Galar region, Gongmen City.

Sunlight struck the towering Rose Tower, and not far away at the Gongmen City arena, a boiling cheer erupted.

“Come on, witness the champion’s moment—”

Dan Emperor, dressed in a neat black tracksuit, stood on the grass. His gaze was sharp as he raised his hand and recalled Charizard into its Poké Ball.

The band on his arm flashed with brilliant light. Bathed in Gigantamax energy, the Poké Ball’s appearance gradually expanded.

“Go, Charizard!!”

Dan Emperor threw the enlarged Poké Ball.

Boom!

A colossal Gigantamax Charizard rose up, its wings transformed into roaring flames. Fire surged along its neck and from its mouth as it spread its massive claws.

“Roooar!!” The Gigantamax Charizard reared and roared;

the purplish-red Gigantamax energy condensed into shockwaves that surged outward.

“Hmph, this move again.” Kabu bared his teeth, excitement and ferocity flashing in his eyes. “Show me something new, Champion!”

“Ah, I will.” Dan Emperor’s eyes were sharp as he smiled. “Charizard and I are fired up!”

“Duraludon—”

Kabu recalled Duraludon, then heaved the Poké Ball with force. “Gigantamax!!”

Duraludon’s form swelled, its base solid and its upper body like a skyscraper. The metal on its surface gleamed, as hard as diamond.

Two Gigantamax Pokémon faced each other across the field. The audience’s emotions, shouts, and cheers reached a fever pitch!

Kabu suddenly clenched his fist and declared:

“Gigantamax—Deterioration Decay!!”

The skyscraper-sized Gigantamax Duraludon roiled with purplish-red Dragon energy. Aura around it rapidly decayed and was shaved away, and a dark beam erupted with a thunderous roar!

“Charizard.” Dan Emperor smiled and stretched out his arm, shouting, “Gigantamax—Infernal Eradication!!”

Charizard’s exclusive Gigantamax move: golden flames churned in its mouth.

Charizard’s flaming wings blazed even brighter as a golden firebird shot out from its maw, its shriek colliding with the dark beam.

Red and purple energies crossed and clashed, lights intertwining. Flames crashed through the beam, and in an instant the skyscraper-sized Gigantamax Duraludon was consumed!

Boom!!

An explosion rang out.

Kabu hit his forehead in frustration, but still gave a smile to the Rotom phone that was streaming a selfie.

Another day losing to Dan Emperor...

In master-level arenas, he hadn’t beaten Dan Emperor even once.

Back in the locker room, having showered and changed into fresh clothes, Kabu ran into Dan Emperor in the corridor. He put his hands in his pockets and blocked Dan Emperor’s path.

“Hey, we’ll battle again tomorrow!” Kabu’s eyes were unfriendly.

Kabu was half a head taller than Dan Emperor. Dan Emperor tilted his head up slightly and smiled, “Tomorrow’s probably not possible.”

“Tsk, don’t tell me you’re going to play games with the old man again.”

“No, it’s Teacher Lu’s ribbon-cutting ceremony.” Dan Emperor explained. “He opened a café in Miare City. It officially opens tomorrow.”

Kabu paused.

Teacher Lu...

The man who single-handedly drove off Primal Kyogre and Primal Groudon and saved Hoenn alone.

A year ago he came to Gongmen City once and had a friendly match with Dan Emperor, taking Kabu’s place.

“Is that so? He invited you.” Kabu scratched his head and said vaguely, “Then fine, you go… if you can find the place.”

“Do you want to come?” Dan Emperor invited. “There will be some of the top eight Masters attending.”

The top eight seats of the World Championships are called the Eight Masters.

Rankings have shifted over the years, but Dan Emperor has always held the champion seat, followed by Lance, Cynthia, Steven, and others.

Kabu had once been at the lower end of the Eight Masters, but seats change quickly;

last year he was toppled by the old man, Master Ma.

Since the standard format was used, the legends Red and Green did not participate.

However, Dan Emperor’s Gigantamax Charizard had already brushed up against something above champion level—the realm of the “battle legends.”

In the game Ultimate Sun and Moon, Red and Green were invited to the Battle Tree in Alola;

their strength was considered “battle-legend” caliber.

Beyond rigorous training, endless battles, clever tactics, and abundant resources…

Love for Pokémon and deep bonds were the keys to becoming a “battle legend.”

“I didn’t receive an invitation, so forget it.” Kabu shoved his hands deeper into his pockets.

“Sonia didn’t either.” Dan Emperor smiled. “But Teacher Lu said I could bring a few guides with me and travel with him.”

Kabu sighed. “Really… so even he knows you’re hopeless with directions now.”

“Haha.” Dan Emperor laughed cheerfully. “Just think of it as the champion’s little flaw—like the Sinnoh Champion’s indecisiveness or the Hoenn Champion’s cleanliness obsession.”

“That actually makes sense.” Kabu muttered.

That old man must be addicted to the internet, then.

“Who else is coming tomorrow?”

“Champion Cynthia, Mr. Steven, Lord Lance… and Masters from the Kalos region.” Dan Emperor replied.

Kabu’s expression turned strange.

Teacher Lu really had broad friendships...

No—more accurately, those trainers felt they owed him a favor.

“Trainers of that caliber not competing in the World Championships, and he opens a café?”

Kabu muttered, “I really don’t know what he’s thinking…”

**

Miare City, Prism Tower.

Acting Gym Leader Lu Ye was taking gym challenges.

“Strange… isn’t this an Electric-type gym? Why did the leader open with Togepi?” a newcomer asked in confusion.

“Because my Togepi knows Thunder Wave.” Lu Ye answered seriously.

Newcomer: “……”

That tiny Togepi—watch me one-shot it!

Ten minutes later.

“Congratulations, challenge passed. This is your Prism Badge.” Lu Ye encouraged.

As a gym leader, his main duties were assessment, teaching, and motivation.

The leader adjusts the Pokémon strength depending on the challenger’s existing badges, so there are multiple backup teams.

The newcomer looked blankly at the “acting gym leader,” then, recalling the one-versus-three Togepi, bewildered, took the badge and left.

“Next!”

“Hello, I’m here to challenge Prism... ah, Teacher Lu! Goodbye!”

Lu Ye watched the newcomer turn and run away like their life depended on it, puzzled.

Weird… shouldn’t my assessments and teaching make me more popular?

With Clembot successfully rebooted, Lu Ye gracefully retired, ending his afternoon as acting gym leader.

However, the urban legend that “Prism Gym is the strongest gym in Kalos” slowly began to spread...

As evening fell.

Lu Ye returned to the café. The little butler Indeedee held its paws together, wearing a smile.

Espathra used Psychic to float teaware and poured Lu Ye a cup of lemon water.

“No need to go so far;

you only need to watch the café. We’re friends, after all.”

The two small helpers blinked but continued as usual.

Lu Ye was in no hurry;

relationships need time to grow. The shop would eventually have more staff.

Like Popplio? Psyduck? Slowpoke?

Hmm… none of those seem particularly clever.

The little pastry chef Alcremie was still in the kitchen honing its culinary skills. Besides desserts, it could make coffee, milkshakes, and other café items.

Lu Ye tried a cream puff made with fresh cream by Alcremie… the taste could only be described as “bliss.”

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was scheduled for tomorrow morning.

Members of the chat said they would come visit if they were free.

The exact schedule still needed careful planning.

With so many champions and big names coming… what if they suddenly wanted to battle? The café couldn’t handle that.

Of course, Teacher Lu had countermeasures.

Lu Ye rubbed his chin.

“I’ll have to ask Mew to fortify the area with a Light Screen…”

…

September 9, Thursday, early morning.

Cynthia arrived at the café early and headed straight through the courtyard to the back room.

Haunter eagerly opened the door for Cynthia: “Gengarrr~”

“Good morning, Haunter.” Cynthia smiled.

“Gengarrr!” Haunter chuckled, scratching its head.

“Breakfast is still being made;

it’ll be ready soon!”

Sounds of pots and pans came from the kitchen along with Lu Ye’s voice.

Cynthia’s lips involuntarily lifted into a smile as she settled lightly onto the sofa and picked up the book she had left on the coffee table last time.

“Bu-bii~” Sylveon snuggled into Cynthia’s lap, finding a comfortable position to lie down.

The little one was already very close to Cynthia and remained as cranky toward strangers as ever.

Cynthia’s golden hair cascaded as she stroked Sylveon’s snowy back with one hand while holding the book in the other.

Lu Ye carried out two plates of sandwiches, set them on the table, and called casually:

“Ducklett, come help carry these dishes.”

“Quaa~” Sirfetch’d set down its leek shield, waddled in on its webbed feet, dashed into the kitchen, and obediently carried out the plates.

Lu Ye always wondered whether a Farfetch’d without its leek still counted as a Pokémon.

In the games, even newly hatched Farfetch’d carry a leek.

But seeing Sirfetch’d able to hold chopsticks, it could probably handle other weapons too—like a rusty sword, a decayed shield… (scratch that)

Breakfast was black coffee, tree fruit juice, butter and cheese sandwiches, white sausages, and selected apples.

“Juice or coffee?” Lu Ye lifted the tea can.

Cynthia gave Lu Ye a look, crossed her long fingers under her chin, and said softly, “You choose.”

The verdict: Mengmengda loves sweets, so tree fruit juice it was.

Despite the fine fare, Cynthia didn’t appear any heavier.

Lu Ye’s gaze fell on Cynthia’s fair cheek as she cut her sandwich, the corner of her eye curving into a lovely smile.

Following her jawline, Lu Ye nodded slightly.

That drip is huge—no wait… that black outfit is really white.

He lifted his eyes and met Cynthia’s deep gaze, and Lu Ye was slightly stunned.

“Does it look good?” Cynthia asked.

Lu Ye shook his head, thought for a moment, then nodded.

“Think carefully.” Cynthia coquettishly fluttered her eyes.

“Cynthia’s chest is as perfect as Cynthia herself.”

“That’s too perfunctory…and vulgar.” Cynthia closed her eyes and sighed softly.

“What’s wrong with guys liking chests.” Lu Ye said, righteously.

“Liking?”

Cynthia glanced down at the rise and fall of her own chest and didn’t find anything special.

“Of course!” Lu Ye nodded emphatically.

Looking at Lu Ye, Cynthia quietly said, “Then sit... over here.”

Lu Ye stood and moved toward Cynthia, lifting the golden hair off the seat;

Cynthia’s fair cheek was tinged with a flush.

“Are you catching a cold?” Lu Ye blinked.

Cynthia took Lu Ye’s hand and placed it on her body;

her neck was slightly red.

“...How does it feel.”

Lu Ye’s expression froze.

Cynthia suddenly frowned, her cheeks flushing as she glared at Lu Ye and lowered her voice: “Enough.”

“Ahem, subconscious action.”

They diverted their gazes.

Cynthia remained composed and beautiful, golden hair loose, elegant in manner. She continued slicing bread, a faint blush still on her face.

Lu Ye looked down at his palm.

He suddenly clenched his fist, eyes steadied.

Yes, yes!!

…

Pokémon Café, ribbon-cutting ceremony.

On the south street many onlookers gathered, standing outside the crowd and peering toward the street.

Some took out phones to take pictures;

some whispered.

“It really is Teacher Lu…”

“And Steven is here too! He actually came!”

Steven, wearing a suit, quietly asked:

“Teacher Lu, you seem distracted. What’s on your mind?”

“Ah?”

Lu Ye came back to himself and explained, “Hmm... I was thinking about when Dan Emperor would arrive.”

“Miare City’s streets are so complicated. Even with navigation, it’s a hassle.” Steven said helplessly.

Lu Ye looked up at the sky.

Miare City’s streets... for someone bad with directions, it’s a nightmare.

But with Sonia as a guide… it should be easier?

Bang!!

A commotion started outside the crowd.

Lu Ye followed the noise and saw a pink car nose-dived into a flower bed.

Lu Ye: ???

How did a car end up in a flower bed?!

“Sorry!”

Sonia, wearing sunshades, pushed the car door open and bowed to the citizens: “I’ll call a tow truck!”

From the car’s backseat flipped toward the sky, Kabu crawled out of the door and groaned:

“Dan Emperor... please, don’t let her touch my car…”

A directionally challenged one, and a road-condition killer.

What a hardship for two childhood friends to grow up together healthily!

Dan Emperor scratched his head, “Sorry... sorry for the trouble.”

Passersby: (⊙ˍ⊙)

“Holy—Dan Emperor!!”