All eyes turned to the strikingly handsome trainer.

After a stunned silence, the fans erupted.

"Brothers, we caught the elusive Natsume-sensei!!"

"Wait, Natsume-sensei is actually fighting? Isn't he just a keyboard warrior?"

"Fake fans GTFO!"

"Uh… isn't this the gaming content creator I follow?"

Casual spectators blinked at the frenzy.

Fans whipped out phones, snapping photos—this was their closest shot at "ganking" Natsume-sensei.

The arena buzzed with debate.

"No way he beats Leader Shiori…"

"This isn't a Gym Challenge. No reserve teams—only their mains!"

"Natsume-sensei, GOAT!!"

Before Natsume even stepped forward, the crowd was electric.

A gaming creator's hype overshadowed the battle specialists, leaving trainers bewildered.

Until they realized—

"Wait, isn't he the guy behind the 'Sun-Sand Team' guide I've been studying?!"

"Thought he was just a Tokyo Metropolitan University student?"

"Rumored Tokaido Champion… but Shiori's on another level."

"Don't be so sure…"

Onstage, Takuya sighed wryly.

With Natsume's skills… maybe.

Then his face twitched.

This bastard brought a rookie team.

If he still won against Shiori…

Might as well resign as Leader now.

Yet despite his internal flag-planting…

…Kinda hope the jerk pulls it off.

The host, stunned by the audience's fervor, tried to mediate:

"Natsume-sensei, to avoid delaying the awards—"

The spotlight chased the young man as he strode onto the field, Togepi in arms.

The host hastily offered a mic.

"Couldn't refuse such enthusiasm."

Natsume nodded to Shiori, then grinned sheepishly at the crowd:

"Just a friendly match. If I get crushed, no posting videos—deal?"

Laughter rippled through the arena.

Fans understood.

As a strategy specialist, Natsume's breeding skills might be… lacking.

They held their breath, ready to relish his defeat.

Natsume-sensei winning? Cool.

Natsume-sensei humiliated? Priceless.

"Worth every penny!"

"Pigeon king finally gets his comeuppance!"

"Depends on his team comp though…?"

Shiori smiled, unfazed by the chatter.

"Good luck."

"You too."

As they took their positions, Lt. Surge groaned from the sidelines:

"More waiting?!"

Brock crossed his arms. "Might be shorter than you think."

Murmurs spread as Natsume made his choice.

"Did he give up?"

"Togepi's adorable!"

"Well, it's just for fun."

The audience cooed at the tiny egg Pokémon.

Then their smiles froze.

Shiori's eyes widened.

Her Kingdra, though healed, still bore scratches from the last match.

Yet—

"Togepi, Dazzling Gleam!"

"Togepi doo-ee~~"

A radiant ring of light engulfed Kingdra, searing its scales black.

"Critical damage?!" Shiori whispered. "How?!"

This wasn't normal breeding.

She snapped into focus. "Kingdra, Bounce!"

Kingdra launched skyward, then divebombed like a blade.

Natsume smirked. "Nasty Plot."

A move Togepi likely learned from Gengar's mischief.

Now or never.

"Doo-ii!" Togepi waved its nubby arms, eyes sharpening beneath a floating "?" icon.

Togepi's gaze turned lethal.

As Kingdra struck—

Classic Natsume-sensei tactics. A shimmering Protect barrier flared.

The crowd roared.

"He buffed first, then shielded?!"

"Outplayed Shiori from the start!"

"That Protect timing—chef's kiss!"

Takuya's gut twisted.

Natsume had anticipated Shiori's probing "Bounce" strategy.

Using him as the practice dummy.

This guy reads minds.

Shiori's frown deepened. She was in trouble.

"Kingdra, Hydro Pump!"

A blade-like jet of water shot toward Togepi.

The arena held its breath.

What now?

Double Protect?

Tank it and counter with Dazzling Gleam?

Natsume's lips curled.

"Doo-ii~"

Togepi bowed cutely at Kingdra.

Kingdra: ?

Then—poof!—it vanished into its Poké Ball, which snapped back to Natsume's palm.

Smack!

He caught it, already hurling another.

Takuya gasped. "No way—"

Baton Pass.

Togepi's Nasty Plot boost transferred to its successor.

BOOM!

Hydro Pump smashed empty ground.

Two turns.

Two flawless outplays.

The audience gaped.

They'd assumed Natsume-sensei was all theory—like a coach who couldn't play.

But this?

You call this a gaming content creator?!

Shiori's eyes burned with exhilaration.

This was the thrill of facing a true master.

Who the hell is this kid? How is his strategy this sharp?!

The moment the light flashed, Shiori snapped:

"Kingdra, Dragon Pulse!"

Against an unknown opponent, the piercing Dragon Pulse was the safer choice.

A violet dragon-shaped blast tore through the air—

—only to meet a snow-white Pokémon materializing on the field.

"Sylveon! (▼皿▼#)"

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

"Sylveon?!"

"Called it! Natsume-sensei would use her!"

"How are both so freaking cute?!"

The Dragon Pulse struck Sylveon…

…and left a barely noticeable scratch.

Shiori's stomach dropped.

He brought Sylveon?!

This bastard came prepared.

Natsume snapped his fingers. "Hyper Voice."

With Life Orb and Togepi's Nasty Plot boost…

Unlike explosive Pokémon like Exploud, Sylveon's voice carried piercing clarity—more dolphin song than noise.

No time to dodge.

Kingdra was obliterated instantly.

The audience exchanged stunned looks.

"Natsume-sensei getting crushed" was supposed to be a joke…

But he's actually crushing Kyoto's Leader?!

"Is Natsume-sensei for real?!"

"Sensei, pls stop! Mom's scared!"

Shiori recalled Kingdra, her expression icy.

"Haxorus. Guillotine."

"Haxorus—!!" The axe blades on its jaws gleamed crimson as it lunged.

Takuya's eye twitched.

Natsume actually pushed Shiori to use Guillotine?!

Natsume paled.

Guillotine had a chance to OHKO.

With his luck? No way he'd gamble.

"Quick Attack, evade!"

"Sylveon!"

Sylveon leapt aside—but Haxorus pursued ruthlessly.

The crowd held its breath.

Then—poof!—Sylveon split into two.

The Substitute shattered under Haxorus's blades.

Sylveon's ribbons fluttered as silver light gathered at her bow.

"Moonblast!" Natsume commanded.

BOOM.

The explosion rattled the stadium.

When the dust cleared…

The indomitable Haxorus knelt, unconscious.

Audible gulps echoed.

"Since when was Sylveon this broken?!"

"Are we sure this isn't an Elite Four member impersonating him?"

"Nasty Plot's buff is insane… Natsume-sensei's skill is terrifying!"

Sylveon pranced to Haxorus, tapping it gently with a ribbon.

Thud.

Haxorus collapsed.

She turned, beaming at Natsume.

"Sylveon~! "

Shiori took a steadying breath.

This Intercollegiate Champion had surpassed even her expectations.

Or rather…

"This guy… was sandbagging all along?"

Shaking it off, she focused. Cheers swelled anew.

Winning didn't matter now.

What mattered was Natsume-sensei—a gaming content creator (allegedly)—showing his true prowess at Nico Dou's annual festival!

"Go."

Shiori hurled her ultimate ace.

"Dragonite!"

"Dragonite!" The dragon hovered, wings beating, eyes blazing.

Multiscale armor shimmered over its bulky frame, granting insane durability.

The pseudo-legendary's aura silenced the crowd.

"Sylveon! (▼皿▼#)" Sylveon bared her teeth.

Pseudo-legendary?

I slaughter pseudo-legendaries.

Dragonite soared, Dragon Dance whipping up a vortex.

Winds howled.

"Dragonite!" With Extreme Speed, it shot toward Sylveon like a missile.

Lt. Surge and Brock exchanged glances.

"She's serious now?" Lt. Surge muttered.

"Without Mega Evolution," Brock wiped sweat, "this is unwinnable."

Sylveon's Hyper Voice screeched—

—as Dragonite slammed into her, sending her skidding across the field.

She wobbled, ribbons trembling, but stood firm.

"Sylveon! (▼へ▼メ)"

She took damage… Natsume frowned.

The crowd gaped.

"How did Sylveon survive that?!"

"Too many layers… I can't even follow!"

Shiori sighed. "Priority Baby-Doll Eyes?"

Natsume nodded. "Barely made the difference."

With a wry smile, Shiori recalled Dragonite.

"I concede."

If this continued, one Moonblast would turn this "friendly match" into a massacre.

Natsume relaxed, already planning to pamper Sylveon with Blastoise's secret potions.

His Premier Ball shook.

"Sirfetch'd…"

Even Togepi gets to strategize now?

When will Sirfetch'd get his moment?!

As Shiori's surrender sank in…

The arena went dead silent.

"Natsume-sensei… actually won?"

"The gaming guy?"

"Wasn't this supposed to be bullying a rando?"

It was like Faker picking a fan for a 1v1…

…only for the fan to solo-kill him three times.

And when Faker retaliated?

The fan plugged in his keyboard.

"What the actual hell…"

"Nico Dou's year-end festival never disappoints!"

"Told you! Natsume-sensei's a Master-rank contender!"

"Screw that—Elite Four minimum!"

Takuya stood shell-shocked.

Beyond Gym Leaders lay the revered Masters.

And Shiori's Dragonite was absolutely Master-tier.

Yet Natsume had bridged the gap between Togepi and Kingdra with strategy alone—

—and made Sylveon rival Dragonite itself?!

"I'm done. Just done." Takuya groaned. "Should've crushed him when I had the chance…"

This bastard had been smurfing for a year.

"Let's go."

Natsume nudged the dazed Sonia. "Food wars await."

"R-Right!" She scrambled after him, brain still buffering.

Compared to Leon… Natsume-sensei's strategic precision was terrifying.

That level of prediction?

Sonia gulped.

That's just cruel.

The arena buzzed with festival cheer.

But when they looked for Natsume-sensei…

He'd already vanished, leaving only legend behind.

One thing was certain:

Praising Natsume-sensei was always the right move.

As the battle section roared:

"NATSUME-SENSEI, YOU LEGEND!!"

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