"Haha~ But isn't it precisely because of the pressure Ash gives you that you've become more and more outstanding?" Clarissa said with a bright smile.
"Yeah..."
Gary paused for a moment before sighing helplessly.
"Forget it. Since I can't resist it, I might as well enjoy the pressure and stay busy."
"I'm going back to my room to study."
With that, Gary headed upstairs and shut himself inside his room.
At this point, Ash's constant stream of achievements no longer shocked him.
He had become numb to it.
But now even Green—his childhood friend, who was younger than him—was about to publish her own work.
If he didn't hurry up and get a paper published in an academic journal soon, he'd look completely inferior by comparison.
Meanwhile, Clarissa was also quietly motivating herself.
Everyone is working so hard...
I can't afford to slack off either.
Otherwise, when I officially begin my journey in the future, I'll only end up dragging Ash's team down.
Besides, Misty and Serena are both incredibly capable.
I can't fall behind them.
Her eyes sparkled with determination.
Let's start with a small goal.
Before I officially become a Trainer at age ten, I'll pass both the Intermediate Pokémon Medic Examination and the Intermediate Pokémon Breeder Examination.
The young girl silently clenched her fists.
Unexpectedly, what had originally been planned as a relaxing lunchtime break turned into a period of intense productivity for everyone.
...
...
Riding in the photographer's vehicle, Ash and Green quickly arrived at the photography studio.
After helping Milotic curl its eyelashes and applying a light touch of makeup to enhance its natural beauty, the photographer and studio staff finished preparing the shooting environment.
The photoshoot officially began.
The main set resembled a luxurious fashion runway.
Milotic stood proudly at the center of the stage.
Its elegant neck was raised high.
Its long, flowing body radiated grace and nobility.
Like a queen presiding over her kingdom.
The photographer and staff worked with remarkable efficiency.
Before long, Milotic's solo photoshoot was completed.
However, after finishing the primary shoot, the photographer suddenly made another request.
"Mr. Ash, Miss Green."
"If possible, could each of you take an individual photo together with Milotic?"
"And perhaps one group photo with all three of you as well?"
Ash immediately understood the intention.
Those photographs would likely become bonus gifts included with the first edition of the beauty guide.
"No problem."
"We'd be happy to."
The photographer smiled with relief.
"Wonderful. Thank you for your cooperation."
"There are clothing options available in the room next door."
"Please choose anything you like."
"Our makeup artist will also help with your hairstyles and appearance."
"Alright."
Ash and Green headed into the wardrobe room.
Since these were meant to be lifestyle photographs emphasizing warmth and approachability, both of them instinctively selected simple casual outfits.
Nothing extravagant.
Nothing overly formal.
Just comfortable everyday clothing.
Likewise, the makeup artist only performed minimal touch-ups.
No heavy stage makeup.
Just enough refinement to make them look their best on camera.
Once everything was prepared, they returned to the studio.
The previous runway set had already been transformed.
In its place stood a warm and cozy home environment.
Within that setting, Ash and Green—the authors of Feebas's beauty guide—each took individual photographs with Milotic.
Afterward, all three of them posed together for a large group photo.
At last, the midday photography session came to an end.
"Oh, right."
The photographer suddenly remembered something.
"Mr. Ash."
"I heard you and Milotic will be heading to the beach this afternoon for swimming, diving, and surfing."
"Would it be alright if I accompanied you?"
"I'd like to take some everyday lifestyle photographs of you and Milotic interacting naturally."
"Of course."
Ash agreed immediately.
"Thank you very much."
The photographer nodded gratefully.
"These photos will be included as bonus gifts with the first edition of the beauty guide."
"After today's shoot, I'll print one thousand copies."
"At that point, both you and Miss Green will need to personally sign them."
"For later editions, however, printed signatures will be sufficient."
"Or we may simply distribute unsigned versions."
"Sounds good."
Ash had no objections.
After all, the better the beauty guide sold, the greater the rewards he and Green would receive as its creators.
Any effort that could help increase sales was worth supporting.
Green felt exactly the same.
...
...
After Milotic's back-cover photoshoot concluded, Ash and Green returned to the hotel in the photographer's car.
Among the runway photos taken earlier, the photographer selected the strongest image and immediately sent it to Quartz Publishing.
As long as Green completed organizing the remaining one-third of the beauty guide's content that afternoon, the publisher's production process could continue smoothly.
The remaining photographs would be developed later that day.
After Ash and Green finished signing them, they would be shipped via express delivery to the publishing house.
Once the beauty guide was printed the following day, the signed photographs could be packaged together and distributed to bookstores throughout Kanto as well as online retailers.
Of course—
Once the final cover design was completed that afternoon, both Ash and the publisher could immediately begin promotional campaigns and pre-orders.
Everything was moving at remarkable speed.
...
...
At exactly 1:30 PM, the agreed meeting time arrived.
Ash, Gary, and Clarissa came downstairs to the hotel entrance.
Right on schedule, Misty and her three sisters arrived in their sports cars.
"Is Green still working this afternoon?" Misty asked curiously.
Ash nodded.
"The publication schedule is pretty tight."
"She wants to finish everything as quickly as possible."
"After working overtime last night and spending the entire morning on it, there's only one-third of the project left."
"At noon, Quartz Publishing sent over a contracted photographer to shoot Milotic's back-cover photos."
"If everything goes smoothly this afternoon, the beauty guide should be ready for publication tomorrow."
The four sisters stared at him in surprise.
"Wow."
"You and Green work incredibly fast."
"Yesterday afternoon, during the Water Pokémon Beauty Contest, you only just came up with the idea of publishing a Feebas beauty guide."
"You finalized it last night."
"And now it's practically finished already?"
"The efficiency is unbelievable."
Daisy, Violet, and Lily couldn't help but marvel.
Ash laughed.
"Well, right now Feebas and Milotic are still the hottest topic in Kanto."
"If we wait too long, the popularity will fade."
"That makes sense."
The sisters nodded in agreement.
Then Daisy noticed the unfamiliar man standing nearby.
"Oh?"
"And this gentleman is...?"
Ash introduced him.
"This is Mr. Lance, a contracted photographer from Quartz Publishing."
"This afternoon he'll be joining us at the beach."
"He's taking lifestyle photographs of me and Milotic to include as bonus gifts with the first edition of the beauty guide."
"I see."
The four sisters nodded.
That explained everything.
...
Soon afterward, everyone climbed into Lily's pink convertible sports car.
With the ocean breeze growing stronger and the scent of salt filling the air—
The group set off toward the beach.
--------------
T/N:
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