c3 — The Cerulean Sisters
At that moment, a girl entered the restaurant, wearing a sky-blue summer dress. Her face radiated innocence and charm, and she was none other than Xiaoling, Xiaohui's childhood companion.
Spotting him, Xiaoling smiled brightly. "Xiaohui, you're early today! Didn't you usually stay out fishing for Magikarp until nightfall?"
Xiaohui pointed proudly toward the pool. "You came just in time, Xiaoling. I finally caught the Magikarp I wanted. From now on, I'll focus on raising them."
"They?" Xiaoling tilted her head curiously.
Jin Gu chuckled, wiping his hands on his apron. "That's right, Xiaoling. Not one, but three very lively Magikarp. Your friend's persistence finally paid off."
Intrigued, Xiaoling hurried over to the pool where a Goldeen swam lazily. She leaned down and called softly, "Goldeen, did you miss me?"
Indeed, the Goldeen was Xiaoling's Pokémon. Years ago, Xiaohui had actually been the one to help her capture it during one of their childhood outings. Though Xiaohui had no license to become a Trainer yet, he had always guided Xiaoling in her first steps. She adored Goldeen, and whenever she went swimming at the beach, she always brought it along.
"Deeen~!" Goldeen cried cheerfully, blowing a string of bubbles that burst playfully in front of Xiaoling's face.
Xiaoling's gaze shifted to the three Magikarp swimming in the pool. Compared to the dull, ragged Magikarp sometimes sold by traveling merchants, these ones were dazzling. Their scales glimmered with a metallic sheen, patterns faintly catching the light—clearly a cut above ordinary specimens.
"These Magikarp are gorgeous!" Xiaoling exclaimed, her eyes sparkling. "No wonder you kept fishing for so many years, Xiaohui. These really stand out!"
"Haha, see? Worth the wait." Xiaohui laughed confidently. "Their growth potential is excellent. Once I evolve them into Gyarados, I'll finally have a team strong enough to prove myself."
Jin Gu raised an eyebrow and muttered under his breath, "Big words. Let's see if you still brag after the reality of raising a Gyarados hits you."
He cast a protective glance at Xiaoling, his "precious little jacket." This boy boasted far too often in front of her infuriating brat.
Sensing Jin Gu's irritation, Xiaohui suppressed a grin and thought wryly, Tch, stingy, greasy middle-aged man.
Creak
The door opened, and both Xiaoling and Xiaohui instinctively turned toward the entrance. Together, they bowed politely. "Welcome!"
The evening rush had begun. The restaurant was modest and rarely crowded, but its steady flow of regulars kept the family afloat.
Yet beneath the warmth of the shop lingered a quiet regret two years ago, Xiaoling's mother had passed away after a long illness. She had treated Xiaohui like her own son, even hinting she wished for him to be her son-in-law someday. If not for Xiaohui's burning dream of becoming a Pokémon Master, he might have yielded to that life long ago.
After dinner, the flow of customers gradually dwindled until only one or two guests remained.
Suddenly, the door opened and three striking young women entered together. Their long flowing hair golden blonde, deep blue, and crimson red caught the light, and Xiaohui froze in surprise.
The Cerulean Sisters… Sakura, Violet, and Lily? The famous Water Ballet performers and caretakers of Cerulean Gym stood right before him.
But why here, in Binu City? In the manga, Ash hasn't even challenged their Gym yet, and the Indigo Conference is still far off. Did the timeline shift? No… their ages don't match up otherwise.
Forcing down his shock, Xiaohui stepped forward politely. "Welcome! What would you three like to eat?"
The eldest sister, Sakura with golden hair and a refined, elegant air looked him up and down before speaking with a teasing smile. "What a handsome young man. In a few years, you'll break plenty of hearts."
The blue-haired second sister, Violet, covered her mouth and laughed softly. "Sister, don't steal my lines. This handsome one is more to my taste."
"Hmph. Old women shouldn't compete with me." The youngest, Lily, tossed her crimson hair with disdain. "Clearly, his age suits me best. The younger girl always has the golden touch!"
Xiaohui chuckled nervously at their banter. Since the sisters hadn't ordered food nor taken seats, he asked cautiously, "If you've come for something other than dinner, please feel free to say so."
Sakura's gaze drifted to the pool beside them. Her eyes locked on the Magikarp gleaming beneath the water's surface. "We came to inquire about your Magikarp."
"How about five hundred thousand for one?" Violet suggested smoothly.
Xiaohui's face hardened, and he shook his head. "No. I won't sell that Magikarp. If money was my goal, I could have sold long ago. But… the other two, I might consider parting with."
This wasn't arrogance, it was conviction. His elite-potential Magikarp was irreplaceable. Both the manga and his own instincts confirmed that Magikarp and Feebas were unique among Pokémon their evolutions, Gyarados and Milotic, represented the widest possible leap in power. An excellent-potential Magikarp might become Gym Leader-level after evolving. An elite one… perhaps even Elite Four-class.
Lily sighed regretfully. "That's a shame. Your Magikarp really are stunning, especially the one with scales that shine like polished metal."
In truth, Xiaohui's name was already well-known across Binu. Once, at age ten, he'd tried to tame a wild Caterpie and been humiliated, even injured, by its Tackle. But then, he'd devoted nearly five years to fishing Magikarp, catching thousands until finally securing one of true worth. To the locals, his persistence was legendary.
The two additional Magikarp with excellent potential had been drawn to him only through the mysterious Dragon's Might power that radiated from within. Word of this unusual trio had spread quickly, attracting even these visiting sisters during their seaside vacation.
Though mocked in the wider Kanto region as the "weakest Gym," the Cerulean Sisters weren't poor Trainers. Their water shows consumed most of their time, leaving little energy for battles. Their strategy had long been to maintain the Gym until Misty, the youngest, grew strong enough to take over.
Still, as Gym heirs, their eyes were sharp. At a glance, they recognized the potential in Xiaohui's Magikarp. Properly raised, they would become monstrous Gyarados, capable of reshaping the Gym's reputation.
At first, they had come out of simple curiosity. But now, Sakura's heart was moved. She fixed Xiaohui with a serious look.
"That one," she said, pointing toward the elite Magikarp, "is the one we want. Or, if you can catch more like him, Cerulean Gym will buy them."
She extended her hand, her voice firm. "At one million yen apiece."
Xiaohui's pulse raced. One million enough to raise not just one, but all three of his Magikarp into Gyarados. His dream of stepping into the world of Trainers suddenly felt within reach.
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