"Yeah… right… Sorry for causing you trouble."
Inside the room, Peter held his phone and explained apologetically.
Wicke's gentle voice came through from the other end.
"It's alright. Stufful's injuries have basically recovered already. If it really wants to go with you two, I'll actually feel more at ease~"
"Mhm…"
Peter nodded as he looked out the window.
Outside, Stufful was splashing around in the swimming pool with Whitney and the rest of the Pokémon.
After two days together, the little one had become completely attached to Whitney, and naturally, it had also grown much closer to Peter.
After ending the call, Peter changed into swim trunks and walked over to the pool.
He tossed out several Poké Balls.
"Everyone, come out!"
"Lopunny!" "Liva~" "Ai~" "Lay!" "Zoroark~" "Chu!"
"Kaki!" "Bliss~" "Bui~" "Pi!"
Ten Pokémon appeared one after another.
Peter clapped his hands and smiled.
"Today's training mission…"
He spread his arms.
"…is relaxation!"
"Do whatever you want!"
The moment they heard that—
the Pokémon cheered and scattered immediately.
Lopunny opened a recliner beneath the beach umbrella and lazily stretched out.
Arboliva enjoyed a proper sunbath.
Indeedee busily prepared drinks and snacks for everyone.
Slaking climbed coconut and banana trees collecting fruit.
Zoroark built sand houses on the beach together with Mom and Eevee.
Braviary and Pidgeotto rode the sea breeze high overhead.
Ursaluna and its girlfriend made themselves a mud pit and rolled around happily.
Blissey dug a hole—
carefully buried its egg—
and then—
BOOM!
The explosion covered everyone's faces with sand.
Blissey laughed and ran away under Peter's death stare.
[Ding! Blissey learned new move: Egg Bomb…]
Hearing the system notification—
Peter sighed helplessly.
Sure enough.
Blissey learned moves fastest whenever it was causing trouble.
Whitney also released her own Pokémon.
Miltank.
Clefairy.
Cinccino.
Soon everyone joined the games.
Seeing so many older brothers and sisters around, Stufful finally stopped clinging to Whitney and instead started chasing after Miltank demanding milk.
…
Whitney climbed out of the pool.
She wore a simple black bikini.
A style that should've looked conservative—
yet her figure somehow turned it into something overwhelmingly attractive.
Water droplets shimmered under the sunlight.
Against her creamy skin and graceful curves—
the effect was almost unfair.
She looked toward Peter.
"Honey~"
"Help me put on sunscreen~"
Peter immediately wiped beneath his nose.
Good.
Improvement.
At least this time he didn't embarrass himself.
…
"Hurry up~ I'll get tanned soon."
Whitney lay on the beach towel and urged him.
Peter awkwardly opened the sunscreen bottle.
Then rubbed the lotion evenly across both hands.
His palms gently landed on her smooth shoulders.
Whitney's cheeks turned pink.
"Silly Honey…"
"You need to untie it…"
"Otherwise you'll get sunscreen all over my swimsuit."
Peter blinked.
"Oh…"
"Right."
Since both hands were covered in lotion—
he had no choice but to lean down and use his teeth to tug the ribbon tied behind her back.
He thought it would take effort.
But—
the moment the knot loosened—
gravity did the rest.
The straps slipped free naturally.
Her flawless pale back appeared completely before him.
Peter quietly inhaled.
"…Alright Babe."
"I'm starting."
Whitney nodded softly.
"Mhm…~"
…
Three hours later.
Smack.
Peter lightly slapped her hip, sending a ripple through the relaxed muscles.
He wiped sweat from his forehead.
"Finally done…"
Because he had no experience—
he ended up applying sunscreen front and back—
layer after layer—
again and again.
By the end—
he was exhausted and drenched in sweat.
Whitney lay lazily on the towel, her eyes half-closed.
A faint rosy flush covered her body.
Clearly—
she was very satisfied with his service.
Not long after—
she rolled onto her side and fell asleep.
Peter leaned over and kissed her forehead.
Then set up a parasol beside her before quietly leaving.
Eevee immediately trotted after him.
Peter glanced down.
"Not playing with everyone a little longer?"
"Eevee~"
The little one rubbed affectionately against his neck.
The Soothe Bell hanging on its chest swayed gently.
Peter smiled.
"Then let's go~"
…
Heading west—
Peter returned to Konikoni City.
There stood a unique facility:
The Dimensional Research Lab.
Its director—
Professor Burnet.
According to Peter's knowledge from his previous life and from the anime and games—
Professor Burnet originally came from Unova and specialized in researching Ultra Wormholes and Ultra Beasts.
She also worked closely with the Aether Foundation and maintained excellent relationships with Lusamine, Wicke, and the others.
In the future—
she and Kukui would become a couple.
One of the most beloved pairings in Pokémon anime history.
Even now—
Peter still remembered Kukui's textbook-perfect proposal.
Hiding the engagement ring inside a Poké Ball.
Absolute perfection.
(See Pokémon Sun & Moon Episode 55.)
Even before coming to Alola—
Burnet had already become one of the most outstanding young researchers thanks to identifying and naming Unova's Forces of Nature trio—
Tornadus, Landorus, and Thundurus.
After beginning Ultra Beast research—
she quickly became a household name across Alola.
And thanks to her personality and charm—
she even won Alola's Woman of the Year award in the anime.
Because of all this—
visiting her was one of Peter's goals upon arriving at Akala Island.
"Piii—!"
Suddenly—
a cry sounded overhead.
Peter looked up.
A silver-gray bird dove downward.
He raised his arm.
Pidgeotto landed smoothly.
Peter smiled.
"Pidgeotto?"
"You followed me too?"
"Pi~"
Pidgeotto spread its wings.
A metallic shine coated the silver feathers.
Peter's eyes widened.
"This is…"
"Steel Wing?!"
His expression immediately brightened.
"Haha~"
"You came specially to tell me?"
"Pi~"
Pidgeotto nodded.
After finally finding its companions again—
it wanted to integrate into the team quickly.
And it had been working incredibly hard.
Peter saw the satisfaction in its eyes.
He fed it a treasure-grade Pokéblock as encouragement—
then placed it on his shoulder and entered the research lab.
A researcher in a white coat walked out.
"Hello, who are you here to see?"
Peter smiled politely.
"Ah, I'm Peter. I spoke with Professor Burnet before—I was supposed to visit this afternoon."
The researcher froze.
Then—
his face exploded with excitement.
"You're Professor Peter?!"
"I finally get to meet you in person!!"
"I'm seriously too excited!!"
Peter stared.
Watching a grown man reveal the expression of a teenage fangirl gave him chills.
He coughed awkwardly.
"…Right."
"So… is Professor Burnet here?"
The researcher scratched his head.
"Ah…"
"Bad timing."
"She's not here right now."
"You might want to try looking at the Battle Royal Dome…"
From him—
Peter learned where Burnet had gone.
Battle Royal Dome.
Alola's special venue for Battle Royal competitions.
Battle Royals were four-person free-for-all Pokémon battles.
Each trainer sent out one Pokémon.
Once three Pokémon lost the ability to battle the match ended.
Sort of like wrestling.
Among Alola's Battle Royals there was an unbelievably popular masked wrestler—
known as The Masked Royal.
His real identity was Professor Kukui.
Just like in the anime—
Burnet happened to be one of The Masked Royal's biggest fans.
According to the researcher—
The Masked Royal would appear at today's event.
So it wasn't strange at all that Burnet went to watch.
After learning the situation—
Peter changed direction.
And set off toward the Battle Royal Dome.