Once safely in her room, May couldn't help but think of everything she had just heard. She hadn't read any magazines since she became a champion, due to lack of time but mainly because Glacia and Drake had advised her to disconnect from all forms of media seeking sensationalism. She knew very well that public figures could come under heavy criticism in the press and on the internet, however she had never directly witnessed any inappropriate remarks about herself or her predecessor there. Despite her conscience telling her it was stupid,; her curiosity was too strong. May wanted to know what people were saying about Steven online.

So she took out her PokeNav and typed his name into the search bar of her internet browser. Thousands of results immediately appeared.

May clicked on the first ones, which were rather factual articles announcing his victory at the Hoenn League years ago. As she delved deeper into the web, she discovered articles with a more satirical tone. The press had given Steven a nickname, the silver-haired dreamboat, and May was torn between laughter and indignation when she said it out loud. Many articles questioned his sexual orientation, while others made assumptions about his wealth. One article in particular, Steven Stone's secret fiancée (which May eagerly devoured), claimed that the former champion was in a secret relationship with a woman living in Sinnoh, whose identity remained a mystery. Another article, Steven Stone, soon to be a dad? fantasized about a possible hidden offspring. After several minutes of searching, May also came across an article that echoed Lance's words, stating that Steven might not have truly deserved his title.

Hoenn League: a legitimate champion?

Last month, the son of the president of Devon, the wealthiest corporation in Hoenn, was surprisingly named champion of the Hoenn League. Since then, doubts have taken hold of the population. Indeed, some accuse the young man, barely out of adolescence, of having received preferential treatment within the League, or even worse, that his dearest father had used his money to convince the Pokemon Alliance to hire his son. It is true that one might be surprised, knowing the determination, strength, and courage required of Pokemon trainers, that a boy born into comfort and absolute wealth would be able to reach such a high position. Unless it is not a coincidence? In any case, one can understand the frustration of the people of Hoenn, counting numerous modest families with determined trainers clinging to their dreams, who yet have to witness once again a person from a privileged background taking the head of our precious league.

May was almost shocked by all the insinuations the article made. Sure, Steven came from a wealthy family, but that had nothing to do with his success as a trainer. The idea that Steven had paid the Pokemon Alliance to become a champion disgusted her.

Feeling disheartened after her reading, she decided to proceed with her second search. As she typed her own name in the search bar, May held her breath. Once again, thousands of results appeared. She clicked on the first one, where a photo of her at the beginning of her journey was featured on the cover. It felt strange to see herself like that, young and full of illusions. The article was titled Closure of the Hoenn League and seemed relatively recent. It was short, so May read it to the end.

The latest news from the Hoenn League: Our young champion, May, is taking a break from her position to participate in the famous PML (Pokemon Masters League) event in Pasio. To all of you, hopeful young trainers, eagerly awaiting the opportunity to challenge the current miss May, you will have to wait a bit longer. Indeed, the young girl prefers to have fun in Pasio rather than fulfilling her prestigious role in the league. It does seem like the role of the Hoenn champion also requires to possess a touch of irresponsibility, as it is a trait that could also be observed in the previous champion, Steven Stone, also known as the silver-haired dreamboat, a nickname that perfectly summarizes the source of his true fame.

May didn't know what irritated her the most, the journalist constantly infantilizing her with terms such as miss and young girl (She was almost twenty-two!), or how he dared to call her irresponsible because she allowed herself to participate in a PML where hundreds of trainers from all regions and leagues also attended. At least, she wasn't the only victim there, since Steven was once again under attack, with the journalist going so far as to deny him any of his qualities other than his appearance.

As May delved deeper into her investigations, she was starting to feel truly irritated. The door opened and she nearly jumped, as Lisia walked in looking tired and sweating.

"Oh, you're already here May?"

"Yeah…"

May had been so absorbed in her readings that she almost forgot about her roommate's existence.

"How was your evening?"

"Normal... And you?"

"I barely ate, we went a bit longer than expected with Dawn," Lisia sighed as she collapsed onto her bed. "I'm exhausted and I really need a hot shower."

Then, she glanced up at May and noticed the PokeNav on her lap.

"Were you watching something?"

"Ah, no, nothing..."

"That's a lie if I ever smelled one," her friend laughed, getting up to try and grab the device.

"Hey! Stop!"

May wasn't quick enough. Lisia caught her PokeNav and held it above her head while squinting to read.

"Our young Champion May is taking a break from her position to...? Oh no, May! Don't read that! I know this kind of articles by heart; it's the favorite pastime of these journalists to criticize all Hoenn celebrities. I've lost count of how many times they've spread false information about my uncle and me."

"Oh really? You had to handle this too?" May responded, curious, immediately forgetting to be upset with Lisia for taking her PokeNav. "What kind of false information?"

Maybe it was inappropriate to ask, but Lisia seemed open to the topic.

"Oh, just bullshit! For example, they claimed it was my uncle who got me into the spotlight. Every time someone becomes famous in Hoenn, they have to undermine their success, or say it's thanks to someone else, luck, or money... and the number of times they've spread rumors about romantic relationships I supposedly had with other contest stars or guys I had the misfortune to take a single photo with... I've lost count by now. Even when I was only fifteen, they already wanted to match me up with guys twice my age."

"Wow... I didn't realize it was that bad..."

May wasn't sure what else to say. She was truly shocked that it could escalate to such extents. The writers of these articles had no respect.

"Yeah, I swear, it's probably just a bunch of frustrated old guys running these magazines. But the lies about my love life were nothing. I think the worst for me was when they wrote in a super popular magazine that my uncle took care of me because my mother abandoned me; they wanted to make me look like a poor orphan or something... and that edition sold really well... when I think they made money off of that... it disgusts me!"

"But why did they say that?"

Lisia rubbed her face.

"Well... let's say there's a little truth to it. They must have based it on the fact that my mother prefers to remain anonymous despite my uncle's and my fame. You know, she travels a lot, always seeking inspiration; I don't see her often. But it's not true, she never abandoned me! It's only that… her dreams come before me... because she knows I'm never left alone when she's away: Wallace is always there to look after me! He serves as a big brother to me. I know it sounds strange to say this, but... I think I feel closer to him than to my mother... We've spent so much time together; he's always been there... Without him, I could never have become so skilled in contests. He has always pushed me to surpass myself and believe in myself! On that point, at least, those stupid headlines are right, but it doesn't mean Wallace opened doors for me that I didn't deserve; I had to work hard, or I wouldn't be where I am today."

May was almost moved as she listened to Lisia talk about her uncle like that.

"We can feel that you two have a special relationship," she pointed out, "beyond your family bond."

"Yeah, I know. We look a lot like each other, don't we? But… what about you, May...? I've never thought to ask you about your family."

"My family...? It's pretty normal," May reflected. "I don't have any siblings; my father does research part-time and takes care of the house, while my mother works at a Pokemon daycare. They're not celebrity, although my dad is known but only among other scientists."

"That's not a bad thing, believe me," Lisia smiled. "At least, no one can insinuate that it's your family who helped you get your title."

She spoke so lightly, while May suspected that Lisia must have been deeply affected by those remarks when they were published... but in general, the young coordinator seemed always so relaxed and confident. Despite her fame, she always managed to be herself. Yet, she must feel some kind of pressure on her shoulders, just like May...

"How do you do it?" she asked. "To handle all your success and never feel overwhelmed?"

Lisia didn't seem surprised by the question; perhaps she knew it was something that concerned May.

"There's no magic way... I think I manage because I deeply love what I do. I try to detach myself from people's opinions; I only stay in touch with my fans, and I ignore the gossip. It's not easy every day; sometimes I feel like I won't make it or I'm scared that people will get tired of me, but... having the support of the people I love, that's what's most important. Yeah, that's what helps a lot!"

May felt a bit disheartened by this answer. Did she love her role as a champion?... Did she feel supported? It was so complicated. Her parents, the elite four, her friends... all these people supported her. But at the same time, it was as if she couldn't feel it. As if she couldn't draw strength from them... She sighed.

Lisia put her arm around her shoulder. May wasn't usually a fan of unexpected physical contact, but this time, it was rather comforting. Even though she had only asked a simple question, her friend sensed that there were many hidden uncertainties behind it.

"You know, fame is tough for everyone," Lisia reassured her. "It's just that people wear masks; they are good at hiding their insecurities. For example, when I'm in the spotlight, I'm not the same person as in reality. I give it my all, I leave my problems in the backstage. But I could never be like that all the time."

May nodded. The mask, she knew it well. But maybe all of this was also a matter of character. Some people were meant to be famous, like Lisia with her zest for life and charisma, while others, like her, would never feel genuinely comfortable in those conditions.

May was certain that time wouldn't change her doubts, or worse, it might only exacerbate them. She couldn't thrive in her role as a champion, with all the self-confidence and social skills she needed to possess to carry it out.