"Huff… So this trainer kept winning challenges with his Gyarados, racking up win after win. Everyone started respecting him and his Gyarados…"
"Alright, that's enough for today's story!"
Glancing at the clock, Lin Yu cut it off right at a cliffhanger, just like always.
"Ralts~"
Mew stretched lazily, having been lying right in front of Lin Yu, completely absorbed.
"Want some Energy Cubes before you go?"
Linyu held out a box of Psychic-type Energy Cubes in front of the "Ralts", grinning like a guy luring a kid.
He'd been putting way more effort into storytelling lately, just to keep this Legendary around.
"Ralts?"
Mew grabbed one without any suspicion.
The moment it ate it, its eyes lit up. Before leaving, it snatched the whole box and teleported away.
Lin Yu laughed as the "Ralts" vanished.
"All of you should get some rest too."
"Good night, Lin Yu~"
"Night~"
Latias and the others said their goodnights and returned to their Poké Balls on their own.
"So… you should head back to your own room too."
Thankfully the bed was huge. Otherwise, Lin Yu doubted it could fit himself, Latias, Gardevoir, the random "Ralts", and Ye Qingxue — who'd wandered in halfway.
She'd been lying just like Mew, chin resting in her hands, staring up at him.
From this angle, he could see her fair neck glowing beneath her black hair,
her legs swinging gently, pale and smooth with a faint pink flush only young girls have.
Her bright eyes blinked innocently at him.
"Wait a little longer~ It's still early."
Xiaoye pouted, sat up, and leaned right into his face. They were so close their noses were almost touching.
A soft, girlish scent drifted toward him.
"I never knew you were such a good storyteller, brother."
Lin Yu: "I used to struggle just to get you to sleep."
Xiaoye rolled her eyes. "…You mean those scary stories? They just made me stay up more…"
Lin Yu coughed. "Ahem. Anyway, you really should go. You have a match tomorrow."
She changed the subject. "What if I let you win tomorrow on purpose?"
To her, winning or losing hardly mattered.
The championship reward was a pseudo-Legendary and evolution resources.
Those were trivial to her.
But maybe they'd be useful to Lin Yu?
"Are you looking down on your big brother?"
Lin Yu poked her smooth forehead. "Fight properly."
"O…kay…"
"Alright, off you go."
This was the third time he'd urged her.
"Nope."
Xiaoye slid straight under the covers, only her head peeking out. "I already showered."
Lin Yu blinked. "Did something upset you?"
And upset she was.
More like overwhelmed, really.
She stayed quiet.
Lin Yu knew he'd guessed right.
When she was little, after getting scolded by the headmistress for misbehaving, she'd sneak into his bed and cry.
That's why he called her his little crybaby.
But he had no idea what was bothering her now.
"Fine, you take the bed. I'll sleep on the floor."
Xiaoye frowned stubbornly. "No! You get up here too!"
"…"
In the end, Lin Yu couldn't talk her out of it.
Even threatening to spank her didn't work.
He suspected she wasn't even scared of that anymore.
He finally gave in and drew a line down the middle of the bed as their boundary.
The next day.
The National High School Tournament reached its climax.
But early that morning, Lin Yu got dragged aside by Ye Rong.
All because Ye Qingxue hadn't returned to her room.
No matter how much Lin Yu insisted nothing had happened, he still got an earful.
Naturally, Xiaoye got lectured right alongside him.
Long before the final match even started, the arena was packed solid.
And the two stars of the finals…
"Ugh, seriously…"
Lin Yu sat in the stands, still grumpy about the morning scolding.
Who'd be happy getting chewed out first thing in the morning?
Stuff like…
"You two are still young. I don't mind, but Father hasn't agreed to anything…"
"Especially you, Lin Yu. If you mess around with my sister, I'll end you. If Father finds out…"
Lin Yu felt completely innocent.
Did Ye Yangyang dislike him that much?
If it weren't for him, how would Ye Rong have ended up with his own girlfriend?
"Hehe."
Xiaoye snickered beside him, watching him mope.
"This is all your fault! I wouldn't have gotten yelled at otherwise!"
Lin Yu tapped her on the head, making her pout at him.
The other nearby contestants stared in shock.
These two were about to fight for the national championship… and they were messing around like a couple?
They looked perfect together, though.
"What's wrong with you two?" Xue Nai asked curiously.
Lin Yu sighed. "Just got lectured."
Xiaoye smiled at Xue Nai, her satisfaction plain as day.
Xue Nai's chest tightened uneasily.
Just then, the match was ready to begin.
"The long-awaited National High School Tournament finals — begin now! Both finalists, please step onto the field!"
"Let's go."
As he walked, Lin Yu suddenly felt unfair.
Xiaoye knew almost all of his Pokémon.
But he only knew she had Dragonair…
That was it.
As for the Beldum she had, he had no idea if it was a Metang or a full Metagross now.
His worst fear was that it was already Metagross.
He knew nothing about her other four Pokémon.
"The battlefield is being selected… Water Field!"
Water Field!
All ground outside the trainers' platforms sank away, replaced by a wide, deep lake.
Wooden planks floated across the surface, just like in the provincial tournament.
"Both trainers, release your Pokémon at the same time!"
"Huff…"
Lin Yu took a deep breath and looked at Ye Qingxue, who'd grown serious across the water.
"Go, Greninja!"
Water Field — definitely Greninja's home turf.
"Go, Inteleon!"
A sleek, humanoid lizard Pokémon appeared.
Its body was mostly deep blue, with yellow fins along its back and a gliding tail fin.
It stood like a sharp, professional agent.
Its eyes always carried a cold, detached look.
But few would guess it had been a total crybaby before evolving.
Lin Yu's lips tightened in disbelief.
"Level 46…"