After the preliminary rounds, the Calligrapher finally entered the main event: the Victory Tournament.
Kashiwagi figured that as long as no "Deus Ex Machina" like Tobias showed up who likes to bully the kids with Legendaries and Mythicals, she had a high chance of a top-tier finish.
Despite knowing this, he couldn't help but feel his nerves fraying. He wondered: If she doesn't win the League, does that mean she'll take first place at the Calligraphy Exhibition instead? What were the odds of a "Double Blue Talent" run resulting in a clean sweep of both worlds? Would she find glory in one only to face defeat in the other?
He held his breath. Beside him, Deino felt its trainer's muscles tense up and tilted its head curiously.
"Deino?"
"It's nothing, it's nothing," Kashiwagi forced a smile, turning his eyes back to the screen. He watched the Calligrapher command the field with authority, feeling more anxious than if he were the one competing. Whatever happened, he wanted a happy ending for her.
From the Top 8 to the Top 4, and finally... the Finals.
His heart was in his throat as he waited for the dawn of victory.
Finally, the moment of truth arrived. The opponent sent out his final Pokémon, Rhyperior, while the Calligrapher was down to her ace, Smeargle.
[Heart-to-Heart Connection], the Calligrapher's second Blue Talent, had previously only shown minor effects—helping her understand her Pokémon's silent desires. It hadn't seemed nearly as flashy as [Wealthy Family]. Kashiwagi had assumed it was just a "flavor" talent for character growth.
But at the tensest second of the battle, it triggered.
The Calligrapher stopped giving verbal commands. She raised her right hand, her fingers curling as if gripping an invisible brush, and began to "write" in the empty air.
At that exact moment, Smeargle's body shuddered. Its movements with its tail-brush synchronized perfectly with hers. Despite the distance between them, their hearts were fused. The massive boulders launched by Rhyperior were blocked by surging waves, searing flames, and rising stone pillars, all summoned by Smeargle's brushstrokes as it closed the distance.
Due to the pixelated graphics, Kashiwagi couldn't see the full majesty of the scene, but he saw Smeargle dash in front of Rhyperior. Ignoring the massive arm swinging toward it, the little dog lifted its brush and gently tapped the giant's forehead.
It looked as though it were painting a symbol or perhaps a character.
Suddenly, a spectral arm, identical to Rhyperior's own, materialized in the air and slammed the heavy Pokémon into the dirt.
[Your Smeargle has gained a deeper enlightenment of the move Sketch.]
[You have achieved final victory and become the Champion of the Lily of the Valley Conference!]
"Whoo ho!"
Kashiwagi bolted upright, eyes locked onto the system, and pumped a fist into the air!
She won! A simulation character actually won the League! He hadn't expected his first championship to come so soon, this was only the twelfth simulation! Excited, Kashiwagi gave Deino a massive squeeze, then ran outside to hug Aggron and the others, playfully messing with their faces.
Only after seeing his Pokémon's baffled expressions did he settle back down to finish the story. A League victory was rarely the end.
Just as he thought, the story continued. Having earned the right to challenge the Champion League, the Calligrapher wasted no time in taking on the Elite Four. However, Kashiwagi knew how this usually went.
Sure enough, she hit a wall at the fourth member: her own fan, Lucian.
[You lost to Lucian. Your Champion League challenge has come to an end.]
[You returned to Hearthome City. You and Smeargle quietly await the results of the Calligraphy and Art Exhibitions.]
Kashiwagi calmed his breathing and waited with her.
Soon, the Calligrapher received two official invitations. She and Smeargle attended the gala, and the results were revealed.
[Your piece, "Reflections on the Land of Sinnoh," has been awarded 5th Place.]
[Smeargle's artwork has been awarded 6th Place.]
Wait, what?
Triumph in the trainer world, but "defeat" in her professional field? Kashiwagi was stunned. He thought that after all that growth, her rank shouldn't have dropped.
But he quickly realized the context: the Winter Exhibition was the big leagues. It featured world-renowned masters, many in their 60s or 90s, who had spent lifetimes refining their brushwork. In the world of calligraphy, the older you are, the more formidable you become. For a fifteen-year-old to take 5th place among such giants was a sensation.
Her former rival, who still relied on "template" writing, had been pushed out of the top ten entirely.
The industry's labels for the Calligrapher changed. She was no longer a "Copy-Paste Monster" or a "Robot"; she was now a "Promising Talent" and a "Rising Star of the Emotive School."
[You realize that for your calligraphy and for Smeargle's painting, there is still a long road ahead.]
The screen froze on an image of the Calligrapher standing beside the appraiser, giving a speech to the prestigious crowd.
[Simulation Ended]
Kashiwagi exhaled deeply. He grabbed his phone and searched for "Sinnoh League Winner Smeargle." A result immediately popped up:
"Nagumo: Renowned female calligrapher, winner of the XX Lily of the Valley Conference…"
He blinked at her photo. She was a beautiful woman who looked elegant and serene, nothing like someone who would shred a painting in a rage. At twenty years old, she possessed a refined grace that went beyond her years.
"She really doesn't look like the type to have such a fiery temper," Kashiwagi smiled.
Then, the rewards appeared.
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Fixed Rewards
- Technical Machines (TM) ×5 (Attribute of your choice)]
- Calligrapher's Ancient Language Memories: Sinnoh Chapter (Repeatable reading)]
- Smeargle's Painting Memories: Sketching Chapter (Repeatable reading)]
Choice Rewards(pick any three)
- Level up any Pokémon by 5 (Below Lv. 70)]
- A lead on a Pokémon with specific Base Stats (Excluding Legendaries, Mythicals, and Ultra Beasts)]
- Skill: Thunder (Can be taught to a chosen Pokémon)]
- Carry the [Never Give Up] talent to the next simulation]
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It was still a "pick three out of four" deal. But right now, Kashiwagi only had one thing to say:
"Holy crap!"