"Kazuki is truly amazing as a Trainer. In just two days, he's already mastered half of the martial arts manual!"
"And he's executing it perfectly on the battlefield!"
"I really wish my father could see Kazuki's match for himself."
"Then he'd finally understand how wide the gap is between himself and a true genius fighter!"
"Maybe then he'd stop being so obsessed with martial arts…"
Rebecca praised Kazuki from the heart, while also feeling disheartened by the comparison with her father's stubborn obsession.
"Don't worry, Rebecca. With Kazuki around, I truly believe he'll defeat your father and bring him back to his senses," Suzie added, praising Kazuki in her own way.
Misty, walking in between the two girls, was already laughing to herself inwardly: Heh! Kazuki really is my amazing boyfriend!
Being praised by so many pretty girls—if that guy could hear them now, I bet he'd be bragging to me nonstop afterward!
"Ahem! Kazuki's only won the first round. There are still several days left in the tournament!"
"We shouldn't pop the champagne just yet," Misty said aloud, putting on a modest front as his girlfriend to help maintain Kazuki's humble image in front of others.
But in truth, she could hardly wait to shower him with praise later.
"Apologies, ladies. Visitors aren't allowed in the contestant's area right now," said a staff guard.
"Please wait until the day's matches conclude, or contact your Trainer to meet you outside."
Misty looked at the guarded door in confusion. "We can only go in after the matches are over?"
"But Kazuki already won his match, didn't he?"
"Excuse me," Misty stepped forward, "I just watched my boyfriend's match and he already won. Why hasn't he come out yet?"
Hearing the muffled sounds of punches and kicks behind the door, Misty began to worry.
"Oh! Miss, perhaps you're unfamiliar with the rules of the P1 Grand Prix," the staff member explained kindly, seeing that they were likely Trainer family.
"The P1 Grand Prix uses an accumulated-win format."
"Each Trainer can battle up to three times per day. The eight Trainers with the most wins advance to the quarterfinals."
"If multiple Trainers have the same number of wins, other performance metrics will be considered."
"If a Trainer loses two matches, they're eliminated from the tournament."
"You mentioned your boyfriend already won once today?"
"Then he's probably continuing his training inside to try for more wins!"
"What kind of rule is that…?" Misty didn't fully grasp it, but she respected the format nonetheless.
Since Kazuki was busy training backstage, she didn't want to distract him. So Misty, Suzie, and Rebecca returned to the stadium seats to await Kazuki's second match.
"Hey, Rebecca, isn't that your dad in the ring?" Suzie pointed at a familiar figure.
Rebecca tilted her head and squinted. "I think it is!"
"Oh? Really? Let's go see how strong your dad's gotten. We can also help Kazuki gather intel! Come on, let's go!" Misty exclaimed excitedly, eager to scout the opponent.
Though Rebecca had complicated feelings about seeing her father in the ring, she followed the others, drawn by their enthusiasm.
[Up next, our old friend Anthony and his battle machine Hitmonchan!]
"Hahaha! Anthony, back again this year?"
"Hey Anthony, what place are you aiming for this time?"
"Champion! I'm going for the championship again!" Anthony declared with high spirits as he stepped into the ring.
"Haha, let's hope you don't get kicked out of the ring by a Hitmonlee again!"
The front-row audience bantered with Anthony, but their tone was more mocking than admiring.
After all, Anthony had been competing in the P1 Grand Prix for over a decade, and his best result was only making the semifinals. Yet every year he proclaimed he'd be champion, and his long-winded lectures on martial arts after every victory made him hard to like.
People had grown used to treating him like a clown—more entertaining than threatening.
[Anthony's first opponent this year is… Geodude!]
"Hitmonchan, start moving around!" Anthony called out confidently against the rookie opponent.
[Geodude makes the first move! But Hitmonchan is dodging expertly! Has Anthony prepared a new strategy this year?]
[Wait! Geodude turns suddenly and lands a hit on Hitmonchan!]
[No—Hitmonchan's grabbed Geodude!]
"Now! Hitmonchan, use Bullet Punch!"
Veins bulged on Anthony's temples as he shouted his command.
Hitmonchan launched a flurry of punches and quickly knocked Geodude out.
Ignoring the referee's signal, Anthony jumped onto the stage, raising both fists in the air as if he'd already claimed the championship.
"Hey kid, your Geodude needs to work on speed!"
"But you did pretty well!"
"Too bad you were unlucky enough to run into the future champ in your first match!"
"Try again next year!"
Anthony bounced around the stage in excitement.
From the stands, the three girls each had their own reactions.
"Hey, Rebecca, your dad's got some skill, huh?"
"Too bad he's got no charm at all…"
"Winning one match and acting like he's already the champion!" Misty said bluntly.
"Maybe he's practiced that victory pose in his head a thousand times," Suzie offered more gently.
"Ugh…" Rebecca sighed. "That's just how he is. I really don't want to see him win any more."
"Every time he wins, he becomes even more insufferable with his speeches and online rants…"
Seeing Rebecca so discouraged, Misty and Suzie exchanged a glance, then moved closer to comfort her.
"It's okay. Kazuki will stop your dad in his tracks. Just believe in him!"
Rebecca looked at Misty and Suzie, then smiled softly. "Thanks. Let's go wait for Kazuki's second match."
"Yeah!"
Their attention returned to Kazuki once more.
Backstage, after learning the tournament's format, Kazuki immediately decided to go for all three matches on the first day.
With his Elite-tier Primeape and Rebecca's martial arts guidance, he charged through the P1 Grand Prix like a storm.
While most contestants chose to rest after two wins to save energy for the next day, Kazuki stepped onto the field for his third match without hesitation.
[This isn't good! Poliwrath is about to use Body Slam on Kazuki's Primeape!]
[This is Kazuki's third match today—definitely not a wise move!]
[Primeape looks too tired to dodge!]
"If we can't dodge, then let's not! Primeape, pivot and use what we practiced!"
Roar!
The normally hot-headed Primeape, known for charging straight ahead, suddenly performed a graceful move.
With a soft, fluid motion, it absorbed Poliwrath's Body Slam.
"Primeape! Use Seismic Toss—redirect the force!"
Roar!
Continuing its spin, Primeape grabbed Poliwrath and began rotating faster and faster, eventually hurling Poliwrath out of the ring and claiming victory in the third match.
"Yes! Kazuki, you did it!" Misty jumped up from her seat, cheering loudly.
The entire audience was stunned by Primeape's uncharacteristically graceful move. It wasn't until a beat later that the cheers caught up to Misty's excitement.
[Kazuki—today's first Trainer to win all three matches in the P1 Grand Prix! Let's all give it up for Kaaaaazuki!!!]
The announcer, hyped and full of flair, rallied the crowd. Soon, the stadium rang with thunderous chants for Kazuki.
In the corner of the stands, Anthony crossed his arms and smiled.
"So that's it… using softness to overcome strength."
"Looks like Rebecca gave him the martial arts manual after all."
"In just a few short days, this boy's Primeape managed to grasp and apply such a technique."
"Seems this Primeape really has impressive fighting potential."
"If it were trained under my guidance, I could take it to the pinnacle of martial arts glory!"
Anthony's eyes burned with intense interest in Kazuki's Primeape after witnessing the match.
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