Archie and Maxie

"They're Nemona and the others!"

Still immersed in the relief of having survived the ordeal, the three on Red Gyarados's back waved frantically at Nemona's group.

The three were Takeshi, May, and Max, who had once again gotten caught up in an incident not long after leaving Larousse City.

After confirming their identities, Zhen Si finally looked up, frowning as he addressed them far more politely than he usually did Ash. "How did you find us? We were on Wailord's back."

Given the difference in size, the three floating on Gyarados's back should not have been able to see them.

Especially since they had deliberately covered themselves with a piece of blue cloth similar to Wailord's skin tone to camouflage themselves.

At that question, both May and Max were left speechless.

Their eyes darted guiltily from side to side. Before they could come up with an excuse, Takeshi, who had just been sitting on Red Gyarados's back, had already vanished.

Don't misunderstand—Takeshi had not accidentally fallen into the water.

With jaw-dropping athletic ability, he had simply leaped from Red Gyarados's back onto Wailord's, then dropped to one knee before the helpless-looking Shizuka. Flashing a mouthful of white teeth, he gave her a charming smile—or so he believed.

"Miss Shizuka, it was love at first sight all over again!"

Everyone: "..."

Fine. We were idiots for agonizing over that question.

Looking at Takeshi, who was singing the praises of Paldea Region's Nurse Joy and her special charms not found in Kanto, Johto, or Hoenn, they understood.

With Takeshi's big-sister radar, finding people was nothing. He could even spot subtle differences between Nurse Joys and Officer Jennys who looked exactly alike.

He was simply inhuman.

A short while later.

They finished exchanging information.

Originally, Nemona's group had only wanted to ask where