All the matches on the first day of the Inter-School Tournament had ended. Rainbow University's sweeping victory and massive haul of 28 points would, unsurprisingly, make today's front-page headlines.
Back at Rainbow University, Principal Monet was so delighted that her mustache kept twitching upward.
"Hahaha! Just what I'd expect from my students. What a boost!" The elderly principal stroked her mustache thoughtfully. "How about giving Gary a lifetime appointment? Yes, absolutely!"
A lifetime appointment meant that wherever Gary went and whatever he did, Rainbow University would pay him a professor's stipend for the rest of his life.
In the future, Young Master Mao was guaranteed a place among its distinguished alumni.
Of course, that was all a story for later.
After the matches ended, Candice made a special trip to see Young Master Mao.
It was nothing major. She simply pressed a Badge into his hand and reminded Gary that if he visited Sinnoh, there was no need to make a "special" trip to challenge Snowpoint Gym.
She was usually quite busy, too, so she asked Young Master Mao to go easy on her.
Young Master Mao accepted the Badge speechlessly, his feelings complicated. He hadn't even unlocked the Sinnoh map yet, and he already had a Badge?
Finally, after a warm, friendly chat, Young Master Mao deftly added another member to the group chat before saying goodbye to Candice.
Unfortunately, most of the group was lurking at this hour. The few who occasionally popped up were either Lorelei sharing her travel company's latest offerings or Lance forwarding the Pokémon League's anti-fraud tips...
Candice went numb as she watched that familiar Cynthia avatar share pictures of the ice cream she had bought today.
*Young Master Mao usually chats and jokes with all these big shots? No wonder I lost so