I have a Clemont theory (Minor Z-A Spoilers. No Block.)

So I was walking around Wild Zone 2

Not in it

Around the green barrier

I don't remember the exact location, but there is woman that you can talk to

She says (I'm paraphrasing): Because of the Royale, there isn't really a need for Gym Battles anymore

I was offended someone would say such a thing but didn't think much of it

Two weeks later I'm in the shower and by brain decided to bring it up

I now have a theory

What if Clemont retired?

As the woman said, there wasn't need for a Gym anymore

Nobody needed battles so Clemont decided to quit the Gym

He went to the thing that was his free time

Inventing

He now had more time for science without the Gym

Why do you think there's so much high tech stuff (like the Holovator, holograms, and Wild Zone barriers)?

Clemont finally had time to perfect his inventions and used it to help the city

And this game (supposedly) takes fives years into the future

Let's say he retired two years ago

It would have been all the talk then, but now it's old news and nobody has a need to mention it

That's why he's not mentioned

Out of everyone that talks about Clemont's absence, you mention it the most @UnovanZorua

So what do you think of this theory?

Mind you, all this came from one short line of dialog from a random woman in the street

This has very little supporting evidence