"Hehe, Milotic… As elegant as its name suggests. Such a beautiful Pokémon~! The shape of its fin-like hair, those smooth, flowing lines… Absolutely stunning! Ahh, I can feel new hairstyle inspirations rushing into my mind~!"
Arezu's eyes sparkled as she circled around Milotic, passionately praising its appearance. Even the usually composed Milotic seemed a bit flustered—it wasn't used to such sincere admiration.
"Poniyo!"
At that moment, Ogerpon tugged at Arezu's sleeve, looking up at her expectantly.
"Hmm? What is it? Ah, I see! You want to inspire me, too?"
Smiling, Arezu knelt down to gently pat Ogerpon's round head, carefully studying its features.
"The leaf-like mask… That's it! A natural, flowing hairstyle! What a wonderful idea~! Thank you, little Ogerpon~!"
Then, her gaze shifted to Rillaboom.
"Speaking of which… Rillaboom's wild, untamed look is amazing! If I could capture that kind of energy in a hairstyle, hmm… It might turn out incredible!"
"Rillaboom," it responded with a calm nod. Helping others was always a good thing.
"Wild in appearance, yet gentle in nature… You two really do resemble each other," Arezu observed. "I wonder who influenced who?"
From the side, Hisuian Lilligant and the other Pokémon watched with amused smiles. Arezu's passion for hairstyling never faded—ever since she took over the Jubilife hair salon, she had already created over eighty unique hairstyles.
In fact, she had even recruited her Pokémon as hairstyling assistants. Over time, they began noticing and appreciating different Pokémon's hair and fur styles. At least ten of Arezu's designs had been inspired by their suggestions.
"Gaaah!"
Corviknight suddenly puffed out its chest and spread its shining steel wings.
"Take a good look, Arezu! Surely, my majestic appearance will inspire a legendary hairstyle!"
"Ah…" Arezu's expression stiffened.
She slowly closed her eyes for a moment before sighing and opening them again.
"…Sorry, Corviknight. But I think the blacksmith would be far more interested in you. He's obsessed with making helmets, you know?"
Corviknight's pride shattered.
"Not having hair isn't my fault!" it sulked, flapping its wings in frustration.
Even without hair, I'm still the most stylish bird Pokémon around!
Seeing Corviknight's dramatic reaction, Arezu turned to Summer with an apologetic smile.
"Sorry, Summer… I think I may have hurt your Pokémon's feelings."
"It's fine," Summer said with a small laugh. "He'll get over it in no time. Right, Corviknight? You're as strong as steel, aren't you?"
"Gaaah!"
Corviknight perked up immediately.
"That's right, Summer! My iron will is unbreakable! You really understand me!"
From the side, Ogerpon watched in amusement.
Uncle Corviknight sure was easy to read… But seeing him happy, there was no need to point it out.
"By the way, Summer!" Arezu suddenly grinned. "Since we're on the topic of hairstyles… How about a haircut? My skills have been officially recognized by everyone in Jubilife!"
Summer ran a hand through his ear-length hair, thinking.
Now that she mentioned it, it had grown out quite a bit. In the past, Gaeric had been the one to cut his hair short, but this time, maybe he should let a professional handle it.
"Alright," he agreed. "I'll leave it to you."
"Wait… That easily?! No hesitation at all?!" Arezu blinked in surprise.
"Ah, wait! I need my scissors… Hmm…" She frantically rummaged through her bag before pulling out a slightly worn-looking pair.
"Okay! Let's find a good spot to sit!"
After laying down clean cloth over a flat rock, Summer sat down while Arezu tied a cape around his shoulders.
"So, what kind of style are you thinking?"
"Something short and refreshing," he replied.
"Got it! Leave it to me, dear customer~!"
The snipping sounds of scissors filled the air as Arezu carefully cut Summer's hair.
As she worked, she began sharing her experiences over the past few years.
Taking care of Lady Lilligant had been tough but rewarding. Her efforts had earned her the trust and friendship of many people in the village.
But as she spoke, she suddenly hesitated—her expression turning slightly awkward.
"You know… Summer, back then, you told me I needed to learn to rely on others."
She let out a small laugh.
"When Lady Lilligant went into a frenzy, I panicked. Her pollen spread through the Crimson Mirelands, affecting another Noble Pokémon. But… because of the tensions between the Diamond and Pearl Clans, the other Warden refused to help. I thought, 'If no one else will do it, I'll just fix this myself!'"
Summer listened silently.
"I remembered how Dawn used balms to calm Kleavor… So, I gathered flowers that Lady Lilligant loved, hoping I could do the same. But, I ended up falling and getting injured instead."
Arezu sighed.
"In the end, it was Dawn, Adaman, and Calaba who saved me."
She paused for a moment, then smiled softly.
"That's when I finally understood what you meant, Summer. There are some things you can't do alone."
Her hands kept moving, carefully trimming his hair.
"After that, I made up with Warden Calaba… and met someone who became like a grandmother to me."
She smiled fondly.
"Lady Lilligant was eventually calmed, and I took over Jubilife's hair salon. I even asked Dawn to help me find Pokémon with unique fur—their appearances helped me design new hairstyles!"
She let out a small laugh.
"And every time I remembered your words, I'd picture your face in my mind."
Snip—
She made the final cut, then stepped back to admire her work.
"Alright, all done! Take a look!"
Summer stood up and walked to the edge of Lake Valor, using the clear water as a mirror.
He ran a hand through his freshly cut hair and nodded approvingly.
"It's perfect."
Arezu grinned proudly.
"Glad you like it! No one has ever complained about my skills, you know~!"
"Rillaboom!"
"Gu~!"
"Poniyo!"
"Gaaah?!"
His Pokémon gathered around to inspect the new look.
Their expressions screamed: 'Whoa. Not bad at all.'
Even Corviknight, though reluctant to admit it, huffed.
"…Fine, Summer. I suppose you do look kinda cool."
Arezu smiled at their reactions before turning back to Summer.
"You know… I never got the chance to give you a proper thank-you gift before you left last time."
She held out the box she had been carrying.
"Inside are six special leaves, gifted by Lady Lilligant herself. They have miraculous healing properties—instantly restoring stamina and energy."
"Originally, there were eight… But I already used two."
She hesitated.
"One for Calaba, and one for Grandma Tsumugi… Thanks to these leaves, they got to live a little longer. But when I tried to give them more, they refused."
Summer took a leaf, holding it carefully.
"Then I'll take just one. Something this precious should be saved for someone else who really needs it."
Arezu's eyes welled up with tears.
"Summer…"
Tears slipped down her cheeks, but she quickly wiped them away.
"Hehe… No matter where you end up, I'll be praying for you."
She beamed, eyes shining.
"May your future be filled with light."
(End of Chapter.)