Pokémon: My Parallel World Daughters Revealed

The video continued playing.

The Sea Breeze Restaurant was Canalave City’s most famous seafood restaurant, situated in the busiest part of the harbor.

Although the restaurant occupied an enormous area, its dishes were so renowned that an endless stream of customers came every day. At that moment, the line of Trainers outside the entrance stretched for more than ten meters.

Tiana stood on her tiptoes and counted the people ahead of them before looking at Gabite beside her.

"There are too many people. Let’s check the back entrance."

Gabite tilted its head.

"Gib?"

"Daddy said only outsiders use the front door. People on the inside always use the back door," Tiana declared righteously. "I still don’t understand exactly what that means, but Daddy is definitely right!"

The girl and her shark circled around to the restaurant’s back entrance.

"Little girl, you can’t enter through here."

A waiter blocked the doorway with his body.

"If you want seafood, you need to line up at the front."

"The line is too long."

Tiana pointed toward Gabite beside her.

"Sir, we’re both hungry. Please make an exception for us."

Gabite cooperatively opened its mouth, revealing rows of densely packed teeth.

The waiter’s smile froze, and he took a step backward.

"I’m sorry, but I can’t. Those are the rules..."

"Lewis , what’s going on?"

Just then, a middle-aged man wearing a black vest and gold-rimmed glasses emerged from behind him.

He first noticed Gabite, then looked at Tiana.

The golden streak in her short black hair and her mismatched golden and purple eyes caused the lobby manager’s pupils to contract sharply.

He immediately stepped back half a pace, adjusted his bow tie, and spoke in an exceptionally respectful tone.

"Miss Tiana, welcome. We have prepared a private room especially for you. Please follow me."

The young waiter remained frozen in place.

"Manager, she..."

"This young lady is one of our premium members," the manager whispered. "Remember this in the future. Whenever she comes here, take her directly through the VIP entrance. She doesn’t need to wait in line."

Tiana tilted her head and looked at the manager curiously.

"Sir, do you know me?"

"Of course."

The manager bowed slightly.

"Your information has been registered with every restaurant and Pokémon Center in Canalave City. Please follow me."

Gabite scratched its neck with one hind leg and released a satisfied cry.

"Gib."

Tiana patted its head.

"Let’s go. We’re having a feast today."

The waiter remained where he was, watching as the manager personally led them inside. He opened his mouth, but only a few words emerged.

"...Is my salary enough to cover this?"

The private room was located at the far end of the third floor.

The instant its door opened, Tiana’s eyes lit up.

An entire floor-to-ceiling window overlooked Canalave City’s harbor, while the setting sun dyed the ocean gold and crimson.

A Kyogre ice sculpture stood in the center of the dining table. It was crystal clear, and cold mist drifted from its tail.

A serving cart had already been prepared beside it, and another waiter was placing the final appetizer on the table.

"Miss Tiana, this is our restaurant’s scenic private room, reserved exclusively for our highest-ranking VIPs."

The manager personally pulled out a chair for her.

"Should you require anything, please press the service bell on the table. We will respond within two minutes."

Tiana climbed onto the chair, her legs dangling in the air as she looked around.

"Sir, who normally uses this room?"

"This room is ordinarily closed to the public," the manager replied with another slight bow. "Your father had it reserved especially for you."

"Daddy?"

Tiana tilted her head.

"When did he reserve it?"

"Your father is a lifetime member of our restaurant and permanently receives our highest standard of service."

Tiana clapped her hands and smiled at Gabite.

"Gabite, Daddy is so thoughtful. He arranged everything in advance, even when we’re only coming out to have fun."

Gabite lay beside the dining table, poking the tail of the Kyogre ice sculpture with one claw.

"Gib."

The manager retreated to the door.

"In that case, I hope you enjoy your meal."

The instant the door closed, the young waiter hurried over from the other end of the corridor and lowered his voice.

"Manager, who exactly is that young lady? Why were you so respectful toward her?"

"You’re new, so it’s normal that you don’t know."

The manager patted him on the shoulder.

"Just remember this: whenever that young lady comes here, take her directly to this room. Don’t ask why."

"But, Manager, even members of the League Council need to reserve this room a week in advance..."

"Council members?"

The manager interrupted him calmly.

"Council members still need to wait after making a reservation. Her father’s lifetime membership allows him to use it whenever he arrives. Even the restaurant’s owner doesn’t receive that treatment."

"...Manager, can I apply to wash dishes in the kitchen? I don’t think being a waiter suits me."

"No."

Inside the private room—

"Gabite, how much money do you think Daddy spent at this restaurant?"

Tiana rested her chin on one hand while spinning a fork around her fingers.

"Gib."

Gabite didn’t turn around. Its tail merely slapped the floor once.

"That’s true. Daddy never tells me how much money he spends."

Tiana speared a piece of smoked salmon from the appetizer and placed it in her mouth.

"He only teaches me how to spend it."

Someone gently knocked on the private-room door, and two waiters entered while pushing a serving cart.

On the cart sat an enormous seafood platter. King crab legs were arranged neatly across a bed of ice, accompanied by cheese-baked lobster, salt-grilled Boston lobster, and scallops with garlic. A whole steamed king crab stood in the center, its shell gleaming bright red.

"Miss Tiana, this is our signature seafood platter. When the head chef heard you had arrived, he specially added twice the usual amount of cheese."

As the waiter arranged the dishes, he repeatedly glanced at Gabite lying beside the table.

"The head chef would also like to ask whether your Pokémon requires a separate meal."

"Bring it three Pokémon seafood meals. Add extra meat and fewer vegetables."

"Certainly. We’ll prepare them immediately."

After the waiters left, Tiana picked up a king crab leg and held it against the sunset beyond the window.

"Gabite, how big does a crab leg have to be before it counts as big?"

"Gib?"

[Regular-Seat Chat Group]

"Tiana is asking how big a crab leg needs to be before it counts as big. This child’s standards for seafood have already broken through the heavens."

"Are we really still talking about seafood...?"

"Hello, viewer. Congratulations! You have received a one-way ticket for a one-day tour of the Sinnoh League. Please provide your contact information."

"Why is it a one-way ticket?"

"Because you won’t need a return journey..."

[VIP Chat Group]

[Brock]: ...Exactly how many places has Asher prepared for Tiana in advance?

[Steven]: I suspect even he can no longer count them all.

[Wallace]: Perhaps it isn’t that he can’t count them. He simply can’t be bothered.

The video continued playing.

Outside the private room, the lobby manager stood at the corner of the corridor and composed a message.

He opened the contact pinned at the top of his communicator, sent the message, and waited until he received a reply before leaving.

The scene changed.

Celestic Town.

Asher leaned against the living-room sofa with a book in his hands. He had just returned his phone to his pocket, and a faint smile still lingered on his lips.

Cynthia descended the stairs. Her hair was still wet, and she had changed into pale-colored clothes for relaxing at home.

She sat beside him on the sofa and began drying her hair with a towel.

"What happened to make you so happy?"

"Nothing."

Asher turned a page of his book.

"Tiana has arrived in Canalave City. She’s eating at the Sea Breeze Restaurant."

Cynthia’s hands paused.

"The Sea Breeze Restaurant? That seafood restaurant?"

"That’s right."

Cynthia shook her head.

"That child. I knew she wouldn’t obediently go and challenge a Gym."

Asher smiled.

"What’s wrong with that? You could say Tiana is learning to enjoy life in advance."

"Twisted logic..."

Asher reached out and pulled Cynthia into his arms.

"Darling, I only did this so we could ensure our daughter’s safety at all times. Besides, I haven’t interfered with her journey itself."

"...All right, but tell me in advance next time."

Asher chuckled softly.

"No problem. But, darling, now that our daughter has left, shouldn’t the two of us make the most of having some time alone together?"

"Mm..."