Natsui and the others looked where May was pointing. They turned their heads. They saw Drew's familiar figure.
"It really is him!"
Ash, Max, and Brock felt very conflicted. They saw that it was Drew.
To them, Drew was not exactly a friend. They could not call him an enemy either. He was a rival. Their relationship was very strange.
So, it was surprising to see him now. They did not expect him to come here. He was not challenging the Kanto League. They did not know what to make of it.
Of course, this was hard for May. Drew was a very strong opponent. He had defeated her before. Now, the pressure on her increased!
Maybe Drew heard May's voice. Or maybe he felt something. He turned his body halfway. He saw Natsui's group at that moment.
However, he did not want to say hello. He just looked through the crowd. He was looking for someone. He did not find that person. He frowned and walked away silently.
May said she did not care. But Drew's arrival made her heart feel heavy.
The group entered the main gate of the park. They walked toward the venue. They were not close yet. But they saw many people. The people were entering the hall one by one.
"That's strange..." May said in surprise. "Isn't the competition tomorrow? Why are people already going in today?"
"It's probably a rehearsal," Natsui said with a lazy yawn. "A big competition always has this part. So, I think you should hurry and take a look too."
May thought Natsui was right. She did not waste any more time. She walked quickly toward the crowd. Natsui and the others were behind her. They walked slowly toward the venue.
Just then, Ash asked curiously, "Natsui, do you really not want to participate in a competition like this when there's such a good chance?"
Ash's tone sounded excited. Natsui turned to look at him.
Natsui saw a light in Ash's eyes. It was interest. Natsui remembered something. Ash would participate in a Contest later. So, Natsui smiled.
"I think you are the one who wants to participate," Natsui said. He patted Ash's shoulder. "Every field is like a different world. A Contest would be a new stage for me. Maybe I will participate in the future. But for now, I will not. But I have high hopes for you! If you dress as a girl again and dress Pikachu well, you will be a hit! Right, Ashley?"
Ash was slow, but he knew Natsui was teasing him.
"Damn it!" Ash stood there. He watched Natsui walk away laughing. Ash punched the air like a Primeape. "I won't dress as a girl!"
In the past, Ash wanted to enter the Celadon Gym. He wanted to challenge Erika. Jessie and James tricked him. He had to dress as a girl. This was a painful memory for him. He did not want to remember it. Now Natsui mentioned it. Ash felt very embarrassed!
Max did not know the whole story. But he knew it was a bad memory for Ash. Max remembered the grand ball by Lake May in Hoenn. Ash had dressed as a woman there too. So, Max asked Brock about it. Brock gave him the answer. Max did not care about Ash's feelings. He laughed out loud.
"Ashley! Ashley!!"
"Damn it, stop calling me that!!"
The group entered the venue. They were very noisy.
Natsui and the others looked around. People were still setting things up. Workers were designing the stage. They were fixing the lights. The contestants were also in the hall. They looked at the stage. They were thinking about their performances for tomorrow.
The venue was like a huge theater. The equipment was not very new. But the place was huge. There was plenty of space to move.
Natsui and the others found May. She had entered before them.
May was looking at the venue. She was thinking about her Pokémon. She wanted to know which one was best for this place.
Natsui and the others did not bother her. They looked at the stage. They saw a fashionable woman in the center. She wore a sun hat. She wore a blue top that showed her stomach. She wore a miniskirt and white stockings. She had dark gold wavy hair.
The woman was quite pretty. There was a beauty mark under her eye. She looked very familiar.
"Eh?" Max said in confusion. "Doesn't this person look familiar? Isn't she the host from the Hoenn Contests? Why is she here?"
Ash scratched his cheek. "I remember her name was... was..."
"It's Vivian!" Brock answered. Then he frowned. "But something is wrong. She looks almost exactly like Vivian. She is very beautiful. But Vivian's beauty mark is under her left eye. This woman's beauty mark is under her right eye. Also, their clothes are different. Their vibes are different too. Could they be twin sisters?"
Natsui took a deep breath.
Brock was acting like his usual self.
Brock guessed the woman's identity very quickly. He was terrifying!
Brock was correct. This woman was not Vivian. Vivian was far away in Hoenn. This was Vivian's twin sister. Her name was Lilian!
Natsui knew this because of the anime. But Brock knew just by looking. Brock was a scary man. He could recognize every Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny!
He never forgot a pretty girl!
The lights on the stage focused on Lilian. Lilian took out a Poké Ball. She released an Espeon. The stage director gave directions. Lilian began to rehearse.
Espeon used moves on the stage. Its movements were graceful. Its techniques were cool. Everyone watched it.
Espeon was excellent. It was trained very well. Every movement was perfect. Lilian was an impressive host and trainer!
However, something unexpected happened.
May did not watch Squirtle closely. Or maybe Squirtle liked the performance. May's Squirtle left her. It ran onto the stage. It spat bubbles everywhere!
May was shocked. She chased after it. Natsui and the group walked over quickly. They were afraid of an accident.
This was a stage accident. It was lucky that this was only a rehearsal. In a real match, the results would be terrible.
May knew this. She looked anxious. She jumped onto the stage. She wanted to pick up Squirtle. But Lilian picked up Squirtle first.
"You can't do that, Squirtle." Lilian smiled at Squirtle. Then she looked up. She handed the Pokémon back to May. "Watching is fine. But letting your Pokémon run onto the stage is not allowed!"
They were closer now. Lilian's voice was different from Vivian's voice.
Lilian's voice was steady. That was her personality. Her sister, Vivian, was more lively. That was Vivian's stage style.
"I'm so sorry..." May was very apologetic. "This is its first time out. I did not watch it well."
May held Squirtle in her arms. Squirtle was not happy. It tried to get away. It twisted its body. Lilian crouched down. She looked at Squirtle and smiled.
"Your Squirtle has a lot of fighting spirit. It also likes this stage. So, why not let it perform on stage tomorrow?"
Lilian was very friendly. She was not angry about the trouble. She was patient. She was more patient than most workers.
"It's still too early for it," May said. She smiled because she was embarrassed. "I have only had this Squirtle for a few days. It needs more practice before it goes on stage. I'm sorry I disturbed your rehearsal. I will leave now, Vivian."
"Vivian?"
Lilian was surprised.
May was also unsure.
"Eh?" May said. "You're Vivian, right? You are the host of the Hoenn Contests. I saw you there many times! Did you forget? I'm May from Petalburg City."
"I see." Lilian smiled. "The Vivian you mean is my older sister. I am her younger sister."
May was not with Natsui earlier. So, she just found out the truth. This woman looked like Vivian. But she was a twin!
May looked very surprised. Lilian sighed.
"It makes sense. You are from the Hoenn region. It is normal to mix us up. My sister is quite funny. She is an adult. But she still wears fluffy dresses with puffy skirts. She tries too hard to look young." Lilian changed the subject. "I am different. My clothes and style are very good. Oh, I should introduce myself. My name is Lilian. I am the host for the Kanto Contests. Nice to meet you!"
Lilian and Vivian did not seem to have a perfect relationship.
But the sisters were not important to the others. This was just a small moment. Lilian had work to do. She said hello to May and went back to work.
May checked the stage. She learned the rules and notes from the staff. Then she left the venue with Natsui and the others. They went to the Pokémon Center in the park. It was next to the Saffron Arena.
Tonight, May, Ash, and the others stayed there. They waited for the competition tomorrow. Natsui had a better place to stay.
Natsui took them to the lobby. He smiled and waved his hand.
"Well then, I'll take my leave. I'll come to see you again before the competition starts tomorrow. May, I'm looking forward to your performance tomorrow!"
"I understand," May nodded. "I'll do my best!"
Natsui left. He did not look back. Ash scratched his head. He looked at May. He was confused.
"Where is Natsui going? Didn't he travel with you? Why isn't he helping you train?"
"He's probably going to Sabrina's place," May said. She did not care whether Natsui helped her train.
Natsui had let her watch a battle earlier. That was a big tip. May had to choose her Pokémon alone. She had to choose her style alone. Natsui could not help much now.
Max, Ash, and Brock were enough!
May was very kind. She knew about Natsui and Sabrina. She did not want to interrupt their reunion.
Ash heard that Natsui was going to Sabrina's place. He froze for a moment. Then he understood.
Ash knew about Natsui, Sabrina, and Erika. Ash did not understand romance. But he knew Sabrina and Erika were Natsui's women. It was normal for Natsui to go to them.
Only Brock looked at Natsui. He cried because he was jealous.
He could never have Natsui's luck with women.
Natsui left the Saffron Arena. He went to meet Sabrina.
This was his last time in Saffron City for a while.
Natsui wanted to be close to Sabrina. He did not know when he would come back. He would be tired tonight, but it was worth it!
He did not stay at the Saffron Gym this time.
That place was too public. People would notice him. Also, Sabrina's father was there. He was like a giant third wheel!
Natsui called Sabrina. They went for a walk in a mall. They watched a movie. They had a romantic dinner with candles. Finally, they went to a hotel for couples. They spent a wonderful night together.
There is no need to talk about their long night of affection.
The next day, Natsui went to meet May and the others. He went to the dormitory. Everyone saw the happiness on his face. They also saw that he was very tired.