October 1, evening.
Olivine Town, Seaside Villa.
Thanks to Li Wei, Cynthia, Lorelei, and the others,
the organizers had booked them adjoining seaside villas, where they could barbecue and chat in the yard.
Besides the barbecue, Li Wei also made the simplest option of all-hot pot.
He had stir-fried the soup base himself, while Brock and the others, who had arrived a little earlier, had bought the ingredients.
Cynthia had also ordered some ingredients online and had them delivered straight to the villa by refrigerated transport.
Steven was even more extravagant, ordering directly from famous restaurants in Olivine Town, along with specialty foods from the Johto exhibition. The deliveries had been arriving one after another.
Looking at the table laden with food, Lance couldn't help saying, "You really went to a lot of expense."
Steven's lips curved slightly. "As long as everyone enjoys the food."
Lt. Surge, Akin, Blue, and the others all sighed. "It must be nice to be rich!"
Eating together at the seaside villas was really their only option.
With so many of them, finding somewhere that could seat them all wasn't easy.
Besides, fans would inevitably interrupt their meal. The seaside villas were much more comfortable.
They had spent the whole day out doing their own things, and now that everyone had gathered in the evening, they finally had a chance to chat.
"Quack, quack!"
"Shaymin~"
"Pikachu~"
Sirfetch'd had been forced to play Eagle Catches the Chicks with Shaymin, Pikachu, and the others.
Actually... Sirfetch'd made a pretty good hawk.
"Piplup!"
Bruno also took the opportunity to discuss the Hardness Secret with Dayou and Ash.
Except... Dayou was clearly far more absorbed in the barbecue!
Mizuki remarked, "Unbelievable. Elite Four member Bruno is teaching him the Hardness Secret, and he's over there barbecuing..."
Xiao Meng smiled.