After lunch, Kashiwagi and Dawn headed out to explore Slateport City's famous open-air markets.
Kashiwagi's reasoning was simple: a good Coordinator knows when to let their Pokémon rest to avoid burnout.
Mawile was, of course, delighted. Shopping was one of her few hobbies—especially when her Trainer, newly flush with cash, was feeling generous enough to satisfy her every whim.
The lovestruck Piplup hovered around her, frantically trying to win her favor.
Unfortunately, Mawile didn't understand a single one of the little penguin's romantic gestures.
She was starting to think the poor thing had some kind of psychological ailment, much like Chansey's patients, and she looked at him with profound pity.
But soon, she was completely absorbed in the market. Slateport's stalls were a world away from the polished department stores she was used to.
There were no flashy decorations or professional salesgirls in suits. Instead, there were friendly stall owners of all ages who, charmed by Mawile's cute appearance, would proactively shove gifts into her arms.
It barely felt like "shopping" anymore.
Mawile simply tilted her head, looking innocent and adorable, and the local vendors couldn't help themselves.
Piplup, meanwhile, was more than happy to act as her personal luggage carrier. Eventually, the haul got so big that Kashiwagi had to step in and help carry the load.
"Honestly, you've never carried my bags like that!" Dawn teased, though it was all in good fun.
Despite the age gap, the two got along very well. Being fellow Coordinators with a shared love for travel and Pokémon meant they never ran out of things to talk about.
Kashiwagi, drawing on his knowledge of her journey, steered the conversation toward Brock. Dawn was thrilled to learn that their mutual friend was currently in Littleroot Town for a Pokémon Doctor internship.
"I can't believe you know Brock too!"
"I actually met him through Max. You know Max, right?"
"Of course! May's younger brother! I run into May at Contests all the time!"
With Ash—who was currently traveling through Kalos—serving as their central point of connection, the friendship between Kashiwagi and Dawn solidified rapidly.
After buying ingredients for incense and taking Mawile to a Pokémon Groomer, it was nearly 5:00 PM.
Kashiwagi invited Dawn for dinner again. She initially tried to decline, but seeing that Piplup had already naturally followed Kashiwagi into his suite, she sighed and followed them in, feeling a bit cheeky about accepting another meal.
However, while her cooking skills might have been average, she was a prodigy when it came to making Poffins.
Poffins are similar to Pokéblocks but focus on enhancing a Pokémon's sheen and luster, making them sparkle more brightly on stage. In fact, it was a Poffin that had originally lured Mamoswine into joining Dawn's team.
"Leave the kitchen to me for a bit!" Dawn announced with sudden intensity.
"Are you sure you're okay on your own?" Kashiwagi asked.
He knew her Poffin skills were legendary compared to May's "Purple Surprise" Pokéblocks, but he still had a lingering worry about his kitchen's safety.
"No problem, no problem! Just sit back and wait for the treats!" She shut the kitchen door with a look of grim determination.
A short while later, Dawn emerged with a tray of multi-colored Poffins. They were small enough for even Piplup to eat in one go, with different colors representing different flavors: Spicy, Sour, Sweet, Bitter, and Dry.
"They're all here! Dig in, everyone!"
Kashiwagi picked up a pink one, which he remembered was Sweet. It was surprisingly soft—he'd always imagined them being crunchy like biscuits.
"How is it?" Dawn asked expectantly.
"It's great. Really delicious." Kashiwagi's praise made Dawn beam with pride.
...
...
Night Training
After dinner and a short rest, Kashiwagi headed back to the beach. He wasn't just a Coordinator; he was a Trainer, and night training was a core part of his routine.
Dawn, having nothing else to do, offered her Pokémon as sparring partners. "Don't underestimate us! Coordinators are plenty strong in battle too!"
"Pip-lup-lup!" Piplup puffed out his chest, striking his "tough guy" pose.
Kashiwagi welcomed the challenge. Real battles were the fastest way for a Pokémon to improve.
It was also a perfect chance for Mawile and the others to gain experience in Contest-style battling, which was a slightly weaker area for Kashiwagi.
"Let's do it," Kashiwagi nodded. "But we'll keep it friendly. No need to go overboard."
Dawn's first choice was her ace: Piplup.
"Pip-lup!" Piplup marched forward valiantly. His spirit wavered for a second when he thought his goddess Mawile was coming out, but when he saw the opponent was Deino, his confidence returned in full force.
"Dei-nou!"
Deino sniffed the air, memorizing the stranger's scent so it wouldn't lose track of the target. Piplup's scent was easy to find—a mix of fresh sea spray, food, and a certain... overconfident fishy penguin.
But there was something else. A complex, overwhelming scent that young Deino couldn't quite identify: the scent of "love."
It was a distinct smell than the mud stuck in Aggron's claws.
Target locked! Deino lowered its body.
"Dragon Pulse!"
"Dei-noo!" At the command, Deino roared, and azure flames condensed in its mouth before erupting toward the source of the scent! The blast quickly took the shape of a snarling energy dragon.
However, before it could reach its target, it was met by a streak of ice-blue lightning from Piplup's beak.
"Ice Beam!" Dawn's voice rang out.
Boom!!
The azure dragon flames and the ice-blue lightning collided, locking together in a fierce struggle.
Under Piplup's expert guidance, the energy was forced upward into the night sky!
Pop!
The two moves exploded, forming a brilliant shower of sparks that rained down like fireworks.
Kashiwagi watched in genuine surprise. To forcibly convert the smoke of an energy clash into a beautiful display...
Piplup's level was much higher than he'd thought!