Seven days to prepare seemed a little tight, but it was enough.
After all, their opponent was already decided, and his core Pokémon lineup was unlikely to vary much.
A night of tactical discussion set the direction for the intensive training ahead.
Early the next morning, Xia Chi headed to the Levincia Gym with Iono.
After all, serious battle training was impossible in a place as small as her apartment.
Never mind seven days of closed-door training-half an hour would have Xia Chi calling the Machamp Renovation Company.
He didn't have a lifetime VIP membership there.
As the car traveled through the busy streets, Xia Chi noticed plenty of electronic billboards and posters advertising the upcoming Elite Four Challenge.
The star was, of course, the girl driving beside him.
The match would take place in Levincia.
This was a long-standing League tradition: challengers battled in their hometowns, giving them a subtle home-field advantage.
The match had generated considerable buzz over the past few days.
After all, just a year ago, Iono had been a slacker who called herself a "full-time streamer, part-time Gym Leader" and got knocked out in the first round of the Electric-type Experts Tournament.
Now, a year later, she held the Experts Tournament championship and was making a bid for an Elite Four seat.
Every citizen of Levincia shared in the pride Iono had brought their hometown, and their enthusiasm for supporting her was naturally sky-high.
"Come to think of it, what made you suddenly decide to challenge the Elite Four?"
On the way, Xia Chi asked curiously, "If you become an Elite Four member, won't you be even busier, on top of your Gym Leader duties and streaming?"
He had asked her this while they were playing games last time, but Iono had dodged it by