The stalls around the World's No. 1 Martial Arts Tournament venue on the outskirts of Olivine City opened for business one after another.
Today was the preliminary round to narrow sixteen contestants down to eight. From early morning, the venue buzzed with activity and surging crowds.
Behind one stall in the central shopping area stood a small table and several little stools.
Young Master Mao was having brunch tea with his two little followers, along with the overly familiar Korrina and her grandfather.
Really, it was just an excuse to eat and drink...
"Ah~ nom!" Holding a cream puff as big as her head, Bea bit into it. Snow-white cream stuck to her thin lips, and the little girl immediately narrowed her eyes in pleasure.
For Bea, who often had to maintain a poker face, this was her most delighted expression.
Korrina casually picked up a tissue to wipe Bea's mouth, but Bea tilted her head away and looked at Young Master Mao.
Young Master Mao was drinking tea with old Gurkinn. Seeing this, he could only shake his head with a helpless chuckle, take out a handkerchief to wipe Little Sugar Bean clean, then hand the handkerchief straight to Bea.
"Aww, Bea! You're breaking my heart!" Little Cucumber immediately puffed out her lips in annoyance, grabbed the cheese balls on the table, and stuffed them fiercely into her mouth.
"Sorry. Although I agreed to be friends with you, I'm still not used to strangers getting too close..." Bea explained solemnly, hugging her enormous cream puff.
Her adorable little expression instantly overwhelmed Little Cucumber with its cuteness.
"Ah~ so cute! Bea, you're just too cute." Korrina reached out and pinched Bea's cheeks, looking as satisfied as though she had sniffed catnip.
Maylene's cheeks bulged as she carefully ate a butter