———

"Hello, hello, Wedgehurst! Your Champion, Leon, is back! I promise I'll keep doing my best to deliver the greatest battles for you all to watch!"

The small crowd that made up the entire town cheers their hearts out. I watch from afar, arms folded. He was so popular even as a child and became Champion at such a young age with his fully evolved Charizard.

Leon gives everyone a wave and a toothy grin. "Well, thank you for that! I hope you'll all carry on training up your Pokémon and never shy from battle. Then come challenge me for the Champion title!"

There was no way any of us could beat him, but I admired his kindness which seemed to overflow. He was powerful but humble.

"My wish is for Galar's Trainers to work together to become the strongest in all the world!"

And yet, he seemed untouchable. As I stood there at the back of the crowd, barely able to glimpse his face, I felt like even just talking to him wouldn't ever be a reality. He was from this town but left on his journey before we had the chance to speak.

Now, he wasn't just another boy from Postwick. He wasn't just the Charizard fan who lived down the street. He was the Galar region's greatest-ever Pokémon Champion. People from all around the world call him the unbeatable Leon.

"Well, everyone! I bid you farewell for today! But don't you fret... I'll always be around to make sure everyone in Galar can have a champion time!" And with that, he did his signature pose and left, his fans all shouting his name.

- - -

Now, that day at the train station is far in the past. And while I should put it behind me, it felt like that day could've been yesterday. I still can vividly recall the gravel road beneath my shoes, the cheers in my ears, and the chill of an early autumn breeze...

"Hey, (Y/N), did you want to eat the ice cream in the freezer, or can I?"

"Ice cream? In winter?!" I instantly snapped back, eyebrows furrowing. "Don't be barbaric!"

Leon steps into the room, a sheepish grin on his face, his carefree demeanor never faltering under my harsh words. "Sorry, sorry. I know you love your ice cream..."

"I do not!" I retorted.

Back then, I truly did think Leon was untouchable. But nowadays... we're roommates.

Leading up to today was a rollercoaster. Inspired to become a great Pokemon Trainer like Leon, I set out on my own journey, where I eventually became rivals with the Champion and a Dragon-Type specialist named Raihan. I considered them enemies to beat.

That is until I hit rock bottom and had to ask Leon to become roommates with me to save money. The Champion got a whole lot of money winning battles, but my status as a regular, average skilled Trainer wasn't doing me many favors money-wise.

Splitting the costs was the best move. And I'd rather share an apartment with Leon than Raihan, so I naturally asked the former instead of the latter.

"Arceus, Leon! It's almost Christmas, and we don't even have a tree up! Instead, you're begging to eat my ice cream?!" I bark, crossing my arms loosely over my chest and flopping onto the sofa.

Leon sits down on the couch opposite of me, looking a little worried. "Should we get a tree, or...?"

"From where?" I scoff. "It's a week until Christmas Eve, who is going to have any live trees still?"

"Well, Milo might." He shrugged.

I sink further into the couch cushions, not convinced in the least. "Fat chance. Either way, it's freezing out there, you know. Not ideal, frankly."

"Just bundle up, (Y/N)! It's no big deal, right?" Before I could dismiss the thought, he leaped to his feet, extending a hand for me to take. I reluctantly accept his hand and he pulls me to my feet.

I set my frown and shrug on my coat, Leon at my heels. After we're appropriately equipped for the cold temperatures of north Galar, we set out into the streets.

The chilly air instantly makes my breath visible, and I can already feel my cheeks becoming flushed.

I glance at Leon for a split second, and he leaps at the chance to poke some at me. "Hey, (Y/N), are you blushing?" He inquires cheekily.

"N-no!" I flinch, gritting my teeth. "It's just the frigid weather! L-look, your face is bright pink as well, Leon."

"Whatever you say~!" He chuckles, making my face redden even more — in frustration.

We continue on in silence, Leon leading the way to a Christmas tree farm owned by his friend, Milo, and me trailing behind, my hands stuffed into my pockets. I cursed myself for forgetting gloves but took my mind off it by staring at the dull gray sky.

It was a wall of dull slate gray, the thick clouds obscuring anything beyond it. Even though it was almost noon, I hadn't seen the sun peek through even just once.

The only sound was the muffled crunch of snow beneath our boots and the trees, cloaked in snow, swaying in the wind. I enjoyed the silence blissfully until its perfection was shattered by a voice.

"Heya there, folks! You lookin' for a tree?"

I snap out of my lingering thoughts to see a relatively tall, pink-haired, beaming male waving to us. Milo.

"Yep, we are." I nodded but then noticed that the dwindling collection behind him wasn't noteworthy at all.

They were most definitely the leftovers, that much could be said easily. They were all thin and lanky, as well as being small enough to fit on a tabletop... which was surprisingly perfect for my flat.

Leon inspects each of the trees with a dramatic flourish, making his rounds much like a child would. I couldn't help but let out a soft giggle at his earnest way of going about things.

When Leon hears this, he darts to me, eyes wide. "Your laugh is so cute! Do it again!"

I immediately shook my head, almost flustered beyond words. "Wha-What do you-?!"

Milo interrupts the moment, "Sorry, guys, but, which one do you want?"

"Leon can choose," I answered drily, not really caring which it was, just that we had one. Christmas has been my favorite holiday, ever since I was a child. Currently, I was not as enthusiastic about the celebration anymore, but I was still dedicated to having a fresh tree each year regardless.

The Galar Champion rushes over to a tree, which seems decent enough. "This one!" He cries.

I shuffle around for my wallet to pay as Leon picks up the tree, turning to Milo. "How much is it?" I ask, thumbing through the Poke Dollars I have on hand.

Just as Milo was about to name the price, Leon swoops in. "Oh, (Y/N) — I'll be paying, no worries!" He assures me before I can even say a word of an objection.

"Hey!" I protest, but he's already handed Milo the money, and on his way back to the room we share with the tree over his shoulder.

I shivered in the cold but quickly followed after him. The snow picked up from a light flurry to a blizzard soon enough, so I was relieved when we finally made it back to the heated apartment.

The very first thing Leon did after kicking off his shoes was stand up the tree on the center of the coffee table in the main room, then grinning, satisfied, at me as I hung up my scarf.

"Well? Is it just as you wanted?" He asks eagerly as I get the hot chocolate maker out, along with milk and cocoa powder among other things.

"How- how dare you! I-I never said I wanted it!" I insist fervently, pausing what I was doing to stick my tongue out at him. "You are the one who went and got it all of a sudden!"

"Can't deny that," he laughs.

"Well... I appreciate it anyway..." I mumble under my breath, not glancing his way. Heat rises in my cheeks, but I try my best to ignore it. Despite favoring my more hostile side at times, I let a softer aspect of my personality shine through from time to time, but only once in a while, and only for brief periods of time. "B-but don't take it the wrong way! It's not like I like you or anything, got it?!"

———

Author's Note:

This is a request from Reiya_thecaiaddict who isn't the first to ask for a story about Leon, but that's fine. I've only written from a tsundere's perspective twice before, so I'm still not the best at it, but I've written plenty of Leon stories!

This leads to today's question for you, my reader: Roughly how many words do you think I've written on Leon one-shots by now? I'm curious. For some strange reason, the answer is...

...12104 words! (That's too many, guys...)

Anyway... As always, thanks for reading,
Lillian

Word count: 1530 words

———