After the musical ended, the sky had completely darkened. Lacey carried Milcery and her trophy in her arms, with the now-empty incubator on her back. She felt today had been deeply fulfilling—she’d seen many interesting things, and most importantly, everyone had been so happy.

Elesa was chatting with Hikaru about the music and costume design from the performance. There was no doubt that the earlier show had been absolutely stunning. She was growing more and more eager to see Hikaru’s next creation. What puzzled her, though, was how he always seemed to be in a rush.

He never stayed long in one city before setting off for the next…

“So, you’re looking for Champion Alder? But that old gentleman’s whereabouts are already something of a mystery. If even the Elite Four don’t know, then I suppose there’s no helping it.”

“Oh—you know the Champion? Eh? You also know Lady Caitlin and Shauntal? Now that you mention it, I once received a strange plush from Lady Caitlin.”

Elesa shared the story about the Calyrex plush, and upon learning that it had been crafted by Hikaru himself, she was first surprised—and then filled with curiosity.

“A props artisan… that’s incredible. Is there anything you can’t make? Be it props, art, or music… is there no field you’re not a master of?”

“A genius artist, a genius musician… What kind of talent will you show me next? I’m growing more and more intrigued by you—it feels like I’m exploring some great unknown. That thrill and joy are impossible to suppress…”

Calyrex… So, just like Milcery, it’s a Pokémon from Galar?

Though it’s supposedly a Legendary Pokémon, she’d never heard its legend before.

Elesa’s eyes sparkled. Just thinking of that comically oversized head made her giggle. Though many thought of her as a cold beauty, the truth was that in many situations, Elesa could be quite cheerful.

Hikaru’s take on her? She looked cold but was warm-hearted inside—so long as she wasn’t telling her infamous bad jokes…

“Ah! That reminds me of something funny,” she suddenly said.

“If you want to become Champion, first you’ve gotta pass Calyrex!”

Sure enough, Elesa somehow linked Alder and Calyrex together… and delivered a classic cold joke.

She often did this in Pokémon Masters, and the only ones who ever laughed were Skyla and Sabrina.

“Like that time the rich guy turned so red he looked like a Scizor… Or when Roxie had a Wailord, and Swanna—If we don’t take off soon, we’ll miss the flight!”

“Hahaha…”

Only Lacey gave a polite laugh, then glanced around at Hikaru and Professor N.

Come on, laugh. Why aren’t you laughing?

“So, that wasn’t really funny after all?”

Elesa began to reflect, then added, “Honestly, I’ve been trying to change how people see me, and I thought maybe jokes would help. But the only one who ever laughs is Skyla…”

“And then there’s this one—’The most respected person in the station? Of course it’s Chief Looker, because the chief of the station is Chief Looker!'”

Now even Lacey couldn’t keep up a smile.

N: “…Well… how do I put this…”

Hikaru: “…It’s a little… awkward.”

It wasn’t that poking fun at Looker was the problem—Elesa and him were on good terms. It was just that… the joke had no punchline.

Elesa mused aloud, “So I still need to work harder. I’ll try to come up with funnier jokes.”

Lacey earnestly said, “I think you’re perfect as long as you keep that confidence from the runway! Just smile more! You don’t need jokes at all!”

Elesa was momentarily stunned, then smiled. “Yeah… if I smile more offstage, maybe people will understand I’m not some cold, unapproachable person.”

“But still… I’ll keep trying to make better jokes.”

“Oh, right—let’s exchange friend info!”

Elesa offered Hikaru a friend request and even showed him a group chat just for artists.

Besides those who had shown up at the Feiyun Gallery, many artists Hikaru didn’t recognize were also in the group. But as expected, most of them were usually too busy chasing inspiration or working to chat much—making the group rather quiet.

Still, Hikaru noticed some familiar names: Caitlin and Sabrina were both there!

“This group is mostly used to announce upcoming exhibitions. If someone is hosting a gallery, it’ll be posted here. I check it often—as a model, I need to keep up with trends and fashion.”

“Artists lead the fashion world. Like your costume designs—I believe Unova will soon be filled with similar styles. Black and White, the twin dragons, the founding legends… those will surely become new sources of inspiration.”

“Artists always have a unique aura. A charm that shines from the soul—it captivates you in an instant, like magic.”

“Just like I said before,” Elesa winked. “I’m looking forward to your next piece! I’ll wear it proudly and show off its full charm!”

With confidence radiating from her, Elesa looked dazzling.

At the mention of the founding legends, N’s eyes flickered. He lifted his cap.

To think Hikaru’s art was inspiring all of Unova’s artists to explore those ancient legends… was that Hikaru’s real goal? Or was there something deeper?

N had a sense there was still something he hadn’t noticed—but for now, he chose not to pursue it.

There was already too much to process today.

Noticing that Elesa and Hikaru’s conversation didn’t seem to be ending anytime soon, N cleared his throat gently.

“Ah, sorry… Professor N seems like he has something to say. I think I’ve taken too much of your time.”

Elesa looked a little apologetic. Once she started talking about fashion and art, she got carried away. So many things had happened today—so many memories, questions, and emotions.

For a model, forgetting others’ feelings wasn’t acceptable. She quickly stepped aside.

N smiled and shook his head. “It’s alright. I just came to say goodbye.”

“Do you remember this?”

N pulled out a smooth white stone tablet.

“That thing you gave me back then—the Stone of Gratitude. If you hold true gratitude in your heart and carve someone’s name on it, your feelings will be conveyed to them.”

“At first, I only wanted to carve two names… those of the sisters who raised me. I also considered my childhood friends.”

“But now, this stone can hold more names. I think… I finally understand what a true ‘heart of gratitude’ really means.”

“I’ll treasure this stone, engraving it with my most precious memories.”

“So, just as we promised—let’s meet again at the Celestial Tower!”

“I have a lot to think about. And you have things to do as well. Let’s both take this time to grow stronger.”

“I want to thank you—for all the new experiences you gave me today. And of course, thanks to Miss Lacey and Miss Elesa as well.”

Lacey: “No problem! N-sensei, next time let’s take on the Battle Subway together!”

Elesa: “To be recognized by the audience—that’s an honor for me.”

Hikaru: “I’m glad you feel that way. Let’s meet again in Mistralton City.”

A promised battle… at the Celestial Tower?

N’s eyes were filled with thoughts. He stepped closer to Hikaru and said quietly:

“But you should be careful of my companions… they might be active in the cities. It could cause… trouble.”

“I’m sorry. But I haven’t changed my mind just yet.”

Hikaru chuckled. “No… it feels like you already have.”

N: “Does it? …Maybe. Anyway—everyone, farewell! I’ll remember everything that happened today!”

The good professor waved, holding his trophy, and walked alone into the dark where the streetlights didn’t reach.

Before long, even the sound of his footsteps vanished.

“What a fascinating person,” Elesa said to Hikaru. “Your friend gives off this melancholy, compassionate air—just like an artist. His unique hair color and vibe… people would be drawn to him without even realizing it.”

“And to defeat the Subway Bosses… he’s clearly very strong. Trainers like that are rare.”

Hikaru replied, “In artistic terms, he’s a pure idealist. He has faith, purpose—a way of seeing the world that rises above reality.”

“Rather than an artist, he’s more like a philosopher in search of truth. Philosophy has powerful ideas… but it must eventually face the real world. Ideals and reality will always cross paths.”

“Hmm~ He really is a fascinating person.” Elesa smiled. “So, where are you going next?”

Hikaru answered, “White Forest. Though… it’s not exactly for a Gym Challenge—or maybe it is?”

Whether Alder had discovered something there was unclear, and whether the forest’s tree hollows were related to the Dreamyard was unknown.

Technically, he should go to Mistralton first—but on the way to White Forest was the Marvelous Bridge, and he hadn’t forgotten the task of guiding that girl’s ghost to rest.

So the plan: meet her at the bridge, investigate White Forest, then head to Mistralton, catch a flight to Icirrus City, cross Reversal Mountain, pass through Lacunosa Town, and let Aegislash challenge the legacy of the Swords of Justice.

Eventually, he’d reach Opelucid City—Alder’s last known location.

It was also home to one of the two Poké Balls he carried—Haxorus’s birthplace. Maybe that was his true final destination… or maybe it would be Nimbasa City, where he still hoped to find the alloy needed for his projects.

He could also board a ship from Driftveil City and visit Liberty Garden Island—which was quite close to Nimbasa anyway.

“No need to rush,” Elesa said. “Why not stay here tonight? I’ll treat you properly! There’s a very stylish restaurant I know—might I have the honor of inviting you to dinner?”

Her eyes sparkled—she clearly wanted to use this as an excuse to learn more about his artistic methods and fashion philosophies.

She added, “To reach White Forest, you’ll have to pass Route 16, Lostlorn Forest, Marvelous Bridge, and Black City. That’s quite a journey! And I’ve heard the bridge’s lift has been acting up lately…”

Hikaru: “I know it’s built on a cliffside. But my Aegislash can fly.”

Elesa: “…”

Hikaru: “Besides, nighttime is the best time to meet ghosts!”

That made things a little awkward—but Elesa quickly collected herself and continued:

“Let me tell you more about Black City and White Forest.”

“They’re very close to each other. One represents modern desire and progress, while the other represents nature and serenity. The Black Tower and White Treehollow mirror each other—two cities with opposing philosophies that often clash.”

“And if you’re passing through Black City, be cautious…”

She warned:

“Black City is a place of unchecked ambition—possibly the darkest, most unfiltered part of Unova. Humanity’s worst instincts are amplified there. They even engage in Pokémon trafficking. For someone like you—who bonds with Pokémon—it’ll be a painful and enraging place.”

“A city of darkness, constantly reaching for advancement.”

“And yet… the Unova League permits its existence. It has a long history—though none of it remains visible. Just like Opelucid City, Unova is a land where history and progress are always in conflict.”

“The Black Tower, though, is a recent addition. They say it’s a marvel of human genius. Some claim the tower reaches space—but whether that’s exaggeration or truth, I can’t say.”

“One interesting thing… hehe. Almost no action taken in Black City breaks the law. So your psychic powers might just let you stir up quite the storm.”

“That city only values power and worth—nothing else. Strong trainers can suppress the greedy and climb to the top. And even there, you’ll find strange individuals fighting for justice.”

“As for White Forest—it’s the opposite. Everything Black City detests, White Forest protects. They safeguard the environment and Pokémon alike. Balance between people and nature—that’s White Forest’s purpose.”

“They say mysterious Pokémon often appear there. But even though it’s so close, people from Black City never go there. Supposedly, the forest has a strange, mystical power.”

“Some Pokémon hunters once tried catching Pokémon there… and vanished.”

“There’s even a story that the sacred great tree in the forest acts as its guardian—and that the hollows beneath it were born as a counter to the tower trying to reach the stars.”

Black City. White Forest.

In different versions, each occupies one corner of Unova. Hikaru’s memories of the Black Tower and White Treehollow were fuzzy—but he did recall both places held unique power.

Just then, a new task came through:

[Linked Quest: Investigate the malfunction of the Marvelous Bridge.]

[Rewards: Released Orb ×3, Phantom Engineering ×1, Triple Acceleration Energy ×3, Strange Wave ×1.]

[Description: Known as the most wondrous bridge in Unova, its elevator malfunctions far too often. Some suspect… ghostly interference.]

So… an investigation. Hikaru mulled over it, ideas forming in his mind.

Triple Acceleration Energy…? He recognized it from the card game, but paired with the Marvelous Bridge’s strange vibe, he couldn’t help imagining himself shouting “Accel Synchro!” from a D-Wheel while drawing cards.

Due to Elesa’s warm invitation, Hikaru agreed to dinner—but declined the offer to stay overnight.

After all, nighttime was prime time for ghost encounters!

That made Lacey curious. She sensed Hikaru held many secrets. She knew better than to pry—but at her age, curiosity was hard to ignore. And… ghosts?

Wait, ghosts are more important than dinner with Elesa-oneechan?

Psychic-types are so weird…

Still… the idea of a supernatural adventure did sound exciting.

Too bad I still have school. Ugh… not fair!

“But I won’t leave right away,” Hikaru said to Lacey.

“I still need to craft some specialized tools before I go.”

He turned to Elesa and said:

“Miss Elesa, I’d like to request access to some of the mechanical components from the Nimbasa Gym!”

(End of Chapter)

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