The three older sisters carried a scent that blended pool water with the warm fragrance of mature women.
Barefoot, they padded across the wet floor and surrounded Yuuto in the center.
They stood so close that he could see the single droplet of water trembling on Ayame's collarbone, ready to fall.
So close that he could smell the faint shampoo in Peony's hair.
So close that he could feel the subtle warmth of Sakura's breath and the gentle rise and fall of her full chest.
They began to circle him slowly.
The soft splash of bare feet on wet tiles echoed clearly in the empty pool area.
One lap.
Two laps.
Three laps.
Their gazes moved like scanners—top to bottom, front to back—missing nothing.
Yuuto stood still, a polite smile on his face.
Inside, however, he couldn't help thinking: *So this is what standing at Hulao Pass feels like.*
Peony was the first to step forward. She was the boldest of the three and leaned in until her face was almost pressed against his chest, looking up at him.
Her soaked purple swimsuit top gaped open slightly from the angle, revealing an enticing glimpse of soft, pale skin.
"Hmm~"
Peony drew out the sound, eyes sparkling. "His looks are really quite good~"
As she spoke, she reached out and poked Yuuto's arm with a finger.
"His muscles are quite firm too~"
Her fingertip was cool and still carried traces of pool water.
Ayame circled to his side.
She twisted her waist and slowly paced from his left to his right, her gaze lingering on his waist, abdomen, and thighs.
Her wet blue swimsuit clung tightly to her round, perky backside. With every step, the thin fabric shifted, tracing enticing curves while water droplets slid down the insides of her thighs, leaving glistening trails.
"The body lines are very nice~"
Ayame's voice carried a lazy, seductive charm.
Finally, there was Sakura.
She stood behind Yuuto, but instead of looking at his back, she bent down to examine the equally dazed Pikachu at his feet.
The motion made her long, wet blonde hair slide off her shoulders. The straps of her swimsuit dug into the smooth skin of her back.
From Yuuto's angle, the side profile of her chest—full, soft, and squeezed outward by the bend—was impossible to ignore.
It was dazzlingly white.
"Pikachu is so cute too~" Sakura's voice came from behind, gentle and full of laughter. "We could pull it into performances with us in the future."
"Pika?"
Pikachu tilted its head, ears twitching in confusion.
Ayame immediately shot back, "Peony, are you stupid? Pikachu is an Electric-type. Performing in the water? Do you want to blow up the pool?"
"Oh, right…"
Only then did Sakura straighten up.
The breathtaking view vanished with the movement, but the image was already burned into Yuuto's mind.
The three sisters gathered in front of him once more.
They exchanged quick glances.
Then they nodded in perfect unison.
Peony: "Overall, he's very good~"
Ayame: "That brat Misty… she's actually eating so well~"
Sakura: "Exactly… Wait, hold on."
She suddenly thought of something, blinked, and turned to her sisters. "Has Misty already eaten?"
The air went silent for a second.
All three sisters' gazes snapped back to Yuuto's face at the same time.
The look in their eyes was curious… inquisitive… and carried an unmistakable hint of ambiguity.
Ayame took half a step forward.
She had already been close; now she was almost pressed against him.
The heat from her wet body, mixed with a feminine fragrance, washed over him.
She looked up, red lips slightly parted, voice low and seductive.
"Um… you…"
Yuuto naturally picked up the conversation. "Oh, my name is Yuuto. I'm a Trainer from Pallet Town."
Ayame nodded, but the questions kept coming.
Her charming eyes locked onto his as she asked the earth-shattering question:
"Oh~ Yuuto~"
"Have you and Misty already… hit a home run?"
!!!
The moment the words left her mouth, Misty's entire face flushed crimson all the way to her ears.
"Ah!!!"
Her scream nearly blew the roof off the pool area.
Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Misty suddenly rushed forward and clamped both hands over Ayame's mouth.
"Sisters! What are you doing?!"
She was dying of shame and indignation, voice trembling.
Sakura, however, looked completely calm.
She crossed her arms and asked back matter-of-factly.
"Didn't you bring your man home to meet the family?"
"As your older sisters, can't we properly scrutinize the pillar who might support our entire home in the future?"
Peony dropped her playful expression and stood up straight for once. Her wet purple swimsuit hugged her amazingly developed figure, curves breathtaking.
"That's right, Misty."
"This is a major matter concerning the future survival of the Cerulean Gym."
"We must scrutinize him properly."
Misty was stunned. "What… what major matter?"
This was a topic the four sisters of the Cerulean Gym had discussed privately long ago.
To stop the Gym from declining further and losing its status as a city representative, they had decided to concentrate their strength.
Whoever found the first boyfriend, the remaining sisters would support him as their shared choice and gradually become his confidantes.
They would all rally behind this single pillar, letting him support the four sisters and the home that was the Cerulean Gym.
The prerequisite, of course, was that the man had to be worth supporting and strong enough to carry the future of the four sisters and the Gym.
Misty, however, had never taken the conversation seriously. Her head had been full of "I want to become a great Water-type Pokémon Trainer," "I don't want to rely on a man," and "I'll revive Cerulean Gym by myself."
So whatever her sisters had said back then had gone in one ear and out the other.
She had never imagined she would be the first to bring someone home.
But now… her sisters were seriously putting this ridiculous family rule into action?
"No, that's not it!"
Misty suddenly snapped out of it, shaking her head like a rattle drum.
"He… he's… he's not my man!"
Misty stammered in panic.
The three sisters froze at once.
"Huh?"
Shock was written across their three beautiful faces.
Even Pikachu looked dazed.
"Pika?"
It glanced up at Yuuto, then at Misty, tilting its little head in confusion.
Delia, standing a bit further away, wore a blank, cute expression for a second before quickly snapping out of it.
*Is he a man?*
Others might not know, but how could she not?
He had filled her up so many times already.
"Hey, Misty."
Yuuto started teasing, voice light. "I treated you to quite a few ice creams and burgers along the way, and this is how you introduce me?"
The moment those words left his mouth, Sakura caught the key phrase.
"Ice cream? Burgers?"
She turned sharply toward Misty, brows furrowed.
As the eldest sister, she strictly managed her younger sisters' diets and figures.
High-calorie junk food was absolutely forbidden.
"Misty!"
Sakura planted her hands on her hips.
The motion made her soaked swimsuit top strain even tighter.
"How many times have I told you? You're not allowed to eat those things!"
"Look at Ayame and Peony—why do they have such good figures? Because of strict self-discipline!"
Ayame and Peony immediately puffed out their chests.
Misty shrank her neck and said weakly, "I… I only ate them twice…"
"Twice?"
Sakura's voice rose.
"Not even once is allowed!"
As she spoke, she reached out to pinch Misty's face and check for any weight gain.
Misty quickly dodged.
Ayame and Peony joined the fray.
The three sisters surrounded Misty, and the poolside instantly turned chaotic.
Four young, sexy female bodies—chasing, playing, and splashing—created a blood-pumping spring scene by the water.
The soaked swimsuits hid almost nothing. Instead, the way the wet fabric clung and shifted made every curve even more visible.
Yuuto stood to the side, quietly enjoying the view.
"Enough—!!!"
Misty finally roared, ending the playful scuffle.
The three sisters stopped and stared at her.
Misty was panting, hair messy, clothes askew and revealing half a snow-white shoulder.
She pointed at Yuuto and shouted with all her strength:
"I misspoke earlier!"
"Yuuto is not my man!"
"We are just traveling companions!"
She took a deep breath and finally yelled the most crucial point:
"He is a Trainer here to challenge the Cerulean Gym."
The poolside fell into dead silence.
A few seconds later, Ayame reacted first.
She blinked, a trace of disappointment flashing across her charming face.
"Ah? So… he's not?"
Sakura recovered the quickest. She gently patted her chest.
"So that's how it is…"
She walked toward Yuuto, a polite and gentle smile returning to her face.
"Mr. Yuuto, I'm truly sorry."
"Our family situation is a bit special. Sorry for the embarrassment."
Yuuto replied with a smile. "It's fine. The three sisters are all very… enthusiastic."
"You flatter us," Sakura said, shrugging helplessly.
"You mentioned earlier that Mr. Yuuto wants to challenge the Gym?"
She paused, a slight look of difficulty appearing on her face.
"If it's for today, there might be a small problem."