When John finally arrived at the snack street, he noticed two girls and a boy waiting at the intersection.
One girl stood out with a confident, almost fiery presence, while the other exuded a delicate, graceful charm that drew attention in a quieter, more subtle way. Passersby barely acknowledged them, but every so often, some clueless guy would try to approach—only to be stopped in his tracks by a fierce-looking pink Granbull that stepped between them with a low growl. The men would freeze, then back off, clearly intimidated.
The boy next to them kept his eyes scanning the crowd, standing guard like a silent protector. Next to the Granbull, he looked every bit the vigilant guardian.
"There you are! Took you long enough! You made two gorgeous girls wait twenty minutes," Grace teased, throwing her arm around John's shoulders as he approached.
John shrugged with a sheepish grin. "Hey, the hotel's a bit far from here. But to make it up to you, lunch is on me today." He moved closer to her, catching a faint but unmistakable scent of orchid perfume—Grace's signature fragrance.
"Perfect! And you'd better make it count," Grace smirked. Then she gestured to the girl beside her. "John, meet my roommate, Rose. We're both in the Battle Department at the University."
Rose offered a gentle smile and a soft "Nice to meet you," her voice as calm and soothing as her appearance. The Granbull beside her, however, wasn't as welcoming—its narrowed eyes (￣ヘ￣o#) made it clear that no one should get too close.
"And this is..." Grace began, but the boy next to her jumped in.
"I'm Ethan!" he exclaimed eagerly, stepping forward to shake John's hand. "Also in the Battle Department. Good to meet you, man!"
John raised an eyebrow, sizing him up. Ethan seemed like a nice guy, if a bit too eager to make a good impression.
With the introductions out of the way, the group headed further into the snack street, which was bustling with activity despite the heat of summer. The street was packed with people, especially now that the college enrollment season was in full swing.
"Ooh, I want stinky tofu!" Grace exclaimed, her eyes lighting up when she spotted a vendor.
"Go for it!" John grinned, happy to treat her after his recent windfall.
Before he could reach for his wallet, however, Ethan was already stepping up to the vendor, handing over his cash.
John exchanged a glance with Grace, who raised an eyebrow with a knowing smile. Rose remained stoically neutral, but her eyes sparkled with amusement.
John stifled a laugh. It was clear Ethan was eager to impress.
"Next, I want meatballs!" Grace chimed in, a playful glint in her eyes.
"Coming right up!" Ethan jumped to action without hesitation.
"Oh, and octopus balls!" Grace added with a sly grin.
"Of course!" Ethan continued to pay without hesitation, looking determined to fulfill every one of Grace's snack requests.
John relaxed, amused, and let Ethan take the lead as the unofficial snack funder, happy to enjoy the ride.
They meandered through the busy street, nibbling on snacks until they reached a quiet spot by the lakefront, where a table with a perfect view awaited. It was the ideal place to sit down, relax, and enjoy their food while chatting.
"So, how'd your exam go today?" Grace asked between bites, glancing at John.
"Not bad. I filled in all the blanks," John said casually, though Grace knew him well enough to recognize his humble brag. When John said he "filled in all the blanks," it usually meant he aced the test.
Grace smirked. "Mr. Prodigy over here. Think I can call you up for advice on my Pokémon Breeder plans?"
John raised a hand dramatically, striking a pose. "For my favorite high school classmate? Absolutely! I'll even give you a special discount."
"Stingy as ever," Grace teased, rolling her eyes.
Rose looked over at him, her gaze thoughtful. "Would it be okay if I asked you for help too?"
Before John could respond, Ethan eagerly cut in. "Rose, you don't need to worry about that! My family has a professional breeder. I'll take care of everything for you."
Rose's smile didn't falter, but her voice became firmer. "No need."
Ethan, misunderstanding her gentle refusal as shyness, continued. "Aw, come on. You don't have to be shy—"
"No," Rose said, more firmly this time.
Ethan fell silent, and John couldn't help but find the situation amusing. It seemed poor Ethan had caught the scent of unrequited affection.
Grace, on the other hand, remained unfazed as she happily continued munching on her snacks. John found himself enjoying the carefree moment, the easy chatter, and the lighthearted drama. Life felt different now—more relaxed, in a way. Relationships were simpler than they'd seemed in the past.
Suddenly, an announcement rang out from the direction of Ember Lake.
"Congratulations to Trainers Max and Eve for advancing! You're the first to qualify!"
John looked over, spotting the arena that had been set up on the lake's surface. Trainers battled on stone platforms, connected by wooden planks, creating an impressive sight.
"Ember Lake Arena!" Grace's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"What's that?" John asked, intrigued.
"It's a doubles tournament," Ethan explained eagerly. "The city organizes it to draw in tourists. The grand prize is either a rare Pokémon egg or some special items. We should totally enter!"
He turned to Rose with a hopeful look. "Rose, will you team up with me?"
Rose shook her head, her hand gently patting Coco, the Granbull. "No, Coco's a little tired today."
The Granbull, Coco, gave a soft nuzzle to Rose's hand, making it clear she wasn't about to be persuaded.
"John, how about you?" Grace asked, her eyes practically glowing with excitement.
"Sure, why not?" John shrugged with a grin. "Could be fun."
"Awesome! Let's go!" Grace grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the arena.
The doubles format required two participants, so as Grace practically dragged John toward the Ember Lake Arena, Ethan and Rose stayed behind. Ethan looked a little disappointed, but John was already feeling the excitement of the tournament and what it might bring.