Similar scenes played out across different regions at the same time.
Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos...
Without exception, the Champions received blessings from their companions, naturally including Alola Champion Ash.
The people he knew called and video-called one after another, offering him their most heartfelt congratulations.
Ash was so busy he barely had time to eat.
All that could be said was that the connections he had built over eight regional journeys were simply too extensive for ordinary people to envy.
By comparison, the people surrounding the other Champions were mostly Elite Four members. Unlike Ash and Galar, Gym Leaders and Champions in ordinary Pokémon Leagues were not that closely connected.
Take Brock and Misty. Both were Gym Leaders in the Kanto Region, yet in the Original Series, they still had to introduce themselves when they met Lance.
Of course, that was also because ordinary regions had too many Gyms.
Which region in the anime did not have more than a dozen or even twenty Gyms?
Ordinary Gym Leaders and Regional Champions did not interact much, and Gym assessments were conducted by Gym inspectors dispatched by the Pokémon League's inspection bureau. They could go years without meeting--
Except for the Kalos Region.
It had a rather special facility called the Battle Chateau. It had served as a knightly dueling ground in ancient times, but had now become a special Pokémon battling venue for high society, granting titles of nobility to victorious Trainers.
Kalos's Regional Champion, Elite Four, and Gym Leaders all participated in it, and generally held the highest-ranking titles.
In short, as the Masters Eight Tournament drew closer day by day, every circle related to the Champions became lively.
Baimu, meanwhile, quietly remained at Platinum Silver Mountain and Orre Academy.
"Are you really planning to leave after the Masters