Kasumi arrived at Viridian Contest Hall with Gardevoir at eight in the morning, her tablet loaded with choreography notes and her mind buzzing with nervous energy. The building was impossible to miss, a stunning architectural achievement with curved glass walls that reflected morning sunlight in rainbow patterns. The Contest Hall's distinctive design made it a landmark in Viridian City's Entertainment District.
Inside, the lobby sparkled with elegance. Polished marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and walls displaying photos of famous Coordinators who'd performed here over the decades. A reception desk staffed by smiling attendants welcomed visitors, and digital screens announced the day's schedule of practice sessions and public performances.
"Welcome to Viridian Contest Hall," a receptionist greeted her. "Are you here for the public viewing or practice room rental?"
"Practice room rental. I registered online yesterday, Kasumi Uzumaki."
The receptionist checked her computer. "Confirmed. You're in practice room seven on the third floor. Four-hour block starting at nine. Your Coordinator pass gives you access to observe other practices if rooms have viewing windows open."
Kasumi thanked her and took the elevator to the third floor. The practice area was designed with professionalism, soundproofed rooms of various sizes, each equipped with proper lighting, sound systems, and enough space for Pokemon to perform complex routines. She found room seven and immediately began setting up.
But first, she wanted to observe other Coordinators. Several rooms had viewing windows that practitioners could open to receive feedback from watching professionals. Kasumi approached one where a Coordinator was running through an Appeal combination with her Milotic.
The performance was breathtaking. Milotic's Water Pulse created spheres that hung suspended in air, then burst into mist when struck by Aqua Tail. The mist caught the lights and created rainbow effects that filled the entire room. The coordination between trainer and Pokemon was flawless, every move precisely timed, every effect building on the previous one.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
Kasumi turned to find a woman in her early thirties watching the same performance. She wore Coordinator attire, elegant but practical, with her blonde hair pulled into a professional style. Three Grand Festival ribbons were pinned to her jacket.
"It's incredible," Kasumi breathed. "That Milotic's control is perfect."
"That's Coordinator Maya. She's been competing for eight years and has refined her style into something truly special." The woman extended her hand. "I'm Ayame. I've been coordinating for about twelve years now. Three Grand Festival appearances, though no wins yet."
"Kasumi Uzumaki. This is my first journey, I'm preparing for my debut at Cerulean City's Contest in three weeks."
"First Contest and you're going straight to Cerulean? That's ambitious." Ayame's tone held respect rather than judgment. "Cerulean draws experienced Coordinators because of its prestige. The competition will be fierce."
"I know. That's why I'm here, I need to learn everything I can before then."
"Smart approach. Let me see your Pokemon."
Kasumi released Gardevoir, who materialized with her characteristic grace. The Psychic-Fairy type immediately performed a small curtsy, a habit they'd developed for Contest entrances.
Ayame's eyes lit up. "Oh, she's perfect. The bond between you is visible even in how she holds herself. That's what judges look for, not just technical skill but genuine connection." She walked around Gardevoir, examining her from multiple angles. "Her condition is excellent. You clearly know how to maintain a Contest Pokemon's appearance."
"I've been studying grooming techniques for years. And my friend Miyuki helped me develop an optimal nutrition plan."
"It shows. May I see one of your routines?"
They moved into Kasumi's rented practice room. Kasumi pulled up her choreography notes and explained the routine she'd been developing, a combination of Psychic, Moonblast, and Dazzling Gleam designed to create a celestial theme.
"Show me," Ayame said, settling into one of the viewing chairs.
Kasumi took a deep breath and began. "Gardevoir, Psychic, gentle lift!"
The Psychic-Fairy type raised both arms and generated purple energy that created a swirling pattern in the air. The effect looked like nebula clouds captured in miniature.
"Now, Moonblast into the center!"
Gardevoir's signature move manifested as a sphere of pink fairy energy that she launched into the Psychic swirl. The two energies merged, creating new colors and patterns.
"Dazzling Gleam, full spread!"
Light exploded from Gardevoir in all directions, interacting with the existing energy to create what looked like a starfield, points of light against purple nebula, pink accents adding warmth to the effect. The entire room sparkled with the combined attack.
The routine concluded with Gardevoir's graceful bow. Kasumi waited anxiously for Ayame's assessment.
"That was good," the veteran Coordinator said. "Really good for someone preparing for their first Contest. The flow between moves was smooth, and the visual payoff was impressive. But I see areas for improvement."
"Please tell me. I want to learn."
Ayame stood and moved to the performance space. "Your timing on the Moonblast needs to be faster. Right now, there's a half-second gap between generating the sphere and launching it. That gap breaks the momentum. If you can eliminate it, the routine will feel more dynamic."
She demonstrated with gestures, showing how the motion should flow continuously. "Also, consider adding aromatherapy elements. Do you know about berry-based effects in Contest performances?"
"Some. I've been cultivating berries and studying their properties."
"Then you understand that certain berries release scents that can enhance audience perception of your routine. For a celestial theme like yours, I'd recommend incorporating Oran or Sitrus berry essence during the Dazzling Gleam phase. The subtle sweet scent will create a subconscious association with pleasant dreams and night skies."
Kasumi's mind raced. She'd studied berries for their nutritional and medicinal properties but hadn't fully explored their Contest applications. "That's brilliant. How do I incorporate the berry essence?"
"Train your Gardevoir to hold a specially prepared berry in her psychic field during the routine. She releases it as powder during the final attack, dispersing the scent throughout the performance area. Judges and audiences won't consciously notice, but it affects their emotional response."
They spent the next two hours working on refinements. Ayame demonstrated timing techniques, explained judging psychology, and shared insights from her twelve years of competition experience. Kasumi absorbed everything eagerly, taking detailed notes and asking countless questions.
"The Contest scene is fiercer than most people realize," Ayame explained during a water break. "People think Contests are just about making Pokemon look pretty, but top-level coordination requires understanding aesthetics, psychology, timing, chemistry, it's incredibly complex."
"That's what I want to prove," Kasumi said. "That Contests require real skill and dedication."
"You'll prove it. Your foundation is solid, your Pokemon is exceptional, and you have the right attitude." Ayame smiled. "Cerulean in three weeks is perfect timing for a rookie. It's prestigious enough to matter but early enough in the season that you won't face every top Coordinator in Kanto."
"What should I focus on in these three weeks?"
"Refine your Appeal routine until every movement is muscle memory. Practice your battle round strategy, Contests include combat performance, remember. And work on stage presence. You need to command attention the moment you step into the spotlight."
They resumed practice, running through the routine repeatedly with increasingly minor adjustments. By the third hour, Kasumi could execute the Moonblast-to-Dazzling-Gleam combination with the seamless flow Ayame had demonstrated. The starfield effect had evolved from impressive to genuinely stunning.
"That's it," Ayame said after a particularly clean performance. "You're ready for your debut. You might not win Cerulean, rookie debuts are rarely victories, but you'll make an impression."
"Thank you so much for your help. This was invaluable."
"I was helped by veteran Coordinators when I started. Passing that knowledge forward is part of the community." Ayame pulled out her phone. "Exchange contact information with me. If you have questions as Cerulean approaches, message me. I'm always willing to help dedicated Coordinators."
Kasumi spent her remaining practice time working on stage presence and entrance choreography. She recorded several attempts, reviewed them critically, and made adjustments. By the time her rental period ended, she felt simultaneously more confident and more aware of how much she still needed to learn.
The afternoon passed in observation. Kasumi watched other Coordinators practice, noting techniques she wanted to study further. She attended a public performance in the Contest Hall's main theater, where three Coordinators competed in a mini-showcase. The level of skill was intimidating, these were professionals with years of experience, and their performances were polished to perfection.
But it also inspired her. If she worked hard enough, if she refined her skills enough, she could reach that level someday.
Evening found her returning to the Mobile Home with Gardevoir, her mind overflowing with new information and her body tired from hours of physical practice. She entered to find her companions already gathered for dinner.
"How was your day?" Miyuki asked.
"Intense. Amazing. Terrifying." Kasumi collapsed onto the couch. "I learned so much, but I also realized how much I don't know. The gap between me and professional Coordinators is huge."
"But it's a gap you can close," Kiyomi pointed out. "You have time before Cerulean and access to excellent training resources."
"Plus natural talent," Sasuke added from the kitchen. "That Snorlax incident proved you understand Pokemon psychology at an instinctive level. That's not something you can teach, you either have it or you don't."
"You really think so?"
"I know so. You're going to do great at Cerulean."
Kasumi felt warmth spread through her chest. Her companions' faith in her abilities helped counter the imposter syndrome that had been creeping in all afternoon.
She shared details about her practice with Ayame, the timing refinements, and the berry aromatherapy suggestion. Sasuke was particularly interested in the berry application, asking technical questions about preparation and dispersal methods.
"I can help with that," he offered. "Berry preparation is similar to cooking, you need to understand the properties and how to extract them efficiently."
"Really? That would be amazing!"
They spent the evening planning Kasumi's preparation schedule for the next three weeks. Practice routines, berry preparation experiments, stage presence work, and battle strategy development. By the time they finished, Kasumi had a comprehensive training plan that felt achievable rather than overwhelming.
That night, she lay in bed reviewing video footage from her practice sessions. The starfield effect really did look stunning. With three weeks of refinement and her companions' support, maybe she really could make a strong debut at Cerulean.
Tomorrow was their last day in Viridian City. Then onward to Pewter, where Sasuke would face his first gym challenge and their journey would truly begin in earnest. But tonight, Kasumi felt grateful for the Contest Hall, for Ayame's generous teaching, and for companions who believed in her dreams as much as their own.