Hau'oli City, the Pokémon School's main campus.
Today, the students weren't indoors. Instead, they crowded excitedly around the training field.
"Did you hear? Principal Oak's grandson is going to duel Kiawe!"
"Kiawe? Damn, hasn't that guy been undefeated since he completed the Island Challenge?"
"Exactly! He's on a ten-win streak now, and he even chased off the thugs outside the school gates. He's an absolute beast~"
"Right? If you ask me, he might win this time too!"
Dressed in a youthful, vibrant school uniform, the poised student council president, Ilima, smiled and shook his head. "Everyone, stop whispering. The principal and the others will be here soon."
Seriously, they were hyping Kiawe up so hard. Weren't they afraid they'd jinx him into losing...?
Soon, an extravagantly decorated float drove in through the entrance.
"Yo-ho-ho, everyone's here." Principal Samson nodded in satisfaction.
"Well, everyone wanted to see your grandson in action, Principal. There was nothing I could do." Ilima smiled amiably.
"Hahaha, Gary, come out and say hello." Samson Oak rocked with laughter.
Young Master Mao had changed into a tropical floral shirt matching his great-uncle's, with shorts and slip-on sneakers. He stepped out of the vehicle looking decidedly down-to-earth.
"Alola~ Hello, everyone. Go out and catch Pokémon too~" Gary borrowed Professor Oak's classic line outright.
While passing through the city center, Young Master Mao had first sent Caitlin and Lorelei back to the hotel to rest.
He had remembered that there was someone else he wanted to challenge, so this would take a little longer.
"Hello, I'm Ilima, the student council president here." The elegant, dark-skinned young gentleman extended his hand to Gary.
"Oh, a pleasure." Gary warmly shook Ilima's hand. "Meeting you beats hearing about you. Care for a match later?"
Ilima's smile remained unchanged. "I'm also the head