The remaining performances passed in a blur.
Some dazzled the audience with beauty. Others relied on creativity and precise coordination.
By the time the final contestant left the stage, the judges had seen and evaluated a total of forty performances.
But only sixteen coordinators would advance to the next round.
The lights dimmed as every coordinator turned their attention toward the screen.
One by one, portraits of the successful coordinators appeared beside their contestant numbers, accompanied by a burst of applause from the crowd.
A few people stood frozen, staring at the screen in disbelief when their faces failed to appear.
One girl near the front lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly. Her Buneary pressed close to her leg, its long ears drooping sadly. The ribbon on its neck remained perfectly tied, but the disappointment in its eyes was impossible to miss.
Gil watched them quietly.
They worked so hard for this… just like we did.
The thought sat heavy in his chest.
He wasn't the type to gloat over wins. But seeing others fall short still left a quiet sting.
A soft cheer rose from those who made it through. Gil's face showed up in the middle of the list.
He let out a slow breath he didn't know he'd been holding.
…We're in.
Eevee sat on his lap, tail swishing happily as her bright, excited eyes met his.
While the staff cleared the stage for the battles, Gil's thoughts drifted back to the performances.
Most had been normal…
But few really stood out in his mind.
Especially the Alolan Ninetales performance. The Pokémon moved like it was dancing on air, its tails flowing in perfect arcs. Swirls of fine snow drifted down around it. The delicate patterns caught the stage lights and sparkled like fresh frost under moonlight. An elegant Aurora Beam painted soft ribbons of color across the ice it created. The final pose left the audience hushed for a heartbeat before the applause erupted.
At that time Gil had found himself leaning forward without realizing it.
She's stunning. That kind of grace is rare.
A warmer thought followed right after.
If I could catch an Alolan Vulpix someday and raise it right… watch it grow into something this beautiful and strong…
Even the regular fiery one too. Both of them… soft tails and eager bodies all over me. The contrast of cold elegance and warm passion pressed against my skin…
He smiled faintly.
After all, beauties like them had a way of lingering in his mind.
Gil's eyes moved across the screen once more.
The bracket shifted with a soft chime, revealing the first-round matchups for the Battle Round.
Gil's gaze quickly found his own portrait.
He was scheduled for the third match.
Across from him was a young man with neatly styled dark hair who had used a Roserade during the Appeal Round.
Gil studied the bracket for another moment.
Each coordinator could bring up to three Pokémon for the Battle Round, but only one could be used per match.
I should take this time to think things through.
Soon, a short break was announced. Thirty minutes to prepare before the Battle Round began.
Coordinators began heading toward the side rooms or gathering in small groups to discuss strategies.
Gil was about to leave when a familiar face stopped in front of him.
It was the young man from the bracket.
"Hey. I'm Kai," he said with an easy smile. "Your Eevee's appeal was really sharp. That maze trick with Swift was clever as hell."
Eevee's ears perked up at the praise, her tail giving an excited wag.
"Vee~!"
Gil chuckled softly.
"Thanks. I'm Gil. Your Roserade's performance was impressive too. Those glowing petals were beautiful."
Gil glanced at the large clock mounted on the wall. Twenty-eight minutes remained before the Battle Round began.
He still needed time to think about his lineup.
Gil glanced at the clock before looking back at Kai.
"Looks like we'll have to continue this conversation another time. I'd rather not walk into our match unprepared."
Kai raised an eyebrow before letting out a small chuckle.
"Smart. I was thinking the same thing."
He folded his arms and smiled. "Just don't be too surprised when Roserade steals the spotlight."
Gil's lips curved slightly.
"We'll see about that."
With that, the two parted ways.
Gil didn't waste any time. After asking a nearby staff member for the nearest public computer terminal, he was directed to a quieter corner of the hall.
If he was going to face Kai in less than half an hour, he wanted as much information as possible.
A quick search later, Kai's profile appeared on the screen.
Just as Gil had expected, Kai had participated in Contests before. In fact, most of the coordinators who had advanced had at least some experience, making information on them relatively easy to find.
The information gave him a better idea of what to expect.
He spent the remaining time looking into the other coordinators who had advanced. One by one, he reviewed their Contest histories and the Pokémon they favored.
Slowly, a few plans began to take shape in his mind.
Thirty minutes passed faster than he expected.
By the time Gil returned to the contestant area, the first Battle Round match was already underway.
The massive screen displayed a dazzling exchange of attacks beneath the stage lights.
Around him, some coordinators quietly reviewed their notes, while others watched the battle in silence.
Gil found an empty spot near the back.
Eevee hopped onto the bench beside him and leaned lightly against his leg.
He settled into his seat and turned his full attention to the screen.
Gil watched closely, committing every movement to memory. Contest Battles were different from ordinary Pokémon battles. Every command, every dodge, and every attack was part of the performance.
And if he wanted to win, he would have to put on a better show than everyone else…