Steven gave Kashiwagi a firsthand lesson in "Hoenn Speed."
A bowl of braised noodles vanished in exactly fifteen seconds.
From the initial spark in his eyes and a quick "Delicious!" to the final, polite wipe of his mouth with a napkin and a "Thank you for the meal," the entire process was so brief it felt like the middle frames had been edited out.
By the time Kashiwagi finished pouring a drink and turned around, he found the Champion had already vacated his seat.
"Steven-san, you—"
"Your skills have improved again. I'm convinced that if you opened a shop, it would be packed every day," Steven praised the flavor, yet his body moved with brutal honesty toward the Wishing Star.
If it weren't for the fact that eating while admiring the specimen felt too disrespectful, the Hoenn Champion likely wouldn't have come to the dining table at all.
"Thanks for the compliment."
Kashiwagi set the drink down helplessly. Witnessing Steven's behavior in person, he finally understood the kind of passion that could make a person willingly abdicate the Champion's throne. This drink probably wouldn't be touched even if he brought it over.
He noticed Blissey taking the initiative to clear the dishes, leaving him with a sudden sense of having nothing to do.
"Meta?"
A low vibration sounded by his ear. Kashiwagi turned to see a floating rice bowl. Not far off, the Shiny Metagross's eyes were glowing blue, its gaze filled with a touch of longing.
"Meta~"
Can I have a refill?
Kashiwagi couldn't literally translate the cry, but he spoke the language of the eyes. "More food?"
"Meta!"
"Sure."
He took the bowl to add more Pokémon food, then glanced at Steven, who was now picking up the Wishing Star. "Steven-san! Don't your other Pokémon need to eat?"
"It's fine. I only brought Metagross with me this time."
Steven smiled, somehow producing a jeweler's loupe out of thin air. He clipped it to his right eye and began meticulously observing the patterns on the Wishing Star's surface. From the way his breathing slowed, it was clear he was fully immersed.
Kashiwagi walked back to the Shiny Metagross with the full bowl, unable to resist asking, "Is he always like this?"
"Meta."
The Shiny Metagross shook its right claw in denial while using its left to pinch food into its mouth. It explained its point to the "Big Monster," Aggron, who then translated it back to Kashiwagi.
The latter's understanding relied entirely on a mix of bond-based intuition and a tiny bit of mental gymnastics, constructing a profile of a "special stone lover" in his head.
Metagross indicated that Steven usually only hyper-focused on stones that really interested him—and when he did, he could look at them for an entire day. He'd often hold a rock and stare at it back and forth as if in a trance; most people couldn't fathom what was so fascinating about a rock that it warranted such a long gaze.
"Impressive."
Kashiwagi clicked his tongue in wonder. Realizing he likely shouldn't disturb Steven in this state, he decided to start training his Pokémon. He didn't want to go out, fearing Raikou might show up; if the legendary beast bumped into Steven without an explanation, it would lead to a massive misunderstanding.
Of course, the environment of a small courtyard wasn't ideal.
It wasn't open enough for standard combat training.
But for Contest practice? That wouldn't be a problem.
...
On the other hand, after much deliberation and a discussion with Mawile, Kashiwagi decided to have Blissey join the Contest team. Otherwise, having only Mawile and Feebas wouldn't feel like enough of a rotation.
As a Pokémon with access to many Psychic and Fairy-type moves, Blissey was naturally suited for the flair of a Pokémon Contest. Her joining felt like a logical step.
And the first round of the Fallarbor Contest was a bit special—it was a Double Performance format.
When May had participated years ago, it was still a Single format, but the rules had evolved over time into Doubles. This meant the first round wouldn't just be Mawile's solo show anymore.
"What do you think?" He looked at Mawile beside him.
"Maw!"
Mawile rolled her eyes. The rules were the rules; it wasn't like she could disagree. Besides, she was past the point of viewing Contests as a mere whim to show off.
Since they were taking this seriously, they were in it to win, and relying on her alone to shine through the final rounds wasn't realistic.
So, she supported her Trainer's decision. But as for the performance content...
But as for the performance content...
Kashiwagi began to fret.
Double performances were a different beast entirely compared to solos. They required a seamless fusion of moves, turning what would normally be an explosive clash of energy into a new form of beauty.
The demand for coordination between the two Pokémon was exceptionally high.
"As usual, let's nail down the theme first." He pulled out his sketchbook.
Mawile and Blissey both knew a vast array of moves, but how many of those could actually merge to create a brand-new spectacle?
And...
Should he try to integrate the guitar tracks he'd just learned as background music?
After a moment of thought, Kashiwagi decided to scrap that idea. His proficiency with the guitar was still mediocre at best; forcing it into a high-stakes performance would likely backfire. It was better to stick to the fundamentals.
"Deciding on a theme is always the hardest part."
He tried to draw inspiration from the two themselves.
Mawile, having tasted sweet success through dance in the last two Contests, gestured decisively that they should win through choreography again. "Maw-ile!"
She looked at Blissey, hoping her teammate would join the dance floor.
"Happy..."
Blissey looked at her own round, pillowy body, then at Mawile's sleek, slender frame.
Even though her Trainer repeatedly told her she was incredibly cute, with a physique like hers... she probably couldn't pull off the swaying, elegant steps that Mawile excelled at, right?
Better not to force what wasn't natural.
Blissey had a fair amount of self-awareness. She suggested that she could handle the vocals while Mawile handled the footwork. "Happy~ ♪"
"Singing and dancing, huh... That definitely gives off a 'pop idol duo' vibe. Let's build the choreography on that foundation."
Kashiwagi knew that having Mawile dance every time might seem a bit repetitive. But that was her signature style. Much like Dawn's Piplup and its constant use of Whirlpool, tying the concept of "Dance" firmly to Mawile was a strategic choice, not a lack of creativity.
As for the repetition issue... that could be solved by varying the style of the dance. In her previous two outings, she had performed a "Whirling Waltz" and a "Fan Dance," which were completely different in tone.
"This time, the dance..."
Kashiwagi held his pen, thinking deeply. He realized that before deciding on the steps, the more important factor was what Blissey was singing. The melody would dictate the rhythm of the dance.
Even though Mawile would likely remain the crowd favorite, this was a joint effort. He couldn't let Blissey's presence fade into the background as if she were a mere "prop" used to highlight the star.
The audience might not care, but the judges certainly would. The balance between lead and support—or having two co-leads—was crucial.
"The song... what songs do you know?"
Kashiwagi suddenly realized that in the Pokémon world, Blissey technically only knew one "song"—the move Sing.
"Happy~ ♪"
Hearing her Trainer's voice, Blissey opened her mouth and began to croon. Soft, almost imperceptible sound waves rippled outward, and colorful musical notes began to manifest and float in the air.
"Maw!"
Mawile's eyes lit up. She leaped into the midst of the notes, spinning rapidly. A gentle, pale pink Fairy Wind swirled around her, catching the notes and lifting them high into the sky without breaking them.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Once the notes reached a certain height, they burst like tiny balloons.
Mawile looked a bit disappointed. If those "balloons" had turned into a shower of sparkles or fireworks upon popping, Fairy Wind and Sing would have been a top-tier combination. But as it stood, the buildup was great, but the finish was lackluster. A "tiger's head with a snake's tail" performance wouldn't fly in a Contest.
However, Kashiwagi was more concerned with the tune itself.
"It's a bit... basic. Just a simple, repetitive lullaby melody. It's fine on its own, but it doesn't mesh well with a high-energy dance. It looks like you need a real 'Music Teacher'." He gave Blissey a small smile.
"Happy?"
Blissey tilted her head, confused.
"You'll see tomorrow... I'll find a way to get you some proper vocal coaching."
In truth, Kashiwagi had known all along that the Fallarbor Contest was a Double format. Back in Verdanturf, he had already begun building the chemistry between Mawile and Blissey.
That was why Mawile had been able to manipulate the notes so easily just now.
They had the foundation.
Not only were the two of them getting ready, but the Shiny Feebas—the future "Strategic Reserve" of the Contest stage—had also been put through coordination drills with Mawile and Blissey under Kashiwagi's strict requirements, even if it was currently weaker by more than just a margin.
To be honest, the Shiny Feebas felt that Double Battles with its teammates were even more stressful than being a literal punching bag. It wasn't that it had a problem with Blissey or Mawile; it was just the crushing weight of psychological pressure.
It was exactly like Blissey used to be—deeply insecure due to its own perceived flaws, terrified of being a burden to others.
And there was no way Blissey and Mawile wouldn't notice Feebas's state. Both were incredibly sensitive Pokémon, especially the former.
Having stood in the rain herself, she always wanted to hold an umbrella for others.
Blissey, having walked the path of self-pity and emerged on the other side, knew exactly how much self-torture could hurt a Pokémon. Thus, whether she was supporting or guiding the Shiny Feebas, she always put in extra effort.
Mawile was the same.
The three of them formed a "Contest Girl Squad," leaning on one another to grow.
This was a major reason why Feebas didn't want to return to where it came from. Aside from its ultimate idol, Aggron, Blissey and Mawile were its closest friends.
They were so cute, yet they never once looked down on it for being "ugly."
...
...
Steven studied the rock from dusk until the dead of night.
By the time he finally looked up, he realized it was already three in the morning.
In the courtyard, his Metagross and Aggron were huddled together, snoring away. Not far off was Porygon, looking like a toy rocking horse as it carried the sleeping Galarian Corsola on its back.
Kashiwagi was using Hydreigon as a pillow, flanked by Mawile and Blissey, with the Shiny Feebas sleeping soundly in a small water tank.
Everything was profoundly peaceful and serene.
"He's starting to look more and more like a normal Trainer every day."
A smile touched Steven's lips. He was relieved to see Kashiwagi adapting to this kind of life. Pyrite Town was absolutely not a place where a healthy person could thrive; the sight of so many youths there with warped mindsets was truly heartbreaking.
Steven remembered meeting a young child in the mining district who had come with his parents. During their chat, the boy had asked him with wide-eyed curiosity: "In the outside world, can everyone eat white bread? Can anyone become a Trainer?"
He had answered "yes" and asked the boy why he wanted to be a Trainer.
The child replied: "If I was one, then Daddy and Mommy wouldn't be bullied anymore. We could bully other people instead."
The weight of one's environment on a child was evident.
Steven hadn't slept well for days after that, so distracted that he'd even lost focus while rock-hunting, which led to him falling through a collapsed fissure near an underground river.
Thankfully, Pyrite Town was finally changing.
He saw it with his own eyes. And as the "representative" of Pyrite Town—Kashiwagi—Steven believed that the boy's adaptation to the outside world would largely determine the future direction of his hometown.
One day, Kashiwagi would return to Pyrite, and when he did, he would bring a new wave of thought to its people.
Steven walked over to Kashiwagi, intending to wake him so he could move to a room and avoid catching a cold, but he was suddenly hit by a gaze that made his skin crawl.
He looked up and saw a massive tiger with yellow-and-black fur stepping slowly out of the shadows of the trees.
Under the moonlight, those crimson eyes were soul-piercing.
"Raikou... why is it here?" Steven was startled. He could feel that Raikou was not friendly; it was posturing as if ready to launch an attack.
"...Metagross!"
He let out a sharp, low command. The sleeping Shiny Metagross snapped its eyes open, a brilliant light flashing within them.
"Meta!"
The Shiny Metagross hovered instantly, positioning itself behind Steven. The presence of his partner gave him a sense of security. Though he didn't know what Raikou's deal was, he certainly wasn't going to let it attack. If Kashiwagi got caught in the crossfire—
"Wait!"
Just as Steven reached for his Key Stone and the blue light on Raikou's brow began to crackle, an urgent voice cut through the tension.
Both turned to see Kashiwagi standing up.
"I'm not sure what just happened, but please trust me—there's definitely a misunderstanding here." He stepped calmly between the two powerhouses.
Looking at the surroundings, it was clear they hadn't actually traded blows yet, which meant there was still room for diplomacy.
With the "mediator" present, Steven, Metagross, and Raikou all eased their aggressive stances.
"Let me explain things a bit."
Under their confused gazes, Kashiwagi began to introduce them to one another.
...
A short while later...
Steven stood with his right arm crossed and his left hand on his chin, nodding thoughtfully. "I see. Team Rocket is trying to seize the secrets of Mega Evolution in Hoenn, and Raikou is here to stop them... I never expected such a coincidence."
"Roar..."
Raikou's hostility faded, returning to its usual majestic state. When it had arrived, it saw Kashiwagi lying on the ground while this strange human stood over him, radiating a formidable aura and hidden energy.
It had assumed Kashiwagi was being ambushed. But it turned out they weren't enemies at all; they were old acquaintances.
And the silver-blue-haired man was the Champion of the Hoenn region.
Raikou knew very well that humans with such titles were individuals of immense strength—Trainers who, like itself, held a deep-seated loathing for evil.
More importantly, they had significant influence.
It had once encountered a human Champion in a red cape who usually acted alone, but by the end of an incident, could casually summon truckloads of people to clean up the mess. Very impressive.
Raikou pulled its gaze away from Steven and looked at Kashiwagi with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.
How do you know a Champion?
It had initially pegged him as a run-of-the-mill Trainer, but now it was becoming increasingly curious about this kid's background. Even as a Pokémon, it understood that a Champion wasn't someone you just happened to run into and befriend.
"Well, in any case, I'm glad the misunderstanding is cleared up." Steven quickly shifted his focus away from the Team Rocket issue.
He was actually quite busy. If Team Rocket were after something else, he might not have the time to deal with them personally and would have to delegate it.
But since it involved Mega Evolution...
Steven wanted to say that these people had truly picked the wrong fight.
He looked at Kashiwagi. "It's only been a few months, but the changes in you continue to surprise me. To think you've gained the favor of a Legendary Pokémon."
"I wouldn't go as far as to call it 'favor' just yet..."
Kashiwagi waved his hand awkwardly, stealing a glance at Raikou. Seeing that the beast didn't make any strange faces, he breathed a small sigh of relief.
"Haha, no need for modesty. Speaking of which, I don't think I've told you what I've been up to lately."
Steven's tone shifted. "Kashiwagi, how much do you know about Hoenn's history?"
"History? Which part do you mean?"
"The history of Mega Evolution. Where do you think this miraculous power comes from?"
"Uh... born naturally from the earth? Since they're stones, after all..."
"Hahaha! Thinking that way isn't entirely wrong!"
Steven laughed. "But I must remind you, Hoenn is a region with a high frequency of meteorite strikes. Therefore, there's a high probability that Mega Evolution came from the stars—a Great Monolith that fell from the sky.
"I am currently searching for that source meteorite. My goal happens to align with Team Rocket's, except they currently believe Mega Evolution originates from the earth and are searching for veins of Key Stones and Mega Stones."
The Giant Rock!
No wonder Steven would later clash with Alain, who was sent to Hoenn by Lysandre. Their goals were fundamentally identical.
However, Kashiwagi was curious: shouldn't something like the Giant Rock be guarded by the Draconids?
Why hadn't Zinnia appeared then?
Did she want to avoid conflict with Steven?
In the anime, there was no plot point about a world-ending super-meteorite approaching Hoenn, so had the originally aggressive Zinnia become more laid-back? Remembering the Zinnia who always had a cryptic smile on her face, he felt a bit lost.
Meanwhile, Steven continued.
"This time, following the guidance of historical documents, I've been searching all the way to Meteor Falls, which is how I was able to meet you here in Fallarbor Town...
Wait, if that's the case, why were you going to Meteor Falls?"
The Champion suddenly looked at Raikou.
Raikou had no interest in Mega Evolution; it was in Hoenn to stop Team Rocket's schemes. If it was heading there... didn't that imply Team Rocket was at Meteor Falls?!
Kashiwagi and Steven locked eyes. The former hurried to ask Raikou if that was the case, while the latter frowned and began dialing a number on his phone, attempting to contact someone.
"Roar~"
Raikou looked at the frantic Kashiwagi with a face full of disdain. It gave an unwilling, slight nod, but then indicated that it hadn't actually found any traces of Team Rocket during its trip just now.
"If you didn't find them, where did you get the intel on where they are in the first place?"
Kashiwagi was intensely curious about the big cat's information source.
The previous Team Rocket base could be explained by sensing charged particles, but there was no way Raikou could scan thousands of kilometers away, right?
Someone had to be "whistleblowing" to this guy for it to keep pace with Team Rocket's movements.
"Spit it out!"
He reached out, attempting to grab Raikou's cheeks.
The big cat glanced at Steven and, feeling extremely dissatisfied, gave Kashiwagi a warning jolt of electricity. "ROAR!"
There are outsiders here!
What do you think you're doing?!