Today—the Champion of Kanto shall be crowned!
The final match was scheduled three days after the semifinals, and with its conclusion, the Indigo League would officially close. On this day, across every region, schools and workplaces declared a holiday so that people could fully enjoy the greatest festival of the Pokémon world.
For the past three days, Logan had gone nowhere. He stayed quietly in his hotel, eating and resting normally. Training was already complete; at this point, sharpening his skills in desperation was meaningless. Far better to let his Pokémon recover, and allow himself a moment of true rest.
"This feeling… it's kind of like preparing for the college entrance exams back home."
In the early morning, Logan stood neatly dressed before a full-length mirror. He spun once, checked that everything was in order, then shook his head with a small laugh.
Nervous? Perhaps a little. But only just a little.
His Pokédex buzzed constantly with messages—friends sending encouragement. Some were short and direct, like Sabrina's terse two-word blessing. Others, like Erika, sent long messages filled with warmth and concern. Even Caitlin, far away in Unova, had written to him, cheering him on, sharing tales of the strange people and places she'd seen on her travels, and casually mentioning the dangers she had faced.
"Even Caitlin knows how to put in effort… We can't lose, right, Eevee?"
Logan smiled. At once, his shoulder grew heavier as Eevee leapt from the bed to perch on him, crying out cheerfully.
With a fond grin, he recalled Eevee to its Poké Ball, then left his luxurious suite to head toward the arena.
The hotel lobby was already busy. Guests were enjoying breakfast, preparing to head to the stadium. Several bright-faced people waved to Logan as he passed, shouting words of encouragement. Logan waved back politely.
But the moment he stepped outside—flash! flash! flash! A crowd of reporters had camped out, cameras firing like lightning. Questions flew at him chaotically.
Logan sighed softly. Reporters—always troublesome. Wearing a stony expression, he ignored them entirely, striding straight onto the Champion's Road toward the main stadium.
For these three days, he hadn't even sought out Sabrina or Erika. He treated this as seriously as an exam of life itself.
"Yo, Logan! You look well-rested. Energetic, huh?"
Just outside the stadium, Logan ran into Professor Oak. With his status, Oak could go wherever he wished—no one would dare stop him.
"Good morning, Professor. What brings you here so early?"
At the sight of Oak, Logan's smile softened. To him, the old man was more than a mentor—closer even than a grandfather. His respect was genuine.
"When you get older, sleep gets shorter," Oak chuckled. "I woke early and thought I'd come give you and Red some last-minute encouragement. No matter which of you wins, the Champion will be from Pallet Town. Hahaha!"
He laughed warmly. Watching Logan, Red, Blue, and Green grow up was like watching his own grandchildren. With age came sentimentality, and Oak was no exception.
"Oh, and Birch from Hoenn called me. He asked me to pass on his blessings to you. When did you meet him?"
"Back in Fuchsia City," Logan replied.
He paused and briefly recounted how he had saved Professor Birch's daughter during that trip.
"Ah, I see. So you've got quite the fated connection, then. Birch came to Kanto looking for me, but at the time I was away in Johto and Sinnoh. Who would've thought you'd meet him instead?"
Oak clapped Logan on the shoulder and gave him a push forward.
"All right, off you go. The League has prepared a hearty breakfast for the finalists. Eat well, rest well, and then be ready for the match. I'll be watching from the stands!"
"Understood, Professor. I'll head in now."
Logan waved as Oak left, then made his way toward his designated rest chamber.
Meanwhile, under the careful direction of staff, the audience was filing into the stadium. From 8:00 a.m. until nearly 10:00, seats steadily filled until the massive coliseum was packed. The official theme of the Indigo League blared through the speakers, stirring blood and excitement. On the giant screens, highlights of past tournaments played—not only Indigo, but also Hoenn, Sinnoh, and even Unova championships.
The elite of Kanto and Johto's society filled the VIP seats. Even the elusive, rarely-seen Kanto Elite Four had arrived, seated in a special high chamber with an entire wall of reinforced glass.
From within, Lance, Agatha, Bruno, and Lorelei gazed at the swelling crowd. The glass was designed so they could see clearly out, but those outside could only make out vague silhouettes—though the presence of four figures was enough to draw constant attention from fans and media alike.
After all, the Elite Four almost never appeared publicly. In other regions, they occasionally accepted interviews or attended shows. But Kanto's Elite Four? Practically ghosts. For many spectators, this was the first true glimpse of them. Excitement rippled like wildfire.
"Lance, who do you favor for Champion?"
Lorelei sat elegantly, compact mirror in hand as she carefully reapplied lipstick.
"Of course, my dear little brother," Lance replied without hesitation. "From the first time I met him, I knew he was different. This past year, he's faced countless dangers, and every time, he's emerged stronger. Now, in this final match of the Indigo League, I'll witness the fruit of his efforts."
His perpetual confidence never wavered. With cloak draped grandly across his back, he stood with arms folded, gazing at the arena below. He was the only one of the four standing; the others remained seated.
"You trust him that much, hm?" Lorelei closed her compact. "Behind the scenes, haven't you already cleared quite a few obstacles for him?"
"In the past, yes," Lance admitted. "He was too weak then. Many eyes were on him, scheming. I even had to warn the people of Smoky Town to back off. But now? He needs no help from me. He's strong enough that no one dares underestimate him."
His voice carried admiration—but his eyes, as they swept over the packed stadium, darkened slightly. So many humans gathered in one place seemed to irritate him.
"Still," Lorelei sighed softly, "be careful not to nurture a monster, Lance."
"HAHAHAHA! Impossible! He'll understand our ideals. Even if one day he stands against us, I'll make him see the truth: this world is ruled by the strong. The weak must follow the rules of the strong!"
Lance's laughter was loud and reckless, almost arrogant.
"And your trip to Unova? Any news?"
"Unfortunately," Lance's smile faltered, "I couldn't find the 'Dragon of Ideals.' We'll have to proceed with our original plan."
As he spoke, Agatha ignored them, her sharp eyes roaming the crowd instead of the battlefield. She searched until, at last, she found the one she sought. Her gaze locked onto that person and did not waver.
In her eyes, Lance was still a child. Too smooth a life, too easy a path. He underestimated the world. Only when he tasted true defeat would he break his limits and rise further.
As for Bruno, he sat rigid and silent, like a stone statue, eyes narrowed to slits, gleaming with thought.
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