Chapter 152: Festival
As soon as they were out of the area and clear of any lingering officials, Professor Oak slapped on a simple disposable mask, took off his white lab coat, and casually draped it over his arm, instantly transforming back into an anonymous older man.
"So," Oak began, glancing around, "what are your plans now? Anywhere specific you wanted to see?"
"Nothing really," Xiu replied honestly. "Just look around, I suppose."
"Excellent. Well, I have... other matters to attend to." Oak scanned the bustling square, spotted an avenue of escape, and with a curt nod, added, "Enjoy yourself," before melting effortlessly into the crowd, vanishing from Xiu's sight within moments.
Xiu watched him go without surprise. 'Reliably unreliable.' He turned his attention back to the square, now teeming with people dispersing from the stage area after Oak's speech. Finding a relatively uncrowded spot near the edge, Xiu leaned against a planter and began sampling the snacks he'd acquired earlier, his gaze drifting towards the performance stage.
The opening ceremony had concluded, and the program had moved on to lighter entertainment. Currently, a young woman in vibrant, flowing costume commanded the stage, performing an elegant dance. Fluttering around her, mirroring her movements with uncanny grace, was a Beautifly – its colorful wings catching the light. Several backup dancers moved in synchronized harmony behind them, creating a visually pleasing spectacle of human and Pokémon artistry.
'Interesting,' Xiu mused, appreciating the coordination and the style, distinct from anything he recalled from his past life. His appreciation, however, remained analytical, assessing the skill and presentation rather than feeling emotionally moved.
His attention was abruptly diverted by a rising swell of noise from one edge of the square. He turned, recognizing the source almost immediately – the entourage, fans, and media associated with the 'famous trainer' from the roadblock incident were now making their way into the square itself. Their arrival, though no longer blocking traffic, still caused a localized disruption as people turned to stare or actively moved towards them.
Curiosity piqued, Xiu took the opportunity to get a clear look at the individual causing such a fuss. The man at the center of the commotion was tall and slender, dressed in a sharp, tailored blue suit that accentuated his build. His hair was a striking shade of blond, cut fashionably short, making him instantly stand out.
While his facial features weren't conventionally perfect, they were certainly well above average – symmetrical, clear-skinned, enhanced by subtle makeup and a carefully cultivated, faint smile. 'The manufactured image of a 'prince charming,' Xiu assessed. Easy to see why he draws a crowd.'
As the entourage moved closer to the stage area, a wave of excited shouts rippled through the nearby spectators.
"It's Kiba!"
"He actually came!"
"Kiba! Kiba! Over here!"
"I love you, Kiba!"
The noise level spiked, and a significant portion of the crowd shifted, converging on the newcomer. Xiu noted that the fans weren't exclusively young women; quite a few young men were equally vocal in their excitement.
'Kiba, Xiu repeated the name internally, amusement crossing his thoughts. Heh, does he have a dog named Akamaru too?' After a few moments of observation, Xiu lost interest, turning his attention back towards the crowd. Kiba and his entourage continued their slow progress, greeting fans, effectively commandeering the space around them.
The increasingly noisy, cramped environment near the stage began to irritate Xiu. Deciding he'd seen enough, he pushed off and moved away, seeking the relative calm of the side streets again.
Just as he extricated himself from the densest part of the crowd, he nearly bumped into a familiar figure hurrying in the opposite direction – Joy Sachiko, the Pokémon Center nurse.
"Sachiko!" he called out, altering his path to intercept her.
She looked back, startled, then offered a quick smile of recognition. "Mr. Xiu! I thought you'd left with Professor Oak?" Her eyes flickered around as if expecting to see the Professor nearby.
"The Professor had a private engagement," Xiu replied smoothly, offering a vague but plausible excuse. "Are you heading somewhere in a hurry?"
"Ah, yes! They're short-staffed at the support tent," she explained, pointing towards a temporary structure set up in a corner of the square, marked clearly with the Pokémon Center logo. "I need to get back on duty."
"Support tent? Like a first-aid station?" Xiu glanced towards it, noting its organized appearance.
"Close enough," Sachiko confirmed, fidgeting slightly, clearly anxious to get going. "It's more of a general management point for the festival – lost items, information, minor assistance. If you run into any trouble, feel free to stop by! I really must go now."
"Hold on," Xiu stopped her gently. He reached into the bag of snacks he was still carrying, pulled out a small, sweet pastry he'd found particularly tasty, and pressed it into her hand. "Try this, it's quite good. Fuel for your shift."
Preoccupied and rushed, Sachiko accepted it with a surprised "Oh! Thank you!" before waving quickly and hurrying off towards the tent.
Xiu watched her go with a neutral expression, then turned and left the main square behind, melting back into the bustling side streets. The festival was now in full swing, the atmosphere vibrant, almost overwhelmingly so. He wandered, taking in the sights and sounds, occasionally stopping at stalls that caught his interest, picking up more materials when he found quality goods at reasonable prices.
'It's undeniable, he mused, watching a vendor make a quick sale, these large-scale events are incredibly effective for sales.' He'd already spent nearly a thousand Poké Dollars himself.
As he meandered down a less crowded street, his eyes fell on a familiar vehicle parked by the curb – the farmer's produce truck from the roadblock. Curiosity stirred, and he walked closer. Sure enough, sitting slumped on a nearby public bench, staring blankly at the ground, was the middle-aged farmer himself. His earlier desperation had curdled into weary dejection.
"Brother," Xiu greeted him casually, approaching the bench.
The man's head snapped up at the sound of Xiu's voice. His reaction was instantaneous and startling – his eyes widened, not with recognition, but with stark, unmistakable fear. He physically recoiled on the bench, pulling away as if Xiu were a dangerous predator.
Xiu paused, his casual demeanor vanishing, replaced by a flicker of surprise. 'He's afraid... of me? Why?' He hadn't interacted directly with the farmer during the confrontation and only used the horn of his truck.
The farmer seemed to realize Xiu wasn't an immediate threat, his overt fear subsiding slightly into awkwardness and confusion, clearly surprised to see Xiu approach him. It took him several seconds to compose himself enough to offer a hesitant, forced smile.
"Ah... it's you, young man."
"Brother," Xiu repeated, sitting down on the bench beside him, maintaining a non-threatening distance. "What's wrong? I thought you'd have made your delivery by now."
The farmer's face crumpled. He let out a long, heavy sigh. "Ah... don't ask." The despair in his voice was thick.
Obvious enough, Xiu thought. The man wouldn't be sitting here if things had gone well. The question was merely an opening. "What happened?" he asked, keeping his tone neutral, inquisitive.
"The buyers... they refused the shipment," the farmer mumbled, staring at his worn hands. "Said it was too late, past the agreed time. Because of... because of that roadblock." He gestured vaguely back towards the direction of the earlier chaos. "This whole truckload... tens of thousands of Poké Dollars... ruined."