"Everyone, long time no see."
On the live broadcasts playing on TVs and computers, the handsome man in his familiar black outfit, one hand holding a top hat, appeared once more before everyone waiting in front of their screens, his face full of smiles.
"It's Champion Xia Yan!"
"No, no, it's former Champion Xia Yan!"
"That's right, Mr. Xia Yan has already stepped down as Champion and handed the Sinnoh Elite Four over to Champion Cynthia."
"..."
Xia Yan's expression remained unchanged in the face of the dense barrage of comments and greetings flooding across the screen, though the smile on his face grew a little wider.
"Togekiss~~"
"Sylveon~~"
The Poké Balls at Xia Yan's waist flashed red as the mischievous Togekiss and Sylveon ran out on their own one after the other, excitedly flapping their wings and waving their ribbons at the camera.
"Ah, it's the 'Little Demon King' Togekiss and the 'Pink Devil' Sylveon—"
"I haven't seen them in so long!"
"But they're still just as cute. Cute from a distance, anyway. Hahaha—"
"Hahaha—"
The comments were quite friendly at that moment. With Xia Yan's popularity and reputation in the Pokémon League, even Professor Oak might not necessarily surpass him now.
Xia Yan raised a hand slightly. "Porygon, pull the camera back a little and zoom out."
The viewers then saw the camera shake slightly twice before swiftly pulling back and widening its view to include more of the surroundings.
Only then did they finally notice that Xia Yan seemed to be standing in...
A school?
One of Rainbow Academy's campuses?
No, no, no.
Rainbow Academy had already become deeply ingrained in people's minds. Every Rainbow Academy in each region was an important local landmark.
But the school before them now seemed to be one none of them