"How about this one, Summer? Which outfit do you think looks best?" Marnie asked Summer as she changed back into her original clothes in the fashion store.
Summer found himself in a serious dilemma, unable to choose because every outfit Marnie tried on looked fantastic. He could now understand how the Yell Team felt.
The fluffy lambswool coat paired with a playful and cute ruffled mini skirt, the pure white bow socks, and the plush short boots were a perfect match. Marnie even changed her hairstyle to suit the outfit, with short braids hanging on either side of her face, giving her a dreamy, fairy-tale-like aura.
With lace gloves lightly holding her black hair and wearing a pure white satin evening dress, Marnie effortlessly carried off the elegant attire. She exuded an elegance reminiscent of a black-and-white waltz, almost like a princess from another kingdom.
In a casually matched sports short-sleeve shirt, a neat ponytail extending from a sun hat, and trendy jeans fitting snugly on her legs, Marnie pulled down her sunglasses slightly, radiating the vitality of a morning sun.
A knitted hoodie paired with a bow dress and a knitted beret hat gave her an approachable, girl-next-door feel, making ordinary clothes look familiar and comforting.
There were also other styles like intellectual sister, punk girl, and stylish traveler. In short, every outfit was great.
"Still haven't decided?" Marnie asked.
"Punk style is the best after all," Summer concluded after a tough mental battle.
"Isn't that quite similar to my current style?" Marnie's tone was a bit helpless. She then realized something, cleared her throat, and said, "Hehe, me too. I still like this style the most. Summer, you've got good taste."
"Would you like this wrapped up?" the nearby salesperson asked with a professional smile.
"Yes, please," Marnie replied.
The salesperson quickly packed the chosen outfit, handed the bag to Marnie, and said politely, "Here is your outfit. That will be fifty thousand League points. Would you like to pay by card or online?"
"Online payment," Marnie replied without hesitation, suggesting she might secretly be quite wealthy.
"Let's go, Summer. I still feel like there's more to do. How about getting something to eat?" Marnie suggested as they left the fashion store, with the salesperson bowing and smiling behind them.
"We look forward to your next visit," the salesperson said, though the smile seemed strained. She felt a strong urge to speak to the manager about banning couples from entering, fearing she might one day be overwhelmed by their cuteness.
"Marnie, what flavor of ice cream would you like?" Summer asked at an ice cream stand.
"Hmm, lemon flavor," Marnie decided after a moment of thought.
"One lemon and one citrus, please. And two Pokémon ice creams," Summer ordered, pointing to the menu.
"Got it!" the vendor replied.
Summer handed the Pokémon ice cream to Thwackey. "Here you go, Thwackey. This is for you."
Then he gave the lemon-flavored ice cream to Marnie and the other Pokémon ice cream to Morpeko.
"Thanks, Summer. Hey, Morpeko, don't just eat. Show some gratitude."
Morpeko waved a small paw in thanks while still eating its ice cream, finishing it quickly. It then eyed Marnie's ice cream, prompting her to take a bite, asserting her claim.
"Morpeko, this is my ice cream, not yours. Here, have a berry," she said, pulling out a berry from somewhere and giving it to Morpeko, who began eating contentedly.
"I'm surprised. I thought you'd let Morpeko have some," Summer remarked.
"I'm not the type to spoil my Pokémon. Too much cold food isn't good for them. Morpeko understands, right?" Marnie said as she stuffed another berry into Morpeko's mouth, muffling its protest.
After a short rest, they continued wandering aimlessly. Summer followed Marnie through various shops, noticing her growing excitement.
Eventually, they returned to the original bench. Marnie suddenly turned to Summer and said, "Hey, Summer, battle with me. Now that I'm in a good mood, I feel like battling. Show me how much you and Thwackey have grown."
"Gladly. Go, Thwackey."
"Thwackey~"
Thwackey leapt forward, ready for battle. Marnie nodded and released her Pokémon.
"Liepard, let's win elegantly and swiftly for Marnie."
Liepard moved gracefully, its well-developed muscles hinting at its explosive power.
"No, we'll be the ones to win," Summer countered. They both began their commands simultaneously.
The battle was intense. Now, Liepard's sleek fur was messy, and its stance wobbly, while Thwackey panted heavily from exertion.
It was Thwackey's first time facing such a swift opponent, making it a tough challenge for Summer. Marnie's excellent command, combining Nasty Plot and Sucker Punch, put significant pressure on him.
Marnie also felt the strain. She hadn't expected Thwackey to have learned so many new moves, likely due to living in the forest. Summer's commanding was impressive, countering Liepard's Sucker Punch with Grass Knot at the last moment. Had Liepard been less agile, she might have lost already.
The next move would determine the winner. Both of them were deep in thought, planning their decisive move.
"Oh, great expressions! I captured some fantastic shots~"
"Hmm? Don't mind me, continue your battle. The decisive moment will be spectacular~"
Their focus was disrupted by a trendy woman holding a camera. She wore a midriff-baring top, ripped jeans, and platform hiking shoes, indicating her traveler status. But what caught Summer's attention was not her camera, but her Hisuian Growlithe. Her hair color, a blend of dark blue, sky blue, and grass green, reminded him of a familiar person—Adaman, the leader of the Diamond Clan.
"Why did you stop?" the woman asked, disappointed.
"Do I look suspicious? My name is Perrin, a photographer hired by the Galar League to photograph Gym challengers. Are you not one? You both looked so passionate."
"I am. My name is Marnie, but he isn't," Marnie explained quickly, noticing Summer's interest in Perrin, which irked her for some reason.
"I'm Summer, Marnie's sparring partner."
"Summer?" Perrin murmured, seeming deep in thought. "Coincidence?"
"Do you know her, Summer?" Marnie asked, trying to understand Summer's interest.
"No, this is our first meeting."
"Ah, sorry, I'll delete your photos, Summer. Marnie, may I keep yours?"
"Sure, but label them as from Marnie of Spikemuth."
"No problem." Perrin observed them for a while before asking, "Aren't you going to continue?"
How could they continue in such a situation? they both thought.
"But Marnie would have won just now. I already thought of the perfect winning move~"
"Really? I think Thwackey had a better chance."
Both unwilling to concede, Perrin captured their defiant expressions with her camera. These photos turned out great too.
After parting ways with the photographer, Summer and Marnie sat on the bench again. The sun now cast a golden glow on the river.
"Today was really fun. Thanks for accompanying me, Summer. It would've been great to finish our battle~"
Marnie suddenly asked, "Where's the Yell Team now?"
"When did you notice?"
"From the start. Summer, you're a forest ranger. You wouldn't just wander Motostoke. The Yell Team must have brought you here. I know what they're like~"
"Expectation isn't pressure but motivation. Whether it's you or everyone in Spikemuth, their support warms my heart."
Marnie touched her cheek, smiling more naturally than before.
"This is the only smile I can manage now, but I'll learn to smile genuinely. Then I can respond sincerely to everyone's encouragement," her blue eyes sparkled with hope.
Understanding how the Yell Team felt, Summer nodded, smiling back, "I'll look forward to that."
(End of Chapter)