The theft incident was finally over.
The curtain had officially fallen on his time at the Battle Tent.
Kashiwagi began to focus all his energy on training his Pokémon, pushing their levels higher while meticulously expanding their move pools.
Thanks to Wally and his exceptionally skilled team, Kashiwagi's progress was lightning-fast. He hadn't just met his training goals for Verdanturf Town—he'd absolutely shattered them.
Watching his Pokémon grow stronger day by day, Kashiwagi felt a deep sense of gratitude toward the green-haired youth. To show his thanks, he frequently invited Wally over to sample his cooking.
Wally, for his part, was more than happy to forge a deeper bond.
He didn't have many friends. Usually, his world consisted only of his Pokémon and his cousin, Wanda. Having a friend like Kashiwagi—someone he could truly talk to—was something he cherished deeply.
He'd often seek Kashiwagi out just to chat, scouring the area near the guesthouse for for him, the moment he had a free second.
Still, a tiny voice in the back of his head worried:
Am I being too annoying? Is he getting tired of me?
Even though Kashiwagi never showed a hint of impatience—and usually greeted him with a bright, "Oh, you're here!"—Wally couldn't help but fret.
Despite the nerves, this was the happiest Wally had been since returning from Kanto.
Every time Kashiwagi's Pokémon mastered a new move, or his own team gained a fresh insight, the joy of "growing together" made him beam with delight.
The beauty of having a rival!
Having someone to walk alongside was a wonderful feeling. As the gloom of his past evaporated, Wally's personality began to bloom, and a once-vague goal started to take clear shape in his mind.
...
Once he realized what he was thinking, excitement and anxiety fought for control. He wasn't sure how to tell Kashiwagi. Would a goal like this offend him?
At the end of the day, Wally just didn't know how Kashiwagi truly saw him. But after agonizing over it for days, he finally decided to lay his cards on the table.
"I... I think I've found my goal!" Wally blurted out.
Kashiwagi looked up, offering a warm smile.
"That's great! Well, don't keep me in suspense—what is it?"
Wally's heart hammered against his ribs like a drum. He could hear his pulse ringing in his ears.
"I want to grow as steadily as you do... until one day, I can compete against you for the title of Orre Region Champion!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Wally saw a flicker of surprise cross Kashiwagi's face. He subconsciously squeezed his fists tight.
He valued Kashiwagi's friendship more than anything, but he chose to risk it because he refused to lie—to himself or his friend.
He wanted to earn Kashiwagi's understanding with total honesty.
Yet, the silence felt like an eternity. He was terrified.
...
Finally, Kashiwagi responded. He gave a calm, steady nod.
"That sounds perfect. Congratulations."
"...You're not angry?" Wally asked, his voice small and cautious.
"Why would I be angry?" Kashiwagi laughed. "Being a Trainer means competing with countless people. If you want to compete with me, I couldn't be happier. It means you finally see me as an equal."
"Eh? I—I never looked down on—"
"I know, I know," Kashiwagi interrupted, reaching out to pat Wally's shoulder.
Seeing the boy's flustered expression, Kashiwagi added:
"'Rival' is a great word. It means we'll push each other to be better. So, let's both give it our all. But fair warning—I'm definitely taking that Orre Championship. You better be ready to handle a soul-crushing defeat!"
Feeling the warmth from Kashiwagi's hand, Wally's nerves finally settled.
"Yes!" he nodded vigorously. "I'll work harder than anyone!"
Deep down, Wally just wanted to chase after Kashiwagi's footsteps. Seeing how fast Kashiwagi was improving fired up his competitive spirit, but it also sparked a fear: that one day, Kashiwagi's back would disappear into the distance, leaving him behind.
Kashiwagi might not be at his level yet, but Wally knew it was only a matter of time. And he wanted to make sure that when that day came, he was still standing right there beside him.
A Rival. Wally wanted nothing more than to earn that spot.
...
...
The days rolled by, and Kashiwagi's team began to see the fruits of their labor.
It was a season of growth, and honestly? It was a joy to watch.
By the third day of training for Draco Meteor, Zweilous proved exactly why he was a "star graduate" of the Dragon Village's nursery. He achieved a massive breakthrough.
The dragon energy shot upward, piercing the sky—and then, boom!
Like a grand fireworks display, it bloomed into dazzling meteors that rained down in every direction. They looked like glowing tracer rounds, slamming into the earth with a series of thunderous bangs, kicking up dust and leaving craters everywhere.
There was no doubt about it: Zweilous had mastered Draco Meteor.
Now, it was just a matter of refining his precision and testing out his own "big brain" idea—firing the move from both heads simultaneously.
Kashiwagi was skeptical, though. Without a stat-boosting move or a massive emotional spike, the total pool of elemental energy remains the same.
"Firing more projectiles doesn't magically increase the total damage, buddy," Kashiwagi mused.
If anything, it just increased the "saturation" of the attack, making it harder for an opponent to dodge the bombardment. But before he could pull that off, he had to solve the puzzle of splitting a single energy sphere from his gut into two separate heads.
Dealing with the meteors cancelling each other out mid-air? That was advanced-class stuff.
Still, Kashiwagi didn't stop him. If Zweilous was having fun, it was great experience for his overall control. Plus, his frequent sparring sessions with Garchomp and others were pushing his growth at a scary pace.
Kashiwagi began to wonder... with those sharpening instincts and high spirits, could he "evolve early" like Lance's Dragonite? Maybe he'd become a Hydreigon before even hitting level 60?
Well, a trainer can dream, right?
Early evolution is all about that "fated spark."
...
On the other side of the training field, Galarian Corsola was on a roll. After mastering Will-O-Wisp, she successfully learned the crucial defensive move Protect and even picked up a third move through leveling: Night Shade.
The story of how she learned Protect was actually pretty hilarious. For days, she had made zero progress, leaving Kashiwagi feeling a bit gloomy.
Then, one morning, Zweilous went for his usual playful "nip" at Corsola.
Clink! His jaws slammed into a shimmering green film of light. He was stuck there, mouth agape, frozen in place.
Luckily, his other head was free to let out a "Zwai! Zwai!" to call for help.
By the time Kashiwagi stepped out of the bathroom, the move had ended. He only caught a fading glimpse of green light.
But based on Zweilous's traumatized description, it was definitely Protect. Only Protect flashes that specific green and absorbs impact so perfectly.
It turned out Corsola had been secretly putting in the work. To see her cross that finish line after days of effort was truly heart-warming.
Between Will-O-Wisp, Protect, and Night Shade, she had already cleared her initial training goals and was now speeding toward "extra credit" territory.
Kashiwagi was so proud he picked her up for a vigorous rubbing session.
"Who would've thought our little 'slacker' would work this hard? She's so sweet, I'm literally crying," he joked.
Galarian Corsola (vibrating violently in her coffin): "?" (Is this guy okay?)
...
While the first two were impressive, they couldn't hold a candle to the third MVP: Porygon.
Since learning the trick behind Trick Room, it was like a hidden program had been activated in its core. Porygon went on an absolute rampage, expanding its movepool at lightspeed.
- Ice Beam
- Psychic
- Ally Switch
- Agility
- Discharge
Five moves! All learned without Kashiwagi even touching the simulator. Porygon had become a self-taught TM machine.
Kashiwagi checked its status: 5 Hearts.
It was incredibly close to the recommended 6 Hearts for evolution. He wasn't in a rush, though. Bonds aren't built overnight.
While big events help, the tiny moments of daily life are just as precious.
Porygon was slowly finding its place in the family, cherishing every battle Kashiwagi gave it and every ounce of trust he showed. They laughed together when they won; they analyzed and restarted when they lost. That's how trust is built—brick by brick.
Porygon knew that Kashiwagi had high expectations of it, and it wanted to repay him with concrete actions, striving towards the highest peak alongside its companions.
Feeling its determination, Kashiwagi ramped up Porygon's battle schedule, putting it on par with Zweilous's power-leveling sessions.
Overall, the three Pokémon that were supposed to achieve their goals did not disappoint him, and even exceeded expectations, making it surprisingly worry-free for him.
...
Finally, there was the new addition: the Shiny Feebas.
To help her acclimate, Kashiwagi bought a massive tank so she could see the other Pokémon.
At first, the shy little fish wouldn't even look at Aggron or the others—they were just too intimidating.
Only Chansey had a vibe that made her feel safe.
But Aggron and the rest were persistent with their kindness. Slowly, Feebas gathered her courage and began to chirp back.
Kashiwagi breathed a sigh of relief.
Feebas are often rejected by other Pokémon for being "ugly," and he knew from Chansey that this little one, like Mawile back then, didn't have a single friend back at the boy's ecological park.
Of course, they were fundamentally different.
Mawile disdained making friends with other Pokémon, not wanting to waste her time, while Feebas wanted to befriend other Pokémon but faced constant rejection because of her ugliness, even being attacked by other Shiny Pokémon.
Chansey couldn't hide its heartache as it recounted this; it couldn't bear to see such a lonely child.
"Don't worry, Chansey. Aggron and the others aren't that shallow," Kashiwagi comforted his healer, gesturing for her to look towards the fish tank.
Sure enough, Mawile was currently standing by the tank, showing off her collection of pretty accessories. Feebas flicked her tail excitedly, a genuine smile appearing on her thin face.
The scene was incredibly harmonious.
It wasn't pity on Mawile's part. Once she heard that Shiny Feebas could eventually join her in Contests, she became intensely interested.
Talking to Feebas in front of the tank had become a frequent activity for Mawile lately.
Facing a Pokémon as adorable as Mawile, Shiny Feebas inevitably felt a little inferior and hesitant to approach.
However, Shiny Feebas also loved beauty, and she found things that Mawile found attractive to be attractive as well. Plus, Mawile's attitude was consistently good, never showing any disdain.
The two Pokémon quickly became friendly.
The breakthrough worked. Soon, Feebas wasn't even afraid of the "Big Three" (Aggron, Zweilous, and Steelix).
- Aggron: Looks terrifying, but is actually a big softie. He'd even "swim" with her in the river, chasing away the mean Tentacool and Carvanha like a giant, armored bodyguard, asking if she's alright. From then on, Feebas not only wasn't afraid of Aggron, now she saw him as the ultimate "cool and reliable" Aniki, becoming a devoted fan.
- Zweilous: Initially seemed like the "spoiled little brother" who clung to the trainer, full of energy and unusually lively… occasionally seeming a little dim-witted.
But once, when she was playing with a balloon in the pond and it floated away, Zweilous chased it down and brought it back with a calm, focused dignity that felt totally different.
It was as if he had transformed from a kindergarten student into a calm and composed adult. He no longer hissed and responded to gratitude with only a nod.
When his two heads looked at Aggron, Feebas could feel a strong will. Just like the powerful Shiny Pokémon I'd seen before, battling each other to prove their strength.
Did Zweilous and Aggron not get along? Looking closely, it didn't seem so.
Feebas's mind couldn't quite grasp the concept of competition; in any case, she understood Zweilous's persistence and his side unknown to the trainer.
- Steelix: Huge and scary, but a bit goofy and never mean.
She didn't see her often, mostly just a glimpse during battles and training. At first, Steelix's size intimidated her, but later she discovered that this sister was actually a bit clumsy and had a good temper, not disliking at all.
...
And she had already adapted to the three fiercest Pokémon; the rest were naturally even more familiar. Chansey was her second friend besides Mawile (in her opinion), Corsola mostly slept, with almost no interaction, and Porygon occasionally smiled at her, so it could probably become her third friend.
Her tank might be smaller than the pond at the park, but her life was infinitely bigger.
The pond was large, but being disliked, she couldn't leave her nest's vicinity and was easily bullied by other Pokémon.
The fish tank was small, but her trainer always took her to a larger pond, and occasionally to a small river or stream, swimming with her.
The surrounding Pokémon were friendly.
And the food was delicious.
Feebas was content.
She wanted this life to last forever. She knew she was weak and "ugly," but since her trainer cared for her this much, he must need her for something, right? She vowed to be useful when that day came.
As for "Evolution"? Kashiwagi had shown her a picture of a very beautiful Pokémon, saying she could look like that one day if she worked hard.
"Oh, Trainer," she thought with a flick of her tail.
"You and your jokes. If I could really look like that, I'd work myself to the bone!"
...
...
While the juniors were giving it their all, the seniors certainly weren't about to sit around doing nothing.
Led by Aggron, the "Four Greats of Pyrite Town" were steadily carving out their own paths to power.
Not long ago, Kashiwagi handed over his prized Thunder TM to Aggron. He was looking to bolster Aggron's Special Attack, and the big guy didn't disappoint—the sheer power of those lightning strikes was nothing short of satisfying.
The only problem? His level growth had slowed to a crawl.
Before Level 70, Aggron shot up like a rocket; after Level 70, he moved like a snail.
This clear bottleneck made Kashiwagi realize just how grueling the road to the "strongest" truly was—and just how much raw talent the Champions and their ace Pokémon actually possessed.
Since grinding levels was off the table for now, Kashiwagi pivoted. He had Aggron start training in high-powered Special moves:
Fire Blast
Focus Blast
Blizzard
Hyper Beam
Solar Beam
The goal? Transform the metal beast into a "Special Artillery Battery."
The result? He didn't learn a single one of them.
"..."
Instead, while headbutting Steelix during a heavy sparring session, Aggron somehow had an epiphany and mastered High Horsepower.
Kashiwagi was aiming for Heavy Slam, but ended up with a Ground-type physical move. Talk about a happy accident!
Aggron, however, was thrilled. Being the type who loves a good head-on collision, any move that involved "charging like a freight train" was right up his alley.
...
Mawile, on the other hand, wasn't quite as chirpy.
She had been gunning for Foul Play—hoping to master the art of using an opponent's strength against them. Instead, her move pool randomly lit up with Psychic Fangs.
Maybe it was all that time spent using Crunch to tear through the Telekinesis barriers Chansey kept setting up? The Psychic energy must have rubbed off on her.
"Don't worry," Kashiwagi comforted her. "Psychic Fangs is going to be a lifesaver in the right battle."
To sweeten the deal, he helped her learn Double Team.
With a shiny new move and the fact that she hadn't hit a Level 70 wall like Aggron yet, Mawile's mood brightened.
Throw in some occasional Contest practice, and she was living her best life.
...
Then there was Steelix,The Happy Laborer.
Traveling between two regions constantly made her feel like a corporate commuter catching the high-speed rail to work every morning. She was busy, sure, but she was loving it.
She had successfully cultivated a patch of greenery in Aggron's rocky territory, earning a rare grunt of approval from the boss. That hardworking attitude eventually yielded a very tangible reward:
She learned Body Press.
Perhaps it was the result of her constantly "pressing" into the ground to dig those massive holes. It was only one move, but Steelix didn't mind—in fact, she was ecstatic.
In her heavy-duty hands (or body), Body Press was terrifying. Even Aggron found it hard to tank a direct hit from that massive frame.
How could she not be happy?
Sometimes, Kashiwagi couldn't help but laugh at the sight of Steelix grinning like an idiot.
"What's the point of laughing like that after you just lost a spar?" Kashiwagi would tease. "Those gapped teeth of yours look as ugly as they are hilarious!"
...
Finally, there was the biggest surprise since arriving in Verdanturf Town:
Chansey.
She had picked up Substitute and Reflect from Wally's Pokémon. Then, Kashiwagi decided to teach her Psychic.
Why? Because Chansey had quietly expressed a desire to try attacking her opponents directly.
Usually, you'd start with Pound—the most basic and fundamental move.
But Kashiwagi figured that long-range attacks might lessen the "guilt" of combat—kind of like the distance provided by a projectile.
Given Chansey's extraordinary mental discipline, he used his saved Psychic TM on her.
And so, fueled by the power of Psychic...
After half a year of patience, Chansey finally took her first step toward a new future. It was a small step, but for her, it was the most important one.