One week later, Planet Pokémon.
The postponed finals of the Sinnoh League between Ash and Tobias finally commenced.
But to be honest, many people who came to watch the match live weren't really there to see these two battle, but rather...
The camera panned.
It lingered on one side of the audience stands for several seconds before reluctantly moving away.
The faces shown were none other than Lott, the Nakano Quintuplets, and the two Nakiri Sisters.
"Why am I in seat 773, while Lott is in 777?"
Looking at the seat number in her hand, Miku puffed out her cheeks, feeling a little jealous.
She had originally wanted to hold Lott's hand during the match and have a sweet date.
With such a distance between them, unless Lott had the powers of the Gomu Gomu no Mi, there was no way he could reach.
"You got that ticket when we bought them. What? Miku, don't tell me you want to switch? How greedy~"
Nino feigned composure, flipping her hair with one hand while tightly clutching the ticket for seat 776 in the other.
Of course, she couldn't say she had bribed the ticket seller in advance.
"I-I do not! Then, why aren't we watching from the VIP room?"
Miku's pretty face flushed slightly, feeling a little disgruntled.
"Watching live has atmosphere. Sitting in a luxurious room, you can't experience the passion of the match, right?"
Although concerned about Miku's feelings, Nino hadn't dared to confess to her sisters that she and Lott had already done that.
But isn't it normal for a girl in love to pull some small tricks?
After everyone was seated, Nino secretly grabbed Lott's right hand.
On the other side, Erina secretly did the same.
Alice, sitting to Erina's left, her face darkened slightly.
Her mind wasn't on the match at all.
Instead, she was thinking about how to turn the tables.
"Lott-kun! Who do you think will win!?"
Yotsuba, with Swinub on her head like a furry hat, energetically called out to Lott from past Nino.
"Eighty-twenty split."
Lott thought for a moment and said.
He had run into Ash and the others just before entering.
According to them, Ash really hadn't pulled any weird stunts these past two months, calling back Charizard, Sceptile, and the others to train.
Although there was still a gap compared to Tobias's team of Legendaries-
If Ash could pull off a power-up, he still had a chance.
"Go! Darkrai!"
As the referee raised the flag to start the match, Tobias sent out his signature Pokémon first.
It had to be said, the two of them standing on the same field, their hairstyles looked somewhat similar.
"It's appeared. The Secondary Legendary that single-handedly defeated all the Pokémon of the eight Sinnoh Gym Leaders to collect all the badges."
Brock's squinted eyes tightened further.
Lott's eyes narrowed slightly.
'I was already disgusted once in my previous life, don't disgust me again this time.'
"I'm counting on you for the first match! Charizard!"
Ash wasn't intimidated by the Dark-type Legendary. He spun his cap with his left hand and threw the Poké Ball forcefully with his right, performing his signature move.
Charizard takes the field!
When Lott saw the accessory around Charizard's neck and the cyan-blue gem at its center, he rarely showed a slightly dazed look in his eyes, and smiled:
"Now it's seventy-thirty."
Under the astonished gaze of many, Ash pulled up his left sleeve, revealing the Keystone on his wristband.
"Charizard! Mega Evolve-"
The Mega Stone on Charizard's neck resonated with the Keystone on Ash's wristband, weaving together a spectrum of light.
Charizard's body changed dramatically, its form turning black, breathing azure flames!
Charizard X!
[Who gave it to him?]
Lott asked curiously in the group.
[Gary: I heard Ash saved an old man in Lavender Town, and he gave it to him. Lucky guy.]
Lott tried to recall.
'Oh, that was probably Red's storyline from the special episodes or manga.'
'But it's fine. This way, Ash's chances improved a bit.'
…
"Latios is unable to battle! Pikachu wins! Therefore, the victor is... Ash from Pallet Town!"
Half an hour later, as the portrait of Tobias's last Pokémon darkened on the large screen, the referee raised the flag announcing the final outcome of the championship match.
Ash's childhood friends, like Brock, Gary, Tracey, and the others, jumped down from the stands and lifted Ash high into the air.
Tobias, having recalled Latios, let out a long sigh. He looked up towards the man who remained seated, appearing extremely calm compared to the other spectators, but still wearing a clear smile and clapping.
Tobias then looked at Yotsuba, sitting a couple of seats away from Lott. Many could recognize that Swinub was the one previously owned by the Masked Man.
The abnormal little Swinub that could freeze Mewtwo, a Primary Legendary-
Lott actually gave it away!
Coupled with Ishigami Yu's precedent-
Countless people across the universe now desired to become one of Lott's followers.
Anything Lott casually threw away that he didn't want was a priceless treasure to others.
Tobias held nothing back today, wanting to perform well to attract Lott's attention.
But seeing Lott's applauding figure, Tobias looked somewhat unwilling towards the boy being lifted up across the field.
'Did I just pave the way for someone else?'
However, what Tobias didn't know was that Lott's applause was less about praising Ash and more about being glad he wasn't disgusted this time.
It was also an affirmation of his own childhood.
As for taking on subordinates...
Not to mention Lott's personal style was completely different from Frieza's-
As he wasn't in the intergalactic real estate business, so he didn't need that many subordinates-
Even if he were to take some on, he wouldn't choose someone like Ash.
His performance was too inconsistent, a specialist in causing high blood pressure.
"Let's go home,"
Lott said to the Nakano Quintuplets and the Nakiri Sisters.
"Aunt Delia invited us to Ash's victory celebration. Let's stay one more day. Besides, there's another match tomorrow..."
After the match ended, Miku immediately pushed Nino aside and grabbed Lott's right hand herself.
Nino, having been bumped, gritted her teeth in frustration.
But remembering she was indeed in the wrong, she ultimately swallowed her anger.
'Match tomorrow?'
'Miku was probably talking about the Elite Four Challenge.'
Every year after a regional league concludes, the person who wins the championship earns the right to challenge the Elite Four and the Champion.
Defeating one of them allows them to take their place.
But to be honest, Lott didn't think the current Ash stood a chance against Cynthia or any of the Sinnoh Elite Four.
No matter how much he powered up, it was useless.
But he agreed anyway. He had been indulging in role-play with Nino lately and had spent less time with Miku.
"Tonight, do you want to..."
"Pervert! I'm sleeping with Ichika and the others tonight!"
Before Lott could finish, Miku ran off with a red face.
If she slept separately from her sisters, she'd definitely be teased by them for a while.
Lott shrugged, turning his gaze towards Erina.
The tsundere girl's face flushed slightly as she turned away.
Lott, having fully understood Erina's personality, knew that this expression meant agreement.
And because Lott's attention was completely focused on Erina's turned-away curvaceous rear-
He completely failed to notice Alice on the other side, her red eyes darting around rapidly.
At the end of the celebration party that night, Ash finally broke down in tears.
From receiving Pikachu until now, after struggling for a full four years, he had finally managed to win a league championship.
It hadn't been easy.
If Lott knew his thought, he would have answered, 'Four years is pretty good, you went 20 years without a win in the original work!'
Later, Ash, still with swollen eyes, thanked Lott.
Although it was just a piece of advice, Ash knew in his heart that if he hadn't followed Lott's advice, he wouldn't even be qualified to touch the trophy.
Aunt Delia also took the opportunity to try and persuade Lott to become Ash's godfather.
Lott, of course, couldn't agree to something like that, and his expression was utterly baffled at the time.
'What the heck?'
'Godfather?'
Lott felt he wanted to be Ash's father-in-law more.