Fallen in Love

The hotel restaurant.

Baimu and Dawn sat across from each other, while Mawile and Piplup beside them each dug into two fruit parfaits, delighted beyond measure.

"I never expected you to be a Coordinator too, Mr. Baimu."

"Just call me Baimu."

He gave Dawn a friendly smile. "I never expected to run into you here either. You and your Pokémon are both excellent. Your performance in the Pokémon Contest was truly admirable—especially Piplup. It may be small, but its presence is incredible."

"Pip?"

Hearing its name, Piplup pulled its head out of the fruit parfait and looked at Baimu in confusion. Its little beak was covered in ice cream, making it rather adorable.

Realizing it had nothing to do with it, Piplup buried its head back in the dessert and wolfed it down, afraid it would lose to Mawile if it ate too slowly.

Mawile, however, had no idea the little penguin was competing over eating speed. Seeing it eat so quickly, she simply assumed it particularly liked the dessert.

"You flatter me." Dawn waved her hands with a faint blush on her cheeks, though Baimu's praise clearly pleased her.

As the female lead of the Diamond and Pearl Arc, she had always been confident, brave, and cheerful. As her journey gradually made up for the experiences she lacked, she had begun to shine more and more brightly in her own unique way.

At the same time,

the Diamond and Pearl anime was one of Baimu's personal favorites, so he had a particularly deep impression of Dawn.

He smiled. "There's no need to be so modest. I can still tell the difference between good and bad. By the way, have you already competed in Slateport City's Pokémon Contest, or are you planning to register?"

Dawn's eyes lit up. "We were