Chapter Twenty-Five: Anticipating Your Anticipation

"Squirtle Princess, do your best. Don't let me down."

"It's decided then, you, Ralts Princess." Tang Yi shouted a line he'd long wanted to say, though it was a shame there was no Poké Ball—it would have felt much more authentic.

Ralts glanced oddly at her inexplicable trainer, suddenly growing excited, though that feeling quickly faded into a touch of regret.

The match officially began.

"You're quite spirited, but it's not just about shouting to win a battle. Squirtle, use Water Gun!"

Qin Donghai commanded the first attack. The Squirtle girl took a deep breath, blue energy quickly gathering in her mouth, and soon a jet of water shot forth.

"Ralts, use Psychic!"

Ralts took a deep breath and stretched out her hands, focusing intently. Thanks to recent training, she could now freely use her psychic powers.

Blue light rapidly gathered between her hands, and the incoming water gun was diverted mid-air by psychic force, skewing off course.

"Psychic? Damn! Are you kidding me?" Qin Donghai recognized the move, his expression shifting. Psychic-type abilities held a significant advantage in early battles, and his Squirtle hadn't learned any Dark-type moves yet.

Qin Donghai eyed Tang Yi with a hint of gloom—had this kid been playing dumb all along, deliberately deceiving him?

"Squirtle! Use Tackle!" Qin Donghai switched tactics.

At his command, the Squirtle girl abandoned her water gun and charged straight at Ralts. Her speed wasn't fast, thanks to the shell on her back, giving Ralts plenty of time to react.

"Keep using Psychic! Restrict her movement!"

Blue light once again flashed from Ralts's hands, but as she unleashed her psychic power, Tang Yi suddenly sensed something was off and shouted instinctively, "No, that's not right!"

A sly gleam flickered in the Squirtle girl's eyes. She giggled, "Gotcha!"

Mid-run, she abruptly changed direction, stopping and veering sharply to the left. The psychic energy missed its mark. Almost simultaneously, Qin Donghai gave a subtle signal, and Squirtle unleashed another water gun.

Ralts, unable to dodge, was struck head-on—fortunately, only on her left arm. Still, the pain sent her reeling several steps back, her body trembling in agony.

"Ralts, are you alright?" Tang Yi called out in concern. But per the rules, unless forfeiting, the trainer couldn't enter the arena.

"Missed, huh? Seems Squirtle still isn't proficient with Water Gun," Qin Donghai lamented, though confidence returned to his face.

"Tang Yi, your clever tricks aside, it looks like your Ralts isn't well-trained enough. Victory is mine! Squirtle, keep using Tackle!"

The girl gathered her strength and charged again.

"Ralts, use Sweet Voice."

He had to counter with the always-accurate Sweet Voice.

Squirtle paused, startled, instinctively covering her ears, yet nothing happened.

Ralts opened her mouth to sing, but her voice was barely above a mosquito's hum. After just one line, she couldn't continue.

Seeing the girl blush with embarrassment, Tang Yi could only force a smile. Learning Sweet Voice was one thing, but with her shy and timid nature, singing in front of others was a daunting challenge.

"Hah, trying to pull tricks again? I don't believe you really know Sweet Voice," Qin Donghai, who had been startled moments before, quickly relaxed.

"S-sorry," Ralts apologized, distressed.

"No, it's not your fault," Tang Yi shook his head.

He knew, though, that this match would be tough.

Gu Qingyue was right—the class leader's Squirtle was strong. Not only had she mastered two moves, but her coordination with her trainer was excellent.

Qin Donghai's commands were short, but Squirtle could discern tactics from them, approaching with speed while using footwork and feints to lure Ralts’s psychic power into missing.

The tactics weren't especially advanced—Tang Yi could see through them—but he had no time to warn Ralts.

This wasn't a turn-based game where you could calmly alternate moves; here, the situation changed in an instant, and by the time you issued an adjustment, you'd already missed the best opportunity.

An exceptional Pokémon Princess had rich battle experience and could judge the situation on her own, but Ralts was nowhere near that level yet.

Qin Donghai and Squirtle’s teamwork was simple, but for high schoolers, it was impressive.

Once it was clear Ralts couldn't use Sweet Voice, Squirtle dropped her guard and closed in again.

Tang Yi had to ask Ralts to stop using psychic power, or she would only waste her mental energy. If Squirtle pressed any closer, they’d have no way to fight back.

Squirtle’s base stats were higher than Ralts’s, and her defense was better. If she got close, Ralts would have no real chance.

At this rate, defeat seemed inevitable.

Tang Yi looked at Ralts on the field with a complex expression. After being hit twice by water gun, she was gasping for breath, her stamina severely depleted. Had Squirtle’s water gun been more accurate, the match would already be over.

She was exhausted.

Perhaps she didn’t want to continue the match.

Thinking it over, though she’d been coaxed into training, Tang Yi wondered if he was forcing Ralts to do something she disliked.

Watching her take repeated hits, Tang Yi felt genuine heartache.

This wasn’t just a set of game stats—it was a girl he had carefully nurtured.

Maybe he should just forfeit, so she wouldn’t have to suffer anymore...

That thought flashed through his mind.

Suddenly, Ralts shuddered, turned to meet Tang Yi’s gaze, and spoke with determination and warmth, “I never felt forced to do anything. So, I won’t give up.”

With that, Ralts raised her hands again, resolved to try her psychic power once more, even if it was futile.

Tang Yi was stunned.

He hadn’t spoken aloud.

How did Ralts know what he was thinking?

A realization dawned on Tang Yi.

Despite the size of the arena, Squirtle was nearly upon her. She leapt high, channeling all her energy into a tackle. If this hit, the match would end.

No, this was a feint.

Such close approach would only invite psychic power, so the real attack must be—

To the left!

Tang Yi noticed Squirtle’s eyes flicker left. He quickly assessed the situation, but there was no time to explain his analysis to Ralts.

Thought moves faster than words!

In the instant his judgment flashed through his mind, Ralts reacted almost simultaneously, gently pushing her hands to the left.

Squirtle collided directly with the psychic light.

It landed!

By anticipating Squirtle’s prediction, Tang Yi enabled Ralts’s psychic power to hit for the first time!

Seeing Ralts’s own surprise, Tang Yi’s heart surged with excitement, though his expression grew subtly strange—he seemed to understand something.