Watching Ryosuke Onodera and Yuma Kamiya about to start fooling around, the helpless Rika Yuzuki stretched out a hand between them and stopped them.
"You two, enough already. Look where you are."
The two immediately stopped at her words, glanced around, then awkwardly picked up their wineglasses and took a sip.
Watching this, Xinhai found it amusing and chuckled softly as he speared a large piece of steak and stuffed it into his mouth.
After a while, another young woman approached.
She wore a mint-green knee-length dress, her hair pinned high to reveal a stretch of fair neck. Her demeanor was gentle and graceful.
"Sir, may I have this dance?" Her voice was soft, as though afraid of disturbing something.
Xinhai looked up at her expectant eyes and gave the same calm, candid reply. "Sorry, I can't dance."
A trace of helplessness flickered through the young woman's eyes as she glanced at the Pokémon beside Xinhai, all of whom were busy eating.
—Eevee was crouched on a chair gnawing on grilled lamb chops, Charmander held a steak and ate until sauce covered his mouth, Axew hugged a grilled fish and ate with relish, while Gardevoir sat quietly nearby, taking small bites of cake.
She opened her mouth, seemingly wanting to say something else, but in the end she merely smiled and gave a slight bow. "Sorry for the disturbance."
Just as she was about to turn and leave, Ryosuke Onodera rose to his feet and called out to her.
"Miss, might I have the honor of asking you for a dance?"
Ryosuke Onodera wore his trademark sunny smile as he bowed slightly and extended his right hand, palm up.
The young woman paused slightly, her gaze lingering on Ryosuke Onodera's face for a moment—chestnut curls, a sunny smile, and sincere