"November 11th?"
"So the date of the gym tournament is precisely that day. What a coincidence."
Seeing the tournament date in the gym presentation, Ethan suddenly smiled.
He remembered that November 11th competition for the one-million coupon he had participated in back when he was still a novice trainer.
"Right now it's September. There are still two months left for me to prepare."
Ethan looked at the calendar and began planning what he would do next.
September was the season when classes began, and also the moment when the playoffs of the University League started.
"When this edition of the University League ends, it will also be time for me to graduate."
Thinking of that, Ethan let out a sigh. In barely two years, his strength had already reached the Quasi-Elite level.
According to the League's rules, Quasi-Elite-level trainers graduated that very year, so this would be the final year of his student life.
"This can also be considered the last thing I'll do for the university before graduating. And this time, without fail, I have to bring a championship to the university. That way, I'll also be able to give Captain Daniel a proper answer."
Ethan's pen began moving across his notebook, writing down some of the already confirmed plans for the coming days.
Outside of those already established commitments, he planned to spend the rest of his time in Stonefield Town, accompanying the people and Pokémon he wanted to be with.
...
Walking through the streets, it was clearly noticeable that many more people had returned to the town.
After receiving the Stonefield Town rural tourism project drafted by Ethan, the villagers gradually came back.
Most had been hired to participate in the construction of the laboratory, and many others had begun cleaning the river and the fields.
All the Pokémon Ethan had brought knew how to use the Grassy Terrain move, so he was convinced that, with their help, Stonefield Town would soon be covered in green.
After walking around the town, Ethan returned to the provisional laboratory.
At that moment, Professor Reynolds was organizing the materials obtained from the Silver family, with Metagross accompanying her at her side.
Seeing that scene, Ethan felt at ease. Having Metagross stay with Professor Reynolds truly was a good decision.
"Saur!"
At that moment, in the laboratory's backyard, a group of Pokémon were playing happily.
When they saw Ethan approach, Bulbasaur was the first to rush toward him, acting very affectionate.
Afterward, Chikorita, Treecko, Turtwig, and Snivy also came over, as well as a Jumpluff.
Those six Pokémon were the ones Ethan had selected from among all the Grass-type Pokémon for having good potential.
After deciding to establish a gym, Ethan had already planned to begin by training those six Pokémon first.
That way, even if for some reason he could not remain at the gym for long, those six Pokémon would be able to battle in his place.
Naturally, those six Pokémon were only part of the future gym team. If his Sunny Day gym project was finally approved, he would still have to prepare some other Pokémon capable of using that move.
As for that, Ethan already had a target. If the gym application was approved, he planned to make a trip to the Sunny Day Research Institute. Considering the data he now had on the study of that move, it would not be difficult for him to exchange it for some Pokémon that mastered it.
...
Seven days later, Ethan left Stonefield Town.
There was no helping it: the University League was about to begin.
"The Phoenix Stadium again?"
"It seems I really do have some affinity with this place."
Ethan looked at the battle information Ironvale City Pokémon University had sent to his phone and smiled.
If he remembered correctly, Phoenix Stadium was also one of the venues where Elite tournaments were held.
Whoosh, whoosh...
Charizard flew high in the sky.
Ethan continued reviewing the information.
In order to ensure victory in that tournament, he had brought all his Pokémon with him.
Meanwhile, at Phoenix Stadium, it was already nine in the morning, and the opening ceremony had begun.
"And Ethan?"
"Why hasn't Ethan arrived yet?"
In a corner of the stands, the students from Ironvale City Pokémon University were sitting together.
Seeing that Ethan did not appear in Ironvale City's university team lineup, everyone began discussing it.
Now, the news that Ethan had won the Youth World Championship had already spread throughout the entire university.
And furthermore, everyone knew he would participate in this edition of the University League, something that had excited them greatly for quite some time.
Before that, seeing that there was not even a single Quasi-Elite-level trainer on the university team, everyone felt rather insecure.
Although in a 5-on-5 format individual strength was somewhat diluted, and with very good coordination, a team led by trainers below the Quasi-Elite level could still defeat another, they still felt inexplicably lacking in confidence.
Now, with Ethan, the world champion, leading the team, the theoretical strength of Ironvale City Pokémon University was no longer that far behind.
But at that moment, the man everyone saw as their hope still had not appeared, and that immediately made them nervous.
"It seems their savior hasn't come."
The students sitting beside them, from another university, let out a mocking chuckle when they saw the scene.
"Bah, even if he arrived, it wouldn't be much use. According to the information we have, that Ethan hasn't even trained with the team, right?"
(End of chapter)