Lake Valor, Lakeside Battle Arena.
At the very moment Hydro Pump and Gallade fell,
the match timer ran out.
The entire arena fell silent, everyone holding their breath as they stared at the final score bars frozen on the big screen.
Dawn's score bar stood just above Zoey's, with a margin so tiny it was almost impossible to discern!
"The... the results are in!"
Bai'an's voice cracked with excitement. "The winner, by an incredibly narrow margin, is Dawn!"
"The contestant who has earned the title of Top Coordinator is-Dawn!"
"In her very first year, Dawn has become a Top Coordinator!"
Li Wei, Saiko, Shiyin, Ash, and Brock all rose to their feet and applauded Dawn.
In the Chat Group,
everyone was also following Dawn's match.
Yellow: "Dawn was amazing! She won the championship!"
Akin: "She was all right~"
Lt. Surge: "If that's just all right, why haven't you won a championship?"
Blue: "I watched it. She really did well."
Akin: "Wow, I never thought I'd live to hear you say someone did well!"
[Akin has been muted for six hours by administrator Blue]
Lorelei: "That mute was long overdue."
Crystal tagged Dawn: "Congratulations, Dawn."
Li Wei hadn't actually planned to invite Dawn into the group. Ash had added her on his own initiative.
But Red, Blue, and the others didn't mind.
After all, the group was simply for chatting and arranging Pokémon battles.
Lance: "Once this year's Master League and Lily of the Valley Conference are over, let's all get together in Jubilife City!"
Steven: "I'm in."
Diantha: "Great idea."
If they went to Jubilife City, they could eat the desserts Li Wei and Xiao Meng made!
Diantha wouldn't even have to ask. Li Wei would make some for Cynthia anyway.
And whenever he made desserts for Cynthia,