Forming a company together!
This would further strengthen the relationship between Aoki and Steven.
Given Aoki's current potential and strength, he was worthy of the Stone family's efforts to win him over.
After discussing business, the three prepared to have lunch together.
When Aoki walked into the dining room, he was shocked.
"..."
Looking at the scene before him, he didn't know what to say.
In a lavishly decorated restaurant, there were countless people sitting and standing, all of them Steven's aunts and grandaunts, dressed in formal attire.
Given Steven's usual dressing habits, Aoki wasn't surprised by their attire, but what was with those gazes, as if he were a rare animal?
"Ahem," Grandpa Stone also knew it was too intimidating.
Nothing had even been confirmed yet, and he didn't know who had spread the news.
The old man glanced at Steven, who looked embarrassed, his handsome face showing some discomfort.
He had spoken too quickly, saying that his cousin, Miki, might have found someone she liked.
There was nothing he could do; Miki had left too deep an impression on Steven when he was a child. In Steven's eyes, it would be truly wonderful if the terrifying tigress of their family could marry off quickly. He hoped someone could immediately subdue her.
Even if she couldn't be subdued, it would be best if someone else could be bullied instead, and Aoki was a good choice.
In fact, the people pursuing Miki could line up from Rustboro City to Mauville City, but Steven didn't think highly of any of them.
No matter how little he liked his cousin, she was still his cousin, not just any Tom, Dick, or Harry who could sweep her off her feet.
In Steven's eyes, Aoki was good in every aspect. His only weakness used to be his appearance, but now he was even a bit more handsome, and there was a possibility of becoming even more handsome in the future.
This was the first man his cousin Miki hadn't openly rejected. Steven felt that Aoki was sent by heaven to save him.
So, he spoke too quickly and couldn't stop himself.
In the Stone family, Steven wasn't the only one worried about Miki.
And so, upon learning that Aoki was visiting, all the aunts and grandaunts came, wanting to see who could possibly tame the fearless Miki Stone.
Then, the atmosphere suddenly became extremely awkward.
Fortunately, with the old man present, no one dared to speak much. In this awkward atmosphere, Aoki sat down next to the old man and Steven.
Aoki's seating position at the dining table showed the Stone family's Pay attention to (high regard) for him.
A moment later, Steven's uncle, dressed in formal attire, appeared with his daughter.
Today, Miki Stone was not wearing her Chief Investigator uniform but a standard short formal dress, looking very different from her usual self.
It made Aoki's eyes light up.
Although Aoki had not been interested in women since his reincarnation, that was because he hadn't reached a certain age yet. It didn't mean he had no feelings for beautiful women.
He just usually exercised self-restraint and had strong self-discipline.
But he still had to admit that Miki Stone today truly made his eyes light up.
She was a rare beauty, comparable to Cynthia from the Sinnoh region and Lorelei from Kanto.
However, Miki's temperament was a bit more "gentle" compared to theirs.
Aoki saw Miki, and Miki, of course, saw Aoki.
They stared at each other, and instantly understood the whole situation.
Aoki had suspected it from the start, but he didn't expect it to be true. What was the Stone family doing?
Group-assisted blind date?
Damn it, I'm only seventeen, and I still have a few months until I turn eighteen!
Miki herself hadn't known initially. Her father had simply told her that a very important guest was coming today and asked her to dress formally.
But upon entering the dining room and seeing so many relatives, and then seeing Aoki, she understood.
However, there was nothing she could do now but sit down next to Aoki without changing her expression.
"What's going on? How did you, little brat, suddenly end up at our house?" Miki ate her food expressionlessly, her posture and movements perfectly matching her current attire.
Aoki also ate his own food.
As colleagues, they interacted quite often, and Miki knew about Aoki and Steven's relationship, so she had always seen him as a younger brother.
Who would have thought so many unexpected things would happen?
"How should I know? I only came today to discuss some business with the old man. I didn't expect to be viewed like an animal," Aoki whispered.
Pfft—
Upon hearing this, Miki chuckled.
But in the quiet dining room, her chuckle attracted a lot of attention.
Suddenly, all the relatives' gazes became somewhat ambiguous.
They thought Aoki and Miki were chatting happily. The rumor, which Steven had started, even if it was half-true originally, now seemed completely true to them.
Aoki looked at Miki's smile. It was his first time seeing her like this, and she was indeed beautiful.
Smelling her, there was a faint, clean fragrance.
"Ahem, be serious. I feel their gazes are a bit off," Aoki said.
Hearing Aoki say this, Miki finally reacted. She looked up and saw the ambiguous gazes of her relatives, and her face instantly turned red.
She was furious.
If they kept this up, even if it wasn't true, it would become true in the end.
Miki was so angry. Even if she really had to find a partner, she would want someone older, wouldn't she? Aoki wasn't even eighteen yet!
Although eighteen was considered a significant age in the Pokémon world, as children from normal families usually started their journeys at ten.
However, looking today, why did Aoki seem even more handsome?
Was it just an illusion?
Miki stared at Aoki's face, and the more she looked, the more she felt there was a change, but she couldn't pinpoint what had changed.
But her curious and unintentional behavior again led to misunderstanding.
Tell me, when you see a girl blushing and staring intently at a boy's face, who wouldn't think that?
But in reality, Miki and Aoki's conversation went like this:
"Hey, little brat, did you get plastic surgery? How did your appearance change?"
"Pfft—you really are a family, even your questions are the same. I've already said it's facial detail changes due to development, just changing for the better."
"No! Definitely not! You either got plastic surgery or you put on makeup."
"Even if I did get plastic surgery or put on makeup, can you stop staring at my face? Now I can't clear my name even if I jump into the Yellow River."
"Oh."
Miki also reacted.
But soon her curiosity returned. "What's the Yellow River? Which region is it in? I've never heard of it. It sounds quite catchy when you say it."
"Also, did you get plastic surgery or put on makeup? Can you recommend some to me?"
"..."