Modeling

Modeling…

I muttered the word under my breath, staring at the colorful clothes laid out before me like it had personally offended me.

I mean, I knew Misty was down bad, but I didn't expect this much.

I sighed, rubbing my face before slapping my cheeks lightly in an attempt to focus. Before I could dwell on my situation any further, a burst of light filled the room as Aria emerged from her Poké Ball. The petite Pokémon stretched her arms and immediately turned to Oddy, exchanging a casual high-five with a cry.

Then, a sharp voice echoed through the speakers.

"Trainer Number 1, please come to the podium!"

I flinched slightly at the announcement. The voice was familiar—probably belonging to the same long-mustach man who had shoved me into this room earlier.

Glancing at my Pokémon, I studied them both carefully. Oddy, a Grass/Dark-type Gloom, was a far cry from the usual Grass/Poison variant, and Aria, a Ghost/Fairy type Ralts, was different from her typical Psychic/Fairy typing. They were both unique—different from others of their kind.

That alone could give us an advantage since they looked nothing like their peers.

Just as that thought settled in, the door creaked open, and a tall man stepped inside. He had to be at least six feet tall, his posture straight and formal. His black suit fit him perfectly, and round glasses sat on his nose, partially covered by messy, wavy black hair. The look gave him a Harry Potter meets fashion magazine kind of vibe.

His sharp eyes scanned me before he sighed. "Mr. Carter, why haven't you changed your clothes yet?"

I hesitated for a moment before flashing a sheepish grin. "Ah, yeah… about that. I found a suit, but it's really hard to get into, you know? Maybe you guys should push my turn back a little?"

He exhaled heavily, clearly unimpressed. "Fine," he muttered, pulling out his phone and typing something. "But you have a maximum of thirty minutes. You'll be the last one to go on stage, so get dressed quickly."

With that, he turned on his heel and left the room.

As soon as the door shut, another announcement rang out:

"Trainer Number 2, please step onto the podium!"

I rolled my shoulders, stretching my arms and fingers before turning back to the clothes.

"Alright, let's see what we've got here…"

•Black gloves.

•Silver-rimmed round glasses with chains on the tips.

•A deep red dress shirt under a sleek black suit.

•Black linen trousers.

•Black leather shoes.

•A silver watch, necklace, and belt to tie it all together.

As I slipped into the outfit piece by piece, Oddy and Aria sat across from me, watching intently—like I was the most interesting TV show they had ever seen.

Trainer after trainer was called up to the stage while I finished getting ready. Then, finally—

"Now it is time for Trainer Number 3! He was delayed due to some issues, but we hope he has taken care of them. Trainer Number 3, please come to the podium!"

I smirked, adjusting my glasses before turning to my Pokémon. With a final touch, I placed a pair of sunglasses over Aria's red eyes and perched a small hat atop Oddy's, well… concerning mouth-flowers.

Right on cue, the same suited man from earlier re-entered the room, looking me up and down. His gaze lingered on my outfit, and I could practically see the gears turning in his head.

I spread my arms. "Well? How do I look?"

He blinked, then smirked. "I didn't know you were a goth."

Before I could respond, he stepped forward, licked his thumb, and smoothed down a stray strand of my hair.

"You look good. Just don't attract too much attention from Misty, alright?"

With that, he turned and left, motioning for me to follow.

As we walked down the hallway, I spotted several other trainers ahead. Some were fully dressed for the occasion, while others… weren't. One guy had literally weared some pajamas, while another had thrown together a bizarre mix of brown and blue like he had lost a bet.

I grinned. Looks like there were people worse than me at choosing outfits. Akira would be proud of me if he had seen me look like this....

The man beside me glanced back. "You don't have stage fright, do you? There are hundreds of people out there."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Would you believe me if I told you I've stood in front of thousands—both online and in real life—after becoming World Champion?"

He raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Alright, then, Champion. Here you go."

With that, he pulled back a heavy red curtain.

As soon as I stepped through, my vision was bombarded by flashing lights. Cameras flickered wildly, momentarily blinding me. The stage stretched out before me, a single red catwalk leading to the center. The audience surrounded it, rows upon rows of seats filled with eager spectators—most of them in their 30s, dressed in high fashion.

I took a step onto the podium—clumsily....

Now what the fuck do I do? Just walk? Pose?

Another awkward step. Then another. The murmurs from the audience grew louder, and I could feel their judgment piercing through me like a thousand tiny needles.

Then—

"ALEX! USE ARIA AND ODDY!"

I snapped my head up.

The voice came from the upper seating area. Skyla sat there, legs propped up, watching with an amused smirk while eating some snacks. Beside her, Rotom floated excitedly, his screen flashing.

[ALEX CARTER, DO YOUR BEST!!]

The realization hit me like a brick.

Wait. This is Pokémon. Of course they would use Pokémon in modeling too.

A slow smirk formed on my lips.

I turned to Aria. "Aria, use Double Team to cover the podium with your copies. Then use Hex on the walls—don't add any power, just visuals."

She nodded giving a salute before teleporting instantly. Illusions of her multiplied across the stage, gliding elegantly in synchronized movements. A haunting, ethereal glow flickered across the walls as runic symbols appeared, casting long, eerie shadows.

Then I turned to Oddy.

Grinning, I lifted his tiny hat and tossed it into the air. "Oddy, use Leech Seed around me at the end of the podium. Then follow it up with Snarl—but keep it controlled, just like Aria. Make it all visual."

Oddy gave a mischievous grin—if that's even possible for a Gloom—and began weaving dark tendrils along the stage. The Leech Seed spread around my feet like creeping vines, blooming into eerie, bioluminescent flowers. At the same time, a deep, reverberating Snarl rumbled through the air, making the atmosphere shift.

I let the moment build, the energy vibrating around me.

Then, I bent my knees slightly, leaned my upper body back dramatically, and shouted—

"POSE!"

The runes from Aria's Hex swirled around me, glowing ominously. Oddy's seeds burst into full bloom, encircling me in a hauntingly beautiful display of nature and darkness. The audience gasped—then erupted into applause.

As I let out a deep sigh, my cheeks burned red with embarrassment. What would my friends say if they found out I just pulled the D*o's Pose in front of hundreds of people?*

I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the thought as I slowly backed off the stage, pulling Oddy and Aria along with me. My steps were awkward, a mix of retreat and dignity, before I quickly shot a thumbs-up toward Skyla and Rotom—though I half-covered my face in the process.

The announcer's voice boomed once again.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE THANK EVERY TRAINER WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE PODIUM! AND TO THOSE WHO DIDN'T MAKE THE CUT—DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED! TOMORROW, YOU WILL HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE TO JOIN! NOW, THE WATER SISTERS WILL CHOOSE THEIR OPPONENTS, AND THE BATTLES WILL BEGIN! THE TRAINER WHO DEFEATS THEIR ASSIGNED SISTER IN THE MOST STYLISH WAY WILL EARN THE CHANCE TO BATTLE THE WATER'S MERMAID—MISTY!"

The audience erupted into cheers as I slipped through the curtain, exhaling in relief.

A firm hand clapped me on the back.

"Didn't you say you didn't have stage fright?"

I turned to see the suited man from earlier smirking at me, amusement dancing in his sharp eyes. He extended a hand. "I'm Leonardo, but you can call me Leo."

I shook his hand firmly. "Alex. And I don't have stage fright! I was just nervous because I've never done this kind of thing before."

Leo chuckled, then gave my shoulder a reassuring pat. "You did fine. Besides, I think you might have an advantage in the next round."

I raised an eyebrow. "You think I can take on the Water Sisters?"

"One of them loves the way you're dressed," Leo said with a grin, gesturing toward my Pokémon. "With that weird, gloomy Gloom and your purple Ralts, you might just be her type."

Oddy and Aria puffed up proudly as if they had already won a Gym battle.

"And after that?" I asked, crossing my arms. "If I beat my Water Sister opponent, do I actually get to battle Misty?"

Leo shrugged. "Depends. Like Mr. Ollie said, you need to win with style. If you don't make an impression, Misty might just pick someone else."

I frowned slightly. A stylish battle? That wasn't exactly my usual strategy. "And how do I even make a battle stylish?"

Leo smirked. "Just act cool while battling. Either that or one-shot your opponent in the most dramatic way possible. From what I know, Misty loves strong trainers."

Before I could reply, the announcer's voice cut through the noise once again.

"TRAINER NUMBER 7! TRAINER NUMBER 18! TRAINER NUMBER 3! PLEASE GET ON THE STAGE ONE BY ONE! THE REST OF THE TRAINERS, THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING! YOU MAY WATCH THE BATTLES FROM BACKSTAGE!"

Leo motioned toward the stage as I recalled Oddy and Aria back into their Poké Balls.

"Good luck, kid," he said.

I shot him a grin before jumping onto the stage, waving my hand in thanks. "Thanks!"

As I pushed past the curtain, I froze.

The once-glamorous podium had transformed into a massive pool, divided into three separate battle lanes by sleek, narrow platforms stretching across the water.

(Like this: | | | )

I took a few steps forward, analyzing the battlefield, when I noticed two trainers stepping onto the stage from the opposite side. They both looked to be around my age, dressed in completely different styles.

The first was a blonde-haired boy with sharp blue eyes, wearing a long, tourist-style coat over a white sweater, paired with white trousers and brown shoes. He had a composed aura, standing tall and confident.

The second was a girl with shoulder-length brown hair and equally brown eyes. She wore a more casual, street-style outfit—a crop top under a black leather jacket, paired with ripped jeans and sporty sneakers.

As we approached each other, we exchanged polite nods and quick words of encouragement.

"Good luck," the boy said with a grin.

"You too," I replied, before stepping into position.

Before I could think too much about the setup, two large glass barriers lowered between us—one separating me from the trainer in the white outfit and another between me and the girl in streetwear.

I blinked in confusion.

"FOR THE SAKE OF AVOIDING DISTRACTIONS FROM OTHER TRAINERS' BATTLES, WE HAVE INSTALLED GLASS DIVIDERS BETWEEN EACH STAGE! AND NOW, THE MOMENT YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR—THE WATER SISTERS WILL TAKE THE STAGE! THE BATTLES WILL BEGIN ON THE COUNT OF THREE!"

A rhythmic click-clack echoed through the arena as a figure stepped onto the opposite end of the pool.

A woman with sleek blackish purple hair, dressed in an elegant purple gown, emerged gracefully. Her black eyes were hidden behind stylish, tinted glasses.

She smirked, pointing a Poké Ball directly at me.

"I'm Water Sister Number Two, Amaris. Get ready, you hot vampire." She said

"....What?"