I Really Didn’t Want to Be a Trainer

"Judge Melisa has sent out her main Pokémon first - Drifblim!" the announcer declared loudly.

"While Judge Lu Ye has chosen his dazzling Sylveon to take the stage!"

The two Pokémon stood facing each other on the performance platform. Wallace sat with his fingers interlaced, his light green hair falling to his ears, his gaze profound. Even with his discerning eye, he found it momentarily difficult to judge which side had the advantage.

Drifblim. Having trained under dancer Melisa, its coordination artistry had reached perfection.

And Teacher Lu's Sylveon... was simply too adorable!

"Eevee~!" Sylveon's large sapphire-blue eyes sparkled as its smooth, snow-white fur shimmered. The moment Sylveon appeared, the audience erupted in cheers.

Celadon Anemone's eyes twinkled like stars: "It's really, truly adorable~www"

"Because both Poffins and Pokéblocks can polish a Pokémon's contest attributes," Ami said with a gentle smile, looking at the graceful figure on stage with admiration. "I never imagined Teacher Lu would actually be a Contest Master..."

"Go Teacher Lu!!" Ash's shout was drowned in the sea of cheers from the audience.

The girl's eyes suddenly lit up. Maybe... she should change her merchandise stand to sell Sylveon-themed products this time? The gorgeous battle was about to begin!

As the countdown on the big screen reached zero, both sides launched their attacks simultaneously!

Melisa raised her right hand gracefully like a ballet pose, a smile curling at her lips while her eyes revealed sharp intensity. "Drifblim, Confuse Ray!"

Instantly, Drifblim's rotation created mesmerizing shadows across the stage. Like beams of light moving between opera acts, the "Confuse Ray" shot toward Sylveon, capable of causing confusion!

The audience cheered wildly as Ash exclaimed in surprise: "Is that... Counter Shield?"

In TV shows, Ash's "Counter Shield" technique had actually been named by Melisa. This tactic resembling a Contest skill was executed masterfully in Melisa's hands!

"Using the spinning motion to expand Confuse Ray's range and accuracy," Chairman Contesta remarked, his usually stern face showing a hint of appreciation. "Madam Melisa's coordination skills are truly perfect!"

"However..." Wallace's eyes focused as he smiled and spoke. "In Contest battles, one must also consider how to utilize the opponent's moves."

Contesta blinked in surprise. Looking up at the stage, he saw the entire platform now enveloped in a hazy mist. The light shining through the mist cast a mysterious glow on Sylveon at the center.

"In Misty Terrain, Confuse Ray's confusion effect won't work on Sylveon," Wallace observed the battle, unconsciously smiling. "He predicted Melisa's command and used it to his advantage..."

Contesta nodded in agreement: "And in terms of gorgeousness, the mist combined with the Confuse Ray from Drifblim's rotation would, according to scoring standards..." "Cause massive point loss for the opponent!"

The stadium suddenly erupted in gasps as the giant central screen showed Drifblim's style points plummeting dramatically! Experienced coordinators couldn't help but exclaim in shock.

"He borrowed the opponent's move and completely reversed the score!"

"Stealing your moves right in front of a Contest Master!"

"Damn, Teacher Lu even knows how to do Contest battles!?"

"What do style points mean?" Celadon Anemone tilted her head slightly. "I only saw Drifblim's move fail..."

Ami explained softly: "In Contest battles, while both sides maintain beauty and elegance, the judges assign style points. When one side makes a mistake, the opponent executes a gorgeous move, or when moves are cleverly borrowed, it causes significant point loss."

"What if you just defeat the opponent instantly?" the girl asked.

"Eh?" Ami blinked. "Well, theoretically..."

Was it possible to maintain elegance while delivering a one-hit KO? Or perhaps—

Ami held her breath as her gaze returned to the center stage.

In the misty battlefield, the exceptionally handsome trainer's clothes fluttered in the air currents. Melisa felt an inexplicable unease as she looked at the adorably fierce Sylveon baring its teeth.

"Eevee! (▼皿▼#)"

A drop of cold sweat trickled down Melisa's forehead toward her collarbone exposed by her strapless gown.

"It can't be..."

An absurd thought crossed Melisa's mind—

With his higher style points, would he just rush in and defeat Drifblim directly?

That way, even if he lost significant points, Drifblim would be unable to battle, effectively winning the Contest?!

Melisa placed a finger on her lower lip, glanced at Lu Ye again, then shook her head with a wry smile.

I must be overthinking it~

A gentleman like him wouldn't resort to such underhanded tactics!

Little did she know, that was exactly Lu Ye's plan:

"Sylveon, Quick Attack!"

The snow-white Sylveon streaked across the stage like a bolt of white light.

Before anyone could react—

With "Pixilate" enhancing it, "Quick Attack" became even faster, like a beam of light piercing through the battlefield.

Then Sylveon leapt high, its ribbons slicing across Drifblim's body, leaving a striking mark!

Lu Ye snapped his fingers: "Double-Edge!"

"Eevee!!(艹皿艹)"

Building on "Quick Attack's" momentum, Sylveon charged violently at Drifblim, its ribbons bursting with dazzling white light! Who could imagine such ferocious power contained in that small body.

Melisa's throat tightened as she bit her red lips.

In just that instant of contact, Drifblim looked like a deflating balloon as it was sent flying meters backward before finally collapsing!

According to scoring rules, unrefined moves and getting hit would cause point loss. Both sides' style points dropped simultaneously at this moment.

After a brief silence, the stadium erupted in cheers!

In Sylveon's reckless charge, the audience seemed to perceive a unique kind of beauty.

"I get it! Teacher Lu intentionally lost points so Melisa could send out her next Pokémon!"

"Right... since it's an exhibition match, if the opponent loses all points, the Contest would end."

"Is this Teacher Lu's Contest style?"

At the judges' table, Chairman Contesta looked seriously at Wallace.

"This isn't the Contest philosophy I endorse, so I deducted points accordingly."

"Nor is it mine."

Wallace specialized in the elegance and resilience of Water-type Pokémon, not the agility and swiftness of Fairy-types.

Like in Galar's fairy tales where Sylveon pounces on a vicious dragon many times its size. This might represent a different coordinator style unlike his own.

Wallace smiled gently: "Although I established these Contest rules, they shouldn't limit only one style. On the contrary, I quite appreciate Teacher Lu's coordination philosophy. Having him as a judge might inspire more coordinators."

Contesta showed surprise. This was the first time he'd heard Wallace give such high praise.

Was it just because of differing Contest philosophies? Contesta pondered. More crucially, it must be Lu Ye's unique commanding style—both elegant and strategic, highly effective in actual combat too.

"No wonder so many people call him 'Teacher Lu'," Contesta couldn't help but marvel.

Just based on this one gorgeous battle with Melisa, he might already have followers emerging among coordinators!

Contesta turned his gaze to the handsome young man on stage.

"Let me... observe another round."

......

The roaring cheers in his ears showed the audience's excitement.

"I see..." Melisa recalled her fainted Drifblim and closed her eyes.

"Abandoning flashy moves to directly showcase the Pokémon's elegance... indeed, that's a very practical stage technique."

But this was also my specialty!

Melisa reopened her eyes, lifted her dance skirt, and waved gracefully: "Go, Mismagius!"

Appearing on stage was a graceful, purple Mismagius with ruby-like eyes.

Legend said Mismagius could bewitch humans with its cries, favoring support tactics. But Melisa's Mismagius had mastered various Ghost-type moves—its strength was not to be underestimated!

Melisa commanded:

"Use Shadow Ball!"

Dark, violent energy gathered before Mismagius. Behind this shadowy destructive force lay a peculiar beauty. Like a black torrent, the Shadow Ball shot forth, swirling with dark energy trails before exploding with a boom!

Lu Ye: "Quick Attack, dodge!"

Using "Quick Attack," Sylveon landed lightly as the relentless Shadow Ball pursued!

BOOM!!!

Thick black smoke rose. Due to its brute destructive nature, Melisa would lose significant points.

But from the smoke emerged several eerie cold Will-O-Wisps, like diamonds on black velvet.

Melisa's style points actually increased instead!

Amid the swirling dark mist, low murmurs spread through the stadium.

"Did they knock each other out?"

"That move combination was so beautiful,不愧是 Melisa!"

Amid applause, Melisa gracefully curtsied.

At the judges' table, Contesta also clapped and nodded:

"Truly an exquisite Contest battle."

Wallace watched the dissipating smoke and nodded lightly.

"Indeed exquisite... because it's not over yet."

As the smoke cleared, what appeared before everyone was a brilliant, crystalline Light Screen shimmering with pale purple radiance.

Sylveon stood elegantly behind the barrier, its expression proud.

"Eevee~"

Melisa's eyes showed astonishment.

"Completely... no damage taken?"

That was Mismagius's full-power Shadow Ball!

Though she'd used gorgeous techniques to compensate for point loss, the move's power hadn't diminished at all!

Yet Sylveon not only perfectly defended but also—the move's gorgeousness—

"That Light Screen is so pretty..."

"Suddenly I understand why coordinators pursue beauty!"

"I get it! Teacher Lu intentionally took the hit to score points!!"

Melisa instinctively looked at the big screen.

The style points she'd just gained were all stolen by Lu Ye, bringing her dangerously close to defeat!

Though an exhibition match, Melisa treated it as a real challenge!

"Mismagius—"

She unconsciously frowned and shouted: "Phantom Force!!"

As a Ghost-type Gym Leader, Melisa excelled at status and stealth moves.

More importantly, "Phantom Force" could bypass protection—the perfect counter against defenses!

Instantly, Mismagius vanished into the shadows.

Risking point loss, Melisa commanded Mismagius with the conviction to finish the battle in one strike!

Yet the moment Mismagius disappeared, the surroundings were bathed in dazzling light.

ZAP—

Under the area-effect "Dazzling Gleam," Mismagius had nowhere to hide!

"Eevee!!(#｀皿´)"

Sylveon leapt high, its ribbons unleashing "Psyshock"—tangible blades rippling through the air before slashing down!

Doo—

With a long beep, Melisa's style points on the big screen hit zero.

Simultaneously, Mismagius fell awkwardly to the ground, unable to battle!

"Eevee~o(´^｀)o"

Sylveon landed lightly, tilting its head as its bow swayed gently.

This snow-white elegant figure was etched into every audience member's mind.

Instantly, the stadium erupted in prolonged cheers!

"Now THIS is a Contest Master!!"

"He predicted every move in a Contest battle? Typical Teacher Lu!"

"Sylveon~~! Mama loves you!"

"Both judges demonstrated the solid skills of Contest Masters!"

The announcer declared loudly:

"After a short break, let's welcome our first competitor!"

Under flashing spotlights, Lu Ye and Melisa shook hands graciously.

Thus concluded the opening exhibition match.

Thanks to this spectacular performance, the venue's atmosphere reached its peak.

Inspired by the two masters' display, competitors were eager to win the Mikuri Cup's "Water Drop Medal."

Even Team Rocket's Jessie, watching from the sidelines through binoculars, clenched her fists and declared:

"As a Team Rocket officer's apprentice, I can't let people look down on me!"

"The officer never actually taught you anything, meow~"

"Meowth, you're performing with me later!"

"No way, meow! Let Wobbuffet do it!"

"So-nan-su~!"

......

Lu Ye escorted Melisa back to the judges' table with perfect etiquette.

This handsome, powerful man now carried an air of mystery in Melisa's eyes.

However...

The thought that such a strong trainer might challenge her Eterna Gym someday sent an involuntary shiver down Melisa's smooth back.

As they sat down, Melisa in white gloves rubbed her chin thoughtfully.

"I should find a chance to just give him the Relic Badge... to avoid another Gym challenge."

Lu Ye sat between Chairman Contesta and Champion Wallace.

Contesta nodded solemnly with a serious expression.

Wallace smiled warmly and whispered:

"Teacher Lu, I've heard much about you from Steven."

Hearing this, do you meet Steven often?

Before him was Wallace from Pokémon Adventures—Ruby's reliable mentor who had taken the Champion mantle from Steven, shouldering the responsibility of Hoenn's Champion.

Notably, Wallace was in a relationship with Hoenn's Flying-type Gym Leader Winona.

While Gym Leaders from other regions struggled to make ends meet, Hoenn radiated strong couple vibes!

Lu Ye nodded in acknowledgment.

Suddenly, a long-absent notification sounded in his ears.

[Ding! Achievement "First Contest Battle" unlocked!]

[Reward: Orange-tier item ×1, Random Poké Ball ×1!]

......