Resigning from his position as the Hoenn League Champion to travel the world and excavate rare minerals was a goal he had set for himself a long time ago.
His original plan was to hand the title over to his close friend, Wallace. However, due to the League's currently overwhelming workload and the sudden, chaotic resurgence of Team Aqua, Team Magma, and now even Team Rocket, this perfect plan had to be temporarily shelved.
Moreover, picturing a future Wallace with heavy dark circles under his eyes hunting him down for revenge made Steven instinctively suck in a breath of cold air.
I feel like if I just dump everything on him and run away, I'll definitely get beaten to a pulp by my best friend sooner or later.
As expected, I need to find another highly capable Trainer to take over my Championship seat!
But before that, he needed to confirm in person whether this rookie Trainer named Hakuya was truly worth his investment.
"I have some business in Rustboro City a week from now. Could I trouble you to introduce me to this Hakuya then, Roxanne? This is a major event concerning my... I mean, concerning the future of the entire Hoenn region!"
"A major event concerning the entire Hoenn region?"
At this moment, reading the message Steven had just sent, Roxanne's foot, clad in a red pantyhose and polished leather shoe, paused its gentle swaying.
For the Hoenn Champion to specifically use such an urgent, serious tone... it was genuinely shocking.
A week from now coincided perfectly with the end of Hakuya's temporary teaching contract. Timewise, there was no problem. She just wasn't sure if Hakuya would be in a rush to leave Rustboro City, or if he'd even be interested in meeting the current Hoenn Champion.
After a moment of thought, she typed out her reply.
"Alright, but I'll have to ask Mr. Hakuya first and see what he says."
...
After finishing his afternoon practical battle class, Hakuya strolled down the streets of Rustboro City.
Perhaps because the Hoenn region was generally hotter, even though it was approaching late autumn, the pedestrians on the street were still dressed in short sleeves and shorts.
However, unlike the scene from a few days ago, there was a noticeable increase in the number of Trainers and Pokémon out and about.
"Oh, so Rustboro City is currently hosting a Pokémon Contest~"
Reaching a street corner, he noticed a nearby stadium undergoing intense renovations, along with a massive poster of Wallace pinned to a bulletin board outside. He nodded in sudden realization.
No wonder Rustboro City was suddenly swarming with so many Trainers; they were all here to participate in the Contest.
[What is a 'Pokémon Contest'?]
Beside him, Latias tilted her head, sending a confused psychic telegram.
After coming out of her Poké Ball, she had once again transformed into Rosa's appearance.
Even amidst a crowd of well-dressed Pokémon Coordinators, she looked exceptionally radiant and eye-catching.
"A Pokémon Contest is, if I recall correctly, a highly popular competitive event among Pokémon Coordinators~"
"Unlike traditional Trainers who focus purely on battling, Coordinators place a heavy emphasis on their Pokémon's appearance and condition. They groom and dress up their Pokémon, focusing on the visual appeal and execution of their moves."
Looking at Latias, who was nodding thoughtfully, Hakuya smiled and continued his explanation.
"Hmm... In short, a Pokémon Contest is an event where Pokémon, following their Coordinator's commands, use their moves to showcase their unique traits and charm to the absolute limit. It's an event that highlights the bond and synergy between a Coordinator and their Pokémon..."
"Why do you ask? Are you interested in participating, Latias?"
Hakuya turned his head, sharply catching the gleam in the little jet plane's eyes.
Her true intentions exposed, the [Contrary] Latias's face instantly flushed beet red.
Her soft, delicate hands nervously gripped the hem of her skirt in a classic attempt to hide her embarrassment. She shook her head frantically like a rattle drum and denied it with her signature tsundere attitude.
[I-I have absolutely no interest in something like that!]
If I could participate in a Contest and show my Trainer my most beautiful, perfect side, he'd be so captivated by my charm that he'd only ever want to raise me... She absolutely, positively hadn't just had such a basic and obvious thought!
Taking in her entire reaction, Hakuya gave her a knowing smile.
He understood her contrary, tsundere personality far too well by now.
—If he actually believed her stubborn denial and didn't take her to participate, this little jet plane would undoubtedly hide in her Poké Ball, draw circles in the corner, and sulk in depression once they got back.
On the other side, the jealous large cat wasn't very happy about this.
"MEOWHA—!!!"
She tugged at her Trainer's sleeve and hissed.
Latias wasn't the only one who noticed the line: 'The true essence of a Contest is showcasing your Pokémon's charm to the absolute limit.' Floragato, whose attention had never left Hakuya, heard it loud and clear too.
"Meowha, meowha~"
The large cat stepped right in front of him, looking up at her Trainer with a face full of hope.
Choose ME as your Contest Pokémon!
[...]
The Rosa-fied Latias crossed her arms over her generous chest, turning her face away and grumbling a soft hmph.
However, her body very honestly leaned closer to his side, and her gaze occasionally flicked back to her Trainer.
The tsundere jet plane tried her hardest to act like she didn't care about the Contest, but her body was clearly desperate to be chosen.
At this moment, surrounded on both sides, Hakuya felt a bead of sweat roll down his forehead for some inexplicable reason.
He had set out to become a Pokémon Trainer, so why did it feel like he had suddenly become the protagonist of a Galge (dating sim)?
Choosing the proactive and assertive Floragato would naturally progress the "Grass-type Master" main storyline. But the hidden route involved a heartbroken Latias transitioning from a "losing heroine" into a full-blown yandere, eventually sending him to the afterlife with increasingly terrifying Draco Meteors.
Choosing the tsundere "losing heroine" Latias would massively boost the little jet plane's affection, eventually leading to him conquering the stubborn-but-soft Pokémon-version of Rosa. But the price was that he might be preemptively tied up in the dead of night by a furious large cat, dragged into a lightless basement, and forced to initiate a relentless "egg-breeding" plan.
"How about we just let Milcery enter instead..."
Hakuya swallowed hard, shifting his gaze to Milcery, who looked completely clueless but had always silently supported him from behind.
Since choosing either of the first two options was a death sentence, maybe creating a third option was the best move?
His sweet, soft, angelic Milcery was perfectly capable of taking the stage, too.
"Let me see... Are there any Trainers around here with good potential? Found... found one!"
Out of nowhere, an energetic, beautiful young girl with emerald-green hair—radiating the aura of a pop idol—suddenly skipped over.
Holding her small, pale hand up to Hakuya's face as if it were a microphone, the girl asked with boundless enthusiasm:
"My name is Lisia! Excuse me, but would you be interested in participating in a Pokémon Contest?!!!"
Behind her, countless camera lenses were pointed squarely at Hakuya, who was currently standing in the dead center of a terrifying love triangle, racking his brain over which Pokémon to choose.