A Surge in Strength

The theft was over.

The Battle Tent was finally behind them, too.

Baimu focused on training his Pokémon, working to raise their levels while helping them learn more moves.

Thanks to Wally and his highly skilled Pokémon, Baimu made rapid progress on every front, surpassing the goals he had set for his stay in Verdanturf Town.

The Pokémon grew stronger step by step, leaving him deeply grateful to the green-haired boy. He often invited Wally over to try his cooking.

Wally was glad to deepen their friendship, too. He had few friends. Aside from his Pokémon, the person he saw most often was his cousin Aman.

He treasured a friend he could talk to so easily. He was always coming over to chat and looked for Baimu near the guesthouse whenever he had time.

Still...

Wally often worried that visiting so frequently might annoy Baimu. Baimu had never shown any sign of it. In fact, whenever he saw Wally, he would smile and say, "There you are."

Wally felt happier than he had at any time since returning from Kanto.

Whenever Baimu's Pokémon learned a new move and his own Pokémon gained a new insight, the joy of growing together delighted him beyond words.

This was what made having a rival so wonderful!

Who knew moving forward alongside someone could feel this good?

As Wally's old gloom fell away and he gradually grew more outgoing, a goal began to take shape in his mind. Vague at first, it slowly became clear.

Once he realized what he wanted, excitement and anxiety rose together. He did not know how to tell Baimu, and he worried Baimu might dislike the goal he had set.

At heart, Wally did not know how Baimu saw him.

But he wanted to express himself properly. After wrestling