Pokémon, but cultural invasion

As a bustling metropolis second only to Goldenrod City, Gyoko is home to Gyoko Department Store, the largest chain department store in the entire Kanto region.

It is on par with the Shizuoka Department Store in the Hoenn region.

Besides its renowned department store, Gyoko is also home to the largest arcade in the Kanto region.

However, due to residents' concerns that the game center would damage Yuhong's image, there has been less and less publicity about Yuhong Game Center in recent years.

In the city center, Yuhong Dojo is like a dreamlike plant palace, with five huge, flat, flower-shaped roofs extending towards the sky.

Its dense array of high-efficiency solar collectors provides electricity for the internal glass garden.

Perhaps to allow more people to appreciate the charm of plants, this botanical garden is open to the public, with an entrance fee roughly the price of a bottle of soda.

Logically, a high-quality plant exhibition hall should be packed with people, but in reality, there are very few visitors. The largest group of people coming and going each day are trainers challenging the Rainbow Gym.

This hurt Lijia deeply.

She manages her enormous plant palace, faces challengers, and runs a perfume shop.

Working on three fronts led Lijia to develop a habit of taking frequent afternoon naps.

The most common response challengers receive when they visit is: "Our owner is taking a nap, please come back later."

The spring tree is no exception.

At the entrance of Yuhong Taekwondo Hall.

The disciple girl, dressed in a kimono with a wild chrysanthemum pattern, said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Master Rika is taking a nap..."

With no other option, Quanshu found a cold drink shop nearby.

While waiting, the omnipotent friend that A-Che had mentioned sent a friend request from the navigator.

"Guangtai: Excuse me, are you Quanshu, the president of the Tingxiang Film Club? I'm the prop master introduced by Ache. You can find my previous works on my homepage."

"Thoughts flow like a spring: Hello, nice to meet you."

"Inspiration flows freely: Below are the requirements for important items. If the finished product meets the requirements, we can become long-term partners. (Pikachu salutes.jpg)"

Let's send out a couple of props first to test their quality. If they're well-made, there will be plenty of opportunities for future collaborations.

Two hours later, Quanshu went to Yuhong Dojo again and entered smoothly this time, without the dramatic scene of "three visits to the thatched cottage".

With the Indigo League just around the corner, the number of challengers at the Celadon Gym has plummeted as everyone's busy grinding for Gold Saints.

He was able to avoid queuing to enter.

"drop--"

Entry to the Botanical Garden is free with a Trainer's Pokédex.

The disciple treated him as a normal challenger, which was perfect for someone with impure motives.

......

"Isn't this outfit for the exhibition match a bit too plain?"

In the changing room of the dojo, in front of a full-length mirror.

Ami wore a light white dress with a flower wreath wrapped around her waist.

She looked at herself in the mirror and felt inferior compared to the other gym leaders dressed in their battle uniforms.

To improve her fashion sense, she even signed up for Sinnoh's Super Glamorous Contest, but was too shy to participate.

Lijia, who was watching her from the side, rested her chin on her hand and suggested, "Since you want to be a little more glamorous, how about wearing a figure-flattering light blue bodysuit and a cape?"

"Ugh, that's so embarrassing to dress like that."

Ami's face flushed just imagining it.

"I see."

Lijia pulled out her notebook, seemingly lost in thought, and said, "On a certain day in a certain year, Ami felt that Miss Chun from Yanmo City was somewhat shameful... I wrote it down..."

"Oh, that's not what I meant!"

Ami realized with a start that she had fallen into Lijia's trap.

Ami hurriedly turned her head and met Lijia's mischievous grin. She puffed out her cheeks: "Lijia's playing a trick on me..."

"Ding—A new challenger has arrived. Please prepare."

The challenger's information is displayed on the wall-mounted screen.

Gym leaders can see a challenger's past experience and use that information to determine the difficulty level at which they can award a badge.

"Hey, is it him?"

Ami looked strange. She had come all the way from Golden City... She said, "I'm afraid you're not a challenger."

"But this resume... it's truly impressive... hahaha!"

Chapter 40: The Battle Begins Five Seconds After Meeting

Early July is the peak blooming season for wisteria.

Behind the rectangular battlefield, an arched trellis made of pine wood is densely entwined with wisteria flowers, with cascading flower spikes like a waterfall.

The fabric draped from the girl's shoulders to her ankles. She stood sideways, her left hand holding the hem of her sleeve, and her right hand gripping a Poké Ball.

"Welcome to the challenge of Yuhong Dojo. My name is Rika. Which side will be left with the bitterness of defeat? Let's wait and see when the buds bloom."

In this world, there are gyms like the Golden Gym that completely ignore challengers, and there are gyms where the gym leader goes to great lengths to pose and engage in conversations.

Quanshu was embarrassed; Yuhong Dojo wasn't like this when he came before.

"Excuse me, I am a staff member of Tingxiang Township. I would like to discuss business cooperation with you."

"Eh?"

Lijia asked in astonishment, "Did I make a mistake?"

“I already said he’s not a challenger.”

Ami strolled out from behind the flower stand, rubbing her forehead and saying, "And what kind of entrance were you planning?"

"Isn't this the kind of thing that's been popular in gym battles lately?"

"The most popular Dante makes his entrance like this."

Ami looked strange. She thought of the "most chuunibyou dojo roundup" and wondered if Rika would take the bizarre videos as a trend indicator.

"Never mind, Izumi...right, you ran from Saffron Gym to Rainbow Gym, so I suppose you had the same goal."

Quanshu was even more embarrassed to find Ami there.

It's pretty unlucky to run into the same person twice while doing business.

"Yes, I've come to obtain filming permission from Yuhong City, and of course, Tingxiang can provide..."

"I agree to your filming in Yuhong City."

Rika interrupted him, looking at the surprised Izumi, and said with a smile, "Don't be so surprised, the situation in Rainbow City and Golden City is different."

"Golden City and Jade Rainbow City are too close. The former siphons the population from the surrounding areas, while in Jade Rainbow City, apart from the bustling game city in the southern district, the population in some areas has decreased, and some neighborhoods are even deserted."

"If your movie is a box office success, Yuhong City, as a filming location, can attract more visitors and boost tourism, which is a win-win situation."

"But I also have to consider the possibility that it won't become popular, so there are two prerequisites."

Quanshu solemnly said, "Please speak."

Lijia held up two fingers.

"First, my botanical garden will collaborate with Plants vs. Zombies in Tingxiang."

"Secondly, let me see your skills as a trainer by fighting a formal gym battle."

Quanshu pondered that neither of the two conditions was a problem for him.

"What specific form of collaboration is this?"

"It's just paper standees of various zombies and Pokémon characters from the game placed in the park."

"Don't worry, it's not one of those collaborations where they just stick a logo on a milk tea shop and sell it to you for double the price."

Quanshu thought to himself, "This young lady knows quite a lot."

"Your conditions have been accepted, Tingxiang. May I ask why you want to have a dojo battle?"

Ami chuckled to herself, "They must have seen that your first badge was a rainbow, and your record is exceptionally impressive, so they're taking a closer look at you."

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Lijia glared at her and explained, "Regarding the reputation of the Jade Rainbow Dojo, online challengers say that my battles lack energy and are drowsy."

"So last night I had the idea to make a change and try a new fighting style."

Quanshu unzipped the backpack.

“I see. But I only brought Eevee with me today.”

Ami egged them on, saying, "Then let's go with a one-on-one rule, and I'll be the referee!"

"Boy!"

The fluffy Eevee scurried around in its backpack, concealing a small silver spiky ball among its fur, before nimbly leaping onto the battle platform.

Lika lifted her skirt with both hands, bent her knees, and bowed to him: "Then please take care of me. Come out, Stinky Flower."

"You have earned eight badges in the Kanto region, so I will not go easy on you. Please be careful."

The rectangular battlefield was filled with the drooling, smelly flower with a drooling mouth, its four spherical petals vibrating on its head.

Before the battle even began, Eevee could smell the stench emanating from Gloom.

"I declare that the battle has begun!"

Ami pressed a switch, and the hidden speakers around the venue were activated.

The familiar rooftop boss battle and Dr. Zombie King's execution theme played, leaving Izumi Tree looking bewildered.

"this..."

He remembered that although Qishu hadn't reached this level, the game trailer released by Tingxiang that morning included a long section on the boss battle.

Could the sheet music have been leaked?

Izumi almost forgot that Rika was also a young lady from a prestigious family, so it was perfectly normal for her to have a family band.

Please forgive my impolite act of playing the original score without permission.

"The rousing music is the first change I made to my gym battles!"

Lijia waved her sleeves: "Take root, Stinky Flower."

In contrast to the aggressive background music, Rika's first command was particularly sleazy.

The four light brown sepals on the top of the Stinky Flower extend towards the ground and burrow into the soil. Once the rooting technique is completed, it will continuously restore its stamina.

"Boy!"

Eevee was enveloped in white light, and a flash of electricity gathered beneath its feet as it charged toward Gloom like a comet striking the moon.

The white light on the body, however, was a result of "violent impact".

As a seasoned gym leader, Rika quickly deciphered Eevee's combination move.

He skillfully combined the speed of lightning with the power of a violent impact, which was quite impressive.

She made a subtle comment in her mind.

But it would be naive of me to think that Izumi-ki could break the Gloom's roots simply by crashing into it.

"No need to move, just take it."

"Nani!"

The smelly flower stand assumed a defensive stance, and a burst of white light swept over it, but the expected collision did not occur.