"Hey! Who's battling whom?"
A sudden woman's voice made everyone at the dojo turn.
A brown-haired woman in a green cold-shoulder knit top approached with a smile, her makeup glamorous and alluring.
"Ma'am!"
"Good morning, Ma'am!"
"An outside trainer who wants Max Soup is taking the qualifying challenge!"
Everyone bowed respectfully and made way, explaining over one another.
Honey smiled and slipped an arm around Master Mustard's shoulders. "Darling~"
"Perfect timing! Cheer up little Clara and little Avery for me. This old man's off to battle!"
Mustard chuckled. Under the astonished gazes of every dojo student, he declared, brimming with fighting spirit, "This one's beyond you. Leave him to me!"
With that, he strode onto the field.
Baimu hadn't asked for a break, but the uneven field needed repairs, and they had to wait for the lingering effects of the previous battle to wear off.
Everyone tacitly paused for ten minutes.
Honey looked around in confusion, then spotted Avery standing among the crowd, utterly dejected, and Clara on the verge of tears.
"What happened?"
Too many people had spoken at once for her to catch it. "Let your senior apprentice explain!"
The dark-skinned young man who had spoken with Baimu the night before respectfully recounted everything, including the misunderstanding involving Avery.
Honey nodded in understanding. "I see~"
Then she smiled and went to comfort Avery and Clara.
As the one who usually looked after everyone, she handled cleaning, cooking, operations, and publicity. She even tended to the students' emotional well-being.
The dojo students all respected and cherished her.
On the field.
Gengar munched on a Berry to restore its strength and gave its trainer a thumbs-up.
"Geng-gah~"
Tasty! And it's got flavor!
"Don't get carried away. You still have two more to handle—"
Baimu broke off and looked questioningly at