The next morning, at six o'clock sharp, Hisoka opened his eyes without the need for an alarm. Once a biological clock is established, it is far more reliable than any mechanical reminder.
After washing up, he pulled on a black athletic tank top. Accompanied by Sneasel, who was still yawning and shaking off sleep, the pair stepped out of the room.
Hisoka usually released his Pokémon from their Poké Balls when it was time to sleep. While the Poké Balls had no negative effects and even helped restore stamina, there was simply no substitute for the comfort of a real bed.
Lulu remained in the room to continue her rest. Psychic-type Pokémon did not require intense physical exertion; they could steadily increase their power through quiet meditation and rest.
The early bird catches the worm. Sneasel's current physical condition and muscle density were still a bit lacking, which was why it hadn't yet mastered its STAB move, Night Slash. Even its Swords Dance was limited to a single use; forcing a second iteration would damage its muscle fibers rather than stimulate them.
By the time the warm-up was finished, the sky was just beginning to brighten. While the rest of the city was still deep in slumber, a young man and a Sneasel were already jogging around the perimeter of the Cerulean Gym.
They started at a slow pace, but after three laps, they accelerated to a full sprint. Sneasel kept its arms tucked behind its back, matching its master's frantic pace. The physical capabilities of a Pokémon always far exceeded those of a human, especially an agile species like Sneasel.
Sneasel possessed explosive power and incredible speed; all it lacked was endurance.
Five laps, eight, ten, fifteen, twenty... An hour and a half later, as the sunlight fully bathed the earth, Hisoka and Sneasel stood drenched in sweat under the shade of a tree, gasping for breath.
The feeling of being soaked in sweat after such intense exercise was truly invigorating. Anyone who exercised regularly knew that once this became a habit, it was addictive.
After returning to the room to share a cold shower with Sneasel, Hisoka took both of his Pokémon to the dining hall. The room was empty, save for the pre-prepared food; it seemed no one else was awake yet.
"Looks like we're the first ones here!" Hisoka joked as he picked up three plates and began serving. Beef and eggs were essential, along with some broccoli and tomatoes. Since Lulu was a vegetarian, Hisoka only picked out some Berries and vegetables for her.
It wasn't until eight o'clock that other figures began trickling into the hall gym staff and interns alike. They cast curious glances at Hisoka, who had already finished his meal and was leading his two Pokémon back out.
Hisoka had to admire that chubby kid, Chōji. The boy could eat and sleep like no other. If the selection match hadn't been scheduled for ten o'clock, he probably would have slept right through the day.
"I almost made it late!" Chōji panted, patting his trembling chest. "Hisoka-bro, do you think we'll be matched together in the first round?"
Chōji was two years younger than Hisoka, only thirteen. After their conversation the previous day, he had very naturally started treating Hisoka like an older brother.
"We will now begin the first round of the elimination tournament!" the eldest sister, Daisy, announced loudly into a microphone. "Will the two contestants please step over to the pool?"
Today's battlefield was no longer the standard earthen field from yesterday. Instead, the fight would take place on water the signature battlefield of the Water-type Cerulean Gym.
Two white floating boards, each the width of a person, drifted on the surface of the pool to provide a standing area for Pokémon that weren't Water-types. Compared to trainers using Water Pokémon, those without them were undeniably at a natural disadvantage on this terrain.
Luchi, a blue-haired young trainer from Porta Vista, was initially quite nervous. It was only natural to feel some pressure when facing an opponent who had performed as dominantly as Hisoka had the day before. However, when he saw the pool setting, a flicker of secret joy flashed in his eyes.
"Battle begin!"
Seeing that his opponent was hesitant to release his Pokémon, Hisoka found it slightly amusing. Was he really that terrifying?
Shaking his head wordlessly, he flicked his wrist and tossed a Poké Ball high into the air. With a soft pop, the ball opened, and a red beam of light struck the white floating board.
As the light dissipated, Lulu's elegant figure appeared before the crowd.
Even in her home region of Hoenn, Kirlia was considered rare. To the people of Kanto, she was an absolute curiosity a Pokémon most had never even heard of, let alone seen.
"Wow!" Violet couldn't help but cry out. She immediately grabbed her sister Lily's arm and shook it. "Look, sister! That Pokémon is so beautiful! She looks just like a little human girl... like a little princess."
The pink-haired Lily didn't speak, but her shimmering eyes betrayed her feelings. Kirlia's graceful form was indeed perfectly suited to capturing the hearts of these sentimental women.
"Whew!" Luchi breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't recognize the Pokémon, but it was clear at a glance that it wasn't a Water-type. Perhaps feeling that his previous hesitation had looked cowardly, he immediately threw his own Poké Ball.
In a flash of red light, a Pokémon resembling a jellyfish dropped into the water.
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