As Xinhai observed the contestants ahead of him, a familiar voice called out from the front.
"Xinhai!"
Xinhai turned his head to see Ryosuke Onodera striding toward him.
He was dressed in a dark gray training outfit today, with black sneakers on his feet. His chestnut curls fell casually across his forehead, making him look less formal than he had the previous night and more like the sharp, capable Trainer he was.
Yuma Kamiya and Rika Yuzuki followed behind him.
Yuma Kamiya wore a navy athletic jacket over a white T-shirt, his dark brown hair still combed impeccably neat.
Rika Yuzuki, meanwhile, wore a light green hoodie. Her hair was tied into a high ponytail, revealing a stretch of fair skin at the back of her neck.
"You guys came this early?" Xinhai nodded to them, a faint smile on his lips.
"Of course!" Ryosuke Onodera walked up beside Xinhai and patted him on the shoulder, grinning. "We got up early just to see whether there were any strong opponents. Oh, right, which Pokémon did you enter?"
"Grovyle." Xinhai did not hide it. "Level 39, right at the peak of Advanced."
Ryosuke Onodera's eyes immediately lit up, and his trademark sunny grin spread across his face.
"What a coincidence!" He clapped his hands, his tone eager. "I entered Electabuzz, level 38. We're about the same. If we get matched against each other, that'll be interesting."
Yuma Kamiya stood to one side with his hands in his jacket pockets, his voice steady. "I entered Meditite, level 38."
"Mine is Roselia." Rika Yuzuki tilted her head slightly and gently tapped the red flower on Roselia's shoulder with a finger,
"Level 39. Looks like the Pokémon we entered are all around the same level. When the time comes, it'll depend on the Trainers'