----
Inside the competitor's lounge, Carl continued explaining the match procedures to Kai where he would enter the stadium, what to do if he won, how to exit if he lost, and other formalities related to the Winner's Cup.
As he wrapped up, Carl glanced out the window and suddenly sighed.
"To be honest," he said, "while every Winner's Cup match has been popular, I've never seen enthusiasm this high. The stadium is already packed, and outside, a huge crowd of people who couldn't get tickets is still lingering, unwilling to leave. In all my years working here, I've never witnessed such a grand occasion!"
"Oh?" Kai chuckled. "Well, that just proves the Winner's Cup and the Orange League are getting more popular every year!"
"No…" Carl shook his head and gave Kai a knowing look. "To be honest, our attendance has remained about the same every year. This huge turnout is happening because of you."
"Because of me?" Kai shrugged, feigning indifference. "I didn't do anything this is all thanks to your league's promotions."
Carl let out a soft sigh, knowing full well that the excitement was largely due to Kai's reputation. However, he chose not to dwell on it further.
Instead, after checking the time, he stood up and excused himself.
"There's still a little over an hour before the match begins," he said. "We've already prepared food and drinks for you. Please take this time to rest I won't disturb you any longer."
After Carl left, the room finally quieted down, leaving only Kai and Sabrina.
Kai locked the door behind him and then took a moment to observe his surroundings.
The lounge had immaculate white walls, polished floors, and a layout that balanced functionality and comfort.
There were large monitors, strategy boards, tablets, and other tactical equipment. At the same time, amenities like massage chairs, a refrigerator, and air conditioning made the space feel cosy despite the pressure of the upcoming match.
Even with the thick walls, Kai could still hear the muffled roar of tens of thousands of spectators outside.
Thinking about stepping onto the battlefield under the watchful eyes of so many, he couldn't help but feel his blood pumping.
He had fought many battles before, but this feeling never got old.
Still, to his own surprise, the moment he entered this room, all of his unnecessary distractions disappeared.
Instead of feeling nervous, he felt focused his mind was completely clear.
Kai smiled to himself.
Maybe… I really am the type of Trainer who thrives on big matches.
He released several of his Pokémon, letting them adjust to the atmosphere while he reclined on the couch, closing his eyes to rest.
After all, last night's lack of sleep had left him physically and mentally drained. With an early wake-up time and the intense battle ahead, he needed to recharge.
Sabrina, seeing him like this, didn't say anything.
She simply rested her chin on her palm, watching him silently.
---
Meanwhile – Shamouti Island, Orange Islands
At the centre of the Orange Islands, on Shamouti Island, a group of people had gathered inside a banquet hall, tuning their television to the Winner's Cup broadcast.
The screen showed the two hosts from yesterday, giving the final pre-match commentary.
The camera behind them captured the thrilling, jam-packed atmosphere of Pummelo Stadium.
Sitting cross-legged on a chair, Melody turned toward the kitchen and shouted.
"Hurry up, sis! It's about to start!"
"Coming!"
A voice replied, and a moment later, Carol emerged from the kitchen, carrying several fruit platters.
Seeing how excited her younger sister looked, Carol set a plate in front of her with a fond smile.
"Melody, don't rush," she teased. "Look at the clock there's still plenty of time before the match starts."
Melody giggled, casually popping a grape into her mouth.
Between bites, she mumbled, "Sis, who do you think will win?"
"Hmm?" Carol smirked, glancing at her. "I think the real question is who do you WANT to win?"
"Ugh, stop teasing!" Melody pouted, then blushed slightly before murmuring, "Obviously, I want Kai to win! After all, he saved the world and helped us so much!"
"Is that really the only reason?" Carol gave her a knowing look. "Or is it because you like him?"
"Stop it!" Melody's face flushed red as she pouted harder But then Carol frowned slightly.
"Even though I don't understand Pokémon battles, I've heard that Drake is extremely strong. Since becoming Chief Trainer, he's already defeated dozens of challengers."
Melody wasn't exactly knowledgeable about Pokémon battles either. In fact, before today, she had never paid much attention to these kinds of matches.
But that didn't stop her from blindly believing in Kai.
"So what?" She lifted her chin proudly. "No matter who his opponent is, I believe Kai will win!"
----
Meanwhile – Vermilion City, Kanto
A similar scene was taking place in Vermilion City, inside Professor Cerise's research lab.
The Cerise family, along with Chloe and Talia, had gathered in front of a large TV, eagerly watching the live broadcast.
The previous night, when Chloe learned that Kai would be competing, she immediately told her father.
As luck would have it, Professor Cerise's schedule was light this week, so he decided to take the day off, bringing his family and assistant together to watch the match.
But they weren't the only ones watching.
A group of bikers, Kai's most loyal supporters, had also gathered inside their newly founded Pokémon Trainer Club, where they, too, were glued to the screen, eagerly anticipating his battle against Drake!
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