February 23.
The third-to-last day of the World Pokémon Academy Tournament.
If tickets for yesterday's round-of-sixteen elimination matches had been hard to come by...
Then describing today's quarterfinals as an event that emptied the streets would have been no exaggeration.
More precisely, that applied to Xia Chi's match against Gladion.
After a full day and night of building momentum, the highlights of Xia Chi versus Drayton had already surpassed 100 million views!
And that was just one video released by the official account.
Pokémon battle enthusiasts, armchair Trainers, Pokémon researchers, and even powerful Trainers at higher levels...
All had their eyes firmly fixed on today's opening match.
For no other reason than to see that Misdreavus with its terrifyingly bizarre abilities take the field again.
Even the weather cooperated. The snow in Kitakami, which usually kept falling for half a month once it started, had actually stopped that morning.
Without interference from external factors such as the weather, every detail on the field would be captured more clearly by the Fan Rotom filming the match.
A composed Xia Chi and a slightly grave-looking Gladion stepped onto the battlefield, each holding the Poké Ball for his opening Pokémon.
After inspecting the field, today's referee gave Xia Chi several extra looks before blowing the whistle to begin the match.
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With that whistle, the eagerly awaited showdown officially began.
"Silvally, I choose you!"
"Floragato, get ready for battle!"
Two flashes of white light appeared as both sides' opening Pokémon took the field.
Despite everyone's anticipation, Misdreavus did not appear.
So even with the one-of-a-kind Silvally before them, sighs of disappointment inevitably rose from the stands.
If Silvally had any feelings to spare, it would surely have had a question mark hovering over its head.
*What, are you all that unhappy to see