Even as an exhibition match, Natsume and Leon's duel had caused massive waves.
Especially with that team composition so strikingly similar to Cynthia's.
Fans were buzzing with theories.
"Could this be Natsume-sensei's ranked battle team?"
"Natsume-sensei did say he's a fan of Cynthia—maybe it's homage?"
"There's only one truth—Cynthia is Moe-Moe!!"
"Damn, Natsume-sensei straight up formed a sworn brotherhood!"
The chat group was equally stunned.
"That was Cynthia's team, wasn't it?" Lance said, astonished.
"I expected Cynthia to take the field," Steven mused. "But perhaps Natsume-sensei didn't want her catching a chill."
Remembering last night's snowstorm, Lance nodded thoughtfully.
True...that weather would've crippled me too...
"That spinning mud move—does it have a name?!" Ash's eyes sparkled. "So cool!"
"Counter Shield," Natsume coughed lightly. "Feel free to use it—no need to ask."
Ash: "Don't worry, Natsume-sensei, I'll study it hard!"
Natsume internally sighed—this was your original move to begin with...
"How's the 'One-Day Champion' doing?" Yellow asked concernedly.
"He's back receiving treatment now."
Recalling John's determined nod, Natsume smiled faintly.
"I gave him some UR cards too—hope they bring him luck."
Media reports universally replaced John's name with "One-Day Champion."
Even Tokyo Evening News dropped its clickbait tendencies, reposting Galar Daily's coverage.
Natsume-sensei versus Leon made waves in Toran too.
Natsume just became a Master and immediately dueled the strongest Champion Leon?
With skills like that, why was he farming the Baby Cup?!
Though Elite Four might be feasible, Champion was likely still beyond him.
Being an exhibition match for John's sake was what mattered.
As John's idol, Leon going easy made sense.
But only Leon, who'd actually battled,
understood the exhilaration and chills he'd felt.
Despite using a borrowed team, Natsume-sensei commanded it like an extension of himself.
Lacking bonds, he'd relied purely on flawless tactics to repeatedly corner Leon.
And that seemingly newly-bred Gengar still shared profound chemistry with Natsume-sensei.
Leon closed his eyes, smiling faintly.
At Natsume-sensei's level...becoming Champion within a year wasn't impossible.
Red, Unova's Iris, Leon himself—they'd all done it.
When their real battle came...
That might be Charizard's true Champion moment!
January 14th, Thursday.
Waving goodbye to John at the ICU, Leon departed.
Next stop—
Hosting Natsume-sensei and Cynthia at his Wedgehurst home.
However inadequate, he wanted to express his gratitude.
This visit would also let Sonia deliver the Dynamax Band to Natsume-sensei.
Perhaps he preferred Mega Evolution or Z-Moves,
but mastering different battle styles was key to growth.
Leon dialed Sonia sheepishly:
"Sonia, could you come to Wyndon?"
"If I get lost, I might not make it home by nightfall..."
...
Galar Region, Wedgehurst
The picturesque countryside town offered sweeping ranch views.
At his home, Leon hosted a farewell dinner for Natsume.
Raising homemade fruit wine, Leon smiled. "Natsume-sensei, truly—thank you!"
Traveling so far for a child's wish had deepened his respect for this trainer.
Clinking glasses, Natsume grinned. "No big deal."
He naturally liked this Champion too.
Each had unique charm—
The dashingly powerful Steven, lazily invincible Cynthia, mentorly Alder...
Leon's appeal lay in his dedication and undefeated battle passion.
(Though "undefeated" meant official matches only.)
Post-snowfall, winter skies stretched blue with drifting clouds.
The group enjoyed open-air yakiniku outdoors.
Skewers sizzled with glistening fat, berry-laden sticks releasing mouthwatering aromas.
"Sirfetch'd..." The leek-wielding knight swallowed hard, eyeing its signature weapon before shaking its head.
No—this one's not for grilling!
At the long wooden table, Hop—who bore some resemblance to Leon—stroked his Wooloo's fluffy coat, eyes shining:
"Big Bro, is this really the Natsume-sensei who battled you last night?"
Natsume arched an eyebrow.
Seriously? Still obsessed with your Wooloo?
Leon downed a gulp of fruit wine, laughing heartily: "Yep! It was a brutal fight!"
"Charizard..." The fire lizard beside him winced, wings still sore.
Noticing the Togepi in Cynthia's arms, Charizard's expression softened.
"Togepi doo-ee~~ヾ" Togepi offered a berry skewer.
Charizard blinked before accepting it with a grateful nod.
Hurt or not...Togepi's just too adorable!
Across the table, Sonia clutched Cynthia's hand, whispering excitedly:
"Miss Cynthia, how did you and Natsume-sensei meet?"
Cynthia rested her cheek on one hand, golden hair veiling half her face. "Gaming."
Though asked countless times, she never tired of answering.
Just as she believed—human connections forged new bonds.
Unbidden, last night's memory surfaced—
Snowflakes swirling as the black-haired man commanded Lucario to blast Dragapult from the sky, flames illuminating the battlefield.
"Mm..." Cynthia's cheeks tinted pink.
Sonia's teal eyes sparkled as she gasped behind her hand.
So these two Champions...
It was love at first sight?!
"So romantic..." Sonia tearfully clenched a fist, imagining shoujo manga scenarios.
She and Leon were childhood friends—sometimes bickering, but mostly acting like an old married couple.
This whirlwind romance...sob...how enviable!
Compared to other Champions' estates, Leon's home was modest.
Its only standout feature was the garden meticulously tended by his mother.
Leon even had Rillaboom use Grassy Surge to enhance the yard's greenery.
Currently—
The shaggy-haired drummer Pokémon paused its gardening to eye Sirfetch'd's gleaming leek.
"Sirfetch'd?" The duck knight gave a haughty side-eye, polishing its weapon.
Rillaboom glanced between the majestic leek and its own stubby drumsticks, hastily hiding them behind its back.
Damn...can't compete. This is embarrassing!
As sunset painted the sky, the feast neared its end.
Sonia moved to clear the table when Gengar expertly snatched a rag.
"Gengar!" Four shadow clones materialized, cleaning with practiced efficiency.
Sonia stared.
Natsume-sensei's training methods...are something else!
With Gengar handling chores, she skipped off to pester Cynthia instead.
Both researchers—one studying Dynamax, the other Sinnoh's myths—
somehow derailed from academic talk.
"Miss Cynthia, how far have you two gone?"
"W-what do you mean, how far—"
"Don't be shy! Tell me everything!"
"Natsume-sensei," Leon interjected softly, "There's one more thing..."
"Hm?"
Leon produced a wristband embedded with red crystals. "Please accept this Dynamax Band!"
Natsume froze.
"Truthfully...I have doubts sometimes." Leon scratched his cheek.
"As a trainer, I should keep challenging stronger opponents..."
"But as Galar's Champion, for Galar's sake...I can't lose."
His golden eyes met Natsume's squarely.
"Call it hypocrisy or cowardice—I need the 'Unbeatable Champion' title now."
"That's why I've never challenged Red."
Natsume studied the young man—barely twenty, younger than Red despite the beard.
Leon's gaze sharpened with a smile. "Someday...when I'm no longer Champion,"
"I'll come to Toran to challenge you. And—"
His eyes burned with fighting spirit.
"Scale Mt. Silver to prove my Champion moment."
Natsume blinked.
That speech was cool but—
Why challenge me when Red's first in line?!
"Even if you dislike using it—" Leon glanced at Gengar hovering nearby.
"I look forward to battling your full power with Dynamax someday."
"Please take it!"
"Gengar! (｀Д｀)" Tears welled in the ghost's eyes.
So a trainer's dream isn't just becoming Champion...
It's surpassing you to become the strongest!
"Gengar!" It nodded fiercely.
Your resolve reaches me!
I'll make that dream reality!
"Gengar~!" It flashed a heart symbol before accepting the band.
"Hahaha! You've got an amazing partner, Natsume-sensei!" Leon boomed.
Natsume's eye twitched.
The Dynamax Band itself is whatever—Galar exclusive.
But Gengar's pocket dimension still has Jirachi's Wishing Star...
If that cosmic energy enables Dynamax...
He pictured Gigantamax Gengar's massive tongue and shuddered.
One Lick from that would need more than a Cheri Berry to cure!
"So this Dynamax Band..." Natsume coughed.
"Is it the one Sonia prepared earlier?"
Leon nodded. "For outstanding researchers, Galar provides these."
Knowing Natsume's scholarly work from Sonia—
and Cynthia's own mythology expertise—
the connection made sense.
Natsume's chest tightened.
Thought she forgot after I played dumb as a trainer...
Should've known this was coming!
"Gengar~" It grinned, offering the band.
Can't use it yet...
But I'll master Dynamax soon!
As Natsume patted its head, Leon's words resonated.
Perhaps the strongest Leon wasn't the Champion—
but the man freed from that mantle's burdens.
Post-game, his Battle Tower version wore that sleek red-black suit...
Sigh. Natsume pocketed the band.
"Thank you, Mr. Leon."
"The honor's mine!" Leon beamed.
Natsume jotted weather notes in his notebook.
Can't beat Leon yet.
Barely tied using Cynthia's team yesterday.
Even she'd struggle against his Dynamax...
This grudge goes on hold.
He crossed out "Hop" in his mental ledger—Wooloo! Mark my words!
"Baa—" The fluffy sheep bleated innocently.
Seeing Natsume accept the band, Leon smiled.
Every trainer walked different paths.
If Dynamax was his specialty—
then Natsume's mastery lay in team synergy and strategy.
Accepting this was acknowledging their bond.
Leon threw an arm around Natsume excitedly:
"Ever battled Red? How was it?"
"Uh...I lost."
"Hahaha! Same here!"
Natsume considered inviting Leon to the chat group—
but between sponsorships and duties, he'd be busier than that tea-slacking inspector.
After exchanging contacts and promising to visit John, Leon gripped his shoulder.
"No rentals or holding back next time—"
"I await our full battle!"
Natsume: "Next time for sure!"
As their Galar trip concluded, Natsume noticed Cynthia's intense focus.
Following her gaze—
Sirfetch'd and Rillaboom stood poised on the grassy field.
"Rillaboom!!" The drummer slid forward on its knees, swinging its sticks upward.
"Sirfetch'd!!" The Sirfetch'd executed a perfect sliding tackle—splintering the wooden table!
Natsume stared. "What was that?!"
Leon chuckled. "Professor's move—they're bonding!"
"Grassy Glide!"
Natsume: ???
Since when could Sirfetch'd sliding tackle?!
"Sirfetch'd~" It nodded approvingly at its leek.
Perfect. Even Rhyperior won't withstand this!
Natsume's expression twisted.
Imagining a roasted duck sliding toward him, aroma wafting...
He gulped.
This isn't Grassy Glide—
It's food delivery!
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