The Cinnabar Training Facility's tournament was being held at Tamaki Rainbow Gym, because Tamaki Rainbow Gym—considering beginner trainers—had built spectator seating into the venue.
Since that was the case, they might as well just borrow the Gym's battle field and run the tournament here.
After all, being a Gym Leader is exhausting. Battling dozens of challengers every day—basically having to spam Endure daily—it's a brutal job!
Even Volkner, the Sunyshore Gym Leader of the Sinnoh League, made it so you could get the Beacon Badge without battling.
Sure, that was because he was so strong he'd lost interest in battling.
Satoshi also noticed that Wakaba Mutsumi's usually blank face was showing the faintest trace of happiness today.
Wakaba Mutsumi: No objections!
If there was a chance to "take a break," then of course you had to rest properly. Besides, there were classes today—but because of the Cinnabar Tournament, the Battle Department's lessons had been switched to live spectating.
Sometimes, compared to theory or hands-on practice, watching battles from a macro perspective really was more fitting.
Not that any of this had anything to do with Satoshi—he was one of the competitors.
Early in the morning, he met up with MYGO, then went into the waiting room to receive match assignments.
There were 32 participants total, which meant the tournament could end in at most four rounds.
Tamaki Rainbow Gym had dedicated staff for treatment and recovery—there was even Nurse Joy—so there was nothing to worry about on that front.
In that case, all he had to do was go all-out and show everything he had!
"Ugh… Satoshi still isn't out yet? What bracket is he in?" Anon sat in the very front row of the stands, eyes locked on the battlefield, looking especially restless.
"No need to be so impatient, Anon-chan. Besides, isn't Taki-chan competing too? Or are you saying you don't care about her?" Soyo did her daily jab at Anon, flipping through the match schedule while she checked it herself.
Hearing that, Anon broke into a cold sweat.
Like you need to ask whether I care!
As a fellow MYGO member, kind and gentle Chihaya Anon obviously… doesn't care!
Okay, she cared a little—but thinking about Taki, Anon's feelings got weirdly complicated.
Meanwhile, Tomori had her hands clenched tight. Even before the battles started, she was already worrying about the two of them.
Both of them were so gentle with her; Tomori, deep down, wanted to cheer for them as hard as she could.
"…I'm cheering for both of you! Go! AAOOOO!"
And then an odd cheer slipped out of her mouth.
"Hey, can you make me a matcha parfait? I really want one." Raana, sitting next to Soyo, tugged her sleeve.
Usually Taki was the one who fed her tasty things; since Taki wasn't here right now, Raana could only ask the motherly Soyo.
"Go find your caretaker. I'm not your mom… Here, have some matcha-flavored candy first." Soyo sighed, then pulled candy from her pocket and popped it into Raana's mouth.
Good thing she'd predicted this.
Raana swallowed and started tasting it carefully.
"Tasty."
...
In the waiting room, Satoshi and Taki sat on a bench. The distance between them was close—close enough to hear each other breathe. Taki's eyes flickered with shyness and unease.
"Aren't you nervous?"
"Just treat it like normal. I believe in the effort you and your Pokémon have built up together. You don't need to be that nervous, Taki—you're already strong enough. I'll be waiting for you in the finals."
Satoshi took out his Poké Ball. There wasn't even a trace of anxiety in him—only confidence and anticipation.
As long as your accumulated effort isn't like a certain captain's, it definitely won't go to waste.
Hearing that, Taki's heart felt gently tugged, and a stronger courage rose inside her.
"Mm. I'll be waiting for you in the finals too."
Taki reached out, her fingers brushing Satoshi's fingertips. A subtle electric jolt ran through her, like current passing through her whole body.
Unfortunately, the block of wood beside her didn't notice a thing.
Satoshi was actually extremely relaxed. Just play it steady. No matter who it was, he and Combusken were unbeatable!
The brackets and drawing displayed on the LCD screen—Satoshi already knew he was in the very first match, and Taki was in the last group, which meant they could only meet in the finals.
When the break time ended, Satoshi stood up from the bench. His lips tilted up, confident, and he looked at Taki with a full-face grin.
"Then I'll go and come right back."
"Mm. Good luck!"
Maybe because she liked him. Taki's voice was unusually gentle—completely different from how she spoke to Anon, and just as gentle as she was with Tomori.
Her eyelashes trembled slightly. Her heart beat faster and faster as she watched Satoshi leave the waiting room.
Commentator: "Oh~! The first battle's contestant—who would've thought, a high schooler! Satoshi, a powerhouse who got thirty consecutive wins in just one week at the Cinnabar Training Facility!"
"Satoshi~ LOVE~!" ×N
The moment the commentator spoke, a flood of voices erupted.
"Hm? Whose voices are those?" Anon tilted her head, confused.
Isn't that my famous line? Why are so many people saying it now?
"Isn't it Anon-chan's famous line? But it's kinda cringe—who else would say it besides you? Did you teach them or something?" Soyo couldn't help mocking her as she looked over at the girls in the distance.
And at the same time, both of them realized something:
Satoshi has FANGIRLS now!
Which meant fighting over Satoshi was about to get way more troublesome!
No. I have to strike hard first!
Anon instantly went on high alert.
"Soyo-san, let's cooperate. To defeat the fangirl squad!"
"Of course, Anon-chan~"
Soyo agreed without hesitation.
But…
How could Soyo not know about fangirls?
She was the pervert who sniffed Satoshi's jacket every day!
Fan Club No. 1—Miss SOYO, long-term vegetarian—was obviously her!
Backstabbing the fangirl squad would be easy.
...
[What kind of Satoshi×Tomori sugar is this? The blockhead Satocchi has fangirls? What kind of dream am I having?]
"What's that supposed to mean? I can't have fangirls?"
[Don't do this to me, Satocchi having fangirls, nooo… at least marry me for ten years first before you get fangirls~~ Uwaa~]
Quit saying stuff like that!
How do you even come up with lines this embarrassing?
Satoshi's head hurt. He sighed and decided to stop responding.
Commentator: "And next up is also a heavyweight! With crushing flames that completely knock opponents down—tossing them around like nothing—here comes Iwamatsu!"
Satoshi barely listened. His mind was already full of Taki and Karen.
Just thinking about battling those two made him excited.
Too bad the one he'd meet in the finals…
would only be one of them!
No matter who it is, I'm going all-out.
"Combusken, I choose you!" Satoshi thrust his hand out, blood boiling, and threw the Poké Ball.
---
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