Fallarbor Town.
The Pokémon Contest Hall.
The already bustling lobby reached a fever pitch as a certain someone was recognized in the crowd.
"Hey, look! Is that... is that him?"
"He's wearing a mask, how am I supposed to—wait! It really is!"
"Really is? It's definitely him! He hasn't shown his face in over a month, and now he's in Fallarbor? Oh, this is going to be good!"
"Quick, post it on the blog!"
The crowd began to boil with excitement, several people attempting to chase after him for a quick word.
Unfortunately, the figure vanished into the dense thicket of people and Pokémon within seconds. Those who missed out could only sigh in frustration under the confused stares of other tourists.
...
On the other side of the building,
Kashiwagi pulled his hat lower and moved away from the masses. He found a quiet bench in a nearby park, sat down, and began tossing bread crumbs to a group of wild Taillow.
After Shiny Feebas successfully scaled the Dragon's Gate, he no longer had a reason to linger in Meteor Village.
Time wasn't exactly on his side. Having set out in the summer, he had to make it to the Ever Grande Conference held in the winter. Three months had already slipped by, and autumn had arrived in a flash.
Curiously, the climate in Hoenn didn't seem to care much about the change in seasons. The temperature had dropped, sure, but it was merely the difference between wearing short sleeves and long sleeves.
Those with hardy constitutions didn't even bother switching; by noon, it was usually hot enough to make you want to roll your sleeves up anyway.
It was worth mentioning that the Draconids had insisted on building him a house in Meteor Village. They even offered to handle the interior decorating. Jinya had promised to send him regular progress photos of the construction.
It was an offer he couldn't refuse.
The elders had a million reasons: "We've got nothing better to do," or "A grown man shouldn't keep bunking in someone else's guest room."
Even the Dragon Elder had pulled him aside for a "heart-to-heart," acting as if she were terrified he'd say no.
She claimed that as people get older, their motivation wanes, and they collectively wanted to do one last big project to feel young again.
As for the previous gifts? "Those were from the youngsters," they claimed. "They have nothing to do with us old folks."
In short: Take the house, or we'll make you take the house.
What could Kashiwagi even say to that?
Speaking of the "youngsters'" gifts, the most precious among them was a Dragon Fang.
Unlike the common discarded teeth of dragon Pokémon, this one possessed a mystical property that boosted the power of Dragon-type moves—much like a Mystic Water or Charcoal.
Kashiwagi had asked Old Man Aoyama to fashion the Dragon Fang into a pendant. He fastened it around Hydreigon's neck, burying it deep within the dragon's fluffy dark fur.
Unless a battle occurred that literally burned all of Hydreigon's fur off, that thing wasn't going anywhere.
Out of the whole team, he was the only one suited for it.
Along the same lines, he had converted his Key Stone bracelet into a pendant as well. The bronze spiral bracelet was a bit too flashy for his low-profile personality.
He also had a headpiece made for Mawile to hold her Mawilite, though for today's contest, he'd be sticking with her Soothe Bell.
The gentle chime of that bell was a guaranteed point-booster in the Appeal Round.
...
After finishing the bread, Kashiwagi crumpled the plastic bag and shooed away the Taillow.
"I'm counting on you two today."
He pulled out the Poké Balls containing Blissey and Mawile and gave them a light shake. Two hours remained until the curtain rose.
Many Coordinators, nerves frayed and desperate for a last-minute miracle, were practicing their routines nearby.
Kashiwagi scanned the area but was disappointed to find no familiar faces from the anime this time.
Lisia was likely preparing for a contest in Lilycove City. With her Mega Altaria, she was an absolute juggernaut; in just a few months, public perception of her had shifted from "rising starlet" to "master Coordinator."
Many fans were dying to see her and the equally famous Kashiwagi face off in the same arena.
Dawn was still MIA (unknow wheareabouts aka Missing in Action). She rarely used social media, and if you wanted to talk to her, you had to call.
The message he'd sent her a week ago was still sitting on "Read."
As for Ursula... he didn't even have her PokéLine.
Kashiwagi was snapped out of his thoughts when he noticed a Officer Jenny and her Growlithe walking toward him.
"Excuse me! We received a citizen report of a suspicious individual in a mask operating in this area. Please remove your hat and mask and show me your ID!"
Kashiwagi: "..."
How come James and Meowth never got busted by Jenny when they wore these disguises? This is scientifically inaccurate!
He obediently pulled out his Pokédex and flipped to his Trainer ID. "I'm just an innocent Coordinator, Officer."
"...Thank you for your cooperation!"
Officer Jenny saluted, then suddenly blinked. "Um... could I get an autograph?"
"Eh?"
Kashiwagi blankly took the pen she handed over and signed a small notebook. "You follow the Contests, Officer?"
"Of course! I'm a huge fan!"
She showed a flash of excitement before quickly regaining her professional composure. She was on patrol, after all; asking for an autograph was technically a breach of conduct.
"Good luck in the Contest!"
"Thanks... I'll do my best." Kashiwagi hadn't realized his fame had reached this level, especially after being "offline" for over a month.
What he didn't know was that as soon as Officer Jenny finished her shift and handed over to her colleague, she excitedly snapped a photo of the signature and posted it to a group chat titled [The Mawile Fan Club].
Within a minute, she had over a hundred replies.
Meanwhile, more and more Contest enthusiasts were converging on Fallarbor Town specifically to watch him perform.
...
The Grand Opening
"Let your Pokémon shine! Let me show you mine!"
"The Pokémon Contest—where humans and Pokémon meet and bond!"
Vivian, the brown-haired MC, clutched her microphone as she delivered the opening remarks. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for waiting! The Fallarbor Pokémon Contest is finally about to begin!"
Applause thundered through the stadium. Cheers rose like a tidal wave as the audience fixed their eyes on the stage. Three familiar figures appeared.
"Please welcome the President of the Pokémon Fan Club , Mr. Sukizo!"
The grey-haired man bowed. "Remarkable."
"The Chief of the Pokémon Activities Committee Mr. Contesta!"
The handsome man flipped his bangs.
"And from the Fallarbor Pokémon Center, Nurse Joy!"
Nurse Joy smiled and bowed gracefully.
"These three judges will conduct the First Round of reviews!"
Vivian raised her hand toward the giant screen above. A pink silk ribbon with a hexagonal metal plate appeared.
"The Coordinator and Pokémon who win this event will receive the Fallarbor Ribbon. Any Coordinator who collects five Ribbons earns the right to enter the Grand Festival! Now, without further ado, let's welcome our first contestant!"
Under the spotlight, the first contestant walked onto the stage, looking incredibly nervous.
...
In the waiting room, Kashiwagi sat on a bench, already changed into his "Magma-style" Contest outfit. He was currently being "baptized" by the stares of his fellow competitors.
Their gazes converged on him like he was some kind of legendary calamity.
However, not everyone was hostile.
A good number of people tried to greet him, but Kashiwagi politely declined any conversation. He was in "battle mode," focusing entirely on the upcoming performance.
As the rounds progressed, people's attention shifted back to the stage.
After all, staring at a powerful enemy wouldn't raise their own scores. It was better to pay attention and see if their points would land them in the Top 8.
Kashiwagi watched a few performances and realized that the bar for Double Performances was much higher than he'd anticipated. Many contestants were making glaring errors.
Even more had simplified their routines to avoid mistakes. These clunky performances only served to make the truly dedicated, skilled Coordinators look like gods.
Even a routine that might be considered "average" online was drawing massive cheers and slightly inflated scores from the judges.
Already, five contestants have scored above 29 points, though none have hit the 29.5 mark. It's clear the judges are keeping a cool head, refusing to let the electric atmosphere of the arena cloud their professional judgment.
Two teams in particular had Kashiwagi on high alert:
The Illumise and Volbeat "Sky Painting" duo, and the Solrock and Lunatone "Sun and Moon" combo.
Even though these teams relied on natural species-based synergy, their performances were top-tier. In Kashiwagi's eyes, their creativity and thematic depth were every bit as impressive as what Blissey and Mawile were about to attempt.
"There really are masters everywhere..." he murmured softly.
For Blissey and Mawile to outscore those teams, everything would come down to the flow. One stumble, and it was over.
The results of weeks of grueling practice were about to be laid bare.
A few moments later, it was Kashiwagi's turn.
As he stood up, the eyes of every contestant in the waiting room followed him like a spotlight. The second the door clicked shut behind him, those same eyes pivoted instantly to the television monitors.
The noisy room fell deathly silent. It was as if the "Final Boss" of the event had finally arrived, and even those who claimed to have no interest in him were swallowed up by the heavy, expectant atmosphere.
...
The Main Stage
Vivian's voice remained as high-energy as ever. After bidding farewell to the previous contestant, she gestured grandly toward the entrance tunnel.
"And now, please welcome our next contestant!"
Kashiwagi stepped out slowly.
Perhaps it was his imagination, but the moment he stepped under the blinding white spotlight, the entire arena seemed to hold its breath for a heartbeat—before erupting into a roar of screams that spread like wildfire.
The crowd surged.
Die-hard Contest fans shouted his name at the top of their lungs.
In the front row, a group of girls in cheerleading uniforms jumped to their feet, performing a synchronized, high-octane routine as they chanted his name in perfect unison.
At the judges' table, Mr. Sukizo and Mr. Contesta both wore knowing smiles. They adjusted their posture, sharpening their focus to ensure their eyes and ears were at peak sensitivity.
This was the kind of reception usually reserved only for the world's Top Coordinators.
...
The air was thick with frantic chatter.
"Who is this guy? The hype is insane!"
"Mawile! Mawile's here!"
"I waited a whole month for him to show up in Fallarbor! Staking out the bigger towns was definitely the right move!"
"This trip was worth every cent!"
"Did you see that, ladies? Kashiwagi and Mawile at the Grand Contest? Aren't you envious?"
...
The deafening clamor nearly ripped the ceiling off the arena.
There was no way around it.
Among all the Contestants in the Hoenn region, Kashiwagi and Mawile were undoubtedly one of the most sought-after Coordinator duos.
Although they had only participated in two tournaments, their debut move, "Spinning Fire Dance," and their renowned "Frosty Smoke Dance," had both left a deep impression.
The fact that numerous top Coordinators personally commented on their moves, and that Contest Master Wallace praised them, further fueled their immense popularity.
This ultimately led to this spectacular scene.
Kashiwagi, the man at the center of the storm, hadn't expected to be this popular after hiding away for a month.
He even had a cheer squad now—people he didn't recognize at all. It was a little awkward, to say the least.
Hiss...
Kashiwagi took a deep breath. He raised his right hand slowly, as if gathering all the noise in the stadium into his palm—and then suddenly clamped it into a tight fist.
Whoosh!
It was the same gesture he'd used back in Slateport.
The effect was instantaneous.
Silence rippled through the stands like a receding tide, carving out the perfect space for his performance to begin.
Then...
POP! POP!
Deep blue musical scores spun out like silk ribbons, and vibrant, colorful notes danced across the staff as the silhouettes of Mawile and Blissey took shape.
Standing one behind the other, they bowed gracefully to the audience—the overture to a grand dance.
Ding-ling~
The crystal-clear chime of a bell suddenly plucked at everyone's heartstrings.
Mawile, looking utterly adorable, tilted her head and stepped forward. Her toes touched the ground like a dragonfly skimming water, causing a misty, pale blue haze to rapidly envelop the stage.
Then, the melody began.
Blissey's voice was as pure as a mountain spring, bubbling with a crisp, tinkling clarity. Pale blue musical notes materialized, swirling around the swaying Mawile as she danced through the rolling fog. A chilled, icy breeze clung to the notes.
In a daze, the audience watched as these glowing symbols flickered in and out of sight like tiny forest sprites, or playful fawns darting through the mist.
A refreshing, fragrant breeze—the scent of Sweet Scent—wafted out from the shimmering fog, reaching every spectator and stimulating their senses.
It felt as though those magnificent, glowing blue notes were within arm's reach; yet, when people reached out to feel the chill, they vanished into thin air.
Mysterious. Hazy. Serene. Melodic...
Every word used to describe a fairyland could be applied to this performance. Blissey's song was like a scroll being unrolled, presenting a triple feast for the eyes, ears, and nose.
The audience wore expressions of pure bliss, their bodies involuntarily relaxing as they lost themselves in the song.
When they looked back at the stage, Mawile's cool, elegant silhouette was spinning in a rhythmic whirl.
Every time the bell chimed or the song hit a specific beat, she leaped as light as a butterfly.
And yet, every one of her movements seemed to be frozen in time. As the cold wind slowly thinned the mist, images were left behind.
One, two, three...
The audience's eyes widened, focused and utterly enthralled.
Finally, the bell fell silent. The song faded to a low hum.
The thick ethereal mist had thinned to mere wisps, but it now swirled around a series of lifelike ice sculptures that had appeared out of nowhere.
Each sculpture captured a different dance pose, every smile and glance of Mawile's frozen perfectly in ice.
The translucent eyes of the statues seemed to hold a flicker of real life.
For a moment, the audience couldn't even tell where the real Mawile was—until the low song suddenly spiked in volume.
A single, pale blue note leaped into the air and landed atop one of the sculptures.
CRACK~
The ice sculpture shattered into a thousand dazzling points of light. The audience's hearts skipped a beat.
The song swelled again. The notes began to hop like mischievous spirits, landing on each sculpture in turn. One by one, they shattered, turning into a lingering, fragrant, and cool breeze that swept over the faces of every person in the hall.
Finally, the last pale blue note landed in the hands of the real Mawile. Its mission complete, it dissolved into stardust.
The song stopped completely.
On stage, Mawile, Blissey, and Kashiwagi bowed in unison.
The entire arena was silent. Everyone was still trapped in the profound emotion of the fairy tale they had just witnessed.
Then...
A single person stood up, eyes welling with tears, and began to clap.
Then, countless others followed suit, rising from their seats.
Some thrust their arms high into the air, others poured every ounce of strength they had into their palms, offering the most thunderous standing ovation of the entire competition!
The cheers and shouts shook the very foundations of the hall; the support was like a localized thunderstorm.
"Kashiwagi!
Kashiwagi!"
"Kashiwagi!
Kashiwagi!"
They screamed his name, unable to find any other words to describe the sheer thrill and inspiration surging through them. If the security hadn't been so tight, some of them might have charged right onto the stage.
The cheerleaders chanted their synchronized slogans, their faces flushed with pure adrenaline.
The arena was so hot with excitement it felt less like a contest and more like Kashiwagi's personal concert.
Spectators held their phones aloft, desperate to capture this moment and lock it in their hearts forever.
In that moment, a single thought echoed through the crowd: How can it be this beautiful? Why is it so beautiful?
And what am I supposed to do if I never get to see this again?!
This trip was worth every penny. They wanted to stay here for the rest of their lives, watching Mawile and Blissey perform over and over. Why was it so moving?
Members of the Mawile Fan Club, who had staked out their spots early, were crying as they uploaded recorded videos.
Since the Slateport Contest, their group had ballooned from a few hundred to nearly ten thousand members. The cheer squad was, of course, their handiwork.
...
...
Inside various chat groups, fans who couldn't make it were rolling around on their beds in fits of jealousy.
...
[Fan A]: WHY! WHY AM I NOT THERE AGAIN?!
[Fan B]:Sniffle... I missed out on Mawile's cool breeze again! And this time I didn't even get to hear the song properly!
[Fan C]: You can mix the scents and simulate a cool breeze, but what about the voice? The audio distortion on this stream is terrible!
[Fan D]: Can some tech genius please clean up the audio? Pwetty please?!
[Fan E]: A blog! Someone make Kashiwagi start a personal blog! I'm going crazy! I was literally one minute late to getting a ticket!
[Fan F]: Hahahaha! Good thing I took my family's helicopter. I made it just in time, haha!
[Fan G]: GYAAAH—The audacity of the rich! I'm gonna hunt you down!
[Fan H]: Eat the rich!
[Fan I]: +1 to hunting the rich!
[Fan J]: +2
...
..
.
...
The chat logs were scrolling up at light speed. A message posted a second ago was instantly buried.
This scene was playing out across every single fan community.
...
While the internet was being set ablaze, the live commentary in the hall began.
"Thank you, Mawile and Blissey, for that song and dance... Truly, I want to see it and hear it just one more time~" Vivian sighed longingly before turning the floor over to Mr. Sukizo.
"Last time, I described Mawile's performance as 'remarkable.' This time, my evaluation remains the same, but I must add the words: 'seamlessly woven'! Her coordination with Blissey was absolutely worthy of that phrase. Perhaps today isn't as scorching as before, so the cooling effect wasn't as dramatic, but the artistic atmosphere was perfectly preserved.
"Some might say there's a degree of repetition, but one must realize that this was a double coordination with Blissey, not a solo dance. Besides, I could watch this a thousand times and still give it two thumbs up! If I could, I'd watch it every day without ever getting bored..."
In just one minute, Mr. Sukizo had managed to spout at least two hundred words, his speech becoming a bit of a blur toward the end.
Vivian, smiling brightly, cut off his microphone. "Thank you for those... enthusiastic comments, Mr. Sukizo! Next, let's hear from Mr. Contesta!"
Hiss—
POP!
"Ah!"
Vivian covered her ears as Mr. Contesta managed to overload the audio equipment, though his voice was still clearly audible even without the mic.
She shook her head helplessly and gave the final word to Nurse Joy.
The ever-reliable Nurse Joy smiled warmly.
"Even though the Trainer didn't physically participate much in the performance, the traces of his command were visible in every detail. Mawile's use of Icy Wind and Double Team, followed by Blissey's Copycat, was perfectly timed. It was a truly magnificent performance!"
Clap clap clap clap!
The audience erupted in applause.
"Thank you to our three judges. Now, please submit your scores!"
Beep-beep-beep.
9.8 / 9.9 / 9.8
Total: 29.5 points. The highest score of the competition so far!
"A new high score! Let's congratulate this contestant and his Pokémon!" Vivian announced excitedly, drawing another wave of cheers.
To earn such a score under the high standards of these three judges was proof enough of how extraordinary the routine was.
Although it didn't break his previous record—actually dropping slightly—it was still a result worth celebrating for Kashiwagi and his team.
Ultimately, they had played it safe by not choosing a completely innovative dance, effectively using Mist and Icy Wind as their "cheat codes."
In the world of Contests, distinctiveness is key to a perfect score, and since they'd used similar themes before, a 29.5 was a stellar result.
"Great job, you guys," Kashiwagi said with a smile.
Mawile was just panting a bit, but Blissey's hands were shaking uncontrollably.
She had poured every ounce of her mental energy into the micro-management of that final singing note.
If she hadn't been born with such powerful mental focus, she never would have been able to maintain the song while telekinetically guiding the note.
It was also lucky that the Icy Wind had frozen the Double Team clones thin enough; if the note had hit and failed to shatter the ice, it would have been a disaster.
Blissey had been a bundle of nerves before the show, but now, that anxiety had turned into pure elation.
Even without a natural "Contest" pedigree, she could still hit the top of the charts with the help of her friends and her Trainer!
She was the true all-rounder of the team!