Chapter 234: The Senior’s Implicit Confession

Chapter 234: The Senior's Implicit Confession

Before stepping onto the stage, Yuki had changed her outfit. Gone was the bright and sporty attire she had worn earlier—she was now dressed in her school uniform.

This added an extra touch of youthful liveliness to her already vibrant appearance.

At that moment, nearly every pair of eyes in the auditorium was locked on her.

Meanwhile, Hikaru and Latias sat in the waiting area, watching the radiant girl on stage.

On the stage, Yuki took a deep breath as she gazed at the eager, dream-filled eyes of the students before her.

She parted her lips and began to speak.

"To be honest, I never imagined I'd one day stand on this stage, sharing my thoughts with all of you."

"I still remember the last time I was in a setting like this—I was just like you all, sitting in the audience, listening."

"The person standing up here back then... I'm sure most of you know who it was."

Her gaze briefly flickered toward Hikaru.

Then, a soft smile curved her lips.

"But I won't talk too much about that. Let's get straight to the point."

"I believe that everyone in this room today has a goal or a dream."

"Maybe your goal is to become a top-tier Trainer, a renowned Coordinator, a skilled Breeder, or something else entirely."

"But for some of you, that goal might seem so far out of reach that you wonder if it's even possible."

"You might feel disheartened. You might doubt yourself. You might even feel like you're chasing an impossible dream—like a toad longing for a swan."

Her voice was clear and bright, carrying an unmistakable conviction.

Through the microphone, her words flowed like a mountain stream, washing over the audience.

Many students fell into deep thought.

Yuki paused for a moment, then continued.

"I used to be directionless."

"For me, being a Trainer and inheriting the Gym was my only goal."

"But then, something changed."

"I found a new goal—one far greater than my original dream. But it wasn't easy. The road was full of struggles and setbacks."

"To pursue this goal, I climbed snowy mountains and braved perilous secret realms, all in the name of becoming stronger."

"But every time I thought I was getting close to my goal... I'd realize that it had already moved even further away."

"And I started to doubt myself. I wondered—would I ever achieve it?"

"I laughed at myself—was I just delusional?"

"But then... someone told me something."

"Having a goal is a good thing. If you can achieve it, even better. But if it's too difficult, what truly matters is the process—the journey of bettering yourself."

"And they were right."

"When I look back, from my days in Mizuki City to the national championship stage, I see just how much I've grown."

Yuki steadied herself, taking a brief pause.

At that moment, she wanted nothing more than to say his name—

To tell everyone that the goal she had been chasing was Hikaru himself.

But as the words reached her lips, they refused to come out.

She always thought of herself as fearless, yet when it came to this—her love was timid.

She had planned to lay her feelings bare, but in the end, she couldn't bring herself to do it.

With a simple, "Thank you, everyone,"

She ended her speech.

A wave of thunderous applause erupted from the audience.

Clap, clap, clap...

Her words had deeply resonated with many.

Life was full of dreams and ambitions, but the path to achieving them was always filled with obstacles.

If you let fear hold you back, you would never reach your goal.

The students below were visibly fired up.

"Yuki-senpai's speech was amazing! I swear, I'm going home today and making Machop do a hundred push-ups with me!"

"Alright, alright, you're trying to outwork everyone, huh? Fine, I'll let my Chansey practice its Healing Skills by punching me in the face."

"...Wait, you mean literally?"

"Yes."

"Damn, I thought my dream of becoming a Pokémon Champion was impossible... but after today's speech, I feel hopeful again!"

"You? Bro, come on... let's be real."

"What do you mean?! Senpai just said we shouldn't doubt ourselves! It's about getting better every day!"

The lively discussions echoed throughout the auditorium.

In the High School Year 4 (Class 4) section,

Ruo Chen clenched his fists as he listened to the speech.

Without realizing it, he reached up and touched the corners of his eyes.

A faint dampness spread across his fingertips.

Her words had hit him harder than anything before.

For the past two years, he had struggled to synchronize with his Pokémon.

But compared to when they first started, they had already improved so much!

Thank you...

He whispered silently in his heart.

Snowy's speech had shattered his self-doubt.

From now on, he would never entertain the thought of abandoning his Pokémon again.

And in that instant—

Behind him, Marshadow silently surfaced from the shadows.

The ghostly Pokémon observed Ruo Chen for a moment before vanishing into his shadow again.

As the audience's chatter gradually died down,

A voice suddenly rang out from the crowd.

"Senpai! You said you have a big goal—can you tell us what it is?"

The moment that question was asked, it sparked a chain reaction.

The students below eagerly leaned forward, their eyes filled with curiosity.

Yuki hadn't expected this, but she quickly regained her composure.

With a soft, playful lilt in her voice, she replied—

"My goal...? It's a person~"

Instantly, the auditorium exploded with noise.

A person?!

Accompanied by an orchestra of gasps and cheers,

The students' imaginations ran wild.

A person—could mean many things.

It could be a famous Trainer she admired.

But it could also be...

A crush.

And considering what she had said earlier—"Every time I try to catch up, I fall just a little behind!"

The meaning behind her words was as clear as day.

It was her heart's desire!

This realization sent a wave of excitement rippling through the crowd.

"Senpai, is it your crush?!"

"Who is it?! Tell us!!"

"AHHHH! WHOEVER IT IS, I HATE HIM! HOW DARE HE WIN YUKI-SENPAI'S HEART?!"

"Senpai... my dear Senpai... my heart is shattered..."

Above them—

Yuki's ears burned red after saying those words.

This wasn't a direct confession.

But it was the most she could manage right now.

From Hikaru's reactions, she knew—

If she didn't take this step, he would forever see her as just a friend.

And besides—

If she didn't act soon, Hikaru might completely overlook her feelings.

She wasn't going to let that happen.

But still—she was just a girl.

At seventeen, making a public semi-confession like this—

Her heart pounded wildly.

It felt like her emotions were a crashing tidal wave, yet also like a single bird taking flight in a tranquil forest.

When the students started chanting for an answer,

She simply said, "That's all from me."

Then, she hurried off the stage.

By not denying it,

She had all but confirmed it.

And now, standing backstage, her heart still racing,

She turned to face Hikaru—

Who, as always, remained completely oblivious.

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