Only after Okamoto lowered his head and recalled Mimikyu into its Poké Ball did Qingyu finally breathe a sigh of relief.
The battle portion of the Gym assessment was over. Next came his duty as a Gym Leader: giving the rookie some advice.
"You commanded that battle pretty well, Okamoto. I could really feel your improvement."
Qingyu walked over to Okamoto, who could barely hide his disappointment, and spoke with a smile.
"Whether it's your understanding of your Pokémon's tactics or your ability to think quickly and find a way out during a match, I'd say you're already an excellent Trainer."
"However, you still need to watch out for the same problem as before."
"Pokémon battles aren't all about attacking. An overly aggressive offensive will expose your weaknesses, too. While you're attacking, you should also consider what options you'll have afterward."
Qingyu actually thought very highly of this challenger, whose name alone was memorable, because he really was improving fast enough to deserve it.
With some proper polish, he might even become a formidable rival on Nemona's path to becoming Champion.
"I understand."
Although he wasn't sure whether Gym Leader Qingyu was actually praising him, Okamoto quickly pulled himself together and bowed politely.
"Next time, I'll come challenge you in better form. I look forward to learning more from you, Gym Leader Qingyu."
He genuinely had no complaints about losing to Qingyu. If he couldn't beat him, he couldn't beat him.
At least the Sunshine Gym had real substance. Every challenge came with practical advice, and each week featured a completely different style of tactics.
It was much better than those mediocre Gyms that merely went through the motions with their challengers.
That was why Okamoto had been willing to come back for a second challenge. There might be a