The Jubilife Pokémon Restaurant.
A red-and-white Balloon Arch stood tall, streamers fluttered, and a long line of flower baskets flanked the entrance.
Crowds of reporters, especially the Sinnoh NOW crew led by Miss Yuka, had already set up their cameras, all trained on the restaurant doors.
The restaurant opened at 11:18, with Cynthia, Roland, Mayor Luca, Elite Four member Lucian, and the others arriving one after another and taking their seats.
"This is so much fun!"
Red tapped away at the ordering system, though he had yet to order a single dish.
"Everything looks so delicious!"
Pikachu perched securely on Red's shoulder, studying it with equal curiosity.
"Pikachu!"
(I want this one!)
Red looked at the server behind him. "Excuse me, do you have this dish?"
The server smiled. "Rest assured, we do."
Red and Pikachu exchanged a glance.
"You're in for a treat, Pikachu!"
"Pikachu!"
Pikachu rubbed his belly.
He had even skipped breakfast to save room for today's feast.
Red glanced around the Pokémon Restaurant, watching the customers pour in.
"What a shame. There are too many people here. Otherwise, Snorlax would have loved this!"
At an ordinary Pokémon Restaurant, he could have let Snorlax out to eat with them.
Blue's mouth twitched. "With these menu prices, wouldn't Snorlax eat you into bankruptcy?"
As far as Blue was concerned, the prices alone made this a restaurant she would never normally set foot in.
She usually ate at food stalls or little roadside eateries.
A restaurant decorated like this would eat into the money she was saving for her dowry!
Lance looked around and said wistfully, "It's been a long time since this many of us got together, hasn't it?"
Blue nodded. "It has. If not for the restaurant opening, we probably wouldn't have managed it."
Lance was both