The next morning.
Kashiwagi woke up in a room that was still a cluttered mess, despite a quick attempt to tidy up.
Last night had been a marathon of running between the hospital and the police station. By the time he finished giving his statement, it was well past midnight. The officer taking the report looked like he had charcoal smeared under his eyes—his dark circles were practically darker than his pupils.
Clearly, the local precinct was exhausted.
Two major thefts in such a short span? For a peaceful town that rarely saw more than a stray Meowth tipping over a trash can, this "brazen" crime wave had caught the police completely off guard.
Still, the overtime wasn't for nothing. Just as the thieves were planning their next move, the police had tracked down their hideout. They were all set to stage a stakeout and catch them red-handed with the loot.
Who would've guessed the duo would be dumb enough—or bold enough—to strike again the very same night? Getting caught on the spot by a "passerby" left the officers entirely bewildered.
Luckily, Kashiwagi hadn't been too heavy-handed. The thieves woke up shortly after their knockout and were now undergoing a grueling interrogation led by Officer Jenny and her team.
...
"Aaah~"
Kashiwagi let out a long yawn.
Last night, Wally had asked if he wanted to switch rooms. But seeing as his things were already half-unpacked and he was far too tired to move, Kashiwagi had politely declined. "Let's talk about it after I sleep," he had muttered.
"The paperwork should be done by now, right?"
He reached for his phone on the nightstand. To his surprise, the first notification was a text from the police station regarding the recovery of stolen property—specifically, the Pokémon Egg lost yesterday afternoon.
He had mentioned it during his statement, so it seems the officer must have fast-tracked the filing.
Right below that was a message from the Battle Tent Manager. The man stated he would be waiting at the entrance of the police station to help Kashiwagi reclaim the Egg and discuss compensation.
"Talk about eager," Kashiwagi noted.
He gently pushed two heavy dragon heads off his stomach and thighs—Zweilous was a bit of a bed hog—and waved to Chansey, who was already up and moving. He gave the Galarian Corsola by his pillow a quick pat.
After completing his morning routine, he went to the bathroom to wash up.
A short while later, feeling refreshed, he headed to the lobby, greeted Wally at the front desk, swapped his room key, and walked straight to the police station.
...
The Manager was standing right by the guard post. His eyes lit up the moment Kashiwagi appeared.
"Mr. Kashiwagi! You remember me, right?" The man pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his face, beaming with a wide, professional smile.
Kashiwagi nodded. "Of course. Sorry to make you come all this way."
"No trouble at all! Not at all! Please, after you."
The Manager escorted him inside. After verifying his identity, an officer led them to the evidence recovery room.
As the door opened, Kashiwagi immediately spotted a familiar face: the chubby man from the other day—the one who had been bragging about his Shiny Pokémon.
Standing next to the chubby man was a young boy in a sharp suit. He practically radiated the aura of a "Young Master" from a wealthy family, reminiscent of a childhood James from Team Rocket.
The pair turned around. When they saw the Manager and Kashiwagi, their eyes sparkled.
"Finally! They're here!"
The chubby man turned to the boy excitedly. "Young Master! That's the owner of the Pokémon Egg!"
The boy tilted his head curiously. "Then what are you waiting for?"
"Oh! Right!"
The chubby man nodded vigorously and approached Kashiwagi and the Manager. "Excuse me, gentlemen. I was wondering if we could strike a deal—"
"If you've collected your items, leave immediately," the officer interrupted coldly. "Don't loiter. If you have business, take it outside."
The chubby man's sales pitch died in his throat.
Fortunately, the boy seemed quite reasonable. He didn't pull the "Do you know who I am?" card. Instead, he gave a polite nod as he and his attendant walked out of the room.
Kashiwagi nodded back, his gaze shifting to the most prominent item on the recovery list: The Pokémon Egg.
"Only one left? Were the others already claimed?" Kashiwagi asked.
"Yes," the Manager replied.
"Then why didn't you just tell the officer and pick it up for me? You didn't have to wait outside for so long." Kashiwagi was a bit puzzled by the Manager's excessive formality.
"Hehehe..." The Manager just gave a strained, awkward laugh.
...
Kashiwagi picked up the Egg and began to examine it.
In the Pokémon world, most Eggs can be identified by the patterns on their shells. This one was no exception.
As he looked closer, he finally understood why the chubby man was so agitated.
"A Wurmple Egg... and it's a Shiny?"
He stared at the purple wavy spikes and yellow patches on the shell. He hadn't expected that a Shiny Pokémon's coloration would actually manifest on the Egg itself in this world.
If the "breeding enthusiasts" back in the games could see this, they'd lose their minds, Kashiwagi thought. No more endless cycling paths!
The Manager was impressed. He hadn't expected Kashiwagi to identify the species at a single glance.
After the paperwork was signed and the Egg was officially back in Kashiwagi's possession, the two headed for the exit.
At the main gate, the chubby man was still there, waiting. A luxury car sat idling nearby; Kashiwagi could see the top of the young boy's head through the tinted rear window.
"Sir, let's talk," the chubby man said, stepping forward with a smile.
"My Young Master is very interested in that Egg. Would you be willing to part with it? We are prepared to offer a price that will surely satisfy you..."
So those Shiny Pokémon really do belong to that kid, Kashiwagi mused.
Outwardly, he simply shook his head.
"I'm sorry. Not for sale."
"If selling isn't an option, we can always trade! Whatever Pokémon you're looking for, name it—everything is negotiable!"
The fat man rubbed his hands together, a greasy smile plastered across his face as he pleaded, "Really, I'm being dead serious here. Name your price, or rather, name your Pokémon!"
Kashiwagi tilted his head, a playful, half-joking glint in his eyes.
"In that case... how about a Shiny Milotic? Does that sound fair?"
The man's smile instantly froze. A look of pure distress washed over his face. "Well, that's... that's a bit of a tall order, don't you think?"
"If you don't have one, then there's nothing to be done. I'm not exactly hurting for cash. Sorry about that." Kashiwagi gave a polite nod, turning to leave with the facility manager.
But before he could take a second step, a voice drifted over from the luxury car parked nearby.
"A Shiny Feebas. Big brother, if you're willing, I'll trade you a Shiny Feebas for it."
The voice wasn't loud, but in the quiet morning air, it reached Kashiwagi's ears with crystal clarity. He stopped dead in his tracks.
"A Shiny Feebas?"
Kashiwagi narrowed his eyes, his voice laced with skepticism.
"The real deal. No scams, no tricks. A genuine Shiny Feebas,"
the boy confirmed. He pushed the car door open and stepped out, explaining his desperation. "I already have a Shiny Dustox and two Shiny Cascoon. I just can't seem to get a Shiny Silcoon. I'm hoping you'll give me this chance."
Talk about bad luck, Kashiwagi thought.
He suddenly understood the boy's obsession. After failing to get a Shiny Beautifly three times in a row, the kid was clearly on tilt. He was determined to break the streak, even if it was just out of pure spite against the RNG gods.
"Please?"
The boy leaned in, switching tactics to a classic "puppy-dog eyes" look, resting his chin on his hands.
"...Alright. Deal."
Kashiwagi nodded with a look of feigned reluctance, though internally, he was doing a victory lap.
Talk about luck! He'd been dreaming of a Shiny Feebas for ages, and here it was, falling right into his lap. Was this the power of the Lucky Scale that worked?
To get this "prize," all it took was winning the Battle Tent and bringing two thieves to justice. If he'd missed even one of those steps, this Shiny Feebas would never have been his.
Besides, Kashiwagi wasn't particularly attached to a Shiny Wurmple. He had no desire to gamble on whether it would evolve into a Cascoon or a Silcoon.
A trade was the perfect outcome—and given the kid's family background, that Wurmple was going to live a life of luxury.
...
Meanwhile,
Seeing the deal struck, the boy signaled the stout man. Using a portable transport device, they summoned the Shiny Feebas—which arrived housed in a sleek, black-and-gold Luxury Ball.
The normal trading process requires a special machine to successfully complete the Pokédex registration, but that's only if both parties have Poké Balls.
Trading eggs for Pokémon is more complicated.
The boy suggested releasing the Shiny Feebas into the park's fountain to verify its true form and complete the trade.
Kashiwagi agreed; he definitely wanted to "inspect the goods" first. He turned to the facility manager. "Sorry for keeping you waiting so long. You don't need to worry about the compensation anymore. If you have work to do, feel free to head back."
"No, no! Please, take your time," the manager insisted, waving his hands frantically. "I'll wait right here. It's no trouble at all!"
Seeing the man wouldn't budge, Kashiwagi didn't argue.
Moments later, the trio stood by the fountain. The boy clicked the release button on the Luxury Ball.
Flash!
A beam of blue light hit the water, materializing into a fish with purple scales and grey fins. It had sunken, dark-circled eyes, bony protruding cheekbones, and lips as thick as sausages.
With its tattered fins and lumpy, mottled skin, it was easy to see why it was called the "shabby Pokémon"—and why its name was often synonymous with "ugly."
"One hundred percent authentic Shiny Feebas," the boy said proudly. "You can raise it into a stunning Shiny Milotic, big brother."
The Shiny Feebas swam a slow lap in the fountain, its dull, vacant gaze drifting over the three humans. It looked entirely unimpressed.
"It doesn't seem to recognize you?" Kashiwagi noted, seeing the fish didn't even glance at the boy.
"We have a lot of Pokémon at home, and I'm usually too busy traveling for piano competitions and banquets," the boy explained calmly. "They're mostly looked after by professional Breeders."
Wow, a literal mini-James, Kashiwagi thought, slightly speechless.
If the kid didn't have time to bond with them, was he just buying Shinies to satisfy a collection itch?
...
After a while, a specialized trade machine was wheeled over. The boy recalled the Shiny Feebas, placing its ball on one side; Kashiwagi placed the Egg and its incubator on the other.
On the small screen, the icons swapped places. The boy, being quite generous, let Kashiwagi keep the Luxury Ball as well. He gave a small, formal bow.
"I have a violin competition to attend now. Please excuse me."
"Safe travels," Kashiwagi replied, though his focus was already elsewhere.
He released the Shiny Feebas back into the fountain.
Splash!
The purple fish drifted in the water. Sensing someone watching it, it turned its "dead-fish eyes"—which looked suspiciously like a Porygon's—toward him.
Man and fish stared at each other.
"Uh... hello?"
"..."
"I'm your Trainer now. Do you... understand that?"
"..."
"Right. Communication is going to be a bit of a hurdle, I see."
Kashiwagi pulled out the Luxury Ball, speaking softly. "Sorry, buddy. Someone's waiting for me, so let's save the heart-to-heart for later."
"Pop~"
The Feebas blew a single bubble, looking utterly bewildered.
...
...
In front of the police station.
Kashiwagi came jogging back, finding the manager still waiting exactly where he left him. "Sorry to keep you waiting, I truly apologize."
"No trouble at all, no trouble! As long as your business is settled," the man replied, his face still beamed with a professional smile. "Do you have a moment now? Perhaps we could find a place to chat?"
"Sure."
The two headed to a nearby café. Sensing that Kashiwagi wasn't in the mood for small talk and wasn't particularly fixated on the "compensation," the manager cut straight to the chase.
"Our boss, Mr. Scott, highly admires your talent. He asked me to personally deliver this to you."
He pushed an envelope across the table. Kashiwagi picked it up and realized it was an invitation—one for the Hoenn Battle Frontier Brain Recruitment selection.
At the same time, it served as a Pass to challenge the Kanto Battle Frontier.
"A Frontier Brain, huh..." Kashiwagi murmured softly.
...
In the anime, the Battle Frontier—which originally belonged to Hoenn region in the games—was moved to Kanto, and the seven Frontier Brains were changed from Heonnians to Kantoians. The Hoenn Battle Frontier didn't even appear until the Journeys series.
Scott's invitation confirmed one thing: he was finally preparing to set up a Battle Frontier in the Hoenn region. After Kanto and Sinnoh, Hoenn was next on his list.
While becoming a Frontier Brain wasn't exactly in Kashiwagi's immediate plans, he tucked the invitation away. If I ever get bored later on, it wouldn't hurt to go join the fun, he thought.
The manager had waited all this time just to put this into his hands.
Besides the invitation, the "compensation" included a VIP Membership Card, which granted a discount at any business owned by Scott's company.
Kashiwagi accepted it with a satisfied grin.
...
After parting ways with the relieved manager,
Kashiwagi headed to the Pokémon Center. He gave the Feebas a comprehensive physical exam to ensure it had no hidden injuries. Once confirmed it was in peak condition, he hurried back to the guesthouse.
At the front desk, Wally saw him return and asked eagerly, "Did you get the Pokémon Egg?"
"There was a bit of a plot twist. It's hard to explain in a sentence or two... I'm heading to the backyard pond. Come by if you have time and you'll see," Kashiwagi replied, walking quickly toward the pool specifically set up for guests to feed water-type Pokémon.
He clicked the Poké Ball open.
POP!
A flash of white light erupted.
A shiny Feebas, which looked like a poisonous fish, fell into the pond.
"Hey there."
Kashiwagi knelt by the pond, holding out a Pokéblock with a smile.
The Feebas looked dazed for a moment, as if its brain was still buffering. When it finally processed the stranger in front of it, it shrank back timidly.
"This reaction speed is a bit... questionable. And it's definitely on the shy side," Kashiwagi noted.
He wasn't impatient. Instead, he crushed a Pokéblock into powder and sprinkled it into the water, then held a second one right at the surface.
High-quality Pokéblocks emit an irresistible aroma. Feebas was no exception. It opened its thick fish-lips and sucked in the floating powder.
Once the food hit its stomach, its spirits lifted instantly. It gathered the courage to swim closer and began taking little "vacuum" gulps of the Pokéblock in Kashiwagi's hand.
After five Pokéblocks, the little fish completely forgot its earlier trauma. It wagged its tail and even let Kashiwagi stroke Its smooth scales.
"Well... its definitely 'ugly-cute' in a charming way."
Kashiwagi had to admit, now that Feebas was being expressive, it was actually a little adorable. He pulled out his Pokédex:
___
Pokémon: Feebas (Shiny)
Type: Water
Gender: Female ♀️
Height/Weight: 65cm / 8kg
Ability: Oblivious
Level: 34
Moves: Tackle, Splash, Flail,
Haze, Mist,
Attract, Ice Beam, Hidden Power
___
She has the Oblivious ability, no wonder her reaction was so slow earlier.
Looking at Feebas's move pool, Kashiwagi wasn't too surprised. Before evolving, Feebas was basically like Magikarp, unable to learn other moves.
Besides Tackle, Splash and Flail, the other two were egg moves, and the last three were probably taught to Feebas by the boy's breeder.
Should I evolve her right now?
He thought of the Prism Scale in his pocket. He hesitated. The item was a one-time use; once he used it to get a Shiny Milotic, the scale would vanish.
Would a Shiny Milotic still bring him the same "insane luck" that this scale currently provided?
If he kept the "Lucky Scale," he might even have a shot at encountering Lugia later—fulfilling the "scouting" mission Yamamino gave him.
Kashiwagi hesitated.
Before he actually had the Shiny Feebas, he had imagined of using the scale on it. But now that she was here, he found himself feeling a bit stingy.
Maybe I should just buy a regular Prism Scale? Even if they aren't in department stores, I can find one elsewhere.
Just then, Wally walked over. Seeing the purple-hued fish in the pond, he gasped. "A Shiny Pokémon! Did it hatch from the Egg?"
"Actually, I traded for it," Kashiwagi explained the chaotic events of the afternoon.
"I see! So he really wanted a Shiny Beautifly... I totally get that feeling," Wally nodded sagely. "When I was chasing my Gible, I climbed three mountains just to catch him!"
Wally looked back at the Feebas. "A Shiny Feebas... Kashiwagi-san, how do you plan to evolve her?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, Feebas has two ways, right? One is evolving naturally when her Beauty is high enough, and the other is through a trade while holding a Prism Scale..."
"I know the methods," Kashiwagi clarified. "I'm asking if there's a difference in the result."
Wally paused, his initial excitement dipping into a serious tone. "This is just a rumor, so I can't say for sure... but many people believe that a Milotic evolved through high Beauty is much more 'captivating' than one evolved through an item."
Of course, the former is a beauty evolution, how could it not be beautiful… huh.
Kashiwagi was about to retort when he suddenly realized that in the anime world, "Beauty" wasn't just a stat on a screen; it was a reflection of the Pokémon's heart and confidence.
Maybe I should let her evolve through Beauty? Kashiwagi thought.
During that time, he could build a bond with her and help her grow out of her timid nature.
This idea quickly took root in Kashiwagi's mind.
The team already had too many members needing training anyway. At Level 34, even if she evolved into Milotic, she wouldn't be ready for high-level battles yet.
She might be used only in Contests.
But with her current limited moves, she probably doesn't have many variations.
Besides, his current "Ace," Mawile, was in high spirits lately. Would she really give up the spotlight in a Pokémon Contest for a newcomer? Not likely.
Giving it to Chansey or Aggron might be possible.
"Let's take it slow," Kashiwagi decided.
Kashiwagi knew many things can't be rushed; there's a hierarchy, and the veteran members still have many problems and issues to resolve.
Besides, getting Shiny Feebas familiar with the other Pokémon in the team is also very important.