Wataru VS Sakaki!

"The first contestant to advance to the finals of the Pokémon World Coronation Series has been decided!"

"And that is our Teacher Jing He!!"

The commentator's slightly hoarse voice rang throughout the arena.

Although there had been plenty of "cursing" earlier, upon hearing the final result, the audience immediately erupted into thunderous cheers.

"Teacher Jing He is awesome!!"

"Teacher Jing He even 'slashed' Miss Cynthia. If he doesn't take the championship now, that'd be ridiculous, right?"

"Jing-bao, go!!"

In the contestants' stands.

After a brief silence, everyone still broke into cheers and applause.

Volkner clapped as he clicked his tongue. "Big Sister lost. Teacher Jing He really is amazing."

Watari looked as though he had slightly relaxed. "No matter what, losing to Teacher Jing He is much better than losing to someone else."

The cowlick atop Aaron's head suddenly sprang upright as he let out a long sigh. "What a shame."

Volkner and Watari had long gotten used to Aaron's reactions being several beats too slow.

"Still, Big Sister showed the spirit of our Sinnoh League," Watari said, ignoring Aaron.

Although she had lost 6–1, Cynthia's 6–1 defeat against Jing He had clearly been far more difficult than Geeta's 6–1 defeat against him.

Not only had her ace Gengar and Ice Ninetales both appeared, but her Mega Evolution Pokémon had also been her ace Gengar.

Teacher Jing He had barely held back at all.

Volkner shrank his neck and suddenly said with lingering unease, "It just feels like... Teacher Jing He was a little too 'ruthless.' What if..."

Even Volkner had felt stifled watching Gengar's final tactic.

Watari shot him a sidelong glance. "No what-ifs. Do you really think Teacher Jing He and Big Sister could fall out? Instead of worrying about that, you should worry about yourself."

"Worry about