Elf: Rewriting the script, starting with Black Stocking Hanako

After changing her clothes, Miss Joey led the three of them through two streets and into a quiet alley.

At the end of the alley is a restaurant.

The storefront is small, with a wooden sign that reads "Chaofengting".

Pushing open the door, the interior decoration was quite stylish.

Warm yellow lights, wooden tables and chairs, and landscape paintings of Red Lotus Island hanging on the wall.

As soon as the proprietress saw Miss Joey, she immediately greeted her with a smile.

"Miss Joey is here! We've reserved a private room for you."

Miss Joey nodded and led the three of them upstairs to the second floor.

The private room is Japanese style, with tatami mats, low tables, and paper sliding doors.

You can see the sea in the distance when you open the window.

Xiaoxia plopped down on the cushion and picked up the menu to start flipping through it.

Wow, so much seafood!

Hanako sat down as well and joined them to look at the menu.

Jiang Chuan sat down opposite him, looking around the private room.

A ukiyo-e print hangs on the wall, depicting waves and a carp king.

Miss Joey knelt on the edge of the table, her movements very natural.

She picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea for everyone.

"The owner of this restaurant is my friend, and the seafood is all caught that day."

Xiaoxia looked up, her eyes sparkling.

"I want sashimi! And grilled lobster!"

Hanako gently patted her.

"Don't be so loud, take it slow."

Xiaoxia stuck out her tongue and handed the menu to Huazi.

Hanako looked around for a while and then ordered a few dishes.

"Seafood hot pot, grilled fish, and this signature sushi platter."

Miss Joey took the menu and added a few more dishes.

"Also, I'd like some steamed sea urchin with egg, crab miso soup, and their secret-recipe grilled squid."

She put down the menu and smiled at the three of them.

"The steamed sea urchin with egg is their signature dish; you absolutely have to try it."

While waiting for the food, the four of them started chatting.

Xiaoxia lay on the table, her chin resting on the back of her hand.

"Sister Joey, do you usually stay on this island?"

Miss Joey nodded.

"Yeah, I mostly stay at the Pokémon Center, and occasionally I go for a walk on the beach."

Hanako took a sip of tea.

"Won't you get bored?"

Miss Joey thought for a moment and shook her head.

"No, life on the island is very peaceful, and different Pokémon come to see the doctor every day."

She paused, her tone softening slightly.

"Seeing them get better makes me feel fulfilled."

Xiaoxia tilted her head.

"And what about during your vacation?"

Miss Joey smiled.

"When I'm on vacation, I go shopping with Officer Jenny, sometimes we go to hot springs, and sometimes we have barbecues at the beach."

Her smile was faint, but her eyes revealed contentment.

"Although there aren't many people on the island, everyone gets along very well, and we live a very comfortable life."

Just then, the dishes were served.

The first thing served was a sashimi platter.

Thinly sliced ​​sea bream, salmon, and tuna are neatly arranged on an ice platter.

It's served with wasabi and soy sauce.

Xiaoxia picked up her chopsticks and took a slice of salmon.

I dipped it in soy sauce and put it in my mouth.

Then she trembled.

"So delicious!"

Hanako also picked up a slice and took a bite.

The fish melts in your mouth, its fresh and sweet flavor spreading outwards.

She nodded.

"It's really fresh."

Miss Joey smiled happily at their reactions.

"Right? This place has the best sashimi on the island."

Next up was steamed sea urchin with egg.

The small earthenware pot, when its lid is lifted, reveals golden sea urchins laid on top of smooth steamed egg custard.

Jiang Chuan scooped up a spoonful.

The steamed egg custard was as tender as tofu, and the umami flavor of sea urchin blended into the aroma of the egg.

It's really delicious.

Then the grilled lobster was served.

The whole lobster was cut in half, and the shell was roasted until it was bright red.

The shrimp was topped with minced garlic and butter, and sprinkled with herbs.

Xiaoxia grabbed half a lobster with her bare hands.

With a flick of the chopsticks, large chunks of shrimp meat come out.

She took a bite, her mouth stuffed full.

"Mmm, this is so delicious!"

Hanako used a tissue to wipe the butter from the corner of her mouth.

"Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you."

When the seafood hot pot was served, the entire private room was filled with its delicious aroma.

The clay pot was bubbling away, filled with crabs, shrimp, shellfish, and fish slices.

The soup base is miso, rich but not greasy.

Jiang Chuan ladled out a bowl and took a sip of the soup.

The broth is delicious, with a hint of seafood sweetness.

He couldn't resist serving himself another bowl.

Miss Joey watched the three of them eat, her smile never fading.

She picked up a piece of grilled squid and chewed it slowly.

"Can you find Mr. Chapel?"

Jiang Chuan put down his bowl and shook his head.

"I've been looking for it for ages, but I can't find it."

Miss Joey thought for a moment.

"Mr. Chapel certainly likes quiet; he's probably hiding somewhere."

She paused, then continued.

"I'll ask Officer Jenny tomorrow; she knows the island better. Then we'll go look for it together."

Hanako quickly thanked her.

"Then I'll have to trouble you."

Miss Joey waved her hand.

"It's no trouble at all, you've helped me so much."

The meal took almost two hours.

It was completely dark when I came out of the restaurant.

The streetlights came on, and there were far fewer people on the streets.

The sea breeze brought the coolness of the night.

Xiaoxia touched her belly, looking completely satisfied.

"I'm so full."

Hanako stretched as well.

"Indeed, the dishes tonight are all very good."

Miss Joey walked ahead, turned back and smiled at the three of them.

"Let's go soak in the hot springs then, it'll help us digest our food."

She led the three of them across two streets to a hot spring resort.

The sign at the entrance of the shop reads "Red Lotus Soup".

Upon entering, there is a Japanese-style courtyard with a pebble path, bamboo fence, and a small pond.

Several koi carp are swimming in the pond.

The lobby proprietress saw Miss Joey and immediately came to greet her.

"Miss Joey, your reserved VIP pool is ready."

Miss Joey nodded.

"Thank you for your help."

The proprietress smiled and waved her hand.

"Not at all, Miss Joey, it's our honor to have you here."

She led the four people through the corridor to a VIP room.

Pushing open the sliding door, you'll find a large room inside.

There is a huge hot spring pool in the middle, with steam rising from the water.

The edge of the pool is paved with pebbles, and the walls are covered with mosaic tiles.

There were also a few potted plants in the corner.

There are also small pools, which are specifically for Pokémon.

Xiaoxia exclaimed in surprise as soon as she entered the door.

Wow! It's huge!

She ran to the edge of the pool, squatted down, and tested the water temperature with her hand.

"The temperature is just right!"

Hanako also came in and looked around the room.

"Miss Joey, this is too much of a waste."

Miss Joey shook her head.

"It's alright, it won't cost much."

She paused, her tone relaxed.

"I only have Officer Jenny as a friend on this island, and I basically use the money I earn to travel and have fun with her."

She looked at the three of them with a sincere gaze.

"It's rare to have three new friends like you here, and you've helped me so much. As the host, how can I not treat you well?"

Before Hanako could say anything more, Miss Joey added another sentence.

"And to be honest, I don't have many places to spend money while working on an island like this."

She smiled very calmly.

"Money is meant to be spent, and enjoying it with friends is the most worthwhile thing."

Xiaoxia, who was listening nearby, grabbed Miss Joey's arm.

"You're so kind, Sister Joey!"

Hanako smiled and nodded.

"Thank you, Miss Joey."

Miss Joey patted Xia's hand.

"Don't be shy, don't be shy, let's get ready to soak in the hot spring."

She walked to the wall and took a large curtain out of the cabinet.

The curtains are waterproof and very thick.

Miss Joey hung the curtain on the track above the pool.

With a pull, the curtain divided the hot spring pool into two sides.

She clapped her hands and turned to look at Jiang Chuan.

"Although the three of you should be quite familiar with each other, let's keep a distance since I'm here."

Jiang Chuan nodded, indicating his understanding.

Hanako said with a smile.

"This is fine."

Xiaoxia didn't have any particular reaction. She was squatting by the small pool, letting Togepi go down and test the temperature first.

Pikachu and Eevee also ran over quickly.

The three little ones appeared by the small pond.

Togepi tilted its head, looking at the steaming pool water.

Pikachu's ears twitched and its little nose sniffed.

Eevee jumped right to the edge of the pool and stretched out its front paws to test the water temperature.

Then she turned around and called out to Pikachu.

Pikachu also jumped onto the edge of the pool and cautiously stretched out one paw.

Togepi circled the pool twice, seemingly hesitant.

Xiaoxia squatted down and gently nudged Pokoby.

"Go ahead, go ahead, it feels so good."

Pokopf then mustered up his courage and jumped into the small pond with a splash.

Water splashed up and wet Xiaoxia's sleeves.

As soon as Togepi entered the water, it barked happily.

The little body was soaking in warm water, and its eyes were squinted into slits.

Pikachu jumped in too, its yellow fur spreading out in the water.

It comfortably made a "pika pika" sound.

Eevee was the most graceful, gliding gently into the water, its tail swishing across the surface.

Then she suddenly splashed water with her tail, hitting Pikachu.

The water splashed precisely onto Pikachu's face.

Pikachu paused for a moment, then shook the water off its head.

Eevee barked triumphantly and splashed water with its tail.

She also turned her head and called out to Togepi, as if summoning help.

Togepi flapped its little arms and tried to splash water like Eevee.

But it was too small; the splash of water was only a tiny bit.

Pikachu was surrounded by two attackers, and the electric sacs on its face began to crackle with electricity.

On her bright yellow face, a few tiny arcs of electricity flickered.

Jiang Chuan happened to witness this scene.

He quickly called out to them.

"Hey, Pikachu, you're playing in the water."

Pikachu raised its head and looked at him with its round eyes.

Jiang Chuan reached out and gently tapped its nose.

"If you discharge electricity in the water, everyone will fly up."

Pikachu suddenly understood, and the electric sparks on its cheeks slowly disappeared.

It blinked, then turned to look at Eevee.

The next second, it pounced on it.

Two furry little creatures were wrestling together in the water.

Pikachu slapped the water's surface with its little paws, splashing water everywhere.

Ibrahimovic was not to be outdone, whipping his tail like a small whip.

Togepi was splashing around nearby, getting its face soaked with water.

The three little ones were having a great time in the small pond.

Xiaoxia squatted down beside her, watching, and laughed so hard she slapped her thigh.

"Haha, they're so happy!"

Hanako smiled too.

"Looks like coming to this hot spring was the right decision."

Miss Joy stood to the side, watching the three Pokémon play in the water.

Her eyes were very gentle.

"They have a really good relationship."

The three little ones made a fuss for a while, then finally quieted down.

Pikachu lay on the edge of the pool, squinting its eyes as it enjoyed the warm water.

Eevee leaned against it, its tail swaying gently in the water.

Togepi floated on the water, drifting like a small ball.

All three of them were extremely comfortable.

Miss Joey clapped her hands.

"Then let's start preparing."

She pointed towards the end of the corridor.

"There are three changing rooms over there."

Xiaoxia stood up from the ground, grabbed Jiang Chuan's arm, and walked towards one of the rooms.

Her movements were natural, without the slightest hesitation.

Jiang Chuan was pulled along by her, and without saying anything, he followed her inside.

Miss Joey stared at their retreating figures for a moment, then paused, stunned.

The two of them just went into a changing room like that?

She opened her mouth, seemingly not quite understanding.

Hanako noticed her surprise and quickly explained.

"Oh, Miss Joey, please don't be offended, they're just like that sometimes."

She paused, her tone very natural.

"I like to fool around a bit in the changing room."

Miss Joey then came to her senses and smiled with understanding.

"I see, that's good."

She looked at the closed door, her voice tinged with emotion.

"That's what makes us energetic, and I really admire that kind of relationship."

Hanako smiled and said nothing more.

She knew that the two of them going in was definitely not just for changing clothes.

She and Jiang Chuan had entered the small space together before.

They were intimate while showering, changing clothes, and even in the toilet.

Hanako and Kasumi were already used to it, and so was Jiangchuan.

So it was perfectly natural for the two of them to go into one locker room.

Hanako turned to look at Miss Joey.

"Let's go change our clothes too."

Miss Joey nodded.

The two walked toward the other two changing rooms at the end of the corridor.

Hanako pushed open the door to the room on the left and went inside.

Miss Joey went into the room on the right.

The corridor fell silent, with only the sound of water coming from the hot spring pool.

There were also three little ones splashing around in the pool.