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Kai nodded, then glanced at the lone disc launcher in the corner. "So, who goes first?"
"That should be obvious," Cissy said, crossing her arms. "As the gym leader, it's only right for me to go first and show you how it's done!"
She signalled to Senta, who eagerly approached the machine. After making a few quick adjustments, he hit the switch. Immediately, three discs shot into the air!
Seadra's eyes locked onto the targets. As the discs reached their peak, its elongated snout puffed slightly before releasing three precise bursts of water, each one perfectly timed to hit its mark.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
The discs shattered, raining down fragments onto the floor.
"Woo-hoo!" Senta clapped enthusiastically as if the match had already been won. Watching Seadra's flawless performance, Cissy smirked and glanced at Kai, her confidence clear. 'Let's see how you handle this, Champion. Battles may be your speciality, but this is my domain I won't lose'
When Seadra retreated to the side, Blastoise stepped forward, taking its position at the edge of the pool.
Meanwhile, at the launcher, Senta's mischievous grin appeared as an idea struck him. He subtly turned a dial, increasing the speed of the discs by a notch. 'Let's see how they deal with this!'
Though the adjustment seemed minor, the faster discs would make the challenge significantly harder.
Senta, clearly pleased with himself, snickered quietly. However, he failed to notice a pair of glowing eyes watching him from the shadows.
Haunter, hiding quietly within Kai's shadow, had been observing Senta's every move.
The moment Senta tampered with the machine, it floated silently toward Kai and whispered in his ear.
Kai's expression remained calm, though his eyes briefly flicked toward Senta, who grinned smugly in return.
'A troublesome kid who doesn't know when to quit' Kai sighed internally. 'Well, if that's how you want to play…'
He called Blastoise back for a moment, leaning in to whisper something. Blastoise's wide eyes showed a mix of surprise and concern, but when Kai nodded reassuringly, it responded with a determined "Blast!"
Cissy, too far away to hear the exchange, assumed Kai was strategizing. "Ready to begin?" she asked.
Kai straightened. "Go ahead."
At Kai's signal, Blastoise's cannons began charging, the pressure building as it prepared for the incoming discs.
Cissy's brows furrowed. "Charging so early? That'll increase power but make accuracy nearly impossible. What's he planning?"
Oblivious to the potential strategy, Senta eagerly hit the launch button. Three discs shot out, their increased speed noticeable as they streaked toward the sky.
But instead of targeting the discs at their apex, Blastoise aimed its water jets directly at the launcher itself. Twin streams of water combined into a massive blast, obliterating the discs just as they left the machine.
Crash!
Shards of the broken discs rained down, along with a cascade of water that completely drenched Senta, soaking his freshly changed clothes. Fragments of the destroyed discs scattered across his head and shoulders.
"Ahh!" Senta yelped, stumbling backwards in shock.
Kai folded his arms, his tone calm but firm. "Tampering with the equipment, huh? Did you really think I wouldn't notice?"
Cissy, realizing what had happened, turned toward her brother with a thunderous expression. "Senta, you didn't…!"
"Hehehe" Haunter floated forward, its mischievous grin widening as it reached for the launcher. With surprising strength, it lifted the machine off its base and carried it to Cissy, placing it down with an exaggerated bow.
Kai gestured toward the evidence. "Here you go, Miss Cissy. It seems the Mikan Gym has a unique 'feature' I wasn't aware of."
Cissy froze, her face paling as she inspected the machine. The slightly adjusted settings confirmed the accusation. Her expression darkened as she turned toward Senta.
"You…!" She stormed over, anger practically radiating from her. "Senta, how could you pull a stunt like this?!"
"B-but it was just a joke!" Senta stammered, backing away. "I didn't mean any harm!"
"Don't give me that excuse!" Cissy's fury boiled over as she delivered a sharp flick to Senta's forehead. "Do you realize what you've done? Cheating during an official match? This isn't just about me you've embarrassed the entire Orange League!"
"Ow! That hurt!" Senta whined, clutching his head.
Cissy pointed toward the exit. "Out! Now!"
"But—"
"Out!"
Her voice echoed through the gym, leaving no room for argument. Senta, thoroughly chastised and visibly shaken, slinked toward the side door, muttering under his breath as he left.
With her brother gone, Cissy let out a deep sigh, her fiery demeanour replaced by embarrassment. She turned back to Kai with an apologetic smile.
"I'm so sorry you had to witness that. I've spoiled him far too much, and it's turned him into a troublemaker. Please, Kai, I beg you, don't spread the word about this incident. It would damage not just my reputation but the entire league's."
Kai's gaze remained steady. "I told you earlier that your brother needed better discipline. What he did wasn't just mischief it was outright cheating. If you don't handle this now, it'll only get worse."
Cissy's face flushed with shame as she nodded, her tone earnest. "You're absolutely right. I swear, I'll make sure this never happens again."
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