Chapter Summaries

Shen Qi learned that frightening stories about Sabrina were widespread and decided to avoid a confrontation with her during the race. He then traveled with Little Reporter and their Pokémon to Pokémon Park, where the next race was about to take place.

• Shen Qi learned that Sabrina’s Gym used psychic illusions to test Trainers, but rumors about her parents and her threats to a reporter left him wary.
• Shen Qi told Chansey and Dodo to let Sabrina’s Goldthread Orchid pass during the race so they could focus on advancing and earning ten points.
• Little Reporter joined Shen Qi on the drive to the racecourse, and he praised Emolga for earning an Aerial Photography Certificate.
• Shen Qi learned that the upcoming racecourse was Pokémon Park, a former Team Rocket property now operated by the Pokémon Paradise Organization.
• Shen Qi, Little Reporter, and the Pokémon arrived at Pokémon Park and admired the enormous Pikachu models at its entrance.

Shen Qi entered Pokémon Park with Little Reporter, who quickly left to take photos while Emolga handled the filming equipment. As the Qualifying Race approached, Shen Qi met Yūichirō and his parents, A Ding and Akiko, a traveling family from Kalos competing in the Winter Race.

• Shen Qi and Little Reporter entered Pokémon Park, where Little Reporter decided to take selfies instead of interviewing drivers and left Emolga to film.
• Shen Qi checked the Qualifying Race opponents, including the T2 Driver Lizao, and exchanged encouragement with Lilligant before her race at Yūmachi Pier.
• Yūichirō visited Shen Qi's Service Bay and explained that he had come from Kalos with his parents as part of his father's support team.
• Akiko and A Ding introduced themselves to Shen Qi, recognized Little Sheep, and praised his progress in the Preliminaries.
• A Ding explained that he had taken his family on a three-year driving trip to help Yūichirō learn about the world before elementary school.

Shen Qi used Little Sheep’s enhanced vision and racing abilities to set a fast qualifying time in the Winter Race, briefly taking first place. After resting in the Service Bay, he saw that A Ding had also posted a strong result.

• Emolga photographed A Ding’s family and Furfrou, then explained to Shen Qi why she wanted to write about their travels and races.
• Shen Qi learned that A Ding would start after him in the Qualifying Race in Tuberose, a Class B car from the Kalos Region’s Parfum Palace Group.
• Shen Qi started Little Sheep with several boosts and used Wish Necklace to expand Global Eye’s view of the track.
• Shen Qi guided Little Sheep through the opening corner at high speed, and its average qualifying time of eight minutes and sixteen seconds put it provisionally in first place.
• Shen Qi rested while Dodo checked Little Sheep, then saw that A Ding’s Tuberose had posted an average time of eight minutes and thirty seconds.

Shen Qi finished qualifying in sixth and prepared to make up ground in the Main Race by secretly storing Chansey’s Helping Hand. His opening burst let Little Sheep overtake several cars, but Sabrina intercepted its airborne pass with Sunny Day, sending it back to eighth place.

• Lizao drove Goldthread Orchid to an average qualifying time of 8 minutes and 12 seconds, pushing Little Sheep down to sixth and leaving Shen Qi outside the advancing positions.
• Shen Qi had Chansey package Helping Hand before the start, relying on his move-transfer technique to evade the race’s restrictions.
• After the lights went out, Shen Qi used Helping Hand to launch Little Sheep past the T3 driver ahead, then had Dodo lift the car over a T2 driver blocking its path.
• Lizao used a brilliant Sunny Day to blind Shen Qi and Dodo as Little Sheep flew overhead, forcing Shen Qi to land directly below and dropping him to eighth.
• Shen Qi recognized that Lizao was likely Sabrina and that she had used Sunny Day solely to disrupt his pass.

Shen Qi navigated Little Sheep through the muddy course, escaped a crash and passed A Ding’s Tuberose and Sabrina’s Goldthread Orchid to reach fourth place. As he approached the No-Fly Slope, his enhanced Global Eye revealed a towering Groudon ahead.

• Shen Qi enlarged Little Sheep’s trapped rear tire to escape a muddy pit, while a crash ahead forced two cars off course.
• Shen Qi passed A Ding’s startled Tuberose after an enormous Hippowdon model frightened its driver.
• Shen Qi overtook Sabrina’s slow-moving Goldthread Orchid and moved into fourth place.
• Shen Qi boosted Global Eye with the Wish Necklace and spotted Groudon standing ahead on the No-Fly Slope.

Shen Qi and Dodo struggled through Pokémon Paradise’s obstacles, then used Little Sheep’s boosts and Goldthread Orchid’s slipstream to close in during the race. Sabrina countered with Power Swap, draining Chansey’s Work Up boosts and letting Goldthread Orchid pull away again.

• Shen Qi tried to use Magnet Rise on the Groudon obstacle, but a powerful Gravity field forced Little Sheep back onto the track and it barely escaped down the slope.
• Shen Qi spotted Autumn Leaves and Sootopolis Shadow catching up as Little Sheep approached the rocking Inflatable Trampoline ramp.
• Shen Qi combined the Wish Necklace and Compatible Turbo, and Dodo controlled a spinning jump so Little Sheep landed safely near Goldthread Orchid.
• Shen Qi drafted behind Goldthread Orchid, then used Chansey’s Helping Hand and Little Sheep’s boosts to accelerate toward an overtake.
• Sabrina used Power Swap to remove Chansey’s Work Up boosts, and Goldthread Orchid surged ahead.

Shen Qi fought through the second preliminary race and qualified in second place after a close battle for fifth. Afterward, he met the other qualifiers and learned about Lisia’s hopes of becoming an idol.

• Sabrina used Power Swap to erase Chansey’s accumulated boost, forcing Chansey to build it up again as the chasing drivers caught up.
• Shen Qi used Protect to trick Tuberose into slowing down, then kept Little Sheep in fifth through the No-Fly Slope.
• The organizers announced that three cars had crashed at the inflatable trampoline, but Shen Qi urged Chansey to burst forward and cross the finish line in second behind Lizao.
• Lao Fu introduced himself, and Shen Qi introduced himself to A Ding and his family.
• Lisia told Shen Qi she wanted to become an idol, and he recognized her song Appeal☆Love, moving her to tears.

Shen Qi and Lilligant recovered from the exhausting Winter Race, where Lilligant narrowly advanced to the next round and the Little Sheep needed extensive repairs. The exhausted group went to sleep, leaving Chansey and Florges to run their night-market stall.

• Lizao joined the onstage photo with Wobbuffet, Kadabra, and Swoobat, while Lisia's Abra used Teleport and was brought back by Lizao's Kadabra.
• Lilligant drove the Flower Crown to fifth place and advanced after a crash between the second- and third-place racers; Cacturne used Spiky Shield to protect himself and Mengge advanced in second.
• Shen Qi sent the damaged Little Sheep for repairs and new tires, then used O-Power to bargain the bill down by about 2,000 b.
• Shen Qi, Lilligant, and Lopunny, exhausted by the races, went to sleep early after deciding they had no energy to plan.
• Chansey massaged Shen Qi, then went with Florges to run their night-market stall.

Shen Qi prepared for the third-round race at Maiden's Gorge after learning that he would face Ayaka and Lt. Surge. He studied Ayaka’s new compression-ignition engine technology as snow fell on race day.

• Shen Qi replaced his destroyed phone, accepted friend requests from the drivers and Yūichirō, and looked forward to meeting them after the Winter Race.
• Shen Qi learned that the third-round draw put him in Ayaka’s group at Maiden’s Gorge, alongside Lt. Surge.
• Shan Sheng told Shen Qi that he had recruited Duowu for the Perilla Racing Team and discussed Ayaka’s pressure to keep winning.
• Shan Sheng sent Shen Qi information about Ayaka’s plan to use a new compression-ignition engine in the third round.
• Snow continued falling on race day, though the forecast predicted it would stop overnight.

Shen Qi watched his Pokémon play in the snow and received Sayaka’s praise for Meng Ai, whose recovery inspired Sayaka. He traveled to Maiden’s Gorge for the next race and approached Meng Ai’s Cultivation Pod, where she lowered the window to meet him.

• Chansey, Dodo, and Lopunny played in the snow until Shen Qi told them not to use moves in the park.
• Sayaka messaged Shen Qi that Meng Ai was amazing and an angel after watching her race and recognizing her recovery from years of unconsciousness.
• Shen Qi learned that Ayaka had spent the day preparing her Rainbow Flying Sword while other racers rested.
• Shen Qi traveled by ferry to Maiden’s Gorge with his Pokémon and decided to tell Meng Ai that Sayaka admired her.
• Meng Ai noticed Shen Qi outside the Cultivation Pod and lowered the window.

After Meng Ai told Shen Qi she wanted to withdraw because of hostile fans, he contacted Sayaka, whose support helped Meng Ai reconsider. At the Winter Race venue, Shen Qi watched Ayaka set a remarkable qualifying time, while Meng Ai prepared to continue competing.

• Meng Ai told Shen Qi she wanted to withdraw because she felt nobody expected anything from her and she could not endure the abuse.
• Shen Qi warned Meng Ai about the consequences of withdrawing and reassured her that he believed in her, then contacted Sayaka for advice.
• Sayaka called Shen Qi and asked to speak with Meng Ai without revealing her identity, helping Meng Ai feel better about continuing.
• Shen Qi and Meng Ai disembarked at the venue, where he spotted Florges selling snacks and learned that Lilligant had finished qualifying with Lopunny in a time of eight minutes, thirty-nine seconds.
• Shen Qi checked the live leaderboard and saw Ayaka post a seven-minute, fifty-three-second qualifying time in the Rainbow Flying Sword.

Shen Qi pushed Little Sheep beyond its limits in qualifying, earning third on the grid despite risking engine damage. As the final race was about to begin, he received an unexpected message from Meng Ai and asked Dodo to check it.

• Shen Qi used full-slick tires and an overloaded launch to race Little Sheep through the snowy qualifying course, briefly causing engine knock.
• Little Sheep completed qualifying with an average lap time of 8 minutes and 9 seconds, placing third on the grid.
• Shen Qi checked Little Sheep and found its engine strained but intact, while Adaptive Tire retained 61% durability.
• Shen Qi rested during the adjustment period, then prepared for the final as spectators cheered Ayaka and mocked Cultivation Pod.
• Shen Qi received a message from Meng Ai just before the race and asked Dodo to read it.

Shen Qi used Dodo’s Trace to copy Snow Cloak for the snowy race, but Lt. Surge’s Ion Deluge disrupted buffs and powered Autumn Leaves into the lead. Shen Qi adapted by recalling and redeploying Chansey, then passed Ayaka as Meng Ai’s Cultivation Pod also handled the disruption; Haze stripped away buffs as the leading pack rounded the first turn.

• Shen Qi had Dodo use Trace until it copied Snow Cloak from one of Meng Ai’s Pokémon.
• At the start, Ion Deluge disrupted Chansey’s Work Up and Agility, while Lt. Surge’s electrically powered supercharger propelled Autumn Leaves into first place.
• Shen Qi realized Ion Deluge was converting Normal-type moves into Electric-type ones, recalled Chansey, and sent her back out so Work Up could function.
• Shen Qi used a burst of speed to pass Ayaka’s Rainbow Flying Sword, while Meng Ai’s Cultivation Pod adapted to the Electric-type energy.
• Meng Ai’s Pokémon used Haze to dispel buffs, and the leading group rounded the first turn with Lt. Surge first, Shen Qi second, Meng Ai third, and Ayaka fourth.

Shen Qi and Meng Ai used snowy-weather joint defense to delay Ayaka’s Rainbow Flying Sword during the Winter Race, but Ayaka eventually broke through. Lt. Surge then unexpectedly blocked her too, leaving her in sixth place as the race continued.

• Ayaka used Sunny Day to counter the Cultivation Pod’s Snowscape, restoring the Rainbow Flying Sword’s performance and pressuring Meng Ai.
• Shen Qi sent the Little Sheep alongside the Cultivation Pod to block the Rainbow Flying Sword, using their shared legal blocking attempts to slow Ayaka.
• Autumn Leaves entered lap two ahead of the Little Sheep, the Cultivation Pod, and the Rainbow Flying Sword, while Ayaka continued attacking.
• The Rainbow Flying Sword evaded the Cultivation Pod’s defense, but the Little Sheep dropped back to mount another joint defense.
• After the Little Sheep and Cultivation Pod exhausted their blocking allowance, Ayaka broke through, only for Lt. Surge’s Autumn Leaves to block her and leave her in sixth place.

Shen Qi and his teammates advanced to the Winter Race finals after Lt. Surge and Ayaka battled for first place at the finish. Ayaka won by a tiny margin, while the chapter left her isolated by her fans’ behavior and Meng Ai encouraged by her hard-earned qualification.

• The Rainbow Flying Sword used its lightened chassis, Sunny Day, and Chlorophyll to surge past Shen Qi, while Lt. Surge used Ion Deluge and Gastro Acid to hinder Ayaka.
• Autumn Leaves and the Rainbow Flying Sword crossed the finish line almost neck and neck, and a replay confirmed Ayaka had won by a narrow lead.
• The T2 Driver, Little Sheep, and the Cultivation Pod finished third, fourth, and fifth, advancing to the Winter Race finals.
• Shen Qi praised Meng Ai for advancing fifth and recognized how strongly her Pokémon’s Snowscape had resisted Ayaka’s Sunny Day.
• Ayaka went onstage alone for the qualifiers’ group photo as her fans blamed the other drivers, leaving her isolated.

After Shen Qi and Meng Ai left Maiden's Gorge, Meng Ai spoke with Sayaka, who was inspired to return to the outside world but chose not to exchange contact information yet. Back home, Shen Qi tried to comfort Lilligant after her Pokémon division loss, but found her focused on consoling a dejected Lopunny.

• Lt. Surge praised Ayaka's race, while Shen Qi stayed beside Meng Ai rather than joining her for photos.
• Meng Ai told Shen Qi they were good friends, and Emolga arrived to photograph Shen Qi before Little Reporter called her back.
• Shen Qi took Meng Ai to Florges's food truck, where she warmed up to Florges and revealed that she was fifteen.
• Shen Qi arranged a call between Meng Ai and Sayaka, who later explained that she was avoiding a friend request so she would not rush her recovery and return to the world.
• After learning Lilligant had failed to advance, Shen Qi tried to comfort her, but Lilligant was consoling Lopunny, who blamed herself for the loss.
• Shen Qi poked Lopunny, causing her to flush and uncurl from her dejected ball.

Shen Qi rested after the Winter Race's preliminary rounds while Lilligant recovered from her own elimination and vowed to beat the Lurantis Sisters someday. On the final's morning, Shen Qi headed to the unusual Yo Yo Yo Wow Area track, where Ayaka's enormous crowd of fans made the venue feel like a concert.

• Lilligant complained to Shen Qi that the Lurantis Sisters had provoked her after advancing to the final, and she vowed to defeat them in the future.
• Shen Qi reviewed the final's qualifiers and admitted that his tiredness, Little Sheep's unstable engine, and limited Driver points made a top-ten finish unlikely.
• Shen Qi fell asleep while discussing the final, and Lilligant used Aromatherapy to soothe his mind as he rested.
• After waking, Shen Qi learned that Sayaka wanted him to encourage Meng Ai and went with Lilligant, Lopunny, Chansey, and Dodo to the Yo Yo Yo Wow Area.
• Lilligant and Lopunny joined the Service Bay as support staff because they had not been registered as Shen Qi's assistants in time.
• Ayaka's fans filled the stands with loud cheers before the Qualifying Race began.

Lisia competed in the Winter Race qualifying round with her sleepy, sluggish, and overfed Pokémon, while Shen Qi claimed he only wanted to finish safely before pushing the Little Sheep to a strong qualifying time. Lizao took the top spot, leaving Shen Qi and the others to face a formidable field in the race.

• Lisia explained that she had come to Kanto to challenge Li Yizi, her rival in singing and dancing, at the Kanto Regional Race.
• Lisia qualified last with a time of 8 minutes, 33 seconds, after rushing to prepare Abra, Slowpoke, and Quagsire.
• Ayaka’s Rainbow Flying Sword clocked 7 minutes, 56 seconds, but Lily’s Flower in Water took first place with 7 minutes, 50 seconds.
• Shen Qi told Yūichirō and Lisia that he only wanted to finish safely, then decided to try for a better result once he entered the Little Sheep.
• Shen Qi qualified in 8 minutes, 18 seconds, beating Lisia by fifteen seconds and drawing her angry complaint.
• Lizao took first place with the Goldthread Orchid, recording a time of 7 minutes, 49 seconds.

The Winter Race final began, and Ayaka’s Rainbow Flying Sword fell from the lead after Lily, Sabrina, and Lt. Surge disrupted her Pokémon’s moves and boosts. As crosswinds battered her car, Cultivation Pod caught up, leaving Ayaka struggling to hold her position.

• Espeon resolved to protect Sabrina from Ghost-types, while Sabrina identified Lily as the rival to watch in the Winter Race final.
• Lily attacked Sabrina’s Goldthread Orchid with Soak, but Lizao’s Slowking reflected the move onto Ayaka’s Rainbow Flying Sword.
• Ayaka’s Scyther became a pure Water-type, and Lily’s Rain Dance overpowered Bellossom’s Sunny Day, dropping Rainbow Flying Sword to fifth place.
• Lt. Surge used Ion Deluge to disrupt Gardevoir’s Calm Mind, and Ayaka fell to seventh place while trying to recover her boosts.
• Cultivation Pod used Snowscape and caught up as White Strait’s crosswinds buffeted Rainbow Flying Sword, forcing Ayaka to fight to maintain her position.

Shen Qi and Ayaka battled for position as the race entered its second lap, while Lisia rallied her Pokémon and climbed from last place. As Shen Qi struggled with fatigue and an aging engine, he used an Analysis Card to learn how skilled drivers followed energy lines.

• Ayaka used Haze to erase stat boosts, but Shen Qi’s Little Sheep flew across two corners and accepted a ten-meter penalty to reach fifth place.
• Lisia woke Abra, Slowpoke, and Quagsire and used their moves to climb from 19th to 12th place by the end of the first lap.
• Lisia heard that Shen Qi was sixth and blocking Ayaka, then angrily realized he had not been taking it easy.
• Shen Qi held off Ayaka before she overtook him by following energy lines, a racing technique he could not yet sense or anticipate.
• Shen Qi used an Analysis Card to study surrounding energy and try to defend his seventh-place position despite his fatigue and the Little Sheep’s failing engine.