As they slowly finished a cup of coffee and ate a few pieces of dessert, the joy of reuniting after so long began to settle. Their conversation grew more casual, and they also brought up May's reason for coming here.
Although Slateport City had no Pokémon Gyms, Ash and his companions had not come here without a purpose.
May had started her journey without a goal, but after traveling for a while, she had shed her uncertainty and resolved to become a top Pokémon Coordinator.
Unlike ordinary Pokémon Trainers such as Xia You, Pokémon Coordinators caught and raised their Pokémon specifically for Pokémon Contests. They likewise traveled around, entering contests in different cities and regions to collect medals, rather than taking part in conventional Pokémon battles.
Coordinators valued their Pokémon's appearance and condition, so they groomed and dressed them up, feeding them Berries, Pokéblocks, and Poffins to improve their condition. They also focused on training their Pokémon's moves, including how dazzling and polished those moves were.
In short, although their path was different, it was every bit as demanding.
"You mean there's going to be a Pokémon Contest here?" Misty's eyes immediately lit up when she heard this.
Having only just arrived, she was clearly very curious about this kind of exhibition competition. She had deeply regretted missing the last one, never expecting to encounter another here so soon!
"Yes." May nodded. "It's being held tomorrow, and I've signed up too."
Hearing this, Misty grew even more excited. She quickly turned to Xia You, her eyes sparkling. "Xia You, can we go watch too?"
"Of course."
Xia You naturally had no reason to refuse. After all, traveling was about encountering all sorts of people and experiences. Since they had happened upon it, how could they miss it?
Besides, he very