January 11th, Monday.
Every January, major league tournaments kicked into full swing across the regions.
Unlike conventional league competitions,
Galar adopted a Championship Challenge format, inviting Gym Leaders from various regions to participate.
The screen currently showed Leon battling Kabu.
A towering, flame-wreathed Gigantamax Charizard unleashed a volcanic Fire Blast, engulfing the Gigantamax Centiskorch in an explosive inferno.
"And the winner is—!" the commentator roared.
The stadium erupted in deafening cheers.
"So cool, Mr. Leon!"
In a hospital room, a young boy clenched his fists, eyes sparkling. "See, John? I told you Mr. Leon's the strongest!"
Leon posters plastered the walls. Charizard plushies crowded every surface. A collection box held stacks of meticulously organized trading cards.
Sheer curtains fluttered in the breeze beside a large Gengar wallpaper adorning the headboard.
John, his pale blond hair tousled, lay in bed gazing outside.
"I want... to see Mr. Leon's match..."
The door creaked open. A nurse smiled. "Mr. Rose is visiting the hospital today."
"John!" The boy vibrated with excitement. "If it's Mr. Rose, maybe we really can meet Leon!"
John slid out of bed, grabbing paper and pens. His hand flew across the page.
"Hurry, or we'll miss him!"
"I know." John bit his lip. "But... a letter's better."
As sunset painted the sky, Rose tugged at his signature curl near the hospital's rooftop Corviknight taxi stand.
"Mr. Rose!"
He turned to see John panting, clutching an envelope.
"P-please..." The boy's eyes shone. "Give this... to Mr. Leon!"
"Leon's a busy man."
Rose paused, then took the letter.
"I'll deliver it." He smirked. "No promises he'll read it."
John's small frame trembled in the wind.
"Thank you, Mr. Rose!"
...
Wyndon, Rose Tower.
Leon stared at the crayon drawing in the letter, chuckling softly.
"I look like this?"
"In children's eyes," Rose said, tugging at his signature curl, "apparently so."
The crude artwork depicted Leon with his partner Charizard, alongside John's heartfelt wishes:
[I want to see Mr. Leon's match live]
[I want to become the strongest Champion like Mr. Leon]
"That kid's fighting hard."
Rose glanced sideways. "Doctors say he's starting chemo soon... tough break."
The purple-haired Champion, cape draped over his shoulders, remained silent before suddenly grinning.
"Then let's hold a match!"
Rose narrowed his eyes. "Participants?"
"Me." Leon's smile didn't waver. "And John."
A long stare.
"Ridiculous." Rose massaged his temples. "A charity exhibition? Hiring stand-ins? The costs—"
"Deduct it from my appearance fees."
"Other Champions save the world. You're playing pretend with a sick kid."
Leon gazed through the floor-to-ceiling windows at Galar sprawling below.
"I'm Galar's Champion. That's enough."
Rose exhaled dramatically.
"Fine. I'll crowdfund anonymously. Save where we can."
Leon frowned.
"Relax, no names." Rose waved over his shoulder. "I'm a businessman, not a monster."
"One more thing." Leon added, "Sonia mentioned a certain Trainer visiting Galar soon."
"Who?"
"Natsume from Touran."
"Eh?" Rose tilted his head. "Never heard."
"I mentioned it to you before." Leon said embarrassedly, "The Trainer who is good at Strategy."
Rose suddenly realized: "The one who beat you and Mustard in Simulated battles?"
"Hmm..."
"I understand."
Rose rubbed her hands, walked out the door, muttering to herself.
"... Invite him to participate in the Exhibition match, and save a lot of money..."
...
Kanto, Saffron City.
Snowflakes drifted outside, blanketing rooftops and streets in white.
The soft rustle of falling snow whispered through the air.
Inside, orange flames danced in the fireplace.
Natsume, wrapped in a turtleneck, video-chatted with Sonia.
"Wow!" Sonia gasped. "Natsume-sensei, your house looks crazy expensive!"
"Uh... long story."
He tactfully avoided mentioning his landlord, clearing his throat.
"So about this exhibition match..."
"Mr. Rose's petition already has 5,000 supporters!" Sonia grinned. "Free charity event—everyone's happy to help!"
"Who's playing the villain against Leon first?"
Sonia batted her emerald eyes.
"...That puppy-dog look won't work. I'm not suicidal."
"Please! The budget's tiny—Leon's paying appearance fees himself!"
Natsume blinked. "Isn't Macro Cosmos loaded?"
"Galar's still developing! Chairman Rose is swamped."
She counted on her fingers.
"Mining, infrastructure, industry..."
Natsume's expression darkened.
Since I recruited Oleana, Macro Cosmos slowed down...
Delaying the Eternatus project.
Whatever Rose's motives, Leon would handle it.
Giovanni ran Silph Co. Lusamine had Aether...
Galar's so broke Leon's doing commercials?
"Ask Raihan instead." Natsume massaged his temples.
My team wouldn't survive one Charizard fire blast!
"Natsume-sensei..." Sonia clasped her hands. "John has your posters too! Almost as many as Leon's!"
"..."
"Meeting you would inspire him!"
"Hmm..."
Natsume stroked his chin.
I'm going anyway...
But facing Leon? Even if Charizard throws the match...
If Blastoise is really dying, then doesn't he have to go find Ho-Oh to pluck his feathers?
"Uh, Natsume-sensei..."
Sonia's voice cracked.
"Behind you!"
He turned—and met a porcelain-perfect face inches away.
"Going to Wyndon?" Cynthia asked.
"Yeah... soon." Natsume nodded.
Watching their casual intimacy, Sonia's jaw dropped.
Why is Miss Cynthia in his house?!
Why are they so close they're almost—
The pieces clicked.
"Champion Cynthia! I can explain—"
"You know..." Cynthia sat beside Natsume, smiling. "I'd love to join that exhibition."
"Mind adding me?"
...
[Please help fulfill a small wish]
The anonymous post spread across Galar's forums.
[In two days, Leon will hold a Championship Challenge in Wyndon to crown a new Champion.That day, a special challenger will appear...]
Reactions poured in—some skeptical:
"Mr. Leon, really letting a kid inherit the Champion's cape?"
"Isn't this beneath Galar's Champion?"
"So fake! A whole tournament for one sick child!"
But most were supportive:
"I wanted to be a Trainer too. Rooting for him!"
"We need a Champion with heart!"
"Only Leon would do this!"
The overwhelming response startled even Chairman Rose.
Donations met their goal within days.
In struggling Galar, Leon's "strongest Champion" title brought hope.
He carried that burden willingly—a true Champion's duty.
In their group chat, Lance and others discussed the news.
"Rose has also invited me." Lance sighed slightly, "I want to go to the scene, but the Officer is too busy."
"Who could give Leon a proper match...?" Green pondered.
"Senior Red and Blue are training," Gold added. "Steven's unavailable."
"Then... Natsume-sensei?" Yellow whispered.
Silence.
His team's untested...
Like Alder's fall in Unova...
Asking him to face peak Leon? Cruel.
"I'm already heading to Wyndon," Natsume messaged.
"With Cynthia."
The group exhaled collectively.
With Cynthia's strength...
And their... relationship...
"Cheer for that kid for me!" Gold said.
Silver, recalling his own dark past, simply typed: "Me too."
A flood of "+1"s followed.
En route to Galar
Natsume set down his phone, studying Cynthia's golden hair glowing in cabin light.
"Thank you," he murmured.
"Expected."
She turned, locks cascading over her black coat.
"I knew you'd go," she smiled.
"Oh?"
"Because you're Natsume-sensei."
Closing her eyes, she rested as first-class windows framed endless blue skies.
"Cynthia."
Natsume's voice turned serious.
"I need to tell you something."
Her steel-gray eyes opened.
"Gengar's my starter. I'm not as strong as people think."
"I'm cowardly, greedy—just wanted a normal life."
"I love these little ones. Just want to laze around with them."
"But sometimes..."
He met her gaze.
"Like this duel with Leon... I want to win."
"About my strength, my team—"
Cynthia pressed a finger to his lips.
"Loving Pokémon is enough."
Her smile softened.
"Pokémon share their hearts with us. Getting stronger..."
She glanced down at teary-eyed Gengar.
"Gengar!?(｀Д｀)"
"Just keep loving them," she whispered. "That's all I did."
Natsume froze.
Strength...?
Cynthia's cheeks pinked as she watched clouds drift past.
Doesn't matter.
If I'm strong enough, your weakness is fine.
Maybe even... better...
The plane descended slowly, the boarding stairs lowered, and a haze of snowflakes drifted over the airport.
Nearly every citizen in Wyndon had heard the news—tonight, the Wyndon Stadium would host the coronation ceremony for the "new Champion."
Amid the icy landscape, the entire city buzzed with warmth and goodwill.
Outside the arched Wyndon Stadium,
citizens craned their necks, eager to catch a glimpse of today's Champion match contenders.
And one special challenger.
Snowflakes fluttered down, landing on viewers' caps, handmade signs, and giant banners.
"Who's the other challenger?"
"I heard it's Sinnoh Champion Cynthia…"
"No, I think it's another trainer?"
Inside Wyndon Stadium, the massive arena—seating tens of thousands—was packed to the brim.
Cheers roared like thunder, yet the snowfall grew heavier.
Natsume and Cynthia stepped into the contestants' lounge together.
"Master!"
The moment they entered, Bea rushed excitedly to Natsume's side, then glanced at Cynthia beside him.
"Hello, Mrs. Sensei!" Bea bowed deeply at a perfect 90-degree angle.
"Ahaha… no need for such formality." Cynthia scratched her cheek sheepishly.
"What are you doing here?" Natsume asked curiously.
"I heard that besides the Champion match, there'd be a special challenger."
Bea lowered her voice. "About John… the Gym Leaders all support this."
"And me." The bronze-skinned girl lifted her head earnestly. "I came to cheer for you!"
Natsume chuckled awkwardly. "It's just an exhibition match… Leon wouldn't go all out, right?"
"Don't be so sure." Cynthia smiled slyly, leaning in to whisper:
"Did you forget? Last time, you predicted his moves for several rounds straight."
Natsume's expression darkened.
Just then, a man with an orange headband strode through the front door.
Raihan shot Natsume a sharp glare and barked, "Hey!"
Cynthia's brow furrowed slightly, her gaze turning icy.
For a moment, Raihan felt as if he were staring down a Garchomp. He coughed dryly and corrected himself:
"Natsume-sensei…! It's great to have you here!"
"Originally, Raihan was supposed to battle Mr. Leon,"
Bea explained quietly.
"But considering John… and the fact that you're also his mentor… they invited you instead."
The influence of the Pokémon Trading Card Game had already spread to the Galar region.
And with several of the Pokémon Company's games gaining a foothold here too,
for children confined to hospital beds,
aside from Champion Leon's battle videos, these games were their best escape.
Not to mention, Natsume-sensei's own videos had brought them the joy and thrill of Pokémon battles.
"I know that."
Natsume sighed helplessly.
"So… here I am in Wyndon."
"Then… who'll battle next?" Bea glanced between Natsume and Cynthia.
"You? Or Champion Cynthia?"
Natsume and Cynthia exchanged a look.
"Lend me your strength,"
Cynthia said softly, her deep eyes glinting with a faint smile.
"Of course."
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