The referee's voice rang out from the center of the arena, loud and clear.
"Attention, spectators! The first match of the finals has concluded! The second match will begin in thirty minutes—Ryosuke Onodera versus Misaki Takahashi!"
"Please prepare yourselves, contestants."
Xinhai and Grovyle headed back to the lounge through the competitors' passage.
When he pushed open the door, Misaki Takahashi was sitting on the sofa in the corner, her head lowered as though she were pondering something.
Ampharos lay across her lap, its eyes half-closed, its breathing long and steady.
Hearing the door open, Misaki Takahashi raised her head, her gaze resting on Xinhai for a moment.
"Congratulations on reaching the finals." Her voice was quiet and her tone flat, revealing no emotion.
"Thanks." Xinhai nodded and led Grovyle over to sit beside his own sofa.
"Eevee!"
Seeing Xinhai sit down, Eevee immediately jumped from the sofa into his arms. It rubbed its head against the palm stroking it, then curled into a ball in his lap.
Grovyle sat beside Xinhai as Gardevoir used Life Dew to nourish its body. The tiny wounds on its body gradually healed, and the scorched scales on its arms slowly faded away.
Once Gardevoir had finished treating it, Xinhai took several Pokéblocks from his backpack and held them out before Grovyle.
"Restore some energy."
"Grov." Grovyle opened its eyes, accepted the Pokéblocks, and tossed them into its mouth to chew.
Its golden eyes looked at Xinhai, a faint smile touching the corners of its mouth.
The thirty-minute break passed quickly.
The referee's voice once more sounded from the center of the venue. "Second match of the finals—Ryosuke Onodera versus Misaki Takahashi! Contestants, please enter the field!"
Ryosuke Onodera rose from the sofa and rolled his neck and shoulders, his bones giving off a soft