Issei Hyoudou Meets Cynthia

The first thing Issei Hyoudou noticed when he stumbled through the portal was the wind. It wasn't harsh or biting—it was calm, cool, and car

The first thing Issei Hyoudou noticed when he stumbled through the portal was the wind.

It wasn't harsh or biting—it was calm, cool, and carried the scent of grass and something vaguely floral. He squinted into the daylight, brushing dirt off his black and red jacket as he rose to his feet.

“Okay,” he muttered, glancing around. “Definitely not Hell, not an active war zone, and no creepy tentacle monsters... this might be the first decent place the Watch has dropped me into all month.”

Rolling hills stretched out in every direction, green and vibrant under a sky so blue it looked painted. Wildflowers danced in the breeze, and the air itself felt... clean. Peaceful. The kind of place you’d take a nap in.

Issei slowly turned, taking it all in—and froze.

Not far away, a lone woman stood at the crest of a hill.

She was striking in a way that even he—a self-proclaimed connoisseur of the female form—couldn’t quite put into words. Her long, platinum-blonde hair flowed like silk in the wind, cascading down her back. She wore a sleek, dark coat trimmed with black fur around the collar and sleeves, tailored over a black outfit that gave her a commanding presence without overshadowing the natural beauty of the world around her. 

But it wasn’t just her.

Beside her stood a creature unlike anything he’d seen before: dark blue scales, a red underbelly, and a pair of fin-like wings folded along scythe-shaped arms. Its head was shaped like a hammerhead shark, but its posture was of an apex predator.

‘That thing’s definitely not from Earth.’ Issei thought. ‘Or at least not from the part I know.’

The woman turned her golden eyes toward him—calm, unreadable. Not hostile… but focused. She was aware of him in the way a warrior might acknowledge a potential threat. Or a puzzle.

Issei raised a hand in a friendly wave.

“Yo! Uh, nice place you got here. Did I interrupt something?”

She regarded him for a long moment before speaking.

“No,” she said, her voice smooth and composed. “You didn’t interrupt. But you did just suddenly appear out of nowhere.”

“Yeah, I get that a lot.” Issei chuckled awkwardly and jogged up the hill, stopping a respectful distance away. He eyed the creature beside her. “Name’s Issei Hyoudou. Professional pervert, part-time hero, full-time chaos magnet.” He gave a small bow. “And you are?”

“Cynthia,” she replied. “Champion of the Sinnoh region.”

“…Champion?” Issei blinked. “Like, battle champion? Tournament stuff?”

She nodded. “I’m a Pokémon Trainer. The strongest in my region.” She rested a hand gently on the beast beside her. “This is Garchomp, my partner.”

Garchomp rumbled in response, eyeing Issei like it was deciding whether he was edible or just annoying.

Issei’s eyes widened. “Wait. You make it fight?”

“She fights with me,” she corrected, gently but firmly.

“That’s impressive,” he muttered. “And here I thought talking to dragons was cool. You’ve got one standing next to you.”

Garchomp snarled slightly. Cynthia raised a hand to calm her.

“She’s protective,” she said. “Especially when strangers appear out of nowhere.”

“Fair. Though technically, it’s not my fault—I got dropped here by a portal.” He held up his left arm, where the Dimensional Watch pulsed faintly with silver-blue light. “I’m a dimensional traveler. It’s kind of a long story.”

Cynthia’s eyes lingered on the device. “Are you from any region I know?”

“Probably not, unless you’ve got a region called Japan somewhere.” He grinned. “But hey, I’m housebroken. Usually.”

She didn’t laugh, but her lips curved ever so slightly. “I’ve seen stranger. The world is bigger than any of us realize.”

That surprised him. Most people he met in other worlds needed time to wrap their heads around dimensional travel. She just… accepted it.

‘I like how chill she is.’ Issei thought.

“So,” he said, “this ‘Champion’ gig. That like being queen of the land or something?”

“Something like that,” she replied, sitting down gracefully on a nearby flat rock. “It’s not just about strength. It’s also about wisdom—helping others grow, and protecting those who can’t protect themselves.”

Issei dropped onto the grass across from her, the cool blades brushing against his hands.

“You sound pretty cool,” he said fondly. “Reminds me of my friends.”

Cynthia tilted her head. “And what about you, Issei Hyoudou? What is your role?”

He looked up at the sky. It was still beautiful. Still calm.

“Depends on the day,” he said. “Some days I fight jerks who try to hurt others. Some days I get dragged into ridiculous situations. Most days, I just try not to abuse my power.”

“That’s… quite the résumé,” she replied, tone dry but not mocking.

“Yeah, well. That’s my life in general.” He smiled softly. “But if I’m going to be thrown into chaos, I might as well do some good while I’m at it.”

Cynthia studied him quietly.

“You have the strength,” she said after a moment. “But you don’t carry it like a sword. More like a shield.”

Issei blinked. That’s… not something I hear often.

“Thanks,” he said. “I think?”

A comfortable silence settled between them. Garchomp lay beside Cynthia now, no longer tense, just watchful. The breeze rustled through the grass. Somewhere in the distance, a flock of Starlys chirped and scattered.

“You know,” Issei said, “if every world had someone like you watching over it, I might be out of a job.”

She chuckled softly. “Then I’m glad we met.”

He grinned. “You have no idea how rare it is to meet someone who doesn’t try to kill me on sight.”

“Well,” Cynthia said, rising and brushing off her coat, “you’re welcome to stay—at least until your way home appears again.”

“Thanks.” He got to his feet too. “Mind showing me around? I’m kind of stuck here at the moment and I always like traveling through a new world. Especially if I get a tamer as strong—and gorgeous—as you.”

She raised an eyebrow, but there was amusement in her eyes. “It’s not about taming. It’s about respect. Trust.”

“Right, right—mutual respect.” Issei grinned. “Teach me your ways, O Wise Champion.”

She smirked faintly. “Try to keep up.”

And with that, Cynthia turned, her coat catching the breeze as Garchomp followed beside her. Issei trailed behind, more relaxed than usual, more curious than cautious.

After all, it wasn’t every day the Watch dropped him into a peaceful world. And it definitely wasn’t every day he got to hang out with a literal Champion and her dragon.

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