Pokémon: My Parallel World Daughters Revealed

The video continued playing.

Canalave City Pokémon Contest Hall.

Tiana stepped onto the awards platform, the purple ribbon around her collar swaying gently with each step.

Marian raised her microphone.

”Let’s give another enthusiastic round of applause to congratulate Contestant Tiana—”

Before she could finish, she pressed a hand against her earpiece, and her expression abruptly changed.

”L-L-Ladies and gentlemen!!! Please allow me to temporarily interrupt the awards ceremony!”

”A legend of Pokémon Contests, the seven-time consecutive Grand Festival Champion, the man praised as the pinnacle of all Coordinators, and a Pokémon Contest Master whose name stands alongside Master Wallace—The Kricketune Man has arrived at the Canalave Contest Hall!!!”

The curtains covering the backstage entrance were suddenly pulled open.

A figure wearing a magnificent golden cape strode onto the stage.

He wore a dark-crimson shirt with its sleeves rolled up to his elbows, along with perfectly straight black trousers. His hair was dark red, and a Kricketune mask concealed his face.

The Kricketune Man walked to the center of the stage, pressed his right hand against his chest, and bowed deeply toward the audience.

Then he straightened and extended one hand toward the stands.

At that instant, screams and cheers powerful enough to nearly tear the roof from the Contest Hall erupted around him.

”Aaaaaaaaaah—!!!”

”Holy crap! Holy crap! It’s the Kricketune Man! I’m actually seeing the Kricketune Man in person!!!”

”Taking the day off work to attend this Pokémon Contest was the best decision I’ve ever made!!!”

”Interesting. Where do you work? I’m calling your employer to report you right now.”

”Go ahead and report me! This was worth it!!!”

”The Kricketune Man is still wearing that same cape! I watched the final round of the Hoenn Grand Festival. He wore that exact cape during his entrance!”

”You fake fan!! He replaced the cape! That time, he threw his cape into the audience, and one of the girls fainted immediately.”

”How do you know that?”

”Because I was that girl!”

People throughout the audience began rising from their seats. Some had even brought Kricketune Man support banners with them and were waving them frantically.

The Kricketune Man stopped at the front of the stage.

He first nodded slightly toward Tiana, then turned toward the judges’ table.

”Mr. Contesta, Mr. Sukizo, Nurse Joy, please forgive me for disturbing the event without prior notice.”

Mr. Contesta had already risen from his seat.

”Kricketune Man, it is an honor to have you at the Canalave Contest! May I ask what brings you here today...?”

The Kricketune Man looked toward Tiana.

”I watched this contestant’s entire performance from backstage. It was exceptionally creative and reminded me of the first time I participated in a Pokémon Contest.”

He extended his hand toward Tiana.

”Contestant Tiana, would you be willing to have a friendly match with me?”

Tiana blinked her mismatched eyes, then reached out and shook his hand.

”I would.”

[VIP Chat Group]

[Wallace]: ???

[Wallace]: The Kricketune Man?? A seven-time Grand Festival Champion?? Someone considered my equal??? Why have I never heard of him?????

[Wallace]:@Steven, have you ever heard of this person?!

[Steven]: No, but his voice sounds somewhat familiar. I feel as though I’ve heard it somewhere before...

[Dawn]: Approximately how old is the Kricketune Man? Judging by his mannerisms, he probably isn’t particularly young.

[Lisia]: Hmm... It’s difficult to tell because he’s wearing a mask.

[Max]: Who exactly is this person? He suddenly appeared with an absurdly impressive collection of titles, but he doesn’t even exist in our world. This is far too strange.

[Brock]: Hiss... This situation seems strangely familiar.

[Ash]: Brock, did you think of something?

[Brock]: It’s only a guess, but I think the Kricketune Man resembles Asher.

[Steven]: That’s a good theory! @Asher, Brother Asher, are you the Kricketune Man?

[Asher]: ???

[Asher]: Steven, did a Shellder clamp down on your brain? First of all, I would never wear such a ridiculous mask. Secondly, I have black hair, while he has dark-red hair. The difference is that obvious, yet you can still somehow connect him to me?

[Steven]: Your explanation makes sense, but your rebuttal was far too detailed. It sounds as though you prepared it in advance.

[Asher]: When I don’t answer, you accuse me of giving up and refusing to respond. When I defend myself, you accuse me of preparing my answer. Steven, what exactly do you want from me?

[Steven]: I only want to confirm whether or not it’s you.

[Wallace]: Steven, you’re going a little too far this time. Asher is admittedly suspicious, but the Kricketune Man’s etiquette and speech are both extremely elegant. He fully deserves the title of Pokémon Contest Master. His entire disposition is completely different from Asher’s.

[Steven]: All right. Since even you say so, I’ll stop suspecting Brother Asher.

[Diantha]: Honestly, though, the name ”Kricketune Man” is exceptionally distinctive. Kricketune isn’t a particularly popular Pokémon. Anyone who deliberately constructed his entire Pokémon Contest identity around Kricketune must have a special attachment to the species.

[Lisia]: That’s true! I like Kricketune too, but I’ve never heard of anyone creating an entire public image centered around it.

The video continued playing.

The Kricketune Man released Tiana’s hand and turned toward the judges’ table.

”Mr. Contesta, this match will not count toward the official results. It is merely an opportunity for a senior Coordinator to exchange some experience with a member of the younger generation.”

Mr. Contesta nodded repeatedly.

Mr. Sukizo maintained his usual cheerful expression, while Nurse Joy smiled and gave her approval.

Tiana and the Kricketune Man moved to opposite ends of the stage.

Marian raised her microphone. She was so excited that her voice cracked.

”Th-Th-Then... the Canalave Contest’s special exhibition match officially begins!!”

A five-minute countdown appeared on the enormous screen.

Tiana threw her Poké Ball first.

”Salamence, take the stage!”

Salamence appeared on the field and spread its enormous blood-red wings. The wind pressure it generated made the decorative ribbons along the edge of the stage snap violently.

The Kricketune Man also threw a Poké Ball.

”I’m counting on you, Kricketune!”

A flash of red light appeared.

A Kricketune landed on the stage.

Its body was primarily red and dark brown, with a pair of long, slender antennae rising from its head. The shell across its chest was smooth and glossy.

Most striking of all were its forearms. They were long and slender, with a faint metallic sheen.

After taking its position, Kricketune bowed slightly toward Salamence.

Then it turned toward the audience and performed another equally elegant bow.

...

TL: I wonder who this is hmmm....