So her opponent was that martial artist from Kalos?
Bea recalled the roller-skating girl's bright smile.
"Then," she clasped her fists in salute, "I shall take my leave to prepare!"
Natsume nodded.
Brock squinted at Bea's retreating figure.
"Quite the serious young lady."
"Too serious, and she'll become rigid."
Natsume chuckled. "Wouldn't hurt for her to make new friends during this tournament."
"You mean... Miss Korrina?"
Brock stroked his chin. "True. That cheerful personality might balance Bea nicely."
"One thing I've always wondered..."
Natsume blinked. "Mr. Brock, how'd you get so good at reading people?"
"Women, specifically."
The burly, dark-skinned man crossed his arms solemnly.
"Gotta find the right sister-in-law for my siblings back home."
Natsume froze.
So Brock preferred mature women... because of his parental responsibilities?
Yet somehow, this heartfelt sentiment sounded utterly ridiculous.
"Let's head back to the hotel."
Natsume coughed. "I should research my next opponent too."
"Need a strategist?"
Brock's eyes gleamed behind narrowed lids. "Pre-battle analysis happens to be my specialty!"
"No need." Natsume smiled. "I can probably guess her team comp."
Brock paused—then remembered.
When it came to tactics, few surpassed Natsume-sensei.
After all, this was Professor Oak's personally appointed "Strategist."
"Understood." Brock grinned.
"Then I'll await your victory from the stands."
...
The Top 32 to Top 16 matches began tomorrow.
Natsume-sensei would face Sinnoh's Maylene.
But first—a day of preparation.
At dawn...
Gengar eagerly dragged Natsume to the hotel restaurant.
"Gengar!" It wiped drool away.
All-you-can-eat buffet!
There, Natsume spotted a familiar figure.
Bea shot up, hastily swiping chocolate frosting from her lips.
"M-Master!"
"Morning." Natsume eyed the table piled with desserts. "That much sugar before training... Really?"
Bea's face burned as she shook her head frantically.
"Relax, I'm not scolding you."
Natsume laughed. "Join me later. I've decided what to teach you."
Bea stood frozen before bellowing: "YES, MASTER!"
Post-breakfast, at the training grounds...
Natsume outlined the Substitute + Focus Punch combo.
"Move sets win battles too."
He explained, "Focus Punch is hard to land... but Substitute avoids counters without being passive like Protect."
"How you use it... that's up to you."
Bea scribbled notes, nodding intently.
"But..." She hesitated. "Using Substitute in a fighting tournament... Isn't that unsportsmanlike?"
"Says who?" Natsume scoffed. I almost entered Gengar as a boxer...
The lesson lasted all morning.
Now Bea understood Natsume-sensei's mastery.
Despite not formally accepting her, he taught without reservation.
Such generosity demanded repayment.
As a martial arts heir, she pondered deeply...
...
Afternoon.
Togepi and Gengar stayed behind playing Pokémon Trading Card Game.
Seems lazy... but they're learning type matchups...?
Natsume sighed.
Whatever. I'm used to this.
Next, he visited the bustling vendor area.
A massive crowd choked the Meowth-branded stall.
"...They don't need me at all."
Sending them after Pikachu might be Giovanni's worst mistake.
Nearby...
Green—lovely in a black dress—swung her legs listlessly from her stall.
Spotting Natsume, she propped her chin up. "Welcome..."
"Business that bad?" he remarked obliviously.
"Yep."
She sighed. "Zero customers since morning."
"Guess I won't last till your endorsement." Her voice dripped melancholy.
Natsume coughed. "What're you selling?"
"Medicine and leftover TMs."
Green tapped her cheek. "With the tournament's medical team... tough competition."
Just as Natsume considered suggesting Silver as a buyer—
The crowd suddenly surged toward the arena.
"Group A matches are starting."
Green glanced over. "When's yours, Natsume-sensei?"
"Tomorrow morning—Group B." He smacked his forehead.
Wait—isn't Bea vs. Korrina today?
"Gotta go! Hang in there, Green!"
"It's Sister Green!"
She puffed her cheeks, then whimpered: "Really won't buy anything?"
"Next time!"
...
"Ladies and gentlemen! Group A Top 16 matches begin NOW!"
Korrina and Bea entered the arena.
Both martial arts heirs striving for greatness—
yet their approaches clashed starkly.
One battled with Ash-like passion.
The other pursued victory through ascetic discipline.
Watching them, Natsume thought: True rivals.
Meanwhile, at the guest panel...
Gurkinn and Chuck observed the duel.
"This is a clash of ideologies," Chuck declared.
"Oh?"
"Different styles ignite unique sparks."
Chuck boomed, "A martial artist forges their path by shattering others' convictions!"
Gurkinn smiled. "Yet sometimes... broken convictions return stronger."
"Go, Lucario!"
Korrina's yellow ponytail whipped as she threw her Poké Ball.
Bea raised a leg, hurling hers with resolve: "Machamp, fight!"
Lucario's aura flared upon arrival.
Simultaneously, in the stands—
Light burst from Natsume's Poké Ball.
"Squirtle!" It cautiously erected a Protect barrier.
"Just observing." Natsume patted its head. "Thoughts on that Lucario?"
"Squirtle?" It scratched its head, baffled.
It's obviously ten times stronger than me—what's to analyze?
Gurkinn's eyes narrowed at Squirtle's appearance.
"Hm?" Chuck glanced over.
"Nothing."
Gurkinn looked away. "Just surprised to sense another aura wielder here."
Back in the arena...
Lucario's fists collided with Machamp's—
THUD! THUD! THUD!
A storm of punches erupted.
Machamp's four arms wove an impenetrable onslaught.
Lucario blocked deftly, countering with aura-guided precision.
CRACK!
A punch dented Machamp's face—
only for Machamp to hammer Lucario's gut.
"Close Combat!"
"Dynamic Punch!"
Both girls shouted simultaneously.
Korrina's eyes burned with competitive fire.
Bea—unusually—found herself enjoying the thrill.
Differing philosophies clashed... then understood.
The deciding blows landed!
Both Pokémon skidded back—
before charging again, snarling.
"Lucario!"
"Machamp!"
Fists became blurs.
After a breathless exchange—
THOOM!
Both collapsed to their knees.
"A draw?!"
"Who wins?!"
Amid the chaos...
Bea and Korrina locked eyes, exhaling as one.
The stoic Bea did something rare—she smiled.
"Not bad!" Korrina grinned fiercely.
Bea nodded... then suddenly clenched her fist.
Sorry.
This battle... I will win.
"Machamp, Substitute!"
The near-fainted Machamp分身出a decoy—
before hammering Lucario with a final piledriver!
BOOM!
Dust cleared to reveal a downed Lucario.
"Winner: Bea!"
The referee's flag dropped.
Bea's hands trembled...
Then steadied as she approached Korrina, extending a hand.
"I'm... Bea."
She awkwardly scratched her cheek.
"N-next time... let's battle again..."
Korrina ignored the hand—
pulling Bea into a crushing hug instead.
"Knew you were awesome!" she cheered.
"H-Hey! Everyone's watching—mmph?!"
In the stands, Brock nodded. "True martial artists transcend gender."
Natsume agreed: "Nothing beats a good catfight."
Brock: ?
...
"That wasn't her father's style."
Chuck recalled the abrupt Substitute.
"Not brute force... but cunning?"
"Her master's influence, perhaps?" Gurkinn suggested.
Chuck followed his gaze—
to where Bea stood beside a striking young man.
Something about him felt familiar...
"Ah..." Chuck murmured.
Blue Oak's "Natsume-sensei"?
That explained Bea's performance.
"That trainer possesses immense aura power,"
Gurkinn said gravely. "Strange that someone of his caliber would compete here..."
Chuck's eye twitched.
That's just Natsume-sensei being Natsume-sensei!
"Is he an aura wielder?" Chuck asked.
"Uncertain... but that aura..."
Gurkinn frowned. "Rivals even legendary aura guardians."
Chuck absorbed this.
So apprenticing under Natsume-sensei is acceptable?
Gurkinn added softly: "I look forward to seeing that Pokémon battle..."
...
As the match concluded...
Cheers erupted through the arena.
"Sirfetch'd~"
The Sirfetch'd basked in the applause, unusually exhilarated.
Natsume smiled. "Don't compare yourself to others. Just be your best."
Sirfetch'd nodded solemnly.
Since joining the team, its mindset had shifted.
Not just from the team's camaraderie—
but the trainer's unwavering trust.
Slacking off would shame even the Holy Light...
"Sirfetch'd!" It gripped its leek, newly determined.
This tournament...
I'll give it my all!
Bea returned through the tunnel, suppressing a smile.
"I won..."
"Saw it."
"So then..." She looked up hopefully.
"I'll teach what I can, but effort's on you." Natsume smiled.
"Understood!" Bea thumped her chest. "I won't disappoint you!"
Natsume nodded.
A master opens the door—the student must walk through.
Guidance alone wasn't enough.
Bea fidgeted before mumbling: "Master... I prepared a gift..."
"Huh?"
Natsume tensed.
"There's a tradition?!"
Brock explained: "Martial arts values ceremony. Gifts formalize master-disciple bonds."
"Even Touran has its apprenticeship rites," he added.
Bea: "I brought... my family's Close Combat manual..."
Natsume paled.
Mistake!
Sirfetch'd AND Arcanine can learn this!
If that little demon starts "ORA ORA"-ing our house—
Before he could protest—
"Sirfetch'd!" The Sirfetch'd's eyes sparkled.
Study materials delivered right when I need them!
To Bea's astonishment, Sirfetch'd gently took the USB drive...
then flashed a thumbs-up, eyes dinging with inspiration.
"Sirfetch'd!"
Close Combat—GET ☆DAZE!
"It seems... pleased," Bea noted.
Natsume stared heavenward.
Fine. Let Sirfetch'd have its moment...
Close Combat's rapid punches DO look cool.
Suddenly, he froze.
Wait—how would Sirfetch'd even use this move?
His gaze drifted to the massive leek—
"Five... Lightning Leek Strikes?!"
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