"You were amazing. Sorry you didn't win."

Ash said impressed. It might only be the second time he saw her in a live Showcase but he thoroughly enjoyed it despite the result as she truly is a great Performer. Ash and the Valuer family were having dinner. Amelia having lost the Showcase was sitting silently on the table minding her manners.

"Keep your chin up. You have time to get your final key. Nothing is lost yet." Louise encouraged her to try again later.

"Thank you." Amelia was glad to hear their praise despite her loss. It made her feel a lot better she has some genuine support coming from two sides as this loss shouldn't keep her down. The one awfully quiet was her father. Unlike anyone else at the house from Olivier and some of the servants he just ate without nothing else.

"Mr. Valuer?" Ash asked him.

"Hmm?"

"Don't you have anything to say about Amelia's Performance?" Ash tried drawing a few words out of the man. He took a sip from his wine glass before setting it down again. Staring at his daughter he gave his verdict.

"I expected better from her." Stone cold in nit meeting standards he set fir her Ash began to squeeze his fork his knuckles turning white. Peeking over to Amelia she had her head down looking at her lap now only playing with her food. Louise noticed the shift in tone at the table.

"Charles, not during dinner." She warned him not to do this in present of their guest. They've been over this long ago and did not want this conversation in front of their guest.

"She lost to a rookie. Either Stacy is a generational talent that will defeat the current Queen or Amelia has been slacking." Before Ash could jump out of his chair the mother slammed her hands on the table.

"Enough Charles!" Scolding her husband Ash sat down again. Louise looked at her daughter still not doing much.

"Amelia. Take whatever food you want and go to your room."

"Yes mother." Wishing a hole would open and swallow her this was the next best thing for Amelia. Gathering some food on her plate she got up from the table ready to resume eating in her room.

"Stay." The father ordered as Louise slammed the table again.

"Not a word Charles!"

"Wasn't he the one that according to Amelia was demanding?" Seeing the woman furious Ash wondered if Amelia had such a streak to her. He hasn't seen her angry yet but if she shared this trait with Louise he better watch out.

"Leave dear." Louise's gentle tone returned. The Performer got up to her room as the mother continued evacuating the staff.

"Ash, stay here. Servants, leave us. That includes you as well Olivier." The bodyguard disagreeing with leaving his masters alone with the boy obeyed nonetheless. Everyone gone now but the Valuer parents and Ash Louise took a drink and looked at Ash.

"Apologies for my outburst but I should explain before you say a word. You see, Charles doesn't want Amelia to be a Performer but rather focus on being the next focused boss of the company."

Charles pouted at his wife being so open with the boy. Ash already knew about since Amelia confided that to him on the SS Shimmer. Instead of him using Amelia's popularity for the company he was now against her for following her dream. Ash felt a bit sour at the unsupportive father and had to hold himself back.

"Why? Shouldn't you be supporting her in what she wants to do?"

"Even if she is the best Performer it's only temporary. It's not a sustainable career for her." Charles said as Ash didn't get it.

"It makes her happy. Don't you want her to be happy?"

"I want her to be happy in the future instead of now. I'm trying to secure her future." The father thinking long term in this endeavor Ash only grew more frustrated with how out of touch he seemed.

"You're praising me and Stacy but not your own daughter? I didn't win the PWC and yet you're more praising to me than her."

"You're a trainer. There are thousands like you and you making it as far as you did in the PWC on your first try speaks about your talent. Performers are only a couple of hundreds restricted to this region and yet Amelia isn't in the echelon of them." Not even rated in the top 10 ranking that fans of Showcases do in polls she was not as good as she needed to be.

"She can get there." Ash said confident of Amelia's growth. The father disagreed as he allowed her to follow her dreams at first but multiple crucial failures on Amelia's side made him doubt the path she chose.

"And not with the advantages we gave her? She has everything she needs and wants over the others yet she stumbles when it truly matters."

The dance studio they build just for her, the dresses, instructors, accessories. All so far money down the drain. The losses in her hometown to that girl with the Braixen and the Master Class weren't worthy of the Valuer name. For generations the name in Fluerrh City was associated with success and a duty to uphold reputation of their fine town. The Valuer weren't political of any kind but they were a symbol for decency and the state of the city.

"She should just focus on the family and forget this pipedream of hers."

"A pipedream you're distracting her from." Louise thinking things might've been different if her husband didn't arrange a meeting with Viktor cutting in on her practice time. But she wasn't going to tell her guest just yet about it trying to scout him out more in what their relationship truly is.

"Amelia is learning at her own pace. Maybe if you're more supportive of her she can perform without pressure instead of trying to please you." Ash said bluntly drawing the ire of the father. What does this boy know about raising a girl in the environment he did. Ash came from some small town where his heritage didn't have any commitment.

Ash continued.

"Amelia wants your support. She wants it and tries her best to get it. Even going as far as to do things she doesn't want to do for you. Maybe if you stop demanding so much from her and just let her do her thing she'll perform even better."

The two men were facing off. The mother sensed the tension and called an end to the conversation. They were both defending Amelia in their own way but the way they did it went against the other.

"I think that is enough for now. I don't want the atmosphere to become even more tense."

She'll talk alone with her husband about it later.

"Can I ask a favor of you Ash?" The mother wondered after his words.

"Of course." Happy to Amelia's mother out compared to her father.

"We've been invited to a berry farm that makes drinks out of them. Wine specifically." Another business venture and getting into contact with another famous family Amelia always got bored in those yearly visits and wonder around the area without aim.

"It isn't…" The mother glared shutting up the husband as it was clear Charles began to grow a small dislike to Ash's rebellion.

"Since Amelia is too young to drink I don't want her to just wonder round by the vineyard by herself getting bored. Since you both explored the SS Shimmer together can I request of you to accompany her and prevent boredom from striking again?"

"I'd love too Mrs. Valuer." He happily took on her request. Plus he didn't wanted to leave Amelia alone.

"Good. Why don't you go see her and tell her about it. I'll talk to Charles and settle the dust a bit more between you two. Amelia doesn't have to know about this." She winked as it would be their secret. Louise would love to have more guests at the house like the well mannered boy in front of her.

"Thank you Mrs. Valuer." Ash got up and left to see Amelia. Remembering the layout of the house he knocked on her door.

"Amelia? Are you finished and can I come in?"

"Both answers are yes."

Ash opened the door and saw her sitting on her bed with plate. The food she put on it was getting cold and she barely took a bite since she got there. Ash went to sit on her bed next to her looking at her face. The make up on the side of her eyes lost shape. She didn't had a chance yet to remove it after the Showcase and it made her seem sloppy.

"Your make up is losing shape." He held out a napkin and she then wiped it off. Seeing the mascara on the napkin Ash peeked again into her dark blue eyes. The make up no longer giving a color contrast on her face her dark blue eyes only seemed more clearer yet there was sadness in them.

"How did it go?" She asked like scared child.

"I promised your mother I wouldn't tell. You have to ask her as she's now talking to your dad."

"Oh." Disappointed she had to go to her mom later. Ash took the hint as she probably was still down about what her father said.

"We always want to win but it doesn't happen. The only thing we can do is our best. Did you do your best?"

"Yes."

"Did you have fun?"

"Yes." He began to smile as he laid a hand on her bare shoulder. She jumped up a little at his touch.

"Then that's all that matters. Ignore your dad even more than you did this time. You're a Performer, not a walking advertisement for the family business."

She knows he was right. He apparently always seemed to be. Instead of dwelling on the past like she used to do she needed to look forward. There still was enough time to get her third key in this new way of Performing for her. She just had to keep doing what she was doing and then it would fall right into her lap.

"Thank you. I needed that."

Even if her food was cold her appetite somewhat returned. Not bothering to heat it up she just ate it in silence. Finishing her plate she sat it down on her bed. Ash glad she filled her stomach wondered if she wanted dessert. Nodding silently Ash got up from the bed.

"You stay. I'll get it." He took her empty plate and left the room. Amelia took out her Rotom phone as a distraction and preparation for tomorrow. She needed to make a schedule to show Ash around tomorrow and to take in as many sights as he could.

"I'm back." He came in carrying two plates, one of each with a red pudding, strawberry and chocolate toppings put together wonderfully. He gave one to her as they ate making small talk.

"Your mom said they were going to a berry farm soon where you usually are on your own. Would you like me to keep you company?"

Happy to hear she had him with her during that visit. That visit always included her just showing her face for formalities before wondering off just checking the fields. The owners of the farm didn't have offspring so children of her age got bored.

"I'd love too. I had fun with you discovering the SS Shimmer and you being there is going to make it bearable." She needed to bring something to his attention if he was going there.

"There's a certain dress code while at that place. Do you have any formal clothes with you?"

"Besides what I have on now and my pajama's? No."

"Then we need to arrange an outfit for you." Amelia still had to adhere to a dress code and so did her guest. Ash didn't protest that much as much as he didn't like dressing up fancy. But if it was to not embarrass Amelia in front of her family and partners by looking like a slob he'd do it.

"Can you tell me a bit more about that place?"

Amelia then told him a tiny bit about the process of harvesting berries and making drinks out of it. Even at such a dull topic she saw his enthusiasm at learning something new. Ash seemed to find excitement in the little things or she just became so numb to them due to her upbringing.

Finishing up the dessert they stacked the plates together. Amelia looked at him again and noticed something.

"Stay still." She took a napkin and put it on the edge of his lip. Some of the strawberry sauce stuck to his mouth and she wiped it off as she had an incredibly gentle touch. Ash thanked her for the service as he already started to miss her fingers brushing his mouth as he just kept staring at her face.

"Need anything else from me?" Ash functioning more of a servant than the ones in the house she felt lower than him herself. He took the effort to make her feel better without asking.

"Curse that Serena for being so lucky that she travelled with him."

If the girl he travelled with got the same treatment after a loss it was a miracle she didn't lose more. It felt great to have a safety net in him who could catch her when she fell. Amelia wondering how he would be if she actually won it was an experiment she'd love to see play out.

"You're sweet but I'm fine now. It's my turn tomorrow." Denying his offer for help she wanted to continue planning.

"Are you sure?" She nodded one last time.

"I'm fine. Go to bed." Ash got up and took away the dessert plates. Pikachu jumped on his shoulder and they got out of her room.

"Goodnight Amelia."

"Goodnight Ash." The Performer went up and changed into her nightgown. It was a tiring day but with her head laying on her comfy pillows she held up her phone planning away for the tour she'd give Ash. Making herself cozy she felt her cheeks warm up and heart move faster.

"Wonder how my head on his lap would feel."

Ash carried the plates through the house to the dishwashers in the kitchen where the house servants were nearly finished with today's chores. Ash apologized for being so late, asked them if they clean his and Amelia's plates and they nodded.

Ash went to his own room getting ready for the night. Him and Pikachu made themselves a good place to sleep being cuddled by the luxurious mattress and blankets before falling away into a deep slumber looking forward to spending the day with his Performer friend and discover a place he hasn't been before.

Not much to say this time really. The fallout of Amelia's loss, Ash coming to her defense and one angry mom. And a future date at a vineyard.

Later.