[System Notification: Intermission ended.
Livestream resuming.]
The moment the light screen lit up again, the chat groups immediately came alive.
[VIP Seating Chat Group]
Ash: It’s here, it’s here, it’s here!
Ash: I’m ready!
This time I’m definitely getting another reward!
Blue: That was just pure luck last time.
Ash: It wasn’t luck!
It was skill!
Misty: Can you two be quiet?
The video is starting.
Brock: By the way, have you noticed something?
The chat group seems bigger now.
Professor Oak: Yes, I’ve noticed that too.
Even the general audience section is expanding.
It looks like the number of viewers is still increasing.
Cynthia: What does that mean?
Drake: It means more and more people are learning about this.
And there may be far more observers in the shadows than we imagine.
Kanto Elite Four Lorelei: You mean… people who normally stay hidden are watching too?
Drake: Not just watching.
Some might already be taking action.
The final second of the countdown ticked away.
[Ding!
Parallel World Celebrity Series I: Water-Type Master Rainbow – Phase Two Begins!]
The Scene
The screen slowly brightened.
A warm, cozy living room appeared.
Balloons hung on the walls, and a cake sat on the table with ten candles on top.
The cake was small but beautifully made.
White cream, decorated with a Blastoise drawn in chocolate syrup.
“Happy birthday!”
Misty stood beside the cake, wearing a light blue home outfit.
Her hair was neatly tied up, and her face carried a gentle smile.
Behind her, Sakuto Winter stood holding a camera, adjusting the angle.
“Rainbow, look this way.”
“Dad!
Wait!
I’m not ready yet!”
Rainbow’s voice came from off-screen, flustered.
Sakuto chuckled.
“What is there to prepare?
You’re ten today.
You’ll look good no matter how I take it.”
“No, no!
My hair is messy!”
Rainbow rushed into frame.
Her smooth long hair fell loosely over her shoulders.
She had grown taller again, her baby fat almost completely gone, revealing delicate and refined features.
Her golden eyes were still bright, but now carried a hint of calm maturity.
She wore a simple white dress, looking like something out of a painting.
“Mom!
Is it sticking up anywhere?”
Misty walked over and gently fixed her hair.
“Nope.
It looks perfect.”
“Really?”
“Really.” Misty pinched her cheek lightly.
“My daughter always looks beautiful.”
Rainbow’s face instantly turned red.
“Mom!”
“Alright, alright, I won’t tease you anymore.” Misty smiled and stepped back.
“Come on, blow out the candles.
Make a wish.”
Rainbow stood in front of the cake.
Ten candle flames flickered gently in the air.
She closed her eyes.
The room fell quiet for a few seconds.
Then she opened her eyes and took a deep breath.
“Huff.”
All ten candles went out in a single breath.
“Yay!” Rainbow clapped for herself, smiling so widely her eyes curved into crescents.
Misty applauded as well.
Sakuto pressed the shutter.
Click.
[General Audience Chat Group]
“Aaaaah, she’s ten now!”
“This kid is going to grow up into a beauty!”
“This is the joy of raising a child….”
“Someone just shock me already.”
“Wait, ten years old… isn’t that when trainers start their journey?”
“Yeah!
In Kanto, trainers usually begin at ten!”
“So the next part is her journey starting?!”
“I’m so excited!”
[VIP Seating Chat Group]
Ash: Ten years old!
That’s the same age I started my journey!
Blue: You started at ten, but somehow you’re still ten mentally.
Ash: What did you say?!
Brock: Blue means you haven’t grown much over the years.
Ash: …
Sister Daisy: By the way, that cake… was it made by Misty?
Sister Violet: Looks like it.
Misty, you can bake cakes?
Misty: I can’t!
Sister Lily: Maybe she learned it after becoming a mother.
Sister Violet: Motherly love is amazing.
Misty: You three are impossible!
Elite Four Lorelei: Heh, but honestly… this is a very warm scene.
A complete family, a healthy daughter, and loving parents…
Bruno: Lorelei, are you trying to say something?
Lorelei: Nothing.
I just think the Misty in this parallel world is very happy.
Misty: …
Cynthia: So the next stage should be her traveling story.
Lance: I’m more interested in how a ten-year-old will eventually become a Water-Type Elite Four member.
Steven: What I’m more curious about is what role her father will play in her journey.
Lance: What do you mean?
Steven: A Champion-level Trainer wouldn’t just stay home raising a child.
He must have his own plans.
Cynthia: Steven is right.
From what we’ve seen so far, Sakuto’s way of raising her is very intentional.
He is clearly training her, not letting her wander blindly.
Diantha: So what exactly is his plan?
Cynthia: We don’t know yet.
But we’ll find out soon enough.
The scene shifted.
The cake was cut.
Rainbow held a piece and ate it happily, cream smudged all over her mouth.
Sakuto sat across from her, still taking photos.
“Dad, stop taking pictures!”
“Why?
It’s your birthday.
Of course I should take more.”
“You already took so many!”
“Not enough.”
“Enough!”
“Still not enough.”
Rainbow puffed her cheeks, glaring at him, cream still on the corner of her lips.
Click.
“This one looks good.”
Rainbow: “…”
Misty laughed.
“You two, can you at least eat properly?”
“Mom!
Dad keeps taking pictures of me!”
“That’s because you look cute.” Sakuto said calmly.
Rainbow’s face turned red again.
“Dad!”
Misty walked over and sat beside Sakuto, looking at the camera.
“This one is good, actually.”
“Right?”
“But this one doesn’t work.
Her eyes are closed.”
“That was a blink.”
“Then it’s still a bad shot.”
“Fine.
I’ll take another one.”
“Dad!!!”
[VIP Seating Chat Group]
Brock: …I’m suddenly jealous of this Sakuto guy.
Blue: Jealous of what?
Brock: A gentle wife, a lovely daughter, and a complete family.
Ash: Brock… are you okay?
Brock: I’m fine.
I just… why doesn’t a kind older sister ever like me…