"Of course, siblings need to keep in step!"
"Ah~ Milotic~"
When Xiaoguang saw the altered-color Milotic, her eyes lit up like flashlights, and she couldn't wait to run over. "It's so beautiful up close! Can I touch you?"
"Me too!"
"Milotic is so pretty~"
"I can hardly breathe!"
Xiaoyao, Wula La, and Harry had similarly enraptured expressions, and even though Liuqia saw Pokémon like Milotic every day and was already immune, she joined in the excitement.
Only three boys remained somewhat calm, staying in place.
But Baimu didn't expect—
Piplup seemed to be enchanted too!
He looked at the little penguin by Xiaoguang's feet, revealing a hint of infatuation towards the altered-color Milotic, and started to suspect this guy was just like Ash Ketchum's Oshawott and the Rocket Team's Meowth, purely a playboy.
It'd fall in love at the drop of a hat, more often than eating.
Hah.
Thinking this way, the guilt towards it suddenly felt less.
Baimu stroked the Pokeball in his pocket and suddenly wondered what expression Piplup would have if he released Mawile now.
He was well aware of the allure that an altered-color Milotic had for Water-type Pokémon, just like at the previous Fallarbor Conference, when the newly evolved opponent's Gyarados and Pelipper fell in love at first sight.
A love triangle?
...Forget it, why trouble your own Pokémon?
Baimu quietly dismissed the idea.
——
After the guy who scored 39.1.
Several more participants with total scores over 38.5 appeared one by one, but nobody scored over 39.5.
Perhaps...
Could Teacher Liuu have this possibility?
Baimu looked at Liuqia, who was eagerly watching TV, and when it came to talent in the Gorgeous Competition, she could be compared to her uncle Mikoli.
Unfortunately, her acting career took up too much time; otherwise, she might have become a top Coordinator Trainer long ago.
"Hmm, what's up, disciple?"
Liuqia curiously tilted her head.
Baimu replied, "It's your turn soon, aren't you going to prepare?"
"Ah, ah!"
She blinked her pale blue eyes and asked as if she hadn't realized, "Is it my turn soon?"
Baimu's eye twitched, "You should have the schedule on your phone, right? I saw you download it, so hurry up!"
"Oh... I was always reminded by my manager before." Liuqia said apologetically, walking towards the contestant passageway as if waking from a dream, "Then I'm off! Disciple, remember to cheer for me on site!"
As she moved.
The girls who were caught up with the serpent finally reacted, reluctantly letting go and catching up with Liuqia, who hadn't entered the passageway, to cheer her on.
"Thank you for your hard work."
Baimu gently stroked the fin-like hair of the altered-color Milotic, which whimpered in complaint.
Initially, it was happy to be so liked, but over time felt a bit strange; when it realized those people seemed unsatisfied with just touching and even had thoughts of rushing in to cuddle, the altered-color Milotic felt nothing but fear.
"Oh~"
Is being popular really this scary?
The altered-color Milotic shivered, feeling its fur might be rubbed bald.
"Alright, alright, rest in the Pokeball now." Baimu comforted it with a few words, then returned it to its Pokeball.
The way Xiaoguang and the others behaved wasn't as exaggerated as the altered-color Milotic had imagined. It was just not used to excessive enthusiasm as it was not often exposed to outsiders.
He followed Xiaogang and Xiaosheng to the venue to watch Liuqia's performance.
When the altered-color Milotic disappeared, Piplup's mesmerized eyes immediately returned to clarity.
"Piplup?"
It raised its little flipper in confusion, as if it had lost the memory from just now.
Suddenly.
Xiaoguang's voice reached its ears.
"Piplup! We're going to cheer now!"
Upon hearing this, Piplup stopped its thoughts, waved its small yellow claws, and followed its Trainer with a smack, smack.
At the audience seats.
As Baimu and the others sat down, the stage was in the middle of reviewing the contestants, with Liuqia up next.
Xiaosheng suddenly pointed in a direction and asked, "Huh? What are they doing?"
Everyone looked in the same direction and saw many spectators suddenly start wearing headbands, performing color-uniform coats, and dual-wielding colorful support sticks with a serious readiness.
"That's..."
"That's Liuqia's support gear." With his keen eyesight, Baimu instantly recognized the large coat with Liuqia's half-portrait.
As an idol of the Gorgeous Competition, how can a fan club be called an Aidoru without some unified gear?
Everyone suddenly realized.
Xiaoguang regretfully said, "If only I had prepared a set! It looks so fun~"
"Yeah, but the cheerleader outfit is pretty good!" Xiaoyao agreed, also satisfied with the cute cheerleading outfit she wore.
"Piplup! Piplup!" Piplup was already dancing on the metal bar.
The Gorgeous Competition trained it to have extraordinary balance; even on a small metal bar, it could move with ease on a steel wire!
Amid all the anticipation.
Vivian started the introductory segment as usual.
"Next, this contestant I believe many in the audience have been eagerly waiting for... Well then, let's welcome our cutest, most vibrant Gorgeous Competition idol, Liuji!"
Wow!!
A wave of cheers erupted like a tsunami.
To Liuqia, Glazed City was undoubtedly her home turf. Whether out of admiration or affection, countless Glazed City citizens adored this energetic young girl.