Sitting in a conference room at League headquarters, both Kumiko and Reina's minds were reeling from what Asuka said.
"We're going to break you two up." Despite how simple they sounded, hearing those words was akin to getting hit by a full-force Explosion at point-blank range. Left utterly confused at what Asuka was implying, Kumiko and Reina attempted to ask what she meant, but received no answer. Once she sent out an Abra, Asuka then motioned for everyone to come over. Seeing no other choice, the couple reluctantly joined her.
Now that they had settled down at their destination, Kumiko and Reina had some time to ponder about Asuka's bold declaration. With her, Kaori, and Mamiko leaving the room to discuss something else, the couple were left completely alone in this dim space. Fitting for this bleak atmosphere, Kumiko and Reina's moods were fluctuating between a mix of ambivalent feelings about each other, despite the closeness they had.
However they could interpret it, there was one inalienable truth in Asuka's words hiding behind the ambiguity she put up: they needed to be apart from each other. This was the conclusion Kumiko and Reina came to, and they did not like it one bit. After all they had been through to finally and truly reunite with each other, being separated by forces out of their control was truly the cruelest thing that could happen.
Over the countless times they had been apart, the only thing keeping either Kumiko or Reina from sinking to the lowest depths of despair were their thoughts of each other. That had helped them weather the numerous storms, but not even their desires for each other were good enough substitutes for the real thing, and only memories alone could not sustain them.
Just why had Asuka said that in the first place? It was immediately obvious there was more to Asuka's statement than what was immediately apparent, and an ulterior motive was certainly present underneath this pomp and circumstance. Whatever it turned out to be, Kumiko felt there was no way she could resist Asuka's indomitable will. The Elite Four member was simply too headstrong.
"I'm back! Did you miss me?" Following a deafening slam, the door burst open to reveal Asuka standing behind it, with Kaori and Mamiko accompanying her. Frightened by the loud noise, Kumiko and Reina immediately shifted their sitting posture to a more upright position. As she noticed the couple's panicked stares, Asuka smirked. She had done her job.
"Gah! What do you want with us this time?" Upon hearing that Kumiko sounded more irritated than the spooked reaction she had expected, Asuka nearly flinched on the spot. Kumiko really had become more hardened compared to their last meeting. That was to say nothing of Reina's new and improved death glare, which would've most likely disintegrated a lesser person.
"Peace, peace. I'm just here to talk." Attempting to defuse the situation by borrowing a saying from Haruka, Asuka frantically waved her outstretched palms at the couple, who looked blatantly unimpressed. Sweatdropping from this failed attempt at extending an olive branch, Asuka nervously turned to look at Kaori and Mamiko. "Uh, a little help here, please?"
"Um… Alright then." Not wanting the ensuing conversation to end before it started, Kaori stepped in to resolve this situation in Asuka's place. What they needed to say was far too important to let petty squabbles get in their way. Despite not saying anything after that, the perceived hostility from Kumiko and Reina soon disappeared, allowing Asuka to continue onto the main topic at hand.
"Apologies for that abrupt appearance right after your Gym battle, but we've got an urgent matter on our hands." Brushing off the spine-chilling fear she felt earlier with ease, Asuka began to address Kumiko and Reina. "So basically, your little run-in with HTT a few days earlier caused us to discover a lot of new information, but also unearthed an entire boatload of problems in the process."
"Go on, tell us about them. We'll make sure to deal with everything they throw our way." Fed up with being on the defensive for so long, Reina wanted nothing more than to give HTT some well-deserved payback for what they did to her and Kumiko. Forget trying to get out of their clutches like last time. HTT deserved everything coming their way.
"That's the problem. According to what we could recover from their record label's headquarters, they've got a lot more manpower and resources than we assumed. It looks like they've wisened up about their bookkeeping since we last investigated." Kaori explained. While this all seemed like serious news, Kumiko and Reina weren't sure how it would affect them.
"The worst part is, they seemed to have beefed up Bomber Squad - their anti-human unit. You know, the group that kidnapped Kousaka with the killer robots." Judging by Kumiko and Reina's reactions, Asuka thought she struck a bad nerve there, but continued to press on. "And for whatever reason, it's not the Gym Leaders, us, or any important figures who are their number-one target, but you two."
"What?! Why?" That was not what Kumiko expected to hear at all. Despite still not having a single clue about what drove HTT to track down and threaten them in the first place, never did Kumiko expect her and Reina to be the band's primary objective. Whatever role they had in HTT's grand plan only appeared to become more crucial with each passing revelation.
"We're not completely certain, but we do have a theory that matches everything we know so far." Kaori took a deep breath before elaborating. "A while back, you told Asuka that you encountered people from HTT at the Messa di Voce. Since it's a device used to harness the powers of the Mythical Pokémon Meloetta for commanding people, we decided to look into the aforementioned Pokémon in question."
"Umm, is it a good time to tell you that Reina and I have met Meloetta before?" Kumiko asked innocently. At the mere mention of that memory, Asuka, Kaori, and Mamiko immediately froze up. Kumiko would've liked to tell any one of them about her encounter with a Mythical Pokémon before, but that topic somehow hadn't come up in conversation any time in the past.
"You what?" Asuka interjected, clearly taken aback by Kumiko's revelation. As a few awkward moments of silence passed, Kumiko could almost hear the gears turning in Asuka's mind before she spoke again. "Alright. That doesn't change anything, but it further confirms what we found out about Meloetta. According to some legends, it only appears when a couple bonded by music experiences strong emotion."
"So you're saying… we were somehow chosen by Meloetta?" The more Reina found out, the more confused she was by how everything was connected together. HTT had previously said they were interested in Meloetta, so Reina naturally assumed those two things were connected. Asuka's reaction had all but confirmed it, but Reina didn't know what threads linked them together.
"Well, you basically just said that, which only proves our theory even more. Gah, I hate it when we're right." Asuka grumbled. "With all the information we have, here's our best guess for what happened. While you thought HTT was going to kidnap both of you, our hunch is that they deliberately let one of you go in the end. That's because they knew the one left behind would definitely stop at nothing to get the other back."
"Those actions don't make sense on a lot of levels. For one, how would they be so sure that we would personally come to the other's rescue? We could've simply asked the League to assist us in that endeavour." Reina retorted. "Secondly, why did they even resort to such extreme measures in the first place? If they just asked us nicely and told us the reason they wanted us to come, we would've happily obliged."
"With how in love you two are, it's almost a guarantee both of you would personally move the sky and sea just to be with each other again. Even someone without eyes could see that." Kaori pointed out. "As for those extreme measures, we believe kidnapping was HTT's first option. By creating emotional distress through forcibly separating you two, their plan would come to fruition when a rescue was mounted."
Wait… what… no… The pieces rapidly came together in Kumiko's mind after that. Because she mindlessly rushed into HTT's headquarters to get Reina back, the emotions she felt during that time were enough to summon Meloetta, thus allowing the Mythical Pokémon to fall into HTT's hands without any trouble. In a cruel twist of fate, Kumiko's decision to save one person had potentially doomed many others.
"Yeah, that's the unfortunate truth of this situation." Asuka noticed the shocked looks on Kumiko and Reina's faces as they came to the dreadful conclusion. "However, if it wasn't for Haruka-chan being kidnapped at the same time as Kousaka, we wouldn't have found out what their ultimate goal was. With HTT's endgame now in motion, that's the only lead we have in stopping whatever they plan to do."
"But you still haven't answered why we've been called here in the first place. I assume that's connected to HTT wanting our heads." Reina recalled. She was still reeling from the fact that she and Kumiko had been perfectly played like a fiddle by HTT. Even from the first time they met the band in person, their part in HTT's machinations was already set in stone.
"Precisely. Since we're quite sure HTT will want to eliminate any loose ends before their big finale, you two being on their most-wanted list means that you're going to be hounded by them, whether you like it or not." Asuka wasn't mincing words now. "To prevent them from abusing your bond with each other for their own ends, we've got to make sure you two are apart at all costs."
"What exactly do you mean by that?" Even after hearing so many explanations from Asuka and Kaori, Kumiko still didn't know what they were hiding up their sleeves. For something this important and potentially life-threatening, Kumiko and Reina had been given extremely little information about whatever situation they were about to be thrust into.
"What Asuka means is that she and I are going to take one of you each somewhere far away for the time being." Kaori elaborated. "During that period, we're planning on training both of you, so that you'll have a better chance of fighting back against HTT. If they could wreak so much havoc with what they had at their headquarters alone, there's no telling what could happen when they go all-out."
"Both of you are fine Trainers, but quality is no match for large quantities, and we can't keep on protecting you forever. You've got to take your skills to the next level if you don't want anyone messing around with you." Asuka bluntly stated the facts. "Thankfully, you've got two of the region's strongest Trainers offering to help you improve. Honestly, I can't see any downside to this, though I may be a bit biased."
"We won't pressure you into making a decision, but please do consider what we've just said." Kaori concluded. "With HTT now having Meloetta on their hands, they're shaping up to be a major threat. Our greatest regret is that we weren't able to find out enough about them before that happened, and caused you two to go through a lot because of that. Again, it's all up to you to decide what your next course of action is."
"We're not going. That's final."
Debating with Kumiko about whether it was better to stay together and either risk a repeat of her kidnapping or be separated so soon after they were truly reunited, Reina was adamant in her decision. After pushing herself to her limits and beyond just to save her beloved from probable death, giving up Kumiko wasn't an option for Reina. If she needed to, she would fight both Asuka and Kaori to keep her beloved with her.
With Asuka, Kaori, and Mamiko leaving the room for a second time, Kumiko and Reina knew that this was quite possibly their last chance to discuss their options. While Reina wasn't backing down on her stance of not being separated, Kumiko couldn't see any reason why she could reject this offer. Being on opposite sides of this debate, the couple were listing out their reasons why as they talked.
"But Asuka's got a point. If we don't get stronger, then how are we supposed to fight back against HTT once they start hunting us down?" Kumiko couldn't see why Reina was so blatantly refusing an offer to improve her skills. For someone who prided herself on being special, Reina was throwing away an opportunity to learn from the best rather easily.
"We don't need to get stronger. Now that I've got Mikatsuki by my side, I can defend us from anything HTT throws our way." Patting the Moon Ball in her bag, Reina felt a slight wobble of embarrassment from it. "If she can fight both our teams to a complete standstill, then there's nothing that can stop us anymore. Just believe in our power, Kumiko."
"Yeah, but what about me?" Kumiko questioned. "You've gotten stronger, but I don't think I have. If you were the one who was in danger like last time, then I'm not sure I would be able to rescue you. Look, you're definitely better than me by any metric we could compare ourselves with, which is why I need to improve even more. That's the only way I can keep up with you."
"That's where you're wrong, Kumiko." Reina was surprised at the extent her beloved remained oblivious to her own potential. "If it wasn't for how strong your Pokémon became, I don't think I would've won against Mikatsuki. The only reason they've improved so much is because of your skills as a Trainer. It wasn't solely because of my efforts that you were saved; you saved yourself in the end."
"I…" Attempting to muster out a response, any words Kumiko had were left hanging as she realized how right Reina was. If she hadn't improved as a Trainer at all, then she wouldn't have been able to rescue Reina from HTT in the first place, much less provide Reina with the strength to defeat Mikatsuki. Thrown in for a loop, all this made Kumiko aware of the inalienable truth.
Throughout her journey with Reina, Kumiko always assumed her beloved would be stronger than her, and this dynamic in their relationship would never change. Subconsciously accepting this perceived reality of hers, Kumiko had acted accordingly, following Reina's lead whenever the situation called for someone to take charge. To her, that was one constant she couldn't live without.
Even when her beloved wasn't by her side, Kumiko based what she would do on Reina's expectations of her. When her beloved was kidnapped, Kumiko had rushed in to save her the very next day. That was not because Kumiko personally believed she had any chance of success by doing so, but that was what Reina would do if their roles had been reversed.
Knowing this facet of their relationship was something she took for granted, Kumiko couldn't believe it when Reina revealed her true thoughts at last. This wasn't like her, but Kumiko was sure that Reina wouldn't say that if it wasn't true. Little by little, she had grown stronger without realizing it. Sure, this was certainly a shake-up in their relationship dynamic, but Reina would definitely be pleased with this.
However, this also meant that Kumiko was no longer hiding behind Reina's shadow. Free from being subject to the passiveness she subconsciously adopted at Reina's side, Kumiko was no longer bound to her beloved's overwhelming willpower. For better or for worse, Kumiko could now make her own decisions about what she wanted to do, not just solely rely on Reina's superb judgement anymore.
"Reina. I want us both to go train with Asuka and Kaori. Like it or not, we've still got quite a long way to go before HTT doesn't pose a threat to us. If we don't want to lose each other again in the future, we need to separate and improve now for each other's sake!" Affirming her desires out loud, Kumiko's ambition was finally solidified at last. There was no turning back for her, and Reina knew that as well.
Paradoxically, it was those breaking words from Yamanaka back then which made Reina more confident about what her beloved said. No longer blind to how much Kumiko's strength had grown throughout their journey, Reina was certain her beloved's decision was made with sound reasoning in mind. For the first time in a long while, Reina's drive had met its match.
"Then I've got no choice but to agree with you, Kumiko." Understanding what her beloved wanted, Reina conceded without a second thought. Despite wanting to believe their strength alone could protect them, Reina knew from prior experience that it wasn't enough, even after capturing Mikatsuki. Barely escaping from HTT both times because of lucky breaks, Reina was sure the band's full force would crush them.
"...I was a bit nervous you would say no there. Let's go tell Asuka about our final decision." Pleased to see the improvement-driven Reina she knew come back, this assured Kumiko she wasn't betraying her beloved's wishes just to further her own. No matter what steps they would take from here on out, they would do it together, side by side. Gone were the days when one would follow behind the other.
In all honesty, this development eased the burden mounting on Reina's shoulders too. Now that Kumiko wasn't being overly dependent on her, Reina didn't need to worry about how her actions would impact her beloved. That was the final barrier preventing her from pursuing her goals without restraint, and being freed from her self-imposed restriction gave Reina the opportunity to fully realize her ambitions.
"Oh-ho! Is that the scent of maturity I'm smelling there?" As she flung open the conference room's door for a second time, the deafening silence Asuka received in response was nearly enough to make her reconsider her plans. With Kumiko and Reina not being amused by her antics anymore, Asuka couldn't catch them off-guard by using them to her advantage, causing her to quickly defer to Kaori.
"To tell you two the truth, we were all listening to your discussions from outside the room." Kaori admitted as Mamiko stepped in. "While we were going to respect whatever decision you made regardless, hearing you two talk through it like that really impressed us. With the resolve you both displayed, it's hard to believe you two were the same girls we met before."
"So that settles it, right? You're coming with Kaori-chan and myself?" Asuka asked. However, no verbal response was needed, as the determined glares displayed by Kumiko and Reina confirmed their resolve. Laughing brazenly at this firm reply, Asuka was seriously in awe at how much her 'kouhai' had grown. "All right! Then it's time to set out for our elite bootcamp!"
"Kumiko, there's one last thing I need to tell you."
About to depart from League headquarters with Asuka the next day, Kumiko then spotted her older sister running towards her. For some reason, Mamiko was present when Asuka and Kaori first arrived at the Subton City Gym, but didn't say much afterwards. Kumiko initially thought she was there to provide a reassuring face, but soon suspected there was another reason Mamiko agreed to come here.
Once they decided to accept Asuka and Kaori's offer, it was determined that the former would train Kumiko and the latter would train Reina. While Reina had her doubts about being mentored by the person who she wanted to beat the most, she knew it was the best choice deep down. For someone like her whose best method of defense was offense, having someone who did the opposite like Kaori made perfect sense.
If Reina wanted to grow and mature more than she already had, she needed to face her inadequacies and shortcomings head-on, and that included learning from someone whose personal philosophy differed from hers. Because of her hubris, HTT exploited her flaws to further their goals, and she had been none the wiser about it the entire time. That was something Reina didn't want a repeat of.
With the question of who they were being trained by out of the way, Kumiko and Reina were soon informed about the details of where they would be heading. Initially confused about why those far-flung locations had been chosen, it soon made sense when Asuka and Kaori stepped in to explain. Understanding their rationale, it was then that Kumiko and Reina got an idea of just how much they needed to improve.
"What is it?" Turning to face her sister, Kumiko spotted something in Mamiko's hand. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a Pokéball, but Kumiko had completely no idea what Mamiko was planning. Wondering if this was the reason why Mamiko had been hanging around for so long, Kumiko waited until the distance between her and her sister had closed.
"Here, take this." As Kumiko's hand reflexively stretched out, Mamiko placed the Pokéball in it. Confused as to what her sister was planning, Kumiko stared in abject befuddlement at this odd present. Unsure what to make of this gift, it only took an explanation from Mamiko to make Kumiko realize its significance, and she nearly face-faulted at how she could miss it.
"Remember when I told you my Dubwool Kumiko had a little sister?" Upon hearing that name again, Kumiko (the human) internally cringed at Mamiko's terrible naming sense, but continued to listen nonetheless. "Well, here she is. A young little Wooloo. I was originally planning to give her to you sooner, but it took quite a while before I could catch up to you. Just think of her as a little memento from me."
"But… why?" Out of nowhere, Mamiko had decided to give her a new Pokémon, no strings attached. While this now brought Kumiko's team to a full party of six, there was a strange feeling coursing through her heart. Was it joy at gaining a new partner? Or sadness at not having a choice in this matter? Sensing no rationale behind this strange decision, Kumiko didn't know if this was an act of encouragement or discouragement.
"Because I'm your sister." Mamiko simply replied. In that moment, Kumiko realized she had been overthinking things all along. Everything she went through over the past few days seemed to have layers upon layers of schemes, so Kumiko naturally assumed her sister's gesture of kindness was no different. However, the reality of this situation could not be more different. This was truly a sincere act.
"Mamiko… thank you!" Hugging her sister in gratitude, Kumiko was reminded of everything Mamiko did for her sake. Even when she had done nothing in return, Mamiko always went the extra length to make her day. For an unfortunately long time, Kumiko had completely no idea why Mamiko was doing all this, but hearing the answer right here caused what she did to make perfect sense.
One day, Kumiko swore, she would have to repay Mamiko's affection in full.
"Bye Reina! We're heading off now!"
Waving at her beloved as she stood by Kaori's side, Kumiko looked longingly at Reina while Asuka observed this interaction in befuddlement. Why wasn't their last goodbye more intimate? Asuka expected Kumiko and Reina to be tearfully sobbing as they hugged each other, but nothing of that sort happened. Instead, they were both calm, collected, and smiling the entire time.
"Don't you understand? They've already accepted their fate in their hearts." Without any warning at all, Mamiko appeared behind Asuka, spooking the Elite Four member. "For someone who's managed to charm many a maiden, you're awfully oblivious to how being in a regular relationship works. Perhaps it's because you've been going too steady with Miss Kaori. Probably Miss Haruka as well."
"...Fair enough." Her mood slightly souring at Mamiko's remarks, Asuka couldn't help but note how skilled the Oumae sisters were at getting under her skin. Maybe it was a family trait of theirs. "Anyways, isn't it high time you got back to your Gym? With two Elite Four members gone and a third out of commission, the region's going to be in big trouble if HTT decides to show up right after we leave."
"Point taken, but do be sure to treat Kumiko kindly. If not… then I guess nothing can save you." Mamiko's reply sending a light chill down her back, Asuka quickly decided this was the optimal time to depart. Going back to Kumiko's side, Asuka shot a glance at Mamiko before longingly looking in Kaori's direction. Without any hesitation, she then sent out an Abra as Kaori did the same, and the two pairs vanished to parts unknown.
"Wait… I forgot to tell Kumiko about Kuroe!" Exclaiming to the wind, Mamiko's voice reached no one as the breeze continued to blow by. In a fugue of shock at how she could've forgot about something so important, Mamiko stared blankly at nothing in particular. Knowing who Mayu was, Mamiko had an uneasy feeling that this momentary lapse of hers may have set off an unintended chain of earth-shattering events.
When Kumiko came back, there was going to be a lot of explaining to do.
"So, this is the P2 Laboratory, hm? Doesn't look like anything interesting to me."
Standing in the middle of a remote island in Unova's Route 17, Reina was unimpressed with how bland it looked. With the exception of a single building that Reina assumed was the eponymous laboratory, the island didn't seem to offer much else. The only other sight around was of an aggressive clash between a Magnezone and a Klinklang, filling the air with sounds of screeching metal.
"Well, this place is a top-secret facility and isolated from civilization, so no one should know we're here." Kaori replied. "In the past, the laboratory was where the Mythical Pokémon Genesect was developed by Team Plasma, but was abandoned following their downfall. An organization known as Mithril later purchased this entire island, and agreed to let me use it for training purposes after I did a favour for them."
"That sounds interesting." Setting down her bag so that it leaned on a nearby rock, Reina watched as the Magnezone and Klinklang from earlier stopped fighting, the area around them reduced to a barren crater littered with scuff marks. Detecting Kaori and Reina's presence, the two Pokémon rushed towards them instead, followed by an army of Magneton and Klang behind them.
"Stand aside. I'll handle this on my own." Wanting to impress Kaori with how much she had improved since they last battled, Reina grasped one of her Pokéballs as she stared down the incoming horde. If she was to defeat the Elite Four member someday, then Reina needed to learn all her secrets, and wowing her was the first step to doing so. "Mikatsuki, let's fly together!"
While Kaori's eyes widened in shock as Mikatsuki's presence graced the battlefield, a warm but firm smile appeared on her face. This clearly wasn't the restless hotshot Reina Kousaka she had first encountered, but someone with the drive and power to protect what she held dear. However, as experience proved, that strength still wasn't enough against the overwhelming odds Reina would soon face.
That was why Reina Kousaka needed to rely on the help of someone else to succeed.
"Wow, there's lots of flowers here! Especially Gracideas! I've never seen so many of them in one place before!"
As the soft roaring of waves being broken by land washed over her ears, Kumiko gazed around in awe at the grand garden nature had created. Having arrived at the Sinnoh region's Flower Paradise, Kumiko couldn't find any words to describe how beautiful this small peninsula was. Smirking in her kouhai's direction, Asuka was amused by how easily Kumiko had been charmed by this small plot of elysium.
"You like this place, Oumae-chan? Well, I guess that's to be expected of my secret training spot." Asuka puffed her chest out in pride. "When yours truly was undergoing her trials to become a member of the Elite Four, a certain someone suggested I come here to challenge the Mythical Pokémon living here. Man, that was a really tough fight. I still think I developed PTSD from that experience…"
As Asuka continued to ramble on, Kumiko then saw a nearby clump of Gracideas beginning to rustle. Crouching down to see what was hiding inside, Kumiko was surprised when a small, white Pokémon emerged. With grass-like green fur on its back and two pink flowers on the sides of its head, it looked like the cutest thing ever. Noticing its curious gaze, Kumiko stuck a hand out and began to tentatively pet it.
With the mysterious Pokémon reacting positively to Kumiko's affection, the two were starting to get along swimmingly. However, when her attention finally returned to what Kumiko was doing, a truly mortifying expression instantly appeared on Asuka's face as she saw the Pokémon her kouhai was playing with. "Oumae-chan, no! That's the Pokémon I was warning you about! It's-"
Before Asuka's could finish, a second one of that mysterious Pokémon darted out of another flower-covered bush before touching a close-by Gracidea. In an instant, its appearance shifted. The fur on its back shortened and became a mohawk, a red flower petal appeared on the left side of its neck, and flat white ears resembling wings grew from its head.
Without pause, the transformed mysterious Pokémon leapt up and dug one of its paws into Kumiko's bag, grabbing something small from it. Her mind initially at a loss as to what it could be, the size and shape soon made it extremely obvious to Kumiko. Gasping in shock at this unexpected development, Kumiko's mouth slowly gaped open as she realized the misfortune she found herself in.
"Reina- Reina's hairclip!" Kumiko cried out in anguish. As the mysterious Pokémon flew away, Kumiko sank down to her knees in despair. Just the night before, Reina had entrusted her black sunflower hairclip to Kumiko for safekeeping. Saying she wanted to reconsider whether she would continue being Kumiko's fiancee, Reina's hands were shaking as she gave the hairclip to her beloved, but she retained a steely gaze.
Accepting Reina's impromptu present without hesitation, Kumiko placed the hairclip in her bag, vowing to keep it safe until they would meet again. However, now that it had been stolen by that mysterious Pokémon, the promise was broken not even a day after it had been made. Though her mind initially blanked on what to do, a fire of determination was soon lit in Kumiko's eyes.
"Give… Reina's hairclip… back!" she exclaimed, much to Asuka's surprise. Sending out all her Pokémon, Kumiko prepared to chase down the mysterious Pokémon and give it hell for what it did. About to take off amidst this great unknown, Kumiko was stopped when she felt Asuka's hand being placed on her shoulder. Having no clue what this meant, Kumiko was about to break free when Asuka spoke.
"Oumae-chan, that Pokémon which just stole something special from you is the Mythical Pokémon Shaymin." Asuka explained. "It's the Pokémon I fought here as part of my trials to get into the Elite Four. Like I said before, it was even a challenge for yours truly to beat. That's why for your first test of strength, you're going to make that Shaymin give back what it stole. Best of luck to you!"
"Bring it on." Her voice brimming with a newfound sense of empowerment, Kumiko raced forwards, her Pokémon by her side. Though she had suffered much just to get here, including losing Reina multiple times, Kumiko was dead-set on never letting anything like that happen again. That was why she had come here. That was why she needed to improve. That was why she needed to rise above everyone. "Just watch me!"
That was why the Kumiko Oumae who exited this island one month later would be completely different than the Kumiko Oumae who entered it.
A/N: Well, here we are again. At the ending point of another 'saga' in this monstrously-long Hibike x Pokémon crossover, the second of three to be released. Like it or not, Kumiko and Reina's journey is about to enter its climax, and right when they were separated too. And it is here at this critical junction that I've got several announcements to make, some good, some not so. Of course, the 'bad news' isn't as bad as it seems, when you look at it from a certain point of view.
After a two-week break (which means the next chapter will be released on April 21st), To Be A Solister will be back to a weekly release schedule, which will certainly be well-received by most if not everyone reading this. Circumstances have allowed for me to resume writing at a normal pace, and I will try my best to keep it this way for as long as possible. Now that Kumiko and Reina's tale is nearing its end, it is all the more important that I finish it, which brings me to the second announcement.
A while ago, I was tidying up my planning notes for this story, and finalized the direction I wanted it to head in. The end result is that I now have an (almost) concrete number for the amount of chapters To Be A Solister will have: 109, which means this story will end in early 2022 at the latest. However, due to plot condensations, this number may go down by three or four chapters depending on the minor plot points I choose to write less about, so there's a chance it may end in December. Of course, due to the backlog I have built up, I will have finished writing long before then.
Now on to the details of what the remaining chapters are about. The next five chapters will act as an 'intermission' of sorts, providing a glimpse into the lives of other characters while Kumiko and Reina are off training in far-off lands. Some of you may have seen abridge versions of these adventures I published as standalone fics, but the first guests to star in this series are HTT. Yes, you heard that correctly. It's time to learn about what set an ordinary high school band on the path to stardom and ambition far beyond their wildest dreams.
Once we return to the main story, those chapters will be separated into three roughly-equal 'parts', with each part chronicling one of the last three obstacles Kumiko and Reina will have to face. Of course, I won't spoil exactly what they're facing, but rest assured that enough has been hinted at in past chapters for anyone to hazard an accurate guess.
It's been nearly two years since I began writing To Be A Solister, and over a year and a half since I began publishing it. So once again, thank you to everyone who's taken some time out of their lives to read my story, and stay tuned for the inevitable climax and conclusion when To Be A Solister returns on April 21st!