At the Pokémon Center.
Baimu leaned back and stared at the ceiling, waiting for his Pokémon to finish treatment.
The doctors at the Pokémon Gym could only treat minor injuries and illnesses with the equipment they had. Broken bones and extensive frostbite meant a trip to the Pokémon Center.
"Excuse me... Are you Baimu?"
A tentative voice sounded beside him.
He turned and saw a beautiful woman with a Golduck at her side. She wore a light-blue dress.
Holding up her phone, she asked, "Could I take a photo with you?"
"Of course."
Baimu didn't refuse. He added, "Would you like Milotic in it too?"
"If that's okay!" The woman nodded excitedly. She and Golduck exchanged expectant smiles.
A moment later.
Was this... the fifth one?
He watched her interact excitedly with Shiny Milotic and thought it was a good thing the crowds had gone.
Most visitors had begun leaving Sootopolis City by boat on the day the Wallace Cup ended.
Another large group had left that morning and at noon. The once-crowded streets were suddenly spacious, and the Pokémon Center had only a handful of people left.
Even so, passersby kept recognizing him and asking for photos.
He had time to spare, and he still had sponsorship contracts with Team Magma and Team Aqua, so Baimu agreed to each request.
He even brought out the "star."
Perhaps because it had been called ugly so often when it was young, Shiny Milotic loved hearing people praise its beauty. It was eager to pose with fans and shook its Poké Ball every time until Baimu let it out.
It also remembered the watermelon boy from Verdanturf Town. When Baimu had discussed returning there to build their strength, Milotic had been the most enthusiastic. It still dropped hints now and then that