When May and the others, panting heavily, finally rushed all the way through the city and arrived at the Pokémon Contest Hall, they saw Natsui from a distance. He was holding a cup of cold drink, leaning against the wall of the venue's main gate, sipping it mouthful by mouthful with great leisure!
"Eh?" May, who was in the lead, was stunned. "Mr. Natsui? Weren't you behind us? How did you arrive before us?"
As soon as her voice fell, she saw a Dragonite slowly walking out from the other side of the wall. In its hand, it was holding a large ice cream cone, licking it with a face full of the same intoxicated enjoyment!
Seeing this scene, Ash, who was behind, jumped high in the air. "So you came riding Dragonite? That's so cunning!"
"What cunning?" Natsui raised his head proudly. "This is called making good use of Pokémon power! Who told you not to think of this? Alright, the confirmation time is almost up. May, you should hurry in."
May also knew that time was tight. She nodded to Natsui, and ignoring the sweat on her forehead, she ran directly into the venue's lobby.
Ash and the others also filed in behind her. However, before they entered the door, Natsui handed each of them a cup of cold drink.
"I bought this for you. Remember to drink it only after you catch your breath, otherwise, your lungs won't be able to take it."
The Pokémon Contest Hall in Slateport City was built on a square in the city center.
This was a hexagonal domed building, looking just like a circus tent of the past, but it wasn't built with tents; rather, it was a five-story high building!
At this time, many people had already gathered outside the venue. These were all spectators coming to watch the performance. Although the opening time was clearly stated to be at 1 PM, their enthusiasm was hard to conceal, causing them to come here early to feel the atmosphere.
Natsui was the last among the group to enter the venue's lobby.
As soon as he walked in the door, he saw May standing at the counter from a distance, completing the confirmation process under the operation of the staff.
He looked up at the clock in the lobby; it was already 9:57 AM. There were only three minutes left before the deadline. It can only be said that May was indeed very lucky.
When May returned to the group's side and reunited with Natsui and the others, it could be seen that she obviously breathed a long sigh of relief.
And it was only at this moment that she felt her stomach rumbling non-stop, and she realized that her current image must be very disheveled. She could only smile embarrassedly at the group.
"Sorry for causing you all trouble..."
"It's nothing." Misty waved her hand indifferently, then looked at Ash pointedly. "We used to encounter this kind of thing often before. We are long used to it!"
This was already said very bluntly. Unfortunately, Ash, the person involved, didn't hear it at all. He was gulping down the cold drink in his hand in big mouthfuls.
"Where should we go now?"
"Do you even need to ask?" Misty touched her flat belly. "Of course, we go fill our stomachs first!"
Leaving the Contest Hall, the group chatted and laughed as they arrived at a restaurant not far away.
At this time, the restaurant had just opened not long ago. Besides them, there was only one female customer sitting in the corner. But it was precisely this female customer who attracted May's attention!
"Huh?" She was stunned at first, looked at her several times, and only then did she walk up quickly and say to that female customer, "Excuse me... are you Miss Lila?"
This woman called Lila by May had long green hair, which she had tied into twin tails hanging on her shoulders. Judging by her age, she was similar to Natsui. She was very beautiful, wearing a white T-shirt and jeans, looking both bright and somewhat cute.
The woman looked at May doubtfully and nodded. "It's me. Excuse me... you are?"
"It really is you!" May said excitedly. "I am your fan! Ah... sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is May, and I am also a Pokémon Coordinator!"
Before Lila could speak again, Natsui only felt a human figure flash before his eyes. When he came back to his senses, Brock had already appeared like a flash, squatting on one knee in front of Lila, holding a rose picked from who knows where in his hand, and handing it to Lila.
"Ah, beautiful lady! Do you believe in love at first sight? Just seeing you a moment ago, I felt my heart was shot by Cupid's arrow. I believe you must surely have the same feeling as me!"
"Ah?"
Lila looked at this small-eyed man in astonishment. But before she could figure out the situation, she saw another young girl and a little boy wearing glasses walk up together. Each grabbing one ear, they dragged this man away!
Seeing the troublesome guy gone, May also breathed a long sigh of relief, immediately saying to Lila, "Sorry, Miss Lila, my friend caused you trouble. Please don't mind..."
"It doesn't matter." Lila shook her head and smiled gently. "Appearing here at this time, are you here to participate or to watch the competition?"
"I am here to participate..." May smiled somewhat embarrassedly. "But this is the first Pokémon Contest I am participating in. To be honest, I'm a little nervous inside!"
At this time, seeing Misty, Ash, and the others looking blank, May hurriedly introduced them to each other.
"This is Miss Lila, a legendary Pokémon Coordinator! Not only has she won the Grand Festival, but she has also been featured in the Coordinator Monthly special report. She is my idol and the most popular Coordinator in our Hoenn region!"
After speaking, she introduced the others to Lila: "Miss Lila, these are my companions. They are here to accompany me to participate in this contest."
"Hello Miss Lila, I am Misty."
"I am Ash, and this is my partner Pikachu."
"Pika!~"
"I am Max, May's younger brother!"
"Hello, I am Brock, currently single!"
In an instant, Ash and the others came to Lila and greeted her one after another.
Only Natsui, hearing this, couldn't help glancing at May.
This guy May, clearly knowing nothing about Pokémon Contests a few days ago, now suddenly had an idol. Needless to say, either she crammed knowledge recently, or Raoul Contesta explained something to her last night!
And obviously regarding Lila's matters, she was showing off what she just learned, telling everything she knew limitedly!
"Hello." Lila smiled friendly at the group. It could be seen that her temper and personality were very good. "That's all in the past. I am no longer a Coordinator now, just an ordinary Pokémon Doctor."
"Pokémon Doctor?" Misty asked. "Is it here?"
"No..." Lila shook her head. "It's in Foothill Town, not far from Verdanturf Town. I came to Slateport City this time just purely to watch the competition."
"So that's it."
However, speaking of doctors...
Misty remembered something instantly and hurriedly turned to look at Natsui. "Brother Natsui! Miss Lila is a Pokémon Doctor. Take out your Jigglypuff quickly. Maybe she has a way to get that Everstone out!"
Hearing her mention this, Natsui also thought of this matter and hurriedly took out the Poké Ball and released Jigglypuff.
At this time, Jigglypuff looked no different from usual, only its spirit was slightly more wilted.
"Miss Lila, please help me take a look. Jigglypuff accidentally swallowed a stone and can't get it out no matter what!"
Lila was indeed a doctor. Seeing a sick Pokémon, she immediately entered the professional state.
After carefully asking for details, she also reached the same conclusion as Nurse Joy.
"Indeed, only these two methods can take the stone out. But sorry, my clinic is not here. Without professional equipment, I can't perform surgery. If possible, after the contest ends, you can come with me to Foothill Town."
Natsui pondered for a moment.
Returning with Lila would undoubtedly be a detour, running counter to the route he had planned before.
"Let's wait first. Anyway, Jigglypuff's life is not in danger for the time being. I still have to go to Dewford Town to challenge the Dewford Gym next. After the gym challenge ends, I will visit you in Foothill Town."
"Challenge the gym?" Lila was stunned. "Are you a Pokémon Trainer?"
"That's right."
Looking up at Natsui, Lila felt that this person in front of her looked very familiar no matter how she looked at him, as if she had seen him somewhere.
Remembering Misty just called him "Brother Natsui," she suddenly screamed in surprise!
"Ah, so you are the Double Champion of the Johto and Kanto regions!!"
Her scream startled the people beside her.
After all, since meeting, Lila had always been gentle. No one expected her to have such a side. That excited look was exactly the same as May just now!
"That's right, it's me..." This time it was Natsui's turn to be confused. He asked, "You know me?"
"Of course!" Lila said excitedly. "I watched your match on TV some time ago. You are amazing! Double Champion!! I am your fan! By the way, can you give me an autograph?"
Misty and the others looked at each other. Especially May, who felt her beliefs crumbling a bit!
In front of her friends, she had just praised how amazing Lila was and what achievements she had made. Unexpectedly, now you tell me you are actually Mr. Natsui's fan!?
Then what am I?
A fan of a fan?
Even Natsui didn't expect that although he and she were in two different competitions and both were champions, she would actually be his fan.
After all, he might have to trouble her later, so Natsui nodded without thinking. "Of course. Where do you want me to sign?"
Lila opened her wallet, took out a photo of herself from inside, and handed it to Natsui with both hands.
"Just sign here!"
Natsui took the photo and looked at it. This should be a photo of Lila at an amusement park. A towering Ferris wheel could be seen behind her, and she smiled brilliantly at the camera.
There happened to be a marker pen in his backpack. He took out the pen and wrote on the back of the photo: Benevolent heart of a healer, miraculous hands bring spring — Natsui.
This is a very simple blessing. Associating Lila as a Pokémon Doctor, Natsui wrote it based on those silk banners often seen in hospitals back on Earth.
Although the words are a bit cliché, they fit Lila perfectly!
Sure enough, after receiving the photo and looking at it a few times, Lila put the photo back into her wallet joyfully and solemnly.
"Thank you for your praise. I will keep it in mind and try my best to be worthy of these words!"
Tsk tsk, she even used "You". It shows that clichés have their reasons. Needless to think, Natsui's weight in Lila's heart must have increased a bit!
With such communication, the relationship between the group became closer.
At Lila's invitation, they sat directly at a table with Lila.
Because the opportunity was rare, at Misty's eye signal, May couldn't care less about eating breakfast and hurriedly asked Lila, the most authoritative and professional Coordinator in the Hoenn region, some questions.
Lila didn't hold back either. Like Raoul Contesta yesterday, she taught by example and shared some of her insights with May.
This lecture lasted until noon. Seeing the start time approaching, they had to stop.
"Thank you so much!" May stood up and bowed deeply to Lila. "Sorry for taking up so much of your time."
"Not at all." Lila shook her head and chuckled. "Seeing such a diligent junior, I am also very happy. Alright, it's getting late. You should focus on the competition ahead. I will cheer for you in the audience!"
Bidding farewell to Lila, May was already starving, her chest practically sticking to her back. After eating a few mouthfuls hastily in the restaurant, she rushed toward the venue again.
It can be said that she spent the whole morning in a rush. But precisely because of this, she didn't have time to be nervous, nor did she let her mind wander to messy things.
However, this emotion only lasted for a while.
When May was ready and sitting on the chair in the contestants' lounge, she could feel her heart pounding violently!
Thanks to the accompanying rules, Natsui and the others could also enter the lounge and watch the competition here.
Passing through the corridor of this area just now, Natsui also saw that compared to the Pokémon Center yesterday, there were more Coordinators here to participate. Everyone was adjusting their state in their respective rooms, and a tense atmosphere was constantly spreading.
Not only May, but many newcomers who hadn't participated or had only participated once or twice were also trembling with anxiety.
Compared to them, Natsui was much more relaxed.
After all, this wasn't his competition. Although he was also in the lounge, he was watching as an outsider!
For him, this was completely a novel experience!
12:53 PM.
As the contest approached slowly, even the corridor fell silent. It seemed every contestant felt the pressure. The originally noisy waiting area suddenly became quiet!
And in such tormented waiting, a burst of music sounded. Immediately, a woman's voice echoed throughout the venue.
The Slateport Pokémon Contest finally began!
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Pokémon Fans — Recommendation
If you're into Pokémon stories, I highly recommend checking out:
Pokémon: The Absolute Trainer
It's honestly one of the best Pokémon novels I've read.
It follows Damian, the protagonist, who leads Team Rocket.
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