"Um… Miss Nessa, are there always this many Wishiwashi around here?"

After tossing yet another one back into the sea, Yuri finally couldn't hold back her curiosity and timidly struck up a conversation with the Gym Leader sitting beside her.

"Haha, well, it wasn't always like this. But lately, yeah, they've been showing up more."

Nessa chuckled as she gazed out over the water, propping one arm casually on the wooden planks. She explained with an easy tone,

"They're probably the ones I've been training. Most of the time, I let them roam freely around this coastal area."

"Wait, wha-huh?!"

Yuri flinched at her words, nearly dropping her rod. Nessa reached out to steady it with a smile, then met the girls' astonished gazes and continued,

"It's part of a new research project I'm working on. If I can successfully command a school of Wishiwashi and have them shift into School Form on command, they could become a new symbol of Hulbury."

"That's amazing! You can control that many Pokémon all at once?!"

Yuri looked utterly astonished. Sure, when they were grouped, Wishiwashi formed into a single massive creature but before that, it was literally thousands of tiny Pokémon. Could any Trainer really manage that?

Marie blinked thoughtfully. She had heard of some wealthy individuals trying to raise full schools of Wishiwashi, but actual success stories? The only place she'd ever heard it done reliably was Alola.

"Did you get your inspiration from Alola?"

Marie asked the question calmly. Nessa nodded, then shook her head with a slight smile.

"Only some basic principles. But they're enough for what I need. You're pretty well-informed about Alola, Miss Marie."

"I've just read up on it a bit."

"Oh right, I remember you mentioning Alola and Kalos before," Yuri chimed in.

"You actually remembered? Yeah, I always thought it'd be great to visit those regions someday."

Marie tilted her head back to look at the sky. Up above, Xiao Chiu and Baloo were practicing their moves mid-air. Thankfully, they weren't making too much of a fuss just enough to draw a few glances from passersby, but no complaints.

"Your Pokémon are working hard."

Nessa watched the energetic Rookie D fly about with interest. Its speed and the strength of its moves were impressive. Clearly not just for show.

"Feeling the pressure, huh? After all, Flying-types don't exactly match up well against Water-types."

"Well, even if you say that, I'm not going to go easy on you."

She turned to glance at the black-haired girl beside her. When she'd heard from Milo that this was Nie Zi's younger sister, she had assumed "strong" meant strong for a rookie.

But now she understood. Marie wasn't just strong for a beginner she was strong, period.

Her only real shortcoming was the number of Pokémon she had. She didn't even have a full team of six yet, let alone backups.

Marie let out a small laugh and glanced at Nessa, who was watching her with amusement.

"Then I'll have to ask you to go easy. Xiao Chiu's still a kid. He's not ready for a beating."

"Xiao Chiu? That his name? Cute."

Nessa looked toward him again. "Cute" might be a stretch… Marie wasn't sure whether to tell the truth. Xiao Chiu's usual cheeky remarks were mostly reserved for her, and just the thought of repeating any of them out loud was mortifying.

After a moment's hesitation, Marie decided it was best to let him keep his innocent image at least in front of others.

"Hmm… I guess he is."

Meanwhile, Yuri, seated between the two of them, had gone unusually quiet. Even though Nessa was warm, friendly, and stunningly beautiful, Yuri couldn't stop feeling nervous.

She had already used up all her courage just to start a conversation earlier, and now she was retreating into herself, too flustered to speak.

How could Marie stay so calm, even talking to Gym Leaders or the Champion? Her nerves were steel! Was this what it meant to be a top-tier Trainer?

Yuri gave Marie a pitiful sidelong glance. Maybe this kind of confidence was just something great Trainers naturally had?

"Hmm?"

Noticing Yuri's stare, Marie glanced over and found the sight rather amusing. This meek little expression was something she'd never seen on Yuri before.

"Haha, looks like I'm getting in the way of your date. I'll stop playing third wheel," Nessa teased with a playful smile, rising to her feet.

But just as she turned to go, Marie grabbed Yuri's hand and quickly called out,

"Wait, Miss Nessa! If it's not too much trouble, could you give this girl one of your rare signed League Cards? She really wants one, but she's too shy to ask."

"Whaaaa-?! I-I didn't-ugh…"

Yuri buried her face in Marie's shoulder, her cheeks blazing red with embarrassment.

"A rare card, huh? Sorry, I didn't bring any with me today. I was just out for a walk. But how about this? Win your Gym Challenge, and I'll give you one myself."

Nessa was only carrying a few Poké Balls on her belt clearly not out for anything official. Marie patted Yuri's shoulder and murmured,

"She's talking to you, Yuri."

"Ugh… I-I got it! Miss Nessa, I'll do my best!"

"Good! That's the spirit. I'll be waiting."

Nessa winked, then lifted her fingers to her lips and blew a kiss. Her water-blue-streaked hair fluttered in the sea breeze as she turned gracefully and walked away, leaving a dazzling impression behind her.

"So cool…"

Marie finally looked away from Nessa's retreating figure and turned to Yuri, who was now completely dazed. She waved a hand in front of her friend's eyes and said,

"Snap out of it. She's gone."

"Eh… I know, I know. Stop waving."

Yuri grabbed Marie's hand, then held it to her chest with a sigh of awe.

"Today was perfect… Nessa really is just as cool and beautiful as I imagined-"

"Alright, alright. Calm down. You'll see her again during your Gym Challenge in a few days. And who knows? If you'd been a little bolder just now, maybe you could've spent more time with your idol."

"Ugh-no way! I couldn't do it! But thanks to you, Marie, hehe… a rare League Card!"

Completely giddy, Yuri threw her arms around Marie, pulling her into a tight hug.

Beside them, the quick-thinking Echan caught the falling fishing rod with Psychic and handed another to the curious Silk.

"Yee~ (Want to fish?)"

"Chiru~! (Yes yes! I want to try!)"

And so, Silk and Echan began mimicking their Trainers, casting lines into the water and trying their luck at fishing.

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