, and the relentless pursuit of dreams that had shaped the man before him.

Roy fell into a thoughtful silence, his expression shifting as he appeared to be struck by a sudden idea. With an energetic burst, he sprang to his feet, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “I know! You can try some now!” he declared enthusiastically, gripping Amethio’s wrist with an eager tug that pulled the startled boy to his feet.

“Wait just a second!” Amethio protested, digging in his heels as a look of confusion crossed his face. “How do you expect to find roasted marshmallows on the airship? I thought you needed a fire for that.”

A mischievous grin spread across Roy’s face, the playful excitement in his eyes serving as a striking contrast to the earlier worry from before. He pivoted on his heel, a whirlwind of energy. “Murdock.” He replied simply as if Amethio was supposed to know the plan without further explanation.

Amethio blinked, momentarily at a loss, but before he could voice another word of protest, Roy was already dragging him through the brightly lit halls toward the kitchen. As they reached their destination, Roy animatedly explained their scheme -that was the only word for it- to Murdock, his words tumbling over one another in his enthusiasm. After a brief exchange filled with laughter, Murdock happily permitted them to use the small camping stove, setting the stage for their impromptu roasting adventure.

Both boys sat on the edge of their seats, eyes fixated on Murdock as he meticulously prepared the camping stove. With a flourish, he distributed a long spoke to each of them, each crowned with a fluffy, white marshmallow that seemed to beckon their attention. After making sure everything was in place, Murdock retreated to a nearby chair, settling in as a watchful supervisor to the activity about to unfold.

Amethio’s eyes widened in sheer delight, a bright smile breaking across his face as he took a bite of the warm, gooey marshmallow. The texture was an extraordinary revelation—sticky yet smooth, it melted luxuriously in his mouth, wrapping around his tongue in a sweet embrace. Each bite released an explosion of sugary goodness that intertwined perfectly with the rich, velvety depths of chocolate, creating a symphony of flavor that delighted his taste buds and enveloped him in an oddly comforting bliss.

“Well?” Roy leaned in closer, his eyes sparkling with excitement, the glint reflecting his eager anticipation. He practically vibrated in his seat, his energy palpable as he awaited Amethio's reaction, his enthusiasm infectious.

“It’s…good,” Amethio mumbled, cheeks stuffed full like a Skwovet's, the words barely escaping his lips, muffled by the soft marshmallow. He shifted slightly to his left, Roy’s presence strangely comforting as the younger boy leaned in even closer, his curiosity radiating like sunlight. Behind them, Murdock’s hearty laughter rang out, a rich, infectious sound that tugged at the corners of Amethio's mouth and brightened the atmosphere around them.