You can read ahead up to 30 chapters on my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395
In the second round of the preliminary matches, Luther faced a fifteen-year-old girl named Airi from Oreburgh City.
Mentioning Oreburgh City reminded Luther of his first opponent, Haruto Kisaragi.
When Luther arrived near the battle arena, he froze for a moment.
Near the entrance, Haruto Kisaragi stood with his arms crossed, leaning against his Arcanine as if waiting for someone.
"I thought you'd already left Lily of the Valley Island," Luther said, greeting him first.
Seeing Luther, Haruto Kisaragi smiled. "Due to some special circumstances, I decided to stay one more day."
He rummaged through the backpack hanging from his Arcanine's side and pulled out a large bag of colorful candies.
"Marill, this is for you."
Marill, who had been preparing for battle by adjusting her position at Luther's feet, froze for a second before instinctively catching the bag Haruto tossed over.
"They're famous fruit gummies from Lily of the Valley Island. I stood in line for a long time to get them. Consider it a bribe. Fight well today. I'll be waiting here for Airi to get eliminated."
After hearing that, Luther seemed to understand something.
Marill understood, too. She skillfully tore open the bag, peeled a fruit gummy, popped it into her mouth, and wagged her tail at Haruto.
Seeing Marill's spirits rise, Luther wondered if he should let her fight the entire match by herself.
After Luther left, Haruto Kisaragi sat down with Arcanine. He pulled a second bag of fruit gummies out of his backpack and shared them with Arcanine and Cacturne. He enjoyed a takeout sandwich from the restaurant under the warm sunlight.
As the match approached, a girl wearing a white short-sleeved shirt, gray cropped pants, and a high ponytail walked past Haruto.
"This young lady is about to enter the third round. Haruto Kisaragi, do you have anything to say to me?" Airi grinned.
"Just try your best."
Before Haruto could finish speaking, Airi flipped her ponytail and walked into the passageway.
Haruto was convinced she didn't stand a chance.
They had set out from Oreburgh City together and battled each other countless times. Airi had never won. Haruto knew her strengths very well.
She had been lucky in the first round, but that luck didn't carry over. In the second round, she ran straight into Luther.
After being eliminated, Airi mocked Haruto for being unable to handle a Marill. All Haruto could do was lower his head and agree repeatedly.
After all, it was "just" a Marill.
Airi declared that she would advance to the main tournament stage and told Haruto to watch her do it.
Haruto canceled his ticket for today's ship departure. He decided to delay his departure and stay to witness everything properly.
He exchanged his ticket for one departing tomorrow.
Even outside the arena, the commentator's excited voice could be heard, and the large electronic screen displayed the battle happening inside.
"This is unbelievable! Marill took a Leaf Blade head-on, completely ignoring the type disadvantage! With just one Ice Punch, Victreebel has been knocked out!"
Haruto didn't need to look; he could picture the scene in his mind.
Given Airi's Victreebel's speed, Luther's Marill didn't need Espurr to set up Trick Room to easily defeat it.
"Airi's second Pokémon is Magneton!" The type advantage is clear. Will Luther make a switch? Oh no! Luther keeps Marill on the field!"
"Marill nimbly dodges Thunderbolt!" One Brick Break, and Magneton has completely lost its ability to battle! What kind of Machamp is this? Does Airi not have a single Pokémon capable of stopping Marill?!"
Haruto Kisaragi slowly stood up and checked his backpack.
He confirmed that he had packed a handkerchief and had tissues ready.
Haruto Kisaragi took the handkerchief out and put it in his shirt pocket. Then he put the tissues in his pants pocket. Just as he finished preparing, the commentator's voice rang loudly in his ears.
"This is outrageous! Lanturn's Thunderbolt clearly hit Marill, yet Marill took the hit and used a Brute Force move to knock Lanturn straight out of the Battle Arena!"
"Contestant Luther and his Marill have once again displayed terrifying strength! They advance to the third round of the direct elimination stage!"
Near the battle passageway, Luther and Marill were the first to emerge. Luther planned to head back toward the spectator stands but stopped in his tracks when he spotted Haruto Kisaragi.
Airi also came out behind Luther. She paused and took the opportunity to shake Luther's hand. She lowered her head and walked out of the passageway.
Marill held up the fruit gummies and waved at Haruto. Haruto raised his hand and gave a small wave in return.
Airi walked straight toward Haruto, lifted her head, and said through clenched teeth, "If you want to laugh, just laugh."
Before leaving, Luther silently mouthed "Good luck" to Haruto. That almost made Haruto chuckle, but he quickly held it back.
"Do you want to cry for a bit?"
"Huh? What kind of person do you think I am?" It's just a small loss. How could I possibly cry?"
It had always been this way since they were kids. No matter how hard she tried to hold it in, she couldn't. Her emotions were always written all over her face; she was always that easy to read.
Watching Airi gradually deflate and squat down on the ground, sobbing, Haruto Kisaragi sighed and signaled to Cacturne and Arcanine to block the view a little.
"Here. Here's a handkerchief."
Airi sniffled as she took the handkerchief. Suddenly, she realized something and said tearfully, "Did you assume I'd cry?"
"Yes."
Tears welled up in Airi's eyes. She desperately wanted to accuse Haruto of having no tact, but she ultimately kept her complaint to herself.
"In the first round, more than five hundred people were eliminated. Some couldn't advance to the second round because of bad luck in the draw. Others weren't strong enough and were defeated by weaker opponents. But at the end of the day, it all comes down to strength.
Even luck only matters when your strength is roughly on par."
Haruto pulled out the bag of fruit gummies he had waited in line for three hours to buy.
"You've liked these since we were little. I bought them specially for you. Want a few to cheer yourself up?"
Airi froze when she saw the colorful candies. Still crying, she opened one. "I thought I had surpassed you."
"There will be plenty of chances in the future," Haruto replied.
He rubbed Arcanine's head. "Actually, this is pretty good, too. Even though you lost badly, you gained the memory and experience of battling a top-tier Pokémon trainer. Opportunities like that aren't something everyone gets."
"Work hard again. We'll come back in two years. If that's not enough time, then we'll come back in four years. The road is walked step by step, right? Didn't Senior Bertha say that when we ran into her yesterday?"
"Opportunities are always reserved for us."
Luther and Marill hadn't left. Their curiosity burning brightly, they had been watching from afar for quite some time.
Though they couldn't hear what Haruto and Airi were saying, it was obvious that Airi's sobbing had gradually lessened.
After a while, Haruto Kisaragi took Airi's hand and led her away.
Before leaving, he raised his left hand and waved toward Luther, who was peeking out from behind a corner.
(End of Chapter)