Chapter Text
It's super-effective! Cloyster lost 100% of its health!
Taeru stared in bewilderment at the screen as his Cloyster was struck by a powerful blast of electricity. His sweaty hands, which had been shaking so badly that he had almost dropped the controller he was using, were now still and cold. He couldn't comprehend how he had made such an elementary mistake. He set the controller down on the table carefully.
'Why... Why didn't I terastilize right then and there!? How could one simple mistake cost me this entire match!?'
Taeru thought, biting his lip as he stared at the victor of the battle: Alice Grey. Because of a fatal miscalculation, her Miraidon was able to effortlessly strike down the electric-weak Cloyster with a deciding Electro Drift.
Cloyster fainted!
Taeru did his best to hold back tears as both competitors stood up to shake hands. He knew Alice - She wasn't the kind to boast about her wins in an opponent's face.
So why did seeing her smile hurt him so much?
"It was a close match, Taeru - You did great!"
Alice beamed, her infectious grin melting the hearts of the crowd as she stuck her hand out. But Taeru, at this point, was a personified antibody. Shakily, Taeru held his hand, pushing past that invisible wall that fought to keep his hand at bay.
"The winner of this match, and the champion of the Annual International Teen's Stratum; Alice Grey! Give her a round of applause!"
The announcer exclaimed, setting off a chain reaction of loud cheers and claps that filled the room. Taeru fought the tears that threatened to spill out his eyes as his head hung down in shame. He was supposed to be the one getting all of this applause; He had worked so hard to get to this level, and his efforts were rendered in vain by one simple mistake.
Taeru wanted to cry - it wasn't fair.
But, a game was a game. It was an undeniable fact that Alice Grey won that battle fair-and-square.
SHOWDOWN!
To be continued in Chapter 1; Invitation!