September 9, evening.
Jubilife Pokémon Theme Park.
Tomorrow's event
was the Pokémon battle tournament everyone had been eagerly awaiting.
Because Blue and Red had both announced they would enter.
Seeing Red and Blue enter,
Cynthia, Steven, Lance, and Lorelei, who hadn't been particularly interested, all decided to join too.
Now things were getting interesting.
Akin couldn't stop complaining.
What was supposed to be a Little Cup
had somehow turned into a smurfing tournament.
"Seriously, with Red entering, is there even any doubt who'll win?" Akin complained.
Blue's fighting spirit had been fully ignited.
"I won't let him take the championship that easily."
Akin curled his lip.
"Big words for someone who keeps losing."
Blue gave him a death glare.
"Sounds like you're asking for a beating."
Akin backed down just as quickly. "I was wrong!"
Ash said excitedly, "Awesome, Pikachu! We get to battle Red and his Pikachu again!"
"Pika-pi!"
Ash and Pikachu were fired up.
But Li Wei felt that unless Pikachu brought out the strength it had shown against Regigigas,
Ash probably wouldn't even get to face Red...
Figuring they might never get another chance to face Red
or such a powerful lineup,
Valerie and Elesa decided to enter as well.
Li Wei hadn't been interested,
but faced with insistent invitations from Red, Blue, and the others,
and with Lucario and Zeraora itching for a fight,
he decided to enter too.
The moment this lineup was announced,
it caused an absolute frenzy.
Who knew how long it had been
since anyone had seen Red battle!
A showdown between Red and Blue
had the spectators eagerly awaiting it all the more!
Yesterday's visitor count hadn't broken eighty thousand,
but Li Wei felt they had a real shot tomorrow. After all, Red hadn't appeared in a tournament in years.
That