Following the address posted on the notice board, Kazuki and Misty finally found Suzie's shop tucked away in a quiet corner.
"Hmm? This is Suzie's place?"
Misty eyed the deserted storefront with a puzzled expression.
"Even someone like me who doesn't know business can tell this isn't a good location!"
"Isn't Suzie a three-time Champion Breeder?"
"Why is there not even one person lined up outside?"
"Are we sure this is the right place?"
Kazuki double-checked the street number. "No mistake, this is it. Let's head in and take a look."
He pushed open the glass door, Misty following behind.
"Here's your custom food—thank you for your visit!" A girl with pale blue hair and dressed in white cheerfully handed a package of Pokémon food to a departing customer.
"Suzie, I've been buying from you for a long time, and your specially tailored formulas are just excellent!" the elderly lady said warmly. But you really need to advertise more!"
"I mean, you're a three-time Champion Breeder and yet you're still worried about paying rent? I feel bad for you!"
The woman took the food and offered her advice kindly.
"Thank you, ma'am. I appreciate your concern," Suzie replied.
"Wait, you're the Champion Suzie?" Misty stepped forward in disbelief.
"Oh! Looks like you've got new customers. I won't keep chatting then—take care!" The older lady gave a knowing smile and left them to it.
"Welcome! I'm Suzie, the shop owner. How can I help you today?" Suzie folded her hands politely and greeted them with a warm smile, eyes gently squinting.
"We're here to… whoa! Is that a Vulpix? Its fur is gorgeous!" Misty was immediately distracted by the elegant six-tailed Pokémon beside Suzie, forgetting her original purpose entirely.
Kazuki glanced at the Vulpix. He vaguely remembered that it tended to spit fire when startled by strangers. To prevent Misty from becoming the next frizzy-haired victim, he quickly caught her by the shoulder.
"Don't get too close. That Vulpix is shy—might end up scorching your face."
"Huh? Really?" Misty instantly recoiled. "Wait, how did you even know that?"
"You're right," Suzie added with mild surprise. "This Vulpix is shy around strangers. That's impressive—you figured that out right away."
Kazuki's accurate read on the Vulpix's temperament clearly scored him some points in Suzie's book.
"I'm Kazuki, from Pallet Town. This is my girlfriend, Misty. I've spent a lot of time observing Pokémon behavior while traveling, so I guess it's become instinct by now."
"A traveler, huh? I envy you two," Suzie said with a trace of longing.
"I've always wanted to go on a journey, meet different Pokémon, and improve my breeding techniques."
Misty caught the spark in Suzie's eyes and immediately shot Kazuki a look, raising her eyebrows in suggestion—clearly hinting that he should recruit Suzie to travel with them.
"You want to go on a journey too?" Misty asked, all smiles.
"Yes! But I've had a few issues I haven't been able to resolve yet, so I've been putting it off." Suzie chatted casually while serving them hot tea and snacks.
"What kind of issues? Maybe we can help!" Misty leaned in enthusiastically, clearly eager to get Suzie to tag along.
Seeing Misty so invested, Kazuki relaxed and started thinking through how to complete the first part of his mission.
"You passed by the shop fronts on Scissor Street, didn't you?" Suzie asked.
"Yeah, I saw them," Misty replied. "And a bunch of overly done-up Pokémon too. Is that what's trendy around here this year?"
Suzie sighed. "Ever since they showed up, the whole street's been obsessed with flashy cosmetics and surface-level appeal."
"A breeder's value should be in nurturing a Pokémon's inherent charm. Makeup should just be a light enhancement."
"But with their rise in popularity, I've started to question everything… People don't appreciate natural charm anymore. They only care about looks."
"I've started doubting my own beliefs. I don't even know what my goal is for traveling anymore, so I've just stayed put."
"No! Don't give up! Stick to your principles!" Misty leapt up from her seat, full of passion.
"I know your ideals are better than all that glittery nonsense. They're just more popular now because… um… because—"
Caught up in the heat of the moment, Misty faltered, then rapidly blinked at Kazuki for help.
Kazuki chuckled and filled in, "They're in a prime location, and they flood the streets with flyers."
"Plus, they're offering steep opening discounts."
He added silently to himself: How does Team Rocket have this much money? Feels like they've drawn a whole story arc's worth of drama out here…
"Exactly! Kazuki's right!" Misty chimed in again.
"If they focus on surface, then we focus on substance. Add some solid advertising, and you can totally turn the tide on Scissor Street!"
"But I don't have the money to hire anyone for that kind of promotion," Suzie admitted, visibly troubled.
"No worries—we'll help pass out flyers! And you can use Kazuki's and my Pokémon for demos. That'll turn some heads!"
"Come on out! Oddish, Starmie, Staryu—let's get to work!"
Quack?
Instead of the ones she'd called, Psyduck was the first to pop out.
"Ugh, I didn't call you! Why are you here?"
"Oh well, you can help too. Just remember—those aren't snacks! They're supposed to go into people's hands!"
Quack quack!
Even though Psyduck nodded, Misty still wasn't fully convinced it could handle the task.
"Pika pika!" Pikachu promised to keep an eye on Psyduck, and Misty finally relaxed.
With the plan in motion, things were looking up.
"Yikes! What was that for?" Misty's sudden exclamation startled Kazuki and Suzie as she chomped into a cookie.
"This cookie…!"
"Is it not to your taste? I also baked some bread—want me to bring that instead?" Suzie asked anxiously, already reaching for the tea.
"No, it's too good! Did you bake this yourself?" Misty inhaled a dozen cookies like a gourmand.
"I did. When business is slow, I experiment with baking."
"I'm so glad you like them! I'll bring out more bread for you to try!"
It had been a while since Suzie had customers this warm and enthusiastic, so even though they hadn't technically bought anything yet, she treated them with heartfelt hospitality.
Once Suzie left for the kitchen, Misty grabbed Kazuki's arm and shook it wildly. "Suzie's cooking is amazing!"
"So what do you think? Do you like her? Should we help her?"
"We could all travel together!"
"Together?" Kazuki gave her a teasing look.
"Ugh! I meant traveling! Not anything else—I wouldn't dare!" Misty blushed furiously.
"Haha, sure, sure. But you playing matchmaker? You barely know her, little glutton."
"Oh yeah… I guess I don't really know her at all."
"Then get to know her! Use your feminine charm!" Misty nudged him playfully.
"I'll hang around and bond with her while helping out—see what I can learn!"
"Becoming besties can wait—let's at least get her to travel with us first!"
With a girlfriend like Misty actively helping him win over another girl, Kazuki really couldn't ask for more.
"Alright. You two focus on that. I'll leave Charmeleon, Wartortle, and Pikachu here to help pass out flyers."
"I've got some other things to take care of."
"Other things?" Misty asked mid-chew. "What could possibly be more important than girls and good food?"
"Top secret," Kazuki grinned. "And hey—chew more gracefully, will you? Don't go scaring poor Suzie."
He patted her on the head before heading out toward Jessie and James's makeup shop.
---
"You two, hurry it up!" Jessie barked.
"This is our peak business window. We need to milk it while we can!"
After giving orders to James and Meowth, she returned to charming her customers.
"Gastly, stay here and see where Jessie keeps the raw ingredients for her makeup," Kazuki whispered.
With its typing perfect for stealth, Gastly was the ideal spy. Kazuki left it behind and quietly tailed James and Meowth.
They zigzagged through back alleys until they reached a shabby wooden shack on the outskirts.
Once there, the duo donned gas masks and began mixing up a fresh batch of cheap cosmetics.
"Meowth! Making money, making money—it feels so good!"
"Hey, don't add too much of that!" James warned. "Too much will damage the Pokémon's skin too quickly!"
"We've gotta pace it!"
"Ugh, so annoying!"
"Why'd we blow so much money on advertising anyway? We were supposed to run after the first round, and now we're stuck making makeup!"
"How were we supposed to know Jessie would get addicted to playing dress-up? Get back to work!"
So that's it—of course Team Rocket wouldn't shell out for real ingredients!
Kazuki wasn't surprised. He used his Pokédex to record the entire process of them brewing the harmful formulas.
With evidence in hand, he headed straight to the police station.
Thanks to his high Justice Reputation, he didn't have to do much convincing to get Officer Jenny on board.
Kazuki also suggested bringing Nurse Joy along with diagnostic equipment to catch them red-handed.
Jenny agreed. Not long after, Joy met up with Kazuki near the shop.
Team Rocket, experienced crooks that they were, immediately switched to their "safe" formula upon seeing Officer Jenny arrive.
But Kazuki had planned for that. At the critical moment, Gastly revealed Jessie's stash of inferior products.
Joy tested the samples on the spot and found dangerously high levels of substances harmful to Pokémon.
As Jenny prepared to arrest them, the trio predictably made their escape out the back.
With the truth exposed, angry customers erupted with outrage.
Kazuki seized the moment to promote Suzie's shop.
Some of Suzie's former customers happened to be in the crowd and chimed in supportively.
One comment led to another, and soon, many newcomers expressed interest in checking out Suzie's store.
Just like that, another successful publicity wave rolled in.
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