The resort's battle center was huge, and the three of them soon found an empty battlefield.
Nemona would battle Xia Chi, with Lacey filling in as referee.
"Xia Chi, want to have a full six-on-six battle?"
The battle was about to start when Nemona finally remembered to confirm the rules.
Since the competitors were all young Trainers who had only recently started their journeys, the World Pokémon Academy Tournament used three-on-three single battles.
Some Trainers with money to spare chose to raise six Pokémon at once, though, which was why Nemona asked.
Xia Chi shook his head. "I only have three Pokémon right now. Let's stick to three-on-three."
Nemona's eyes widened in surprise. "Why not raise six Pokémon at once? Once they've grown up, you'd have a complete team, wouldn't you?"
That sheltered rich-girl remark, the equivalent of "Let them eat cake," left Xia Chi rather speechless.
Why didn't I raise six Pokémon?
What a mystery. It must be because I don't want to, not because I don't have the money, right?
Lacey, his perceptive upperclassman, picked up on his mood and stepped in to smooth things over.
"Oh, some Trainers prefer raising them one at a time. I do that myself. Starting with one Pokémon helps you develop your skills in raising, training, and battling Pokémon. It's a very responsible approach."
"Besides, wouldn't six Pokémon raised together get into fights? In that sense, having them join the team one by one makes it easier for them to bond, doesn't it?"
That explanation had even Nemona nodding repeatedly.
That did seem to make sense?
In any case, they stopped debating which approach to raising Pokémon was better.
The battle was about to erupt.
"Then let the battle begin~"
At the sound of Lacey's sweet voice, Xia Chi and Nemona each