Early the next morning, after breakfast, Xinhai recalled his partners one by one into their Poké Balls, checked the items in his Spatial Backpack, then pushed open the door and left the Pokémon Center.
There were already quite a few pedestrians and vehicles on Mauville City's streets in the morning. Steam and the aroma of food drifted from the entrances of breakfast shops.
Following the route he remembered, Xinhai crossed several streets and soon spotted Mauville Gym, a grayish-white building accented with dark blue decorative lines.
Walter was already waiting at the edge of the Gym's training field.
He had changed into a light gray short jacket today and held a tablet terminal in his hand. When he saw Xinhai approach, he raised a hand.
"Good morning, Xinhai. Did you rest well last night?"
"Pretty well." Xinhai walked up the steps and stopped in front of Walter. "Mauville City is much quieter at night than Lavaridge Town. I slept well."
"That's good." Walter nodded, turned, and pushed open the Gym's glass doors. "The mentor in charge of your special training is already here. His surname is Uehara, and he's one of the Gym's most experienced battle mentors."
Xinhai followed Walter through the lobby and down the corridor to the Main Training Ground.
Morning Sun streamed through the high windows, casting a faint sheen across the gray stone slab floor.
A figure stood in the middle of the field—a middle-aged man who looked to be around forty. He was lean and wore a dark gray Gym uniform. His expression was calm, but the moment Xinhai entered, his gaze precisely locked onto him.
"Mentor Uehara, this is Xinhai." Walter stopped at the edge of the field and gestured to him from the side.
"Hello." Mentor Uehara spoke in a low but clear,