Chapter Summaries

Shen Qi learned that he could bring Porygon to the T3 race, but the Security Bureau would escort and monitor him because of Team Rocket’s interest in the Virtual Pokémon. The group finalized plans for the trip to Celadon City, with Ariana’s possible interference still a concern.

• Shen Qi thanked Akiho and Principal Gui for their support and said he wanted to repay Pokémon High School by racing well.
• Officer Jenny explained that Shen Qi had passed the compatibility test to take Porygon, or Dodo, to the competition, but he could only use Porygon privately.
• Officer Shinichi and researcher Mizuki arrived, and the Security Bureau assigned them to accompany Shen Qi throughout the race.
• Shen Qi realized the escort was meant to protect him from Team Rocket and let Mizuki assess Porygon’s condition and capabilities.
• Shinichi confirmed Shen Qi’s hotel and travel plans for the trip to Celadon City, while the group acknowledged Ariana might make a move.

Shen Qi drove toward Celadon City with Mizuki and Porygon, while Lilligant assessed the White Cape race lineup and Shen Qi reconsidered his role as her racing partner. They agreed not to dwell on their partnership’s flaws before the Autumn Race, and Shen Qi asked Mizuki whether she liked racing as they crossed by ferry.

• Officer Jenny and Shinichi declined Principal Gui’s invitation to lunch and left the faculty office with Shen Qi and Mizuki.
• Shen Qi let Dodo out in the car, and Mizuki monitored Porygon’s improved mental state as they traveled toward Celadon City.
• Lilligant identified three T2 drivers and a strong Servine among their White Cape competitors, while Shen Qi realized his outdated racing experience might undermine Lilligant’s reliance on his advice.
• Lilligant reminded Shen Qi that they had agreed to focus on the Autumn Race before addressing flaws in their partnership, and he accepted her reminder.
• After boarding the ferry from Island 6 to Island 2, Shen Qi asked Mizuki whether she liked racing.

Shen Qi and Lilligant practiced for the Celadon City race while Mizuki avoided the racetrack, revealing an unusual dislike of racing. As Mizuki recalled how her former classmates left research for other pursuits, the chapter ended with her seeking comfort from her adviser, Kadabra.

• Shen Qi learned from Shinichi that Mizuki’s blunt dislike of racing was unusual for someone who usually showed little interest in anything outside work.
• Mizuki refused to accompany Shen Qi to the racetrack during his practice sessions, then resumed her mission duties after he finished.
• On the day of the preliminaries, Mizuki stayed in her hotel room while Shen Qi and Shinichi went to the race venue.
• Mizuki watched Celadon City University from her window and recalled how Wude became a Fighting Dojo leader and Li Yizi pursued idol work and racing.
• Distressed by her classmates’ departures from research, Mizuki went to vent to her adviser, Kadabra.

Lilligant and Shen Qi began qualifying at White Cape, where the Flower Crown launched impressively after Lilligant steadied her nerves. The chapter left them racing their first timed lap amid cheers from the stands.

• Shen Qi explained the T3 qualifying format as the drivers prepared to race at White Cape.
• Golett finished with a time of 9 minutes, 31 seconds, and Primeape followed with 8 minutes, 26 seconds.
• Servine recorded 8 minutes, 11 seconds, drawing cheers as a strong T3 driver backed by Erika.
• Lilligant grew tense before her turn, but Shen Qi helped restore her Mental Health Index.
• Lilligant used Growth while Shen Qi coordinated Chansey's Helping Hand with Racing Energy, and the Flower Crown made a fast start.

Shen Qi and Lilligant prepared for the White Cape preliminary race, where Lilligant qualified fourth behind several powerful T2 drivers. The race began with Lilligant defending fourth as Poliwrath quickly built a lead.

• Lilligant qualified fourth at White Cape, while Poliwrath took first, Servine second, and Primeape third.
• Shen Qi recognized Poliwrath’s owner as Daisy after Lilligant identified its Flower in the Water car as a Cerulean Gym model.
• T2-ranked Cacturne and its Spearow copilot approached Shen Qi and asked whether Lilligant was his partner, then left after hinting they might meet again.
• Shen Qi sent Lilligant to the starting position without telling her about Cacturne, wanting her to focus on the race.
• At the start, Shen Qi had Chansey use Helping Hand, but Lilligant could only keep pace with Primeape and Poliwrath pulled ahead.
• The cars entered the preliminary route, and the commentator announced that Poliwrath was approaching the slippery coastal rock road.

Shen Qi and Lilligant defended fourth place in the White Cape race despite mounting pressure from Cacturne. They crossed the finish line in fourth and qualified, while Poliwrath won, Primeape came second, and Servine came third.

• Poliwrath used Rain Dance over the rocky section to slow the cars behind, and Primeape later overtook Servine with a risky maneuver protected by Protect.
• Shen Qi soothed Lilligant as she held Flower Crown in fourth through the second lap, while Chansey's moves remained steady.
• Cacturne gradually climbed to fifth in Miracle Company's Wind Horse and began closing in on Lilligant.
• Poliwrath, Primeape, and Servine finished in the top three, while Cacturne came close to overtaking Flower Crown at the final corner but did not pass.
• Lilligant crossed the finish line in fourth place, qualifying for the next stage, and Shen Qi told her to stop the car.

Shen Qi and Lilligant advanced from the T3 race, but the pressure left them shaken, while Chansey worried that she had become useless to Shen Qi. After a misunderstanding involving Mizuki, the story shifted to the lively streets of Celadon City, where people discussed the race.

• Lilligant brought the Flower Crown to a stop after qualifying in fourth place, and Shen Qi comforted her as she cried from the pressure.
• Shen Qi reflected on the mental strain of the race while Chansey felt increasingly unnecessary beside his improving Pokémon and training methods.
• Chansey hid her distress and cheerfully followed Shen Qi and Lilligant back to the hotel, but Shen Qi noticed she had not attacked him as usual.
• Chansey threw Shen Qi onto the bed after he asked whether she wanted to do something to him, and Mizuki misunderstood what she saw before leaving.
• At night, Celadon City residents discussed the White Cape race, its standout Pokémon, and the unusual Flower Crown team.

Chansey worried that she could not help Shen Qi or cook well, but a chance encounter with Florges led her to enter Celadon City's Pokémon Cooking Challenge as Florges's partner. They chose to practice healthy home cooking, and Chansey watched the first contestants compete while waiting for her turn.

• Chansey heard about the Pokémon Cooking Challenge and entered after deciding the ingredients and kitchen facilities would be a useful chance to practice.
• Chansey hesitated at the cooking stations, unsure how to handle the unfamiliar ingredients and equipment alone.
• Florges introduced herself, offered to partner with Chansey, and explained that her food truck business had sold out for the day.
• Chansey told Florges she wanted to practice healthy everyday meals for Shen Qi, and Florges agreed to help her cook at home as well.
• Chansey and Florges registered for the challenge and waited as the first fifteen groups began cooking.

Shen Qi’s Chansey struggled through a cooking challenge with Florges’s help, then Shen Qi hurried to Vermilion City for the next preliminary race. He discovered that Chansey’s mental health had fallen and received an unexpected Pokémon Emotional Script prompt.

• Chansey and Florges made home-style stir-fried dishes despite the cooking challenge’s street-food theme, and their food failed to match the competing team’s successful grilled skewers and fried chicken.
• Shen Qi woke exhausted, packed his Pokémon, and set off with Mizuki for Vermilion City ahead of the Quiet Bridge preliminaries.
• Shen Qi noticed Chansey’s Mental Health Index was only 76% and wondered what had upset him.
• Shen Qi switched to the strategy game’s main screen and saw a prompt about a Pokémon Emotional Script, though he had not used the Script Detector.

Shen Qi discovered that Chansey’s emotional script had been triggered by losing a cooking challenge, then tried to help Lilligant manage the pressure before the second round of the Preliminaries. The chapter ended with Lilligant unsure whether to race conservatively or withdraw.

• Shen Qi spoke with Chansey on the way to Vermilion City, and her Mental Health Index recovered as she comforted him, confirming that her troubles were not about racing.
• At the hotel, Chansey told Shen Qi she had lost a cooking challenge after partnering with Florges, who had said Chansey tried too hard.
• Shen Qi realized that Chansey’s cooking may be connected to the “Crazy Quack-Soft Strength” script, but postponed investigating it because the second round was the next morning.
• Shen Qi met Lilligant at a café and told her that her poor mental state would prevent her from learning anything in the race.
• Lilligant considered racing conservatively or withdrawing, unsure how to handle the pressure before the competition.

Shen Qi chose to continue the Quiet Bridge competition despite Lilligant’s nerves, aiming to teach her how to face pressure by leading through his own actions. During qualifying, Lilligant’s anxiety made her forget Growth, and she struggled to recover as Shen Qi supported the team without correcting her.

• Shen Qi refused to withdraw and decided to show Lilligant how to handle pressure through his own conduct.
• After practice, Shen Qi took Lilligant back to the hotel early so they could rest before qualifying.
• At the Quiet Bridge course, Shen Qi and Lilligant encountered Wobbuffet and Espeon, who had also been assigned to their group.
• Lilligant tried a school trick for calming herself by tracing a word on her palm and pretending to eat it.
• Espeon and Wobbuffet posted an average qualifying time of seven minutes and fifty-seven seconds before Lilligant’s turn.
• Lilligant started nervously and forgot to use Growth, while Shen Qi supported Chansey’s Work Up and let Lilligant struggle through the mistake.

Shen Qi tried risky tactics to help Lilligant recover ground in the Qualifying Race, using Dodo’s Magnet Rise and Nene Ninja Technique to handle a sharp corner and the dangerous crosswind. Lilligant saw Shen Qi’s fierce enjoyment of competing despite their poor time and resolved to adopt the same mindset.

• Lilligant’s concentration faltered, and the Flower Crown posted a time of 8 minutes and 41 seconds at the end of the first lap.
• Shen Qi told Lilligant not to slow for a sharp corner, then had Dodo use Magnet Rise to carry the Flower Crown across it.
• Lilligant made a small steering correction as the Flower Crown landed on the sandy, rocky ground.
• Shen Qi activated Nene Ninja Technique, briefly preventing the crosswind from affecting the Flower Crown.
• Lilligant noticed Shen Qi’s excitement and determination and wanted to share his mindset.

Shen Qi and Lilligant advanced to the main race in twelfth place, where they faced powerful rivals including Chloe’s heavily modified Cerise Castle. As the race began, Lilligant struggled with pressure but resolved to give the competition everything she had.

• Shen Qi and Lilligant finished qualifying with an average lap time of eight minutes and thirty-six seconds, securing twelfth place among twenty Drivers.
• Shen Qi learned from Wobbuffet that Blastoise’s Cerise Castle was a customized Vermilion Logistics Class A Car owned by Chloe, Professor Cerise’s daughter.
• Espeon vowed to defeat Cerise Castle after learning that Eevee had helped Blastoise take pole position.
• The twenty cars began the main race, and Lilligant recovered her focus after Shen Qi reassured her.
• As Rose Champagne and Cerise Castle pulled ahead, Lilligant fought her discouragement and resolved not to ask Shen Qi for comfort.

Espeon struggled with a sudden fear of a Gastly and lost ground, while Shen Qi and Lilligant fought through their own doubts and used Magnet Rise to climb to sixth. The chapter ended with Cacturne closing in again as Shen Qi focused on the race.

• Espeon panicked after spotting a Gastly, and Wobbuffet took control as Rose Champagne slowed and stopped roadside.
• Blastoise passed Rose Champagne, while Espeon resumed driving despite her fear.
• Lilligant told Shen Qi that he did not want to give up, and Shen Qi urged him to judge the race for himself and keep going.
• Lilligant chose a risky line at a sharp bend, and Shen Qi helped Flower Crown use Magnet Rise to fly across the corner.
• Flower Crown overtook two cars to reach sixth place, but Cacturne steadily moved back toward the front.

Shen Qi and Lilligant used Dodo’s Magnet Rise and Shen Qi’s Nene Ninja Technique to climb into third place, but Espeon’s Rose Champagne overtook them. As Lilligant tried to defend fourth on the rough final stretch, Cacturne used Spiky Shield to smash through a tree and seize fourth.

• Lilligant let Cacturne pass, then Shen Qi summoned Dodo to help Flower Crown fly through the crosswind and overtake into third place.
• Espeon caught up in Rose Champagne and overtook Flower Crown, while Shen Qi realized she had recovered from her fear of the Ghost-type Pokémon.
• Shen Qi and Lilligant tried to hold fourth place against Servine and Cacturne on the Sunken Road.
• Cacturne drove Wind Horse through a tree and over loose stones under Spiky Shield, passing two cars and taking fourth place.

Shen Qi and Lilligant qualified for the T3 Main Race at Quiet Bridge, and Lilligant began recovering her confidence after placing fifth. While Shen Qi and his Pokémon rested before the final race, Chansey went to Vermilion Harbor and considered entering the Cooking Challenge to improve her cooking and earn their praise.

• Chloe's Blastoise won the second qualifying race, Rose Champagne took second, and Lilligant's Flower Crown placed fifth to qualify.
• Shen Qi reassured Lilligant that she could race in the Main Race despite her nerves, while he credited Dodo's successful Magnet Rise uses and luck for their result.
• Wobbuffet teased Espeon about losing again, and the newly qualified racers celebrated as Servine left after failing to qualify.
• Shen Qi and Lilligant returned to the hotel exhausted and fell asleep, while Dodo stayed behind with Shen Qi and Chansey went out to buy food.
• Chansey reached Vermilion Harbor, spotted Florges's food truck near Food Street, and considered entering the Cooking Challenge to improve her cooking and surprise Shen Qi and Lilligant.

Chansey rejected Weezing and Electabuzz’s invitation to join the Dark Cuisine World, insisting she wanted to make nutritious home-cooked meals for Shen Qi. Shuckle encouraged her to enter the Cooking Challenge and experience the gentle power of love, though Chansey doubted one competition could improve her cooking.

• Florges noticed Chansey’s longing while serving customers but kept working at her food truck.
• Electabuzz and Weezing invited Chansey to join their Dark Cuisine World and focus on barbecue and fried food.
• Chansey refused, explaining that she wanted to cook nutritious, delicious meals for Shen Qi.
• Shuckle arrived and defended Chansey’s approach to cooking.
• Shuckle invited Chansey to enter the Cooking Challenge with them, but Chansey worried that one competition would not help her learn.

Chansey competed alongside Shuckle in the Cooking Challenge, where she found a new direction for her cooking but failed to submit a dish. Shuckle’s astonishing stir-fried noodles stunned the spectators, while Shen Qi rested and prepared for the Autumn Race Main Race.

• Shuckle arranged for her and Chansey to compete in the same group as Electabuzz’s team.
• Chansey struggled to decide what to cook, then focused on kneading her love for Shen Qi into the dough and lost track of the timer.
• Shuckle finished a wok of stir-fried noodles despite helping Chansey, and the dish’s aroma overwhelmed the spectators and moved the judges to tears.
• Chansey clarified that the noodles were Shuckle’s creation and wondered who Shuckle was.
• Shen Qi woke after a long rest and planned to aim for around tenth place in the Autumn Race Main Race.

Shen Qi and Lilligant prepared for the Vermilion Harbor Autumn Race, but Lilligant’s mental health suddenly collapsed after she encountered a rose-red Flower Crown connected to her deceased former Trainer, Sayaka. The car’s drivers were two Lurantis sisters, and Shen Qi learned they, too, had once belonged to Sayaka.

• Chansey brought home old dough starter and prize money, while Lilligant’s mental health recovered and her level rose.
• Shen Qi reviewed the harbor course, noted Lilligant’s Sunny Day speed advantage, and set a modest goal for the Main Race.
• A rose-red Flower Crown stopped near Lilligant, and its Pokémon driver said something that caused Lilligant’s Mental Health Index to plunge to 31%.
• Lilligant recognized the car and its occupants as belonging to her former Trainer, Sayaka, who had died in a T3 race.
• Shen Qi saw two Lurantis get out of the car and learned they were sisters who had also been Sayaka’s Pokémon.

After the Lurantis sisters’ harsh criticism left Lilligant shaken, Shen Qi encouraged her to focus on racing well and prove her determination. Lilligant started fifteenth in the Qualifying Race, and the chapter left her and Shen Qi using Dodo’s Magnet Rise to clear a dangerous stretch, though an unstable landing cost them a place.

• The Lurantis sisters scorned Lilligant for her meekness and lack of progress, leaving her deeply distressed.
• Shen Qi helped Lilligant recover, and she finished the Qualifying Race with an average lap time of 8 minutes, 39 seconds, placing fifteenth.
• Shen Qi reminded Lilligant that she had worked hard and urged her to remember the setback as motivation for future races.
• Lilligant began the race calmly, with Shen Qi guiding her through the container checkpoint and telling her to disconnect her Ability Skill Slot before the rough terrain.
• Cacturne used Spiky Shield to break an obstacle and move from eighth to fifth as debris disrupted the other racers.
• Shen Qi and Dodo used Magnet Rise to pass five cars over the unstable stretch, but a poor landing dropped them from tenth to eleventh.