>>30784467also before the league in your last actual rival battle he admits he was pissed because he lost even after going all out
post league he says "It's hard to be strong enough to admit that you're weak, y'know?" or something along those lines
He doesn't literally say he's 'not trying', but in the early game he's clearly not taking things seriously, and Gladion definitely accuses his "I'm just havin fun" exterior of being an excuse not to try, something which bothers him
