~Congratulations đ, we have reached 400 chaptersđ
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After saying their goodbyes to Morty, Kai and Erika didn't waste another second. They quickly made their way out of the Ecruteak Gym.
Once they reached the stairs outside, Kai raised a Poké Ball and summoned his Charizard, who swooped down in an instant. Without hesitation, the two climbed on and took off straight toward the location of the tea party.
Back at the gym entrance, Morty stood silently, watching their silhouettes shrink into the sky. Only when the flaming tail of Charizard vanished into the clouds did he finally sigh in frustration.
SighâŠ
This match had shaken him far more than he expected.
'A crystalline Steelix⊠a Gengar that could talkâŠ'
Either one of them would've been enough to leave a lasting impression, but to have them both, under one Trainer? It was nothing short of shocking.
He'd always taken pride in his skills and Pokémon. But now, that pride had been neatly dismantled one match at a time.
The man was barely older than him⊠and yet, his strength felt completely out of reach.
There's always someone stronger out there, Morty thought to himself. Guess I really had forgotten thatâŠ
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Charizard's orange body streaked through the skies above Ecruteak City, casting a sharp shadow on the streets below.
People noticed the flickering shape on the cobbled ground and looked up just in time to glimpse a flaming tail vanish over the rooftops.
They shook their heads, murmuring among themselves. In a city as calm and slow-paced as this, a sight like that was rare. A hot-blooded Trainer on a mission, flying overhead? Now that was something you didn't see every day.
Who knew what urgent thing he was rushing off to?
The tea party, as Koume had described, was held in a spacious courtyard in the western part of the city.
At exactly 10:17 AM, Charizard touched down in front of the gate.
Despite being over ten minutes late, it seemed the party hadn't officially started yet. Through the open entrance, they could see guests milling around the garden casually, chatting, and admiring the flowers. No sign of a ceremony or toast.
"Whew, we made it in time."
Erika stepped off Charizard and patted her chest in relief.
Neither of them liked being late. So to find out they were still on time was a welcome surprise.
Just as the two exchanged a smile and prepared to enter, a woman in a soft-colored kimono stepped forward to greet them.
"Welcome to our humble home," she said with a graceful bow.
She was a few years older than Kai, elegant, poised, and dressed in a light blue kimono. Her hair was intricately styled, and her presence radiated hospitality.
Kai recognized her immediately. One of the Kimono Sisters, but aside from Koume, he hadn't yet learned their names. He wasn't sure which sister this was.
He took out the invitation card, ready to hand it to her, when suddenly a familiar, cheerful voice called out from behind her.
"Kai! Erika! You're here!"
The two looked up and saw Koume herself hurrying over, dressed once again in her pink kimono.
"Miss Koume," Erika said, bowing respectfully. "Sorry, we're late. Something came up that held us back a little."
Koume waved it off with a bright smile. "No worries at all! We haven't even officially started yet. You made it just in time!"
The older woman glanced between them, then smiled with understanding. "Ah, so you're friends of Koume. Forgive meâI'm Tamao, her second eldest sister."
"Nice to meet you, Miss Tamao," Kai and Erika replied together.
Before any more formalities could be exchanged, Koume had already grabbed Erika by the hand.
"C'mon, no need to linger at the entrance, come inside!"
Following close behind, Kai stepped into the courtyard⊠and paused.
This place was enormous.
There was a pond in the center, complete with a stone bridge and koi swimming beneath it. Gazebos, walkways, and wooden towers framed the garden. Cherry blossoms filled the edges, their petals fluttering in the morning breeze.
It was beautiful.
Clearly, the estate had been planned with utmost care.
As they walked toward the main house, Koume began explaining.
"This place belongs to our family. We host these tea parties every week, and they've become quite popular; lots of people attend."
Kai glanced around as she spoke, and sure enough, couples and families strolled across the grounds, chatting with friends, sipping tea, laughing.
And then it hit him.
He looked at their clothes⊠then down at his own.
Everyone here was dressed in elegant kimonos. Even Erika, out of habit, was already in one.
Only he⊠was wearing his usual casual gear.
Compared to the formal guests, he stood out like a sore thumb. A few people passing by gave him subtle frowns or puzzled glances.
To them, attending a tea party hosted by the Kimono Sisters was a prestigious occasion. Of course, you'd want to dress your best. Who would show up looking like he just walked out of a roadside diner?
It wasn't that Kai wanted to stand out.
He just didn't own a kimono. And he'd never been to a formal event like this before. He hadn't even thought about it.
Koume seemed to pick up on his awkwardness. She chuckled softly, covering her mouth.
"Don't worry about it. Dressing up isn't mandatory, it's just tradition. You're fine just the way you are."
Her voice was warm and reassuring.
Even though this was only their second meeting, her friendliness came naturally. Kai figured it probably had something to do with their conversation after the play yesterday. It had brought them closer, even if just a little.
Inside the main house, Koume poured them each a cup of hot tea.
She placed the cups in front of them with a gentle smile.
"The party will officially begin soon. But before that, my sister Sumomo is hosting a flower arrangement class. Would you two be interested?"
"Flower arranging?" Erika's eyes sparkled. "That's perfect! I'm actually a florist back in Kanto. I'd love the chance to learn from your sister!"
"Really?" Koume looked delighted. "That's amazing! I'm sure Sumomo would love to meet you!"
Compared to Erika's excitement, Kai looked⊠less than thrilled.
Noticing his expression, Koume giggled again.
"Well, if flowers aren't your thing, there's a friendly battle ring in the back garden. If you're interested, some Trainers are already waiting for a match."
Now that got his attention.
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