Sen Anxiang's Trouble

Liu Xin and Ito Hei readied themselves for a fight. Behind them, Sen Anxiang looked puzzled.

"Hm? Are we about to have a Pokémon battle?"

"Then I'll send out Clefairy."

Liu Xin and Ito Hei exchanged wry smiles. Her Clefairy was no different from an ordinary one. Against the group in front of them, it would be crushed.

But the Clefairy and Clefable were only blocking the path, refusing to let them reach the summit.

"Clefairy! Clefairy!"

There was a warning in their cries. Liu Xin couldn't understand them, but their movements and expressions made the message clear enough.

The Clefairy and Clefable were clearly wary of outsiders, especially humans trying to climb to the summit.

Liu Xin wasn't arrogant enough to take on Clefable in the thirties or forties. He would get hammered.

"It's a shame, but let's go," he said. "There's nothing we can do about this."

"I thought I might finally get my first battle," Sen Anxiang said regretfully.

"Let's go, then. Goodbye, Clefairy and Clefable!"

What a sweet, clueless girl.

South China City.

It was a city built around water, with Water-type Pokémon everywhere.

Sen Anxiang's eyes lit up. "Wow, it's so beautiful here! It feels like a dream, nothing like dry old Pewter City."

As a city of water, it naturally had a thriving arts and entertainment scene.

Liu Xin could feel its appeal. It was a wonderful city, full of life and easy to relax in.

Ito Hei looked around, his gaze darting everywhere. "There are so many pretty girls! What kind of paradise is this?"

"Suddenly, coming to South China City feels more like a vacation than a Gym challenge."

Liu Xin couldn't keep track of him, and Sen Anxiang wandered off too.

Left alone in the middle of the street, Liu Xin gazed at the scenery and sighed. "Fine. I might as well explore the city."

Waterways, Water-type Pokémon—everything felt wonderfully peaceful.

"Get your new South China Sisters photo book! Don't miss out!"

"Tickets for sale! Their latest show starts this afternoon!"

The South China Sisters.

The three sisters came to mind. Liu Xin bought a photo book, opened it, and found himself captivated.

They looked very different from how he remembered them. Their hair colors were the same, but their whole air had changed.

For one thing, they no longer wore the one-piece swimsuits he remembered. They wore bikinis, and he couldn't look away.

"I'm studying my opponents and their Pokémon, not going to watch the show."

"Right. This is all for the Gym challenge."

Photo book and ticket in hand, Liu Xin entered the venue and took his seat.

Fate had a funny sense of timing. As he sat down, he locked eyes with the person beside him.

"You!"

"Whoa, Xiao Hei! What are you doing here?"

To his surprise, Ito Hei had also come to watch the show.

And somehow, of all the seats in the venue, they had ended up beside each other.

Ito Hei offered the very same excuse. "The show isn't important. I'm mainly here to study my opponents."

"Know your enemy and know yourself, and you'll never lose a battle. I'm here to assess their strength!"

He said it with a perfectly straight face.

Then again, Liu Xin had told himself the same thing. Without another word, they reached a mutual understanding and kept fooling themselves.

Ten minutes later, the South China Sisters appeared to a roar of cheers.

They looked even better in person.

Sakura, with her golden hair, carried herself with the allure of a confident older woman. Her lovely face and full figure sent the crowd into a frenzy.

The second sister, dark-blue-haired Ayame, had a gentler charm than Sakura. Her warmth drew people in.

As for the youngest, pink-haired Penny was all sweetness. His bright smile and delicate features made people want to protect him.

The three sisters smiled. "Thank you all for visiting South China City, and thank you especially for coming to see our show."

"Without further ado, let the show begin!"

All three dove into the water at once, their bodies tracing perfect arcs. They barely raised a splash, like spirits of the water.

"Seel!"

A Seel leaped from the water, and the three sisters followed in perfect Synchronize. The spray caught every eye.

Sunshine, sparkling water, and beautiful performers—together, they were irresistible.

The three sisters and their Pokémon moved in perfect harmony, pulling off one difficult maneuver after another. No one could look away.

The cheering never stopped. The show was simply too captivating.

Liu Xin and Ito Hei shouted along with the crowd. "What a blue sky! What huge waves! What a white Seel!"

"Exactly. You have to study your opponents closely. You can't miss a single detail."

Their eyes were wide open. They almost wished they had a few more.

"Thank you all for your support and affection. That concludes today's show."

"Tonight, South China City's Gym challenges begin. We hope all you Trainers will come!"

Had the rules changed?

Ito Hei looked at him strangely. "You didn't know?"

"South China City is basically a tourist destination, so Gym challenges aren't much of a priority here."

"But the League has its requirements. After some negotiation, they found a compromise: South China Gym only holds challenges at night."

"Then you can challenge the South China Sisters and the Gym Leader, Misty."

Misty?

After parting ways with Ash, she had taken a different path from Brock and returned to lead South China Gym.

The chance to meet a character from the anime filled Liu Xin with an unexpected sense of anticipation.

South China Gym was a poor matchup for him, though. All his Pokémon were Ground Type, putting him at a disadvantage.

Would he have to beat the South China Sisters before he could face Misty?

People used to call South China Gym the weakest Gym, the kind that handed out Badges for free. That no longer seemed to be the case.

Still, that made it more interesting.

Liu Xin's lips curved into a confident smile. "Whatever happens, I'm going to win!"

Ito Hei sounded just as confident. "This time, I'll get my Badge before you do."

"Now we just have to wait until tonight for the Gym challenge. Where's Sen Anxiang?"

Only then did they realize they had forgotten Sen Anxiang. They went looking for the absent-minded girl.

"Water-type Pokémon are so cute! And so pretty!"

"I have to catch a few Pokémon. Come here, Goldeen! Jump into my arms~"

Sen Anxiang was by the river, chatting with a Goldeen alongside Clefairy. It was a perfectly peaceful scene.

She had no idea a Totodile was creeping up behind her.

In a flash, it snatched Sen Anxiang's backpack and took off.

Clefairy cried out a warning and immediately gave chase.

Sen Anxiang finally caught on. "Stop! You little crocodile up ahead! There's nothing valuable in my bag. Stealing it won't do you any good..."

"Stop running... You're wearing me out."