Chapter 297: Bunny Besties

Can a full-power Ice Punch meet the requirement of being fired off?

After thinking it over, Bibarel prepared to give it a try.

"Bib!"

A snow-white radiance lit up on its right fist, dazzling like the tail of a comet streaking across the sky. The energy gathered in the blink of an eye, and it swung hard into the air!

Boom!

A puff of white mist exploded at the point where Bibarel's fist landed, and the biting cold spread out in all directions before slowly dissipating.

siluke.

That was all.

"Bib…" Bibarel stared at its fist in disappointment.

As expected, this technique wasn't something so easily mastered.

Seeing the girl of his dreams so dejected, Piplup felt his heart shatter. His two little eyes brimmed with tears of pity. "Piplup…"

"No need to be so discouraged. Didn't Dr. Kukui say that the variations of a move depend on the imagination of the Pokémon and the Trainer, plus diligent practice? There's no shortcut on this road."

Baimu kept a very relaxed attitude, smiling as he comforted them.

Bai Guang hurriedly added, "Exactly! Keep practicing and you'll definitely get it! Hitting a wall at the start is completely normal!"

This one had quite the authority when it came to wild ideas — combining Swinub's Ice Shards and Cyndaquil's Flame Wheel into Flame Ice sounded utterly far-fetched to onlookers, yet in the end he pulled it off smoothly.

"Oh right!"

As if remembering something, she pulled a Poké Ball from her pocket. "Go, Buneary!"

Poof!

White light flickered.

A brown-furred, humanoid little rabbit dropped to the ground. "Bun?"

"This is the Ice-type move specialist on my team — it'll definitely be able to help Bibarel!" Bai Guang said with a smile.

"Ice-type specialist?"

Baimu was taken aback for a moment, then quickly recalled — this was the Buneary who could freeze an entire lake solid, who wielded Ice Beam with godlike skill despite being a Normal-type, and who was a little fangirl utterly devoted to Pikachu.

The moment Piplup saw Buneary, his eyes lit up too. "Piplup! Piplup piplup!"

He called out to her quite unceremoniously.

"Bun?"

Buneary tilted her upper body back slightly, looking at him with clear disdain, then turned her head away with a dismissive air. But when her gaze fell on Bibarel and landed on the red ribbon behind its head, she grew a little shy and a little curious. "Bun~"

"Bib~"

Bibarel looked up and met Baimu's eyes, then, following his gaze, sidled over to Buneary and very amiably turned its head around to show off the red ribbon.

"Bun~"

Up close, Buneary saw the ribbon and the bell, and caught that lovely scent — instantly she was neither nervous nor shy anymore.

Obviously.

These two Pokémon shared similar tastes; both loved dressing up and looking pretty.

Piplup had wanted to join in, only to find himself quietly excluded by the two of them. When girls talked among themselves, he simply couldn't get a word in.

"Piplup—"

Piplup turned to stone on the spot, a tear still clinging to the corner of his eye.

Baimu couldn't hold back a laugh. "Your Piplup really is unusually cute."

"Ahahaha…"

Bai Guang gave an awkward laugh.

Shortly after.

With Bai Guang and Buneary accompanying the practice, Baimu and Bibarel began intensive training on Ice Punch, determined to master the technique of releasing it away from the body before the next Pokémon Contest.

Why not guidance?

Because all Buneary knew was Ice Beam, a ranged move to begin with; the only thing she could teach was the shaping of the ice.

Speaking of which, Baimu was also very curious how she managed to create hollow, transparent ice spheres. To push a single Ice Beam to such a level — Bai Guang truly deserved to be called a prodigy.

Being occasionally called the female Ash wasn't without reason.

——

Noon.

The two finished practice and headed off to have lunch together.

To thank Bai Guang for the practice companionship, Baimu decided to cook personally and show off his skills.

She was a little embarrassed at first, and upon seeing the huge haul of ingredients she'd bought, kept insisting it wasn't necessary. But the moment the aroma from the kitchen reached her nose, she shut up at once.

"So good…"

Bai Guang and Piplup sat in the living room, feeling their noses about to grow longer, their souls half-stolen by the scent.

"Piplup piplup…"

Piplup wholeheartedly agreed — the food's aroma was so tantalizing it had nearly driven half the image of Bibarel from his mind, and it was still invading.

Both of them couldn't help but recall that squinty-eyed man who used to cook for them during their journey; they remembered Brock's meals tugging at their hearts in just the same way.

They just wondered where he was now — and Ash too — what region had their journey taken them to?

While Bai Guang and Piplup were reminiscing, Baimu came out of the kitchen carrying plates and bowls alongside Chansey.

"Time to eat!"

He called out to the two, then unclipped the Poké Balls at his waist and released his Pokémon. "Lunchtime!"

"Piplup!"

Pochiaman sprang up from the sofa in a flash and hurried to All Baimu's feet, demanding to carry the tray.

The proud little penguin would never accept food handed out in charity, but if it was doing a favor, then the food was its rightful reward.

"What's the matter? Can't wait?"

All Baimu had no idea what it wanted, since standing at his feet flapping its wings and squawking "bo-bo, bo-bo" wasn't exactly intelligible.

Fortunately, Lucky Egg was more considerate and handed the bowl over.

Pochiaman got its wish.

Meanwhile.

Xiaoguang stared in surprise at All Baimu's collection of Pokémon; she had nearly been frightened by the massive Aggron a moment ago, but the latter turned out to be unexpectedly friendly.

It even stretched out a claw wanting to shake hands with her.

The other Pokémon each had their own merits, especially the Galarian Sunflora, Bagon, and Porygon — these few she had never seen and didn't recognize.

She hurriedly pulled out her Pokédex and scanned them one by one.

"Wow, amazing! So many Pokémon I don't recognize!"

Xiaoguang felt she had truly broadened her horizons today, and hurriedly released her own partners. "Everyone, come on out!"

Bang-bang-bang—

A series of flashes of light.

Her remaining Pokémon landed one after another.

Pachirisu, Chimchar, Mamoswine, and Togekiss.

"Pachipachi!" The lively Pachirisu caught the scent of food and immediately dashed toward All Baimu, scrambling up his clothes all the way to his shoulder, drooling as it peered down.

Mamoswine, which likewise loved good food — in fact, had been lured away by Xiaoguang precisely because of its appetite — could no longer hold back either.

Fortunately, All Baimu already knew this one's reckless personality. He handed its portion along with another to Aggron. "You two big monsters can split it yourselves."

"Gugou!"

Aggron took them and exchanged a glance with Mamoswine.

Mamoswine looked at the big monster that was taller than it and radiating a terrifying aura, and didn't dare charge straight over. "Mouuu—"

"Gugou."

Aggron shook its neck, and the two walked off.

Chimchar and Togekiss were comparatively more reserved, but they too could hardly hold back, and edged toward All Baimu.

Not long after.

Every Pokémon had received its own portion.

All Baimu and Xiaoguang finally got to eat as well.

"Let's eat!"

The latter cheerfully pressed her palms together, couldn't wait to shovel fried rice into her mouth, then blissfully patted her puffed-up cheeks. "Sooo good~"

"As long as I didn't disappoint you."

All Baimu smiled.