The Johto League's preliminary tournament finally drew to a close.
Many rookie contestants entering for the first time had hoped to try their luck and snag a high placing. Now, their hearts, which had been hanging in suspense, had finally been hanged...
Wishful thinking. This wasn't the Little Cup. Where were all those miracles supposed to come from...?
On the official big screen in Festivity Square, the top sixteen made their dazzling appearance, headed by Gary and Dushe.
Next came the head-to-head battles of the Championship Tournament. There were no shortcuts!
Although there really weren't any true powerhouses worth fearing in this little corner of Johto, everyone who had reached the top sixteen had their own strengths.
The lobby of the tournament's official Pokémon Center was bustling again today.
The end of the preliminaries hadn't dampened the tournament's excitement. Rather, the start of the Championship Tournament was when the real festivities began.
It was the tail end of July, and the weather was scorching hot.
With Eevee-chan in Glaceon form perched on his shoulder and a large paper cup of yogurt shaved ice in his hands, Young Master Mao arrived in the center's lobby alongside Caitlin, who wore a flutter-sleeve dress, to await the Championship Tournament's bracket announcement.
Caitlin held a small fan, fanning herself constantly, but she was still sweating slightly.
Gengar smugly pulled a jumbo fruit sundae out of his spatial storage and handed it to Gothitelle beside him, immediately earning a thumbs-up from Caitlin.
"Om... Gengar, I, Caitlin, hereby declare you the strongest successor to the maid!" Caitlin scooped up a huge mouthful of ice cream and offered her praise in bliss.
Gothitelle was speechless. A maid... had to be female first, right...?
Gengar bared his teeth, pulled out a maid's cap, put it on his head,