Chapter 174 - Beauty Street

At noon, Ash, Misty, and Brock grabbed lunch at the Celadon Department Store's food court, opting for a popular restaurant that looked promising. After eating, they wandered through the mall, browsing various stores. However, as they shopped, Brock seemed noticeably distracted, his mind clearly elsewhere.

Ash, always observant, noticed the shift in his friend's mood. "Hey, Brock, is something wrong?" he asked, concern creeping into his voice.

Brock snapped out of his reverie at Ash's question, offering a sheepish smile. "Oh, it's nothing," he replied, shaking his head. But after a moment's hesitation, he added, "Actually... there's something I want to check out outside the mall."

Ash raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Outside the mall? What do you mean?"

"Yeah, what's going on?" Misty chimed in, curious as well.

Brock rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed. "I was thinking of visiting Beauty Street. It's a place for Pokémon breeders and trainers to learn about grooming, health, and care for their Pokémon."

Ash and Misty exchanged surprised glances. "Beauty Street?" Ash repeated, a puzzled expression on his face. "I didn't think you'd be into that kind of thing, Brock."

Misty crossed her arms and teased, "You're going for a beauty treatment? This I have to see."

"No, no!" Brock quickly clarified, blushing at the misunderstanding. "It's not like that. Beauty Street is famous among Pokémon breeders. It's where professional breeders from all over the world gather. They offer advice on how to take care of Pokémon—diet, grooming, massage, everything related to keeping Pokémon healthy. I wanted to check it out and maybe pick up some tips."

Misty's teasing demeanor shifted to genuine interest. "A breeder's street? That sounds interesting! I'd love to see how other breeders work. Let's go together!"

Ash nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I've never met many breeders besides you, Brock. I'm curious to see how different their approaches are."

With everyone on board, the trio left the mall and made their way toward Beauty Street. It wasn't far from the department store—just a ten-minute walk through the bustling streets of Celadon City.

As they approached, Ash and Misty began to notice that the trainers in this part of town seemed more refined and well-dressed than the average trainers they usually encountered.

"Wait a minute!" Brock suddenly called out, stopping in his tracks. Ash and Misty followed his gaze and saw him staring intently at a bulletin board full of colorful posters.

"What's up?" Ash asked, walking closer to get a better look.

Brock's eyes were glued to one particular poster. "Look at this," he said, pointing to an advertisement for a lecture on Pokémon beauty and massage.

The poster featured a young woman, probably around sixteen or seventeen years old, with long blue-green hair and a warm, gentle smile. The poster announced that she would be giving a live demonstration of Pokémon massage techniques at a nearby beauty shop.

Misty rolled her eyes with a knowing smile. "Oh, I see what's going on. You've got a crush on the girl in the poster, haven't you?"

Brock's face turned beet red. "No, no! It's not like that... exactly. I'm just... interested in the demonstration. Her massage techniques seem really advanced!"

"Uh-huh. Sure." Misty sighed, shaking her head. "Well, I suppose we could go check it out. Right, Ash?"

Ash chuckled. "Yeah, why not? Let's see what this place is all about."

With a flustered Brock leading the way, they headed toward the beauty shop mentioned in the poster. The shop was easy to find—its quaint, polished exterior stood out among the nearby buildings, and a modest crowd of trainers had already gathered inside.

As they entered, a bell above the door jingled softly, and they were greeted by a pleasant scent of herbs and fresh flowers. The woman from the poster, the shop's owner, was at the front of the room, gently massaging a Chansey. Her movements were slow and methodical, clearly demonstrating her skill and expertise.

Brock's eyes widened in admiration as he watched her work. "Look at Chansey!" he whispered to Ash and Misty. "It's glowing. Her massage technique must be top-notch to have such a visible effect."

Ash tilted his head. "I mean, it's nice and all, but what's the point? Does this kind of thing really help Pokémon?"

Brock nodded. "Absolutely! Massages like this don't just make Pokémon feel better. They relieve stress, improve circulation, and help prevent fatigue from intense battles or training. Keeping Pokémon in good physical condition is crucial for long-term health, and massages like these can make a big difference."

Misty, impressed by Brock's knowledge, glanced over at the woman again. "She's pretty good. And it looks like everyone here agrees."

Indeed, several trainers around the shop were watching the demonstration intently, some taking notes and others simply nodding in approval. The woman finally finished the massage, and Chansey hopped off the table, looking vibrant and full of energy. The other trainers applauded politely as the shop owner wiped her hands and turned to address the crowd.

"Thank you all for coming," she said with a warm smile. "That concludes today's demonstration. Feel free to ask me any questions, or come back tomorrow if you'd like to see more. I'm Vivi, and I'm always happy to help."

The crowd began to disperse, but Brock remained rooted in place, staring at Vivi with a goofy smile on his face. "Vivi... what a beautiful name," he murmured.

Misty sighed and rolled her eyes again. "Here we go."

Ash patted Brock on the shoulder, shaking him out of his trance. "C'mon, Brock. You're drooling."

Brock snapped back to reality, his cheeks flushing red again. "Right, right! I'll... just go introduce myself. As a fellow breeder, of course."

Ash and Misty exchanged amused glances, knowing exactly where this was going. Pikachu, perched on Ash's shoulder, gave a resigned sigh, as if already anticipating Brock's inevitable rejection.

As Brock nervously approached Vivi, Ash and Misty waited by the door, ready for whatever awkwardness might come next. It was just another day on their journey, full of unexpected encounters and, as always, Brock's hopeless pursuit of love.

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