Photoshoot

For defeating Erika, Misty received a Rainbow badge completing her requirements for participating in the Pokemon league.

"Can I ask you something? " Aoki asked Erika

"Sure, I will try my best to answer"

"Are you participating in the youth cup? "

"~Fufu~ I have been asked about this quite a lot in the last few days.

Unfortunately, no, I will not be participating in that " Erika said surprising both Aoki and Misty.

"You are so strong so why? " Misty asked.

"I am not interested in the cup. I am satisfied with everything and don't want to take more trouble.

If I somehow get a good rank, they would make me take the more stressful job or something like the future elite four that I absolutely hate to do.

I like my job as a gym leader, teacher, and part-time actor so I don't need anything else.

Moreover, I would instead give new trainers a chance than me taking that spot " Erika said.

"I understand, thanks for telling"

People like Erika were undoubtedly very good trainers and surely put up a very strong competition but at the same time lower the possibility of new trainers to rise.

There were people like Sabrina who were either joining for enjoyment or orders from the above whereas people like Erika were not interested in too much fame.

Misty sighed with relief as there would be one last competitor. She really wanted to be selected for this tournament and from what she knew her only chance was to take the third position.

She knew that the first two spots would be taken by either Sabrina or Aoki so she was looking out for trainers who would give her tough competition for the tournament.

At the top of her list were the gym leaders like grass specialist Erika, Fire specialist Alex and Bug Fonsi whose are were below 22.

She knew Alex was strong she had experience fighting him.

While Fonsi went easy on her during their match, she had no idea about his strength. Since he was a gym leader regardless of whether being official or unofficial, he would give a tough compilation.

The second were some trainers like Jill, Ash, and Gary whom Aoki told to be careful against.

Finally, dark horse trainers that she has no idea about.

'I have less than a month's time, I have to make a proper strategy against every type of team.

Seems like I have to pull out several all-nighters'. Misty clenched her fists with determination.

*********

The next morning Aoki and Misty met with Liam who took them to the main location of the office.

Surprisingly it was on one of the floors in the Department Store.

"I totally missed it the last time I came here, " Aoki said.

"That's a normal thing. There are so many shops here that every time you come here you find something new. " Liam said.

They entered a well-lighted and decorated shop with many framed pictures on the walls.

At the reception sat a lady who cheered up seeing Liam. She had a Wigglytuff beside her that waved at Liam.

"Ohh Liam you are here. Seems like she accepted your proposal" she said looking at Misty.

Her eyes stopped at Aoki as her body froze but she controlled her emotions.

"You are beautiful my child, I am sure that I can make your glamor bloom," she said to Misty.

"...Thanks...I guess" Misty felt nervous for some reason.

"This is aunt Lily, my uncle's wife, and a makeup artist. She would help Misty dress up".

Lily dragged Misty away while commanding Liam to show him around the place.

"Seems like your aunt is more excited than Misty."

"I get what you are saying. She becomes too excited when she is asked to do makeup or dress up someone, especially beautiful girls.

Although she applies minimal makeup to herself, he loses touch with reality when she starts to make up or dress up someone. The only thing she cares about is how to make the person look even more beautiful."

Liam started showing him the store which appeared to be quite busy. There were a lot of computers where people seemed to be doing various things like editing pictures, creating magazines, etc.

"This company deals with a lot of magazine and advertisement companies so the workload is very high.

So we have made some arrangements to reduce their workload like regular breaks, long vacations, discount coupons for every store in the department store, etc. "

Almost every worker greeted Liam in a friendly manner as if they know him for a long time.

There were more pictures hanging on the walls some of the models or some of the magazine pages.

There was a vending machine at the stop so Aoki decided to get himself a drink.

"You should try out the cold coffee, I often use that, " Liam said.

"Let's try it then"

As Aoki took a coffee break, Liam talked with some of the people working there.

"Seems that you like this place quite a lot.

I noticed that you become nervous when you talk about something normally but when you talk about something you love, like this place your nervousness goes away. " Aoki said.

"Hah! So you found out. It is indeed true that all my nervousness goes away when I talk about something I like or admire.

I like this place a lot…or you could say one of the places that I love the most." Liam said with a soft smile.

"This place became a turning point for your family after all

So where is your uncle? " Aoki asked.

"I really wanted you to meet him but he is out of station for some business and would return after two weeks"

"Let's go to the photo room, the makeup should be done by now, " Liam said asking Aoki to follow him.

*******

Photographer Anthony

"Although I want you to meet our photographer, I must warn you about something," Liam said.

"Is something wrong with the photographer? "

"How do I say this….he can be a bit weird sometimes but he is a good person."

"Weird in the sense? "

"You have heard about people with 8th-grade or chunibyo syndrome right? People, who think that they have some hidden power and talk in a weird way?

Our photographer Anthony is a chuuni.

It took me some effort to completely understand what he says.

Leaving this aside, he is undoubtedly a good photographer and editor. "

"Well if you say so "

*******

Aoki entered the main room and was amazed to see Misty's attire.

It was similar to pretty the princess attire that Erika wore in the play.

"You look gorgeous Misty " Aoki commented.

"Thanks," Misty said as she was pleased with her attire.

Liam's aunt seemed very proud of her work.

"Nice right ? the company that made the dress sponsored the play I acted in," Liam said taking a seat.

That is when the door slowly opened and a guy no less than 25 walked in.

Aoki looked at the guy and remembered his childhood friend who went through this phase once.

That guy was not very tall but had a good figure. He had a Croagunk beside him that carried his camera on his neck.

'Let's see…

Stylish hair in the shade of Black and Silver.. check

An eye patch to hide the eye of the demon…check

The bandaged right hand that acts as a seal to his powers….check

Hmm? An elite-level ghost Pokemon in his shadow?..now that's strange'

"Yoo my comrades !!" Anthony greeted.

"Good morning Anthony, let's start our work quickly," Liam's aunt said greeting Anthony\

"Seems like this time I must capture the essence of the orange Prince and introduce her to the world of light !!" he said looking at Misty completely ignoring the presence of Aoki and Liam.

They immediately started the photoshoot with Anthony giving instructions on different poses in a way that was totally going over her head.

Liam's aunt was translating everything for her while some men were using different styles of lighting or different effects for the photograph.

Finally, the first round of photography was done and it was time for the second round.

"Come with me Misty dear, you have to try some more attires " Liam's aunt against dragged Misty into the waiting room.

Aoki wanted to talk to Anthony but that guy left with his Pokemon while blabbering some lines that suited his attire.

"It's better if you let him go if he becomes comfortable with you he will not shut up and keep talking," Liam said.

"Doesn't that mean that guy is lonely and wants to talk to someone?" Aoki said.

"That would be the case generally but this guy is an exception, this guy has a lot of friends, and it never fails to amaze me how many friends he has.

I am trying to save you time. " Liam said.

He didn't bring out the fact that he had asked out Erika for dinner so he wants to be free as soon as possible.

'Sigh, Hope I manage to gather my guts to confess today'

Aoki looked at Liam and thought. 'This guy is a natural actor, he is nervous and equally excited about something and panicking a bit but didn't show it on his face. Impressive.'.

Having the power of aura made it very easy to read people's feelings even without them showing it on their faces.

Misty's second dress didn't take much time like the last time and this time it was formal attire in which she looked gorgeous as well.

Anthony retired after a few minutes while talking with an employee who looked happy talking to him.

Misty was again made to do different poses, sit at different places or hold different items.

Finally, it was done.

"Well, then folks, with this Jonin Anthony is taking his leave. Call me when it's time for the next mission" Anthony said and left after waving.

His Pokemon did the same and left after hanging the camera on his neck.

"Thanks for the work, Anthony !!" Liam's aunt said.

"I am leaving too aunt or else I would be late," Liam said as he left hurriedly.

"Good luck with your date, I will be waiting for the good news soon !!" she shouted.

"Hey, that was supposed to be a secret !!!" Liam shouted while leaving.

"I don't think anyone in the office doesn't know about your liking for her," Liam's aunt said in a low voice but a bit of sadness filled her.

"Is he going to ask out Erika ?" Aoki asked.

Her eyes flickered a bit hearing that.

"Did he perhaps tell you that ?" she asked.

"No he didn't tell but it was not so hard to figure out. The way he looked at Erika along with his constant looking at his phone made it somewhat clear to me"

"haha ~you have quite a perception.

Although I have not known Liam for long, he is like a son to me, and seeing him so excited over something makes me happy but a bit sad too. "

"Why the sadness? "

"The person he loves is a gym leader….

He has learned to see her as a woman, not for her position for who she is.

But I don't know if she feels the same. If things go wrong, I don't wish to see him disheartened. "

"In that case, you should make preparations and be there for him right?

From what I know, he holds you in pretty high regard and will turn to you for support"

"You are right…I have to make sure to be with him in his happiness and sadness.

That's the least I can do as someone who he sees as a mother figure. " Liam's aunt said.

"Misty should be done changing by now, let's get the contract done, " she said.

"Sure."

Misty sighed some papers which stated that she would receive a part of the profits the magazine earns when it's on the market.

She would receive two free copies which she asked to be sent to her home.

In the end, Liam's aunt said that if any day Misty wants to be a model, she would be welcomed there.

**********

"Misty go ahead, I will be joining you soon, " Aoki said as he wanted to stay in the studio a bit longer.

Misty didn't think anything and left.

Aoki went ahead and sat beside an old lady who was sitting in the waiting area. She was wearing a large hat and a magazine hiding her face.

"Surprised to see you here Mrs. Agatha," Aoki said.

"Your perception is commendable Professor Aoki, " Agatha said putting down the magazine.

"Since you were letting your Pokemon follow Anthony, he is somewhat important I presume," Aoki asked.

" Seems like you have a strong Pokemon with you...

Anthony is my late husband's nephew….he is my only alive relative.

Just like me, my husband's family was always in close contact with ghost Pokmon which led to some problems.

Anthony's current personality is due to spending too much time with ghost Pokemon.

Although he is a professional photographer, he often finds himself in trouble.

So, I let one of my Pokmon always follow him and make sure he is okay.

Since I was in the city for some work, I decided to give him a visit but seems like he is busy. " Agatha said.

"You may have questions that why I am telling you these things….." she asked.

"Yes "

"I have reached a stage in life where I no longer have anything to achieve anymore.

I have completed all my dreams that I once had….

Although the journey was enjoyable, the peak is pretty lonely. Although I am elite four, I am still an old lady.

I often find myself wanting to talk to someone and vent out my loneliness.

Your presence somehow gives me and my Pokemon a comfortable feeling so I decided to share these with you…

Enjoy your journey as much as you can…..when you reach the top, you too might find yourself like me searching for a reason to define your existence "

Aoki stayed quiet for a while and listened to her speak till she decided to change the topic.

"I heard that you are retiring," Aoki said.

"Yes, it's time for me to step down.

Before that, I have a responsibility to train someone who might someday take my position.

I will be selecting whom to train from the youth cup"

"What if I win the youth cup?" Aoki asked.

"I will not select you…."

"And why is that?"

"I know people like you….you are not someone who will be satisfied by just being an elite four.

In a way, you are the spitting image of Oak when he was younger.

His eyes were just like you…aiming to achieve everything.

And he did…he reached a level that none of his peers could"

"You are indeed correct, I will not take anything less than the rank of the Champion and that is not the end of my dream.

I hope you find the trainer you are trying to find. " Aoki said.

"I wish you the best for the youth cup professor Gunhildr, make Kanto proud"

Agatha stood up from her seat and teleported away.