"As you can see!" Once the matchups had been decided, the announcer continued over the speakers, "Starting with the next round, the matches will be full six-on-six battles. The Sinnoh League's Lily of the Valley Conference is about to get even more intense!"
"Ash and Paul, huh!" Shaking off that strange feeling, Liu Qing glanced at Ash beside him and smiled faintly. He was eagerly anticipating their battle.
"It's here, it's here, it's finally here! Ash's battle with Paul!" Jun cheered even more excitedly.
"Paul, Ash, I'm looking forward to tomorrow's battle!" Cynthia said expectantly. She and Liu Qing stood on a balcony in the dormitory area, looking down at Ash feeding Donphan, Gible, and Noctowl on the lawn below, and Paul approaching with Electivire.
"From what you told me, they met in Sinnoh because of their conflicting ideals, formed a bond, and kept growing through their battles. I find that fascinating too. Seeing how much Paul has changed, Ash clearly deserves a lot of the credit. I'm looking forward to their battle as well!" Liu Qing said with a faint smile, looking at Cynthia.
"By comparison, I'm looking forward to your battle tomorrow even more!" Cynthia turned to Liu Qing with a beaming smile.
"Uh..." Liu Qing immediately grew embarrassed. For some reason, Cynthia seemed incredibly sensitive about Shui Nai, to a degree that even he found unbelievable. Still, he offered no explanation. He would prove himself through his actions.
The night passed in the blink of an eye. Early the next morning, the entire stadium was packed and buzzing with excitement, every spectator waiting for the match to begin.
During the announcer's opening remarks, Ash and Paul rose into the stadium on their lifts. Ash sent out Pikachu as his first Pokémon, while Paul sent out Aggron.