July 24, Jubilife Breeding Center.
This was a day that fans of the three Champions-Lance, Cynthia, and Steven-and the children would never forget.
The three Champions' appearance brought the atmosphere to a fever pitch, and the excitement only kept building.
That was especially true of Cynthia, who rarely liked appearing in interviews or at public events.
Revealing her whereabouts this time risked attracting reporters, but Cynthia had come anyway.
Cheers, applause, and the cries of Pokémon swept up in the children's excitement mingled together...
Seeing the children's heartfelt smiles and joy, Lance and the others felt that agreeing to come had been well worth it.
The seed of passion had been planted.
Li Wei, too, felt that making a special point of inviting the three Champions had been absolutely worthwhile.
Professor Rowan, who watched quietly from the sidelines, was also a little moved. At first, he had wondered whether they were making too much of a spectacle...
But now Professor Rowan understood, too.
The power of role models mattered.
Especially good role models.
And these three Champions, along with Li Wei standing between them, were unquestionably good role models.
It wasn't that his previous Pokémon Summer Camps had been ineffective, but they had never seemed to achieve anything quite like this.
At that moment, Professor Rowan couldn't help feeling that holding the Pokémon Summer Camp at the Jubilife Breeding Center had been the right choice.
The atmosphere was already lively enough.
But Li Wei hadn't expected someone to take it even further.
Cynthia hadn't mentioned it to Li Wei beforehand.
She had prepared another surprise.
Cynthia's voice was clear and pleasant, reaching everyone's ears distinctly.
"Children, before we officially begin, I've prepared a little surprise for you, too."
"Or rather, I've invited a friend who I believe is also a