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Besides surrounding Luther for interviews, the reporters didn't spare Dakota and Mai either.
Dakota was asked about how it felt battling Luther, and why, at the very end, he had allowed Gardevoir to use Calm Mind twice in succession, ultimately costing him the match.
The first question was easy enough to answer. For once, Dakota didn't brush off the reporters and seriously talked with them for a while.
The second question, however, was impossible to explain.
Only someone who had stood on the battlefield and fought Luther from start to finish could truly understand that feeling.
After realizing he had been deceived, Dakota had been deeply embarrassed and humiliated for a moment, but he quickly calmed down.
It had all been set up that Luther had carefully built throughout the entire battle.
On the surface, Luther never seemed to be controlling the pace of the match, yet every small trick and subtle maneuver had gradually pushed Dakota into a position where he felt unable to control the situation. In the end, it indirectly disrupted his own battle rhythm.
This was far more sophisticated than the methods Hakuya had initially taught Luther. It had already reached the level Hakuya once described, controlling the opponent's battle tempo.
And it was precisely this that enabled Gardevoir's astonishing double Calm Mind at the end.
The reporters' persistent questioning began to irritate Dakota. He pushed his way through the crowd, exchanged a few words with Etorre, and headed off to the restaurant in search of food.
Etorre understood Dakota's predicament.
There was simply no good way for Dakota to describe what he had felt at that moment. Perhaps only by forcing these reporters to replay the entire battle move by move could they understand the answer.
Most of the questions directed at Mai revolved around Luther.
"Why did you decide to travel with Luther?"
"What made you choose Luther as your partner?"
"Luther stood up for you before. How did that make you feel?"
Thanks to her upbringing, Mai possessed at least some skill when it came to handling questions. She avoided giving direct answers, briefly touching on the circumstances before moving on.
Then came a question that hit like a bomb.
"Have the two of you started preparing for marriage?"
It was as if a Chansey had dropped an Egg Bomb directly onto Mai's head from the sky.
Boom.
Mai instantly felt dizzy.
That single question completely overshadowed all the previous bland and uninteresting ones. Even the reporters gathered around Luther immediately shifted their attention toward her.
Her face burned red.
Her thoughts became a tangled mess.
Her ability to organize her words collapsed in an instant.
All she could do was wave her hands repeatedly, unable to say a single coherent sentence.
It wasn't as though Mai had never thought about that question before.
She had.
She had even imagined what might come afterward.
But imagining it privately and being asked about it in public were two entirely different things. Faced with the question, all she felt was helpless panic.
While Mai was still frozen in place, Luther took her hand and gave the surrounding reporters an apologetic smile.
"Sorry, but we're in a hurry to get dinner. We still need to help our Pokémon recover and prepare afterward. Let's call it a day here."
The reporters were disappointed.
They had desperately wanted either Mai or Luther to reveal some juicy details.
Still, they couldn't bring themselves to keep pressing the issue. Luther had gotten along quite well with them over this period, and none of them wanted to make things difficult for him.
On the way to the restaurant, Mai still felt as though she were drunk, floating along absentmindedly.
As she watched Luther's back, she found herself secretly hoping that he would turn around and say something about the topic that had just been brought up.
The interview had been broadcast live.
Naturally, the entire scene had appeared on television and online livestreams.
Kukui Tetsu and Rongmei sat in front of a television, watching the interview from beginning to end.
Rongmei wanted to change the channel, but Kukui Tetsu stopped her by pressing down on her hand.
The word "marriage" had left not only Mai flustered, it had also made Kukui Tetsu's body tremble slightly.
But then he remembered that Mai no longer considered herself a member of the Kukui Family.
He no longer had any right to speak on such matters.
The two Trainers sponsored by the Kukui Family had both failed to make it into the Top 32 of this tournament.
Meanwhile, Luther had fought his way all the way to the finals and now had a chance to compete for the championship.
People must bear responsibility for their choices.
And once you've made the wrong choice, there's no turning back.
Kukui Tetsu stared wistfully at the screen, watching Luther lead Mai out of the camera's view. His heart was filled with mixed emotions.
If his relationship with Mai had improved even a little earlier, perhaps many things would have turned out differently.
He had heard that Luther had always liked the fruit juice produced by his company. Securing a sponsorship agreement should have been a natural outcome.
But now...
Mai was no longer a member of the Kukui Family in any sense.
It was too late.
Kukui Tetsu could only let out a long sigh as he picked up his phone and dialed a number.
"Go negotiate. And do it properly."
The moment the call connected, he gave the instruction.
On the other end was the trusted assistant who helped manage the company's operations. The man paused for a moment before replying,
"The Lily of the Valley Conference isn't over yet. In the past, we've only approached the champion for sponsorship deals. Isn't it a bit inappropriate to make a decision this early?"
Kukui Tetsu shook his head.
"Once he wins, there'll only be more sponsors rushing in. Do you think we'll ever come across another Champion who just happens to love our juice? Just because we successfully sponsored Cynthia doesn't mean you can forget that our financial strength can't compete with some of the bigger companies."
The assistant hesitated before asking,
"What if Luther ends up as the runner-up?"
Kukui Tetsu fell silent for a moment.
"He's the person Mai chose. This time, I'm willing to trust her judgment. Even if he loses, I'll treat it as a wedding gift from me."
He spoke with obvious sadness.
"I understand. One more thing, what identity should I use when negotiating?"
The corners of Kukui Tetsu's mouth twitched.
After a long pause, he finally made up his mind.
"Keep it strictly professional. Business is business. Don't give Luther or Mai any special treatment. Whatever the terms should be, make them exactly that."
"You know... she doesn't see me as her father anymore."
"Do your best to secure the company's interests. If you make concessions, Mai will only be more upset. She'll think you're insulting her out of pity."
The assistant carefully noted down all of Kukui Tetsu's instructions and was about to end the call when Kukui Tetsu suddenly spoke again.
"I heard Luther is looking for land... Although Mai probably won't accept our help, try to find out more about what they need. See if you can help them get a better price. As for the Pokémon League side, "
He stopped halfway through the sentence and sighed.
"Forget it. Don't write that down. Just discuss the sponsorship."
After hanging up, Rongmei remained quietly by Kukui Tetsu's side.
She could see that he was cautiously trying to repair his relationship with Mai.
If he gave too much, she might see it as charity.
If he gave nothing...
Even though Mai no longer acknowledged him as her father, Kukui Tetsu simply couldn't let go.
After Mai left, he had spent a long time depressed and troubled. No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't understand how a small misunderstanding had grown into such a huge rift between father and daughter.
If Mai rejected this sponsorship offer outright, then Kukui Tetsu felt there would truly be no room left for reconciliation between them.
On the television, a replay of Luther and Dakota's match had begun.
Watching Luther on the screen, Kukui Tetsu finally understood something.
That afternoon in Cynthia's villa, Cynthia hadn't been trying to persuade him.
She had been giving him a serious warning.
To the Pokémon League, regardless of whether Luther won the Lily of the Valley Conference or not, he was already regarded as an exceptional talent.
Long ago, his name had been placed on the League's watchlist.
(End of Chapter)