In the preparation room.
All the participants gathered, nervously watching the television screen.
The list of those advancing to the next round of the Gorgeous Competition was about to be announced, regardless of the scores in the gorgeous performances, as advancing meant a chance to win a ribbon.
Usually, the organizers adjust the number of advancing contestants based on the number of participants and scores, ranging from as few as sixteen to as many as thirty-two.
A solemn atmosphere prevailed.
Baimu and a few others appeared relatively cheerful.
Their average scores were all above 38.5, making it unlikely they'd be eliminated under any advancement plan, securing a stable advancement.
"Scoring is great..."
Xiaoguang sighed with emotion.
She recalled her debut year in the Sinnoh Gorgeous Competition, where scores weren't given, causing tension after each first review.
Fearful of being eliminated.
The scoring system, though nerve-wracking, at least assured her of her chances after everyone finished performing.
The only regret was the score of 39.
Swipe!
The screen displayed sixteen cards, revealing the contestants' images with each card flip, leaving no one absent.
"Everyone advanced!"
Xiaosheng raised his arms in celebration, drawing both jealous and admiring gazes from other participants.
Of course.
A few looked at Baimu and Liuqia with reverence, considering them the leading young generation of the Hoenn Gorgeous Competition.
Xiaoyao was among them, earning the title "Hoenn Dancer," but her fame faded without further promotion due to her overseas adventures over recent years.
Xiaogang, noticing everyone's slightly cheerful expressions, smiled and said, "Now the competition among everyone will become fiercer!"
"I won't lose to you!"
Xiaoguang eagerly declared, her Piplup flapping its tiny wings in agreement.
"Piplup!"
This time, she was determined to openly defeat her idol and showcase her strength to Mawile!
"Wow, Xiaoguang's fighting spirit seems quite strong!"
Xiaoyao laughed and said, "But this time, luck won't be on your side like last time~"
She still vividly remembered the finale loss at the previous Mikoli Club, missing the trophy and ribbon.
"Hmph."
Xiaoshun chuckled lightly without commenting, always confident in his gorgeous battles.
Harry's eyes darted, seemingly brewing some mischievous idea.
Wula La looked at Baimu; everyone had opponents they hoped to defeat, and she was no exception.
"Finally, I get to compete with you!"
Liuqia was quite excited, having anticipated this day ever since guiding the opponent to their first gorgeous competition.
"Well, I hope you'll still be smiling then."
Baimu joked.
In the evening.
With the help of Liuqia's agency, everyone safely left the venue and had dinner together.
Upon hearing about the "girls' night talk" tradition Xiaoyao and Xiaoguang had, Liuqia stayed until nearly ten before returning to the gym, having a habit of only sleeping in her own bed.
No choice.
The allure of same-age, same-gender friendships.
No matter how mature Liuqia's personality was, she craved friends of similar ages, but typically had no chance to connect.
Even when opportunities arose, her identity led others to hesitate, unable to truly open up.
The daily dilemma made her cherish the chance to interact with Xiaoguang and Xiaoyao.
But what surprised Baimu was.
Upon returning, Liuqia mentioned Wula La also joined the "girls' night talk." He thought, given her character, she would definitely avoid the commotion.
It seemed today's two meals effectively eased her relationship with Xiaoguang.
——
The next day.
The sun rose as usual.
Audience members eagerly took their seats, and host Vivian's voice echoed from the broadcast.
"Dear audience! Welcome back to the Gorgeous Competition, Mikoli Club! Today, we begin the second review — Gorgeous Battles! Now, let's welcome Master Mikoli to address the Coordinator Trainers!"
At the center stage.
Still in his white hat and cape, Mikoli smiled brightly and said, "To all the beautiful Coordinator Trainers, march forward to the world with immense emotion and excitement!"
Boom!
The cheers and applause erupted like an explosion.
After briefly introducing the rules of the gorgeous battle, Vivian raised her right hand, and the sixteen avatars on the large screen shuffled like cards.
Ding!
With a slightly unsettling sound, a bracket diagram appeared, pairing competitors against each other.
The audience buzzed, discussing the computer-generated combinations, debating who had the best chance to progress to the final round.
In the preparation room.
The sixteen contestants each looked at their respective opponents.
"Hey, really didn't expect this."
Baimu nodded slightly at Harry, who had switched back to his Cacturne outfit. Harry's expression tensed but quickly reverted to his usual smile, waving as a greeting.
Unexpectedly, his first round opponent was "heavyweight."
Fortunately, others seemed paired with strangers, avoiding battles against familiar faces.
First-round opener.
On stage were Xiaoyao and a female coordinator trainer who scored 38.7.
Xiaogang intended to rush over to impress her but was preemptively stopped by Xiaosheng tugging at his ear, prompting Xiaogang to solemnly present information from his notebook — personality, preferences, and culinary skills.