Auntie Lorelei clicked her tongue when she heard Natsume was competing.
"I thought he was joking..."
She had watched Natsume's exhibition match against Leon on YouTube.
From commands to strategy—
Even as an Ice-type Elite Four, Lorelei couldn't find a single flaw.
Which meant if Natsume-sensei went all out, even she might lose.
For a master-level competitor to enter the Indigo Plateau Conference...
Lorelei adjusted her red-framed glasses. "Well, that's Natsume-sensei for you!"
"How did you all know he was competing?" Blue Oak asked.
"I saw it myself."
Ash sent a [wide-eyed emoji]. "Professor Oak even registered him!"
Natsume, silently lurking in the chat, sighed.
Decision made. When I go to Sinnoh, I'm teaching this kid a lesson.
Inspector Lance sipped tea in his office, enjoying an executive's peaceful day.
After skimming the group chat, he suddenly froze.
Wait… Is Natsume planning to win the conference and then challenge the Champion League?
That would explain why he's competing!
Still, Lance took another leisurely sip.
If Natsume did join the Champion League and take over as Kanto Champion…
That wouldn't be so bad.
Red, Blue Oak—they'd all abandoned their duties.
After years of fighting crime, even a justice-driven man like Lance needed a break.
But knowing Natsume, if he became Champion, he'd probably be like Steven…
Lance sighed wearily.
Even after the merger, Kanto and Johto will still be my responsibility!
"At Indigo Plateau, right?" Gold chimed in. "I can fly over on Togebo~!"
"Togekiss!" A fierce cry came through the voice chat.
"Private aircraft are banned during the conference to avoid interference," Silver said flatly.
"After all these years, you still haven't even qualified for the main event, have you?"
"You only got in by stealing badges!" Gold growled.
Before Natsume could react, Red muted them both.
"I was wondering if I should register Natsume-sensei through the school's channels," Erika said, covering a laugh.
"Turns out he's already signed up."
Natsume sighed. "I didn't expect it either..."
"There'll be a lot of visitors during the conference, right?"
Green's eyes turned into "$" as she snapped her fingers. "Decision made—I'm setting up a stall!"
"Sister Green, I'll come support you~!" Yellow cheered, ever the loyal fan.
"Ah-ha! I'll bring my new fishing rods too!"
"R-really?!" Yellow gasped.
Red, who had been scammed before, sweatdropped. "Are they… actually good quality?"
"Don't insult my professional pride, you jerk!"
Natsume smirked.
Too bad I already had the Trio prepare for this. Trying to steal business from them?
Not even Joseph Stone from Devon Corp. could pull that off!
"Will there be a livestream?" Roxanne, the twin-tailed Gym Leader from Rustboro, asked.
"My students really want to watch Natsume-sensei's battles."
Natsume-sensei: "There should be… If not, I'll just have Gengar film it."
Roxanne: [Pikachu bowing.jpg]
As the chat buzzed, Lt. Surge DM'd Sabrina.
"How strong is Natsume-sensei's Mega Evolution?"
Sabrina didn't reply—she just sent a photo.
Lt. Surge opened it to see the ruins of Saffron Gym and burst out laughing.
"HAHAHA! Looks like Vermilion Gym wasn't the only one wrecked!"
Sabrina: "?"
Lt. Surge quickly recalled the message, muttering, "I did warn you to use psychic barriers..."
"I did."
Sabrina rubbed her temples. "They still couldn't withstand that Blastoise's aura."
"???"
Lt. Surge froze.
Even Sabrina's barriers failed?
Remembering how effortlessly Blastoise had handled Brock, a cold sweat dripped down his forehead.
What kind of monster has Natsume-sensei been raising?!
...
Natsume scrolled back through the chat logs.
So out of everyone here…
I was the last to know I was competing?
Scratching his head, Natsume left Saffron Gym, heading home.
"Gengar~! (￣▽￣)／"
Gengar waved at Sabrina, who crossed her arms and nodded with a faint smile.
Then she turned to the wrecked gym and sighed.
Fighting Natsume-sensei in an official Gym battle now would be risky…
The place might get demolished!
The setting sun cast a golden glow over Silph Co.'s headquarters.
In Pokémon: FireRed, the building hid a secret Game Freak development team.
Players controlling Red could battle the team's boss—a fight on par with Champion Lance.
Natsume mused that if Pokémon Company followed Nintendo's path…
What if he made his own Pokémon: FireRed?
He could even appear as the game's hidden boss.
As for the long-planned PTCG online version—
According to Oleana, Pokémon LEGENDS would launch around February.
Right when the Indigo Plateau Conference began.
Combined with the Trio's physical card sales, it'd be perfect cross-promotion.
Natsume smirked.
One step closer to spoiling the Sinnoh Champion!
Back home—
"Gengar!"
Gengar dragged Sirfetch'd outside for urgent training.
"Togepi doo-ee~~" Togepi happily followed.
"Arcanine!!" Arcanine bolted past, knocking over a ceramic cup.
Clatter—
Natsume picked it up, dusted it off, and sighed.
Better let the hyper mutt burn off energy outside than wreck the house.
After so many fan tournaments, Natsume felt no pressure.
Settling on the couch, he reached for Sylveon—
"Sylveon~"
—only for it to fluidly slip away.
"Hmph."
Grumbling, Natsume opened a video call to his traveling parents.
"Alola!" His father, Makoto, grinned under a giant straw hat.
"Did you eat yet?" His mother, Misuzu, fretted.
Natsume coughed. "Mom, Dad, I won't be back for the holidays. Got a tournament—Indigo Plateau Conference."
"Are you sure you ate? Skipping meals hurts your stomach—"
His father blinked. "Indigo Plateau Conference? What's that?"
If it were the Touran Conference, he'd know, but other regions were hazy.
"Just a fan event," Natsume said. "Don't worry about me. Enjoy your trip."
"Alright, but tell us when you're coming back."
"And EAT PROPERLY!"
After more small talk, Natsume hung up and stared at the ceiling.
Three days until the tournament.
With check-in a day early, he'd head to Indigo Plateau on the 24th.
It was west of Viridian City—not far from Saffron.
Plenty of time to laze around at home.
"…Or I could study."
Natsume nodded decisively.
"Finish those books I've been putting off."
Just then, his phone buzzed.
[Cynthia: "Log on."]
"?"
...
Sinnoh, Eterna City
The villa rented from Caitlin was piled high with mythology tomes from various eras.
The golden-haired beauty set down the heavy volume in her hands and stretched lazily.
"Haa..." Cynthia reached out beside her, fingertips brushing against a cool presence.
"Glaceon~" The Glaceon dozed sleepily on her lap.
"That's enough for today."
A faint smile graced Cynthia's lips.
With research temporarily concluded and tournament preparations left to Lucian's capable hands, this rare moment of leisure was her well-earned vacation.
Lying back on plush velvet bedding, she checked her phone's notifications.
An invitation from Caitlin to visit Battle Castle for a match against Grand Duchess Diantha.
Cynthia's golden hair fanned across the pillow as she typed, her slender fingers moving gracefully over the screen.
"No time right now," she replied with a smiley face. "I'll visit Kalos after this busy period."
Scrolling down, she found a link shared by Shauntal:
[Indigo Plateau Conference Approaches - Trainers Rally for Competition]
Cynthia blinked, then chuckled in realization.
"Thanks, Shauntal. I've been too preoccupied lately."
"No biggie~" came the instant reply. "Just remember to invite me to the wedding."
Cynthia: [Garchomp's menacing glare.jpg]
Shauntal: [Gengar's shit-eating grin.jpg]
Setting her phone aside, Cynthia gazed at the softly glowing chandelier before quietly slipping out of bed.
"Garchomp, have you seen my handheld?"
"Garchomp?"
"Lucario, could you use your aura to locate it? Thanks~"
"...Lucario."
Soon after, Cynthia stretched her fingers with a satisfied smile.
"Logging on."
[Opponent is typing...]
"?"
...
It was Natsume's favorite gaming time again.
Though the timing—always when he planned to study—left him perpetually unprepared.
Checking his watch and the deepening dusk outside, Natsume mentally prepared for an all-nighter.
"Gengar, brew some coffee!"
"Gengar~(￣▽￣)~"
"Togepi, seen my handheld?"
"Togepi doo-ee?"
"Never mind... keep playing. I'll use the backup."
As the voice chat connected, Cynthia's gentle tone flowed through.
"Best of how many?" Natsume asked.
"Three rounds first."
"I won't lose!"
While battling with his signature Perish Song Gengar team against Cynthia's Swords Dance Garchomp squad, Natsume curiously asked:"Why free today?"
"Just today," she corrected, her words slightly muffled like a small animal nibbling treats. "Champion League meetings tomorrow..."
"So you game whenever free?"
"I come find you whenever free."
"I'll always have time for you."
"Focus!" Cynthia lightly chided. "Your turn timer's running!"
"Crap, distracted!"
Fortunately, through Natsume's valiant efforts...
He still managed to lose spectacularly.
"So close!" Natsume sighed in relief.
"Tell me..."
Cynthia suddenly asked, "Are you joining a League Tournament soon?"
"You know too?" Natsume blinked.
"Shauntal sent news about the Indigo Plateau Conference."
Cynthia smiled. "I thought you'd never miss such events."
"Ahem!"
Damn it, she's not wrong!
"Win or lose doesn't matter," Natsume coughed. "Mainly going for Indigo Plateau's scenery."
Cynthia's knowing silence spoke volumes.
After several more matches (ending 2-3 in Cynthia's favor), she yawned softly.
"If I recall, League Tournaments are broadcast region-wide?"
Natsume pondered.
"Only semifinals and finals get full coverage. Earlier rounds just air on Goldenrod Radio."
"Jubilife TV shows the finals too?"
"They do."
"Then do your best."
Cynthia's eyes curved like crescent moons. "It's unfair to the rookies... but I'll look forward to the finals!"
Natsume raised an eyebrow.
The Sinnoh Champion taking interest in Indigo Plateau feels suspicious...
But with things already set...
"Don't worry."
He nodded firmly.
"I'll crush them all!"
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