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  July 8th, Wednesday.

  The long-awaited finals of the Piplup Cup were set to begin today.

  This year’s tour had geed more buzz than any previous edition.

  The two petitors were a study in trasts. One rodigy from Osaka Uy’s Battle Department, who had already earhe admiration of several Gym Leaders at a young age.

  The other was a plete unknown, a rookie from the Finance Department with no specialized training in battling!

  This stark trast had driven the petition’s popurity to new heights.

  Surprisingly, on social media, Natsume’s support was overwhelming!

  "Wait, Natsume-sensei is this young?"

  "Grinding in a rookie tour? Natsume-sensei is seriously shameless!"

  "Bullying newbies? You’re the definition of talent without morals!"

  Though it might seem beh him, given Natsume-sensei’s notorious audacity, no one doubted he’d stoop to entering a rookie tour for the prize money.

  "Strongly suggest disqualifying Natsume-sensei from peting!"

  "Isn’t Natsume-se Master Level? How did the anizers eve him participate?"

  "Don’t overthink it! Natsume-sensei’s age fits the criteria, and what’s wrong with grabbing some prize money?"

  "Let him have it, let him have it!"

  Fag the online rumors, Takuya, the Tokyo Gym Leader and guest entator, smiled and said, "While his and skills are impressive... calling him a Master is a bit of a stretch, don’t you think?"

  Beside him, Shoya, the President of the Tokyo Pokémon Association, with his graying hair, hesitated before speaking. "Masters uwenty aren’t unheard of. The current World Champion won the league title at just eleven years old. But... if Natsume really were a Master, would he be peting in a rookie tour? Who does that?!"

  "Maybe... he’s had some unique opportunities," Shoya muttered vaguely.

  o them sat a burly man with a thick beard, who nodded and said, "I’ve seen his videos. They’re impressive... but that’s just in games. Using weaker Pokémon, no matter how skilled your ands are, ’t make up for the gap in raw strength."

  The man narrowed his eyes. "Trying to use Ryosuke to train his Pokémon? Hmph, he’s being too naive."

  Takuya g the man, Mato, the Electric-type Gym Leader of Saga City and Ryosuke’s father. He was here as a guest entator, but also to support his son.

  While the guests wouldn’t influehe oute, witnessing his child’s victory firsthand held great significe for him.

  "Let’s hope so," Shoya said with a dry ugh.

  At the finals venue, Mercedes Arena, the stands were packed to capacity.

  The battlefield was surrounded by massive banners from Piplup Inc., and Mage, doubling as a camera drone, hovered overhead. With its Sturdy ability, Mage could withstand the aftermath of powerful moves, making it the perfect tool for the job!

  "Go, Natsume-sensei!!"

  Reina, one of the tour’s semifinalists and a devoted fan, had anized a professional cheer squad.

  Another semifinalist, Kazuki, was also cheering loudly from the sidelines.

  Watg from the petitor’s entranatsume wiped his brow. These days, even trying to make a quick buck wasn’t easy without being reized!

  "Haunter!" Haunter looked eager and ready.

  The small Dusk Stone had been pletely licked by Hauhe night before.

  Despite being a sto tasted almost like dy.

  After finishing the Dusk Stone, Haunter had gazed at Natsume with longing, its expression almost shy.

  "Really, that’s all I’ve got," Natsume said, spreading his hands.

  Haunter: (°ー°〃)

  "Do well tomorrow, and maybe we exge for another one in a couple of days."

  "Haunter! (☆_☆)"

  ...

  Ryosuke stepped onto the battlefield, looking nervous.

  Fag the handsome young man smiling at him, Ryosuke said sternly, "Don’t talk to me. I won’t listen to anything you say."

  "Huh?" Natsume blinked. "Not even a greeting?"

  "No! You’re just trying to mess with my focus!"

  "Alright... have you eate?"

  "Uh... not yet. I nning to grab something after the match."

  The entator excimed, "Are the petitors trash-talking already? The tension is palpable!"

  "I know a great pce for Ichigo Daifuku. I reend it to you ter."

  "Really? I’m not a big fan of sweet things, so Ichigo Daifuku isn’t really my..."

  The entator shouted, "The match has begun! This is going to be a historials!"

  Red lights flickered.

  Magon and a sinisterly grinning Haunter appeared on the field simultaneously.

  Ryosuke’s nerves eased slightly.

  This Trainer... seems pretty easygoing...

  I just o focus on anding well!

  Ryosuke’s eyes sharpened, but before he could issue a and, Magon was already smmed into the ground.

  "Incredible speed! That’s Haunter’s Shadow Punch!"

  Kazuki, watg from the stands, couldn’t help but frown.

  Even as a Master, he’s res to cheap shots?

  "That’s Natsume-sensei for you..." Kazuki muttered.

  The strategy seemed ingrained in Natsume’s DNA, and even he couldn’t help but blush when he realized what had happened.

  Pure ce, I swear!

  Haunter, you’re too much, charging in like that without waiting for a and!

  With a sinister grin, Haunter retracted its fist and, in an instant, flickered in front of Magon, its eyes glowing with the eerie blue light of Hypnosis!

  "Electric Terrain!" Ryosuke shouted.

  The reflexes of a Gym Leader’s heir were on full dispy.

  Crag electricity surged from Magon, f aromagic field that enveloped the area.

  [Electric Terrain] prevented Pokémon within its range from falling asleep and boosted the power of Electric-type moves!

  On the guest paakuya g Mato.

  The Electric-type Gym of Saga City had some impressive trainihods!

  Haunter’s Hypnosis failed.

  "Thunderbolt!"

  In the moment, six bolts of electricity shot out from Magon’s mags, verging into a massive Thunderbolt!

  Boom!

  Just as the tide seemed tasps erupted from the audience.

  Behind Magon, another sinisterly grinning Haunter had appeared!

  Haunter’s Substitute was shattered by the Thunderbolt.

  But the real Haunter had already circled behind Magon, its fiip igniting a Will-O-Wisp that began to burn along Magon’s screws.

  "Haunter dodged the Thunderbolt!" the entator roared.

  "Will-O-Wisp hits at cle! Magon is now burned!"

  Usiric Terrain to ter Hypnosis redictable, but the main goal of inflig a burn had been achieved.

  Natsume rubbed his .

  Haunter’s speed advantage meant Ryosuke’s priority would be ensuring his moves’ accuracy.

  Magon’s status moves... Thunder Wave or Supersonic. With Electric Terrain boosting it, Thunder Wave was the obvious choice!

  "Haunter, Hex!"

  "Magon, Thunder Wave!"

  The burn tio chip away at Magon’s HP.

  And now, Hex would deal double damage!

  A wave of bck mist engulfed Magon, which let out a pained cry as it crashed to the ground, its HP nearly depleted.

  Mato, the Gym Leader of Saga City, smmed his fist oable, uo tain his frustration.

  What kind of judgment is this... to predict Ryosuke’s move in an instant?!

  Just how strong is this Natsume?!

  "There’s still a ce," Takuya said, narrowing his eyes. "If the paralysis nds..."

  Natsume had opted for a strotastead of a Protect stall strategy.

  But Magon wasn’t knocked out yet.

  If Thunder Wave hit, and luck wasn’t on Natsume’s side, this could e back to haunt him!

  The Thunder Wave crackled and struck Haunter, causing it to stiffen.

  Haunter aralyzed!

  Ryosuke’s eyes widened.

  There’s still hope!

  "Haunter, finish it with Hex," Natsume said calmly.

  Haunter grinned sinisterly, its tongue flig out to reveal a Cheri Berry, which it promptly chewed and swallowed.

  In front of thousands of spectators, Haunter shamelessly cured its paralysis, letting out a mischievous ugh.

  "Haunter! ヾ(≧?≦*)ヾ"

  The paralysis was gone!

  With a flick of its finger, Haunter sent another wave of bck mist surging toward Magon.

  Sizzle!

  The sound of corrodial filled the air as the referee raised his fg.

  "Winner: Natsume from Tokyo Metropolitan Uy!"