It was only then that Misa noticed Ash and the others.
"Ah, I remember you!" she said with realization. "Aren't you that group of kids from back then? So you know Big Bro too?"
"That's right, it's us. Thank you for escorting us across the bridge back then." Brock nodded. At this point, he asked with some confusion, "But why do you call him 'Big Bro'?"
Glancing at them and remembering her promise to Natsui, Misa didn't tell them what had really happened, even though these were his friends.
She spread her hands, looked at them sideways, and said half-jokingly, "Of course, it was after he defeated us! His incredible strength completely won us over, so we willingly submitted to Boss Natsui and started calling him Big Bro!"
"Is that so..."
Ash and the others, being simple-hearted, didn't suspect a thing and thought that was the real reason.
Misa turned back to Natsui, clasping her hands together, "Well then, Big Bro, please do your best! I believe you won't lose, no matter who your opponent is!"
Masa also chimed in, "That's right, that's right! We will always be your most loyal followers! Please show them your magnificent skills!"
"You guys..." Natsui's face darkened as he listened. "Do you really think I'm invincible? You're praising me way too much! Anyone who can make it to this conference is strong, you can't underestimate any of them!"
Misa and the others just chuckled.
Although Natsui said that, they had already witnessed him defeat several Team Rocket executives and had even seen his Zapdos and Articuno. Naturally, they had absolute confidence in him.
In the distance, perhaps seeing the large group of people and thinking something was happening, a peculiar news team made their way over.
The one holding the microphone was a stylishly dressed young woman with a great figure and beautiful features. Her unique hairstyle seemed vaguely familiar to Natsui.
And the reason this news team was described as peculiar was, of course, because of its other two members.
A goat-like Pokémon was carrying various pieces of equipment, acting as the cameraman, while another small, lizard-like Pokémon seemed to be the female reporter's assistant!
Coming closer, the female reporter smiled, "Hello, we are reporters from Lumiose Press. May we ask you a few questions?"
Before Natsui and the others could speak, Brock's eyes lit up at the sight of the beautiful reporter, and he leaped forward.
"Ah! Beautiful lady, please interview me! No matter how many questions you have, I will answer them all perfectly!"
Fearing that the reporter would broadcast such an embarrassing scene, Misty quickly gave Brock a chop, knocking him out, and dragged him behind the group.
"Sorry, sorry, that's just how he is. Please don't mind him." Misty turned back with an awkward smile, then, as if remembering something, she couldn't help but ask, "But... Lumiose Press? Why haven't I heard of it? Is it a TV station from some city?"
The female reporter explained, "Lumiose is a major city in the Kalos region. It's thousands of miles away, so of course you wouldn't have heard of it. But while our press isn't a TV station, we are very influential in our local area!"
"The Kalos region?" Koharu, Misty, and Ash were all surprised and simultaneously turned to look at Natsui. "Isn't that the same place you're from?"
Seeing Natsui nod, the female reporter's eyes lit up with interest.
"Oh? Are you a competitor from Kalos?"
"You could say that," Natsui said meaningfully. "That's where I became a trainer and started chasing my dream."
A trainer from the Kalos region, crossing the great sea to challenge the League on this unfamiliar land?
With her excellent professional instincts, the female reporter had already keenly identified a hot topic. She believed that when this news was broadcast in Kalos, it would definitely attract widespread attention.
"Let me introduce myself." Thinking this, she extended her hand to Natsui. "My name is Alexa, a special correspondent for Lumiose Press. If it's possible, I'd like to do an exclusive interview with you."
Alexa? It really is her!
He remembered her identity—not only a journalist but also, it seemed, the older sister of Viola, the Santalune City Gym Leader.
"Interview me?" Natsui thought about it seriously but still shook his head in refusal. "Sorry, I think I'll pass for now. I haven't achieved anything yet, and I don't want to make any grand statements or jinx myself before a match. If you want an interview, you should wait until I've passed the preliminary rounds."
Alexa was taken aback by his words and couldn't help but look at Natsui with newfound respect.
They say you should get famous while you're young. She had never thought someone would refuse such a great opportunity to be in the spotlight!
"Alright then. I wish you success in the preliminary rounds. We can talk about the exclusive interview then!"
—
"Oh, oh, oh! Ladies and gentlemen, the second match on the Grass Field is about to begin!"
In an auxiliary field of the Indigo Stadium, the announcer's passionate voice echoed through the speakers to the audience's ears.
"Thanks to the two competitors from the first match for giving us a very exciting battle! Next, let's welcome the two competitors for the second match on the Grass Field!"
Although it was only the preliminary rounds, with four matches happening simultaneously, the enthusiastic audience still filled the small stadium. When they saw a trainer emerge from each of the competitor tunnels on opposite sides, they erupted in cheers and applause.
And among them, a series of unusually loud cheers was particularly eye-catching.
The bewildered audience looked over and saw, in one section of the stands, a dozen men and women dressed as bikers, holding banners and colorful flags, waving them frantically and shouting.
Their energetic display made people chuckle, and at the same time, it made them curious about who they were cheering for.
On the field, feeling the deafening noise around him, Natsui walked through the tunnel and, alone, stepped onto the high platform of the trainer's command area, looking across at his opponent on the other side.
Their eyes met, but no sparks flew. They just silently observed each other before turning their attention to their surroundings.
The announcer began the introductions, "First, from the red corner, let's welcome competitor Damian!"
Damian waved to the crowd and was met with cheers from the audience, with only the small group of bikers sending boos his way.
Once the cheers died down, the announcer spoke again, "And next, from the green corner, competitor Natsui!"
Natsui also waved, and this time, besides the friendly applause from the audience, the bikers' shouts were the most vigorous!
"Boss! Go for it!!!"
"Show that kid over there what you're made of!!!"
Their voices were extremely conspicuous in the stadium, and even the cameras gave them several close-ups.
Hearing the voices, Natsui immediately spotted their location. He couldn't help but give a wry smile and nodded in acknowledgment, then shifted his gaze to the side of them.
There, Koharu, Misty, Ash, and Brock sat in a row, also watching him nervously.
------------------------
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