At six o'clock the next morning, Kael opened his eyes the instant the time arrived—no alarm needed. Once an internal clock was trained, it was far more reliable than any device.
After washing up, he pulled on a black athletic tank top and, together with Sneasel—still yawning from just waking up—headed briskly out of the room.
At night, Kael always released his Pokémon from their Poké Balls. While Poké Balls caused no harm and even aided recovery, sleeping stretched out on a bed was simply more comfortable.
Lulu remained in the room to rest. Psychic-type Pokémon didn't require intense physical training; quiet rest and meditation were enough for their strength to grow steadily.
The day's plan begins in the morning.
Sneasel's current physique and muscle strength were still a little lacking. Because of that, it hadn't fully mastered its native techniques, and even Swords Dance could only be used once—forcing a second time wouldn't stimulate the muscles, only tear them.
By the time their warm-up was finished, the sky had just begun to brighten. While the city still slept, a young man and his Pokémon were already running laps around Cerulean Gym.
They started at a light jog. After three laps, the pace nearly reached a sprint. Sneasel tucked its arms behind its back and charged forward alongside its trainer. Pokémon physical conditioning far exceeded that of humans—especially agile types like Sneasel.
Explosive speed and burst power were its strengths.
Endurance was what it lacked.
Five laps. Eight. Ten. Fifteen. Twenty…
An hour and a half later, as sunlight fully bathed the city, Kael and Sneasel stood beneath the shade of a tree, drenched in sweat and gasping for breath.
The feeling after intense exertion—sweat pouring freely—was incredibly satisfying. Anyone who exercised regularly knew that once it became a habit, it was addictive.
After returning to the room for a cold shower together, Kael brought both Pokémon to the dining hall.
The restaurant was empty. Aside from the food already prepared, there wasn't a soul in sight.
"Looks like we're first," Kael joked as he grabbed three plates. Beef and eggs were a must, along with broccoli and tomatoes. Lulu was vegetarian, so she got berries and vegetables instead.
It wasn't until eight o'clock that people began trickling in—Gym staff and interns alike. Seeing Kael leave with two Pokémon after clearly having eaten his fill, they couldn't help but cast curious glances his way.
...
Kael had to admit—he admired Chubbs a little.
The kid could eat, and he could sleep. If there hadn't been trials at ten, he probably would've slept right through the morning.
"I almost overslept!" Chubbs said, patting his heaving chest as his soft frame jiggled. "Brother Kael, what do you think—could we end up matched against each other in the first round?"
Chubbs was two years younger than Kael, thirteen this year, and after just one conversation the day before, had already started calling him "brother."
"The first round of elimination begins now!" Daisy announced loudly into the microphone.
"Viridian City's Kael versus Luqi of Lapras City! Both competitors, please proceed to the pool."
Today's battlefield was no longer the standard rock-and-ground arena. Instead, it was a water-stage—Cerulean Gym's iconic combat field.
Two white floating platforms, each wide enough for one person, hovered above the pool to allow non–Water-type Pokémon to stand. Compared to trainers with Water-types, those without were at a natural disadvantage here.
Luqi, the blue-haired trainer, had been nervous at first—facing Kael so early was intimidating. But upon seeing the water battlefield, a flicker of delight passed through his eyes.
"Battle—begin!"
Seeing that his opponent still hadn't released a Pokémon, Kael couldn't help but find it amusing.
Am I really that scary?
Shaking his head, he flicked his wrist and threw a Poké Ball. It arced high into the air, burst open with a pop, and a red beam landed on the floating platform above the water.
As the light faded, Lulu's graceful figure appeared before everyone.
Kirlia were rare even in her native Hoenn. To the people of Kanto, this was a Pokémon they had never seen—or even heard of before.
"Wow!" Violet couldn't help shouting, grabbing Lily's arm and shaking it excitedly.
"Sis, look! That Pokémon is so pretty! It looks just like a little human girl—a princess!"
Lily didn't say a word, but the light in her eyes said everything. Kirlia's elegance was more than enough to captivate anyone with a sensitive heart.
"Phew…" Seeing that Kael's Pokémon clearly wasn't a Water-type, Luqi relaxed. Perhaps embarrassed by his earlier hesitation, he immediately threw his own Poké Ball.
A flash of red light—
And a jellyfish-like Pokémon splashed into the pool.