The rules for the Cinnabar Tournament were incredibly harsh. Trainers had to win 30 battles without losing too many matches, and rematches with the same opponent didn't count. Even worse, losing a battle deducted one from the win count.
Still, if one managed this brutal requirement, they'd easily rank among the top 32 and secure a place in the Cinnabar Tournament finals.
All matches would then wrap up within a single day.
By the next day, Satoshi had already raised his winning streak from five to ten.
"That's ten wins in a row. At this pace, Combusken's evolution isn't far off either."
Through repeated battles with Fire-type Pokémon, Combusken's speed was rapidly increasing. Even without triggering Speed Boost, its speed was already impressive, let alone once it evolved into Blaziken.
Satoshi aimed to raise Blaziken into the fastest Pokémon possible—after all, his specialty was speed!
High-speed support type: Raichu!
High-speed dual-attacker: Greninja!
High-speed power-type: Rillaboom!
Ultra-speed type: Blaziken!
Just like how Ultraman Tiga had different forms, Satoshi categorized his Pokémon into these high-speed styles.
He'd never overlap forms; they were all his beloved high-speed Pokémon!
As for slower Pokémon—without Trick Room, they'd never stand a chance~
[Trick Room]:Creates a bizarre area for five turns, allowing slower Pokémon to move first.
Trick Room teams were indeed powerful. In-game, stopping Trick Room required either Taunt or quickly knocking out the opponent. But according to Satoshi's logic, since the anime showed X-Scissor shattering Trick Room, moves should naturally counter each other.
Water extinguishes fire, so it makes sense Bug-type moves like X-Scissor could break Psychic-type Trick Room. After all, both were made of energy.
If that logic held, nearly every move would have some kind of counter.
Trick Room wasn't that scary—he'd just keep raising his Pokémon's speed to the limit.
Low-speed Pokémon? Absolutely never in this lifetime!
"Taki, want some water?" After finishing another battle, Satoshi approached Taki, handing her a bottle.
Taki was sitting quietly on the bench, looking especially downcast. It seemed she'd lost another match.
"Mm…thanks." Accepting the water, Taki smoothly twisted the cap off with two fingers and drank slowly. But the coolness of the water couldn't wash away the anxiety and frustration she felt.
Another loss… I'll never be strong like my sister…
Despite her repeated attempts, Quilava still hadn't secured a victory. If she lost again, she'd lose her chance to compete in the Cinnabar Tournament. She'd spent the previous night researching until dawn, but it was all useless.
Shiina Taki felt deeply inferior to her sister and her former teammate Togawa Sakiko. Now, even with a genius like Satoshi by her side, her emotional state was deteriorating rapidly.
Her sister, former teammates, current teammates—all were outstanding. She constantly praised others, but no matter how hard she tried, she'd never surpass them.
It's the talent gap… Quilava's working so hard. I'm the one holding it back.
Taki's expression remained shadowed by gloom.
Girls really are troublesome!
Thank Arceus I like Pokémon!
Satoshi was troubled too.
At this rate, Taki would spiral into despair, and he'd lose one precious person to battle with forever. Plus, he really couldn't stand seeing her like this!
"Want to step out for some air?" Satoshi tilted his head, asking gently.
But Taki silently stood up, pretending nothing was wrong.
"I'll head home early today. I'll try harder tomorrow."
"Alright…"
...
Day three.
Taki, you're not at the Cinnabar Training Facility. Where did you run off to?!
Satoshi looked around repeatedly, unable to spot her anywhere.
She'd probably withdrawn entirely. After all, she'd been defeated badly enough already.
[Satocchi, girls sure are trouble… good thing you've got me, your eternally perfect woman~]
"Well, it's understandable… Even regular trainers couldn't handle ten losses in a row. I could probably deal with it myself, though. Such bad luck happens sometimes in games, but I've never experienced it in real life."
[Wouldn't you mentally break down, Satocchi?]
"No way. If anything could break me, it'd be something like someone successfully pulling off a triple Protect in a row against me!"
[Protect]:Successive uses decrease chance of success to 1/3 of the previous attempt.
The more Satoshi thought about it, the angrier he became. Triple Protect stalling out Dynamax turns—only a true monster could manage something like that!
AUV! Why is Pokémon battling so hard?!
Incorrect play: Protect, fail Protect, Protect ✘
Correct play: Protect, Protect, Protect ✔
Compared to games, reality was far more brutal and difficult.
Yesterday, Taki clearly wasn't alright. He'd let his guard down too much.
Satoshi took out his phone. Luckily, all MYGO members had listed their classes in the group chat, so he wouldn't have to search the entire campus.
Judging from the group chat, Taki definitely hadn't gone to MYGO's training room, meaning he should try checking her classroom first.
In short, he'd go and ambush her at the door.
Super Rookie, move out!
...
Breeding Department, Year 1, Class B.
I ran away from training—am I totally pathetic?
My sister and Satoshi can win so easily…why can't I…?
Taki slumped face-down on her desk, utterly depressed.
"Is it really okay for you not to train?" Her friend Yahata Umiri walked up with concern, placing a boxed drink on Taki's head.
"…" But Taki gave no reply.
"I get it. Quiet, gloomy Taki is kinda cute in her own way. Well, I've still got training to do, so I'll go ahead."
Yahata Umiri winked and left the room.
Only Taki remained, slumped over, sinking deeper into gloom.
Truthfully, she wanted to run away. Returning to the training facility now would be too awkward—especially after rejecting the kindness of someone who had comforted her so warmly just the day before.
Ten minutes passed…then twenty. Soon, nearly everyone had left, and Taki was the only one still there.
"Taki, what are you doing?" While Taki wallowed in self-pity, Satoshi suddenly appeared at her desk.
This hopelessly good guy… Why did he come here?
"Why are you here…? Don't come any closer!" Taki lifted her head abruptly and jumped to her feet, trying to flee, but she'd barely taken one step before Satoshi grasped her hand firmly.
His grip was strong enough to halt her instantly.
She'd always thought she could punch out any guy with her strength alone—but in front of Satoshi, she felt unexpectedly feminine!
Satoshi held Taki's hand tightly, looking straight into her eyes.
"If you're this upset, then battle me."
"What's the point? I can't ever be talented like you!"
Hearing this, Taki couldn't hold back anymore, letting her frustrations pour out.
"No. You really are strong, Taki, and I'll prove it."
Releasing her hand, Satoshi smiled warmly, his eyes filled with sunlight.
"Huh…?" Taki's face instantly flushed pink, her heartbeat quickening uncontrollably.
Damn this guy—why is he so charming? How can he say something like that with a straight face…?
Suddenly, Taki realized—perhaps she was beginning to fall for him after all.
"Then how will you prove it? Can I really believe you?"
Taki bit her lip, fighting to suppress the surge of emotion in her heart.
"Belief doesn't need a reason."
Sorry, Fox God—though I don't really believe in you, I'll borrow your words.
[Satocchi, don't tell me you actually have a plan?]
Of course I do! Pokémon battles have infinite possibilities!
I really, really wanna battle Taki right now!
Satoshi replied immediately without hesitation.
[…I must be an idiot for believing in you.]
---
bonus chaps
100 stones -> 1 chapter
200 stones -> 2 chapters
300 stones -> 3 chapters
and so on
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