Lara shyly bit her lip and continued, "There's a small medical station not far ahead. Can you take me there to get my arm checked?"
"My... my right arm... I can't move it. I can't ride Ponyta anymore!"
The now-calm Ponyta exhaled and glanced at Lara.
Seriously? After all these years of understanding each other, when you can only use one hand, you choose to hold a man's hand instead?!
Seeing Lara's bashful expression, Kazuki understood that while she was bold in expressing her feelings, she still had the natural shyness of a girl when it came to physical contact.
Well, that makes sense. After all, it's her first time getting close to someone like this. It's only natural she'd be nervous.
Once he grasped Lara's feelings, Kazuki continued holding her hand and smoothly guided the conversation as usual.
When Lara arrived at the medical station for her check-up, Kazuki had Pikachu notify Misty and Suzie, who soon arrived as well.
"Lara's right arm has damaged tendons! She'll need to rest for a while before she can move it again!"
After bandaging Lara's arm, the doctor gave some instructions and left.
"If your right arm is injured, can you still ride?" Misty asked, concerned.
"I can still ride! But I probably won't be able to compete in the race..." Lara looked down sadly at her bandaged arm.
"Does that mean you'll have to wait until next year to achieve your goal?" Suzie's tone carried a hint of regret.
"My goal..." Lara's eyes suddenly brightened. "My goal is to witness Ponyta's growth and success!"
"Even if I can't compete, that doesn't mean Ponyta can't!"
"Huh? Can Pokémon compete alone in this race?" Misty tilted her head in confusion, glancing at Ponyta by the door.
"Of course not, but..."
Lara walked up to Kazuki, gazing at him with tender affection. "Kazuki, could you ride Ponyta in my place for the race the day after tomorrow?"
"Wait, Kazuki?!" Misty and Suzie exclaimed in unison.
"Kazuki can't possibly do that!"
"Even if he can touch Ponyta's fiery mane, riding is a whole different level! If Ponyta doesn't accept him..."
"Then... Kazuki's butt is gonna get burned!"
Suzie voiced her concern, worried that Kazuki might get scorched by Ponyta.
Lara giggled, then looked at Kazuki with admiration and explained, "No, that won't happen. Kazuki already tamed Ponyta earlier!"
"Now, he can ride Ponyta just fine!"
"Kazuki, will you help me? You can keep all the prize money! You don't even need to place high—just let everyone see how much Ponyta has grown!"
The task was proceeding exactly as Kazuki had anticipated, so he agreed without hesitation. "Sure! I've been wanting to try riding a wild horse like this anyway!"
"You'll definitely do an amazing job! Thank you!" Lara expressed her gratitude with the highest form of appreciation in the Laramie Village's tradition.
Misty glanced at Ponyta by the door, then at the lovestruck Lara, utterly baffled.
How did Lara's expression toward Kazuki become even more intense in the time it took to eat some grilled lamb?
Did Kazuki actually...?
Ugh... What am I thinking? The alcohol must be getting to my head again.
There's no way that happened in such a short time!
Misty shook her head and leaned against Suzie's arm to steady herself.
The next day, Lara taught Kazuki all her riding techniques. After practicing with her, Kazuki mounted Ponyta for a test ride.
At first, he could feel the intense heat radiating from Ponyta, but after synchronizing his Aura Power with the Pokémon's spirit, Ponyta finally relaxed its guard.
After a few laps, Kazuki and Ponyta gradually became attuned to each other, allowing him to ride flawlessly even without relying on Aura Power.
Lara watched Kazuki galloping across the field, her admiration growing stronger.
"Kazuki is truly a perfect man. He mastered riding in such a short time!"
She tilted her head slightly, gazing at Kazuki with a dreamy smile.
Misty, noticing Lara's lovestruck expression, nudged Suzie playfully. "Hey, Suzie, take notes!"
"Learn from her?" Suzie glanced at the flames rising from Ponyta's back and chuckled. "My butt isn't that tough—it'd get ruined!"
"Ruined?" Misty pouted, thinking about Kazuki's physique.
"That guy's stamina is insane!"
"I'm worried I'd get wrecked too!"
"But... you'd react well, right?"
Seeing Suzie calmly discussing such topics, Misty assumed they were on the same wavelength and started teasing her.
"Huh?! W-What? Learn from Lara?" Realizing their conversation had taken a different turn, Suzie's face instantly turned red.
"I-I was talking about riding! W-What are you talking about, Misty?!"
"Eh? R-Riding?" Misty, used to joking about such things with Kazuki, remained unfazed.
But seeing Suzie wasn't on the same page, she suddenly felt a little embarrassed too.
"I-I was talking about riding too! Riding!"
The two fell into an awkward silence, while Lara remained lost in her admiration of Kazuki.
After a day of training, the race day arrived.
With a burst of fireworks, the event's host made a dazzling entrance.
[Good morning, everyone watching at home and here live!]
[Welcome to the Laramie Village's Pokémon Race!]
[This is an obstacle course through mountains and streams!]
[Trainers and their Pokémon must overcome every obstacle, and the first to cross the finish line wins!]
[Our judges are the Laramie Village's chief and several respected elders.]
[Now, let's welcome the participating Pokémon and trainers!]
"Excuse me, what happens if someone uses underhanded tactics during the race?" Misty asked the chief, following Kazuki's instructions from the night before.
The chief, wanting to uphold the tribe's reputation, politely answered the visiting trainer.
"If anyone cheats, they'll be disqualified. Severe cases will be handed over to the authorities!"
"But don't worry, young lady. The Laramie Village values sportsmanship!"
"Plus, we have tracking cameras covering most of the course—except for the high mountain area."
"Why isn't there tracking in the high mountain area?"
In the original script, Dario had conspired with Team Rocket in that very area, taking advantage of the lack of surveillance.
That's why Kazuki had Misty specifically ask about it.
"Uh... well..." The chief hesitated but explained with a smile.
"Our tribe is a herding community. We don't have many Flying-type Pokémon."
"Having people run alongside the racers in the mountains would disrupt the competition!"
"Oh! I see! I really love the Laramie Village's Pokémon race!"
"But fairness is important too!"
"I can lend you a Flying-type Pokémon to film the high mountain area!"
Misty first expressed her admiration for the tribe, earning the chief's goodwill, before offering her assistance.
"Ahaha, thank you for your concern, young lady!"
"But the high mountain area is at quite an altitude!"
"And the competing Pokémon are as fast as most Flying-types!"
"Carrying filming equipment while keeping up with all the racers won't be easy!"
"Even on regular routes, we need multiple Pokémon to relay the filming!"
"Leaving the entire mountain section to just one of your Pokémon might be... difficult."
The chief, seeing Misty's novice trainer appearance, doubted her Pokémon could handle the task.
"No problem, Chief!" Misty confidently released the Pidgeot Kazuki had entrusted to her.
The moment Pidgeot emerged, its massive wingspan and sharp gaze stunned everyone.
The chief and elders gaped in shock, one even trembling in awe.
After a long pause, the chief finally spoke. "T-This Pidgeot is enormous! It looks incredibly powerful!"
Another elder added, "We misjudged you, young lady. Our apologies!"
Though Kazuki had trained Pidgeot, Misty still felt proud hearing the praise for her boyfriend's Pokémon.
The chief stepped forward, examining Pidgeot closely before nodding. "Young lady, I never expected you to have such an outstanding Pokémon!"
"It's more than capable of handling the filming in the high mountain area!"
Misty smiled happily and gave Pidgeot its instructions.
After equipping the camera, Pidgeot let out a cry and soared into the sky.
With the filming issue resolved, the racers gathered at the starting line.
Dario, having finished his arrangements with Team Rocket, arrived.
"Huh? Ponyta?!" Dario's heart skipped a beat when he saw it.
"What's? Lara was injured!"
"How is Ponyta still competing?!"
Just then, Kazuki stepped out from behind Ponyta, locking eyes with Dario.
Dario flinched but quickly regained his composure.
"So Lara handed Ponyta over to you!"
"Hmph! Everyone in the Laramie Village knows Ponyta's potential is high—but it's hard to control!"
"You, an outsider who just got here, think you can handle it?"
"You knew Ponyta's potential was high, so you resorted to dirty tricks to injure Lara?" Kazuki's accusation made Dario jump like a startled cat.
"W-What nonsense are you spouting?!"
"I'd never use such underhanded methods!"
"Stick to the race and stop making baseless accusations!"
Dario quickly distanced himself from Kazuki, his Dodrio in tow.
Kazuki snorted and mounted Ponyta, ready for the race.
With the starting gun, the competition began.
Thanks to his Lightning Speed Aura, Kazuki and Ponyta shot forward like an arrow.
Dario was stunned. He'd assumed Kazuki wouldn't be able to handle Ponyta well, even if he could ride it.
Kazuki expertly guided Ponyta over every obstacle—streams, mountains—effortlessly.
Dario, watching from behind, grew desperate.
He couldn't accept being left in the dust.
Secretly, he signaled his Dodrio to interfere with Ponyta.
But Kazuki, with his Aura Power, had already anticipated this.
Gritting his teeth, Dario reached the high mountain area and smirked.
Good thing I prepared for this! Now I'll teach you a lesson!
Just then, a shadow passed overhead.
Dario, too focused on his scheme, didn't notice Misty's Pidgeot filming everything.
What was that? Some giant bird?
Whatever, it doesn't matter!
Kazuki and Dario entered the high mountain area one after the other.
This section had never been filmed before, adding to its mystique.
But today, Pidgeot's live broadcast had everyone glued to the race.
Dario had trained extensively in this area—his strongest advantage.
In past races against Ponyta here, his Dodrio had won every time.
But today, no matter what he did, he couldn't catch up to Kazuki's Ponyta.
Kazuki reached the supply zone first, feeding Ponyta.
Dario had hoped to overtake them, but his Dodrio was too exhausted and needed to eat.
With over half the race done, Dario had lost confidence in winning.
While Dodrio and Ponyta ate, Dario glanced around, making sure no one was watching, then shouted toward a rocky area.
"You three! What are you waiting for?! Get moving!"
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