Welcome To Being A Solister!

“Corvisquire, the Raven Pokémon. The lessons of many harsh battles have taught it how to accurately judge an opponent's strength.” – Pokédex entry for Corvisquire.

“Where on earth did Yume manage to find such a powerful Corvisquire?” Kanade vented out loud. “It was her first time battling today, and yet she managed to beat both of us? Did Kumiko-senpai and Reina force-feed that Corvisquire a mountain of Rare Candies when we weren’t looking?”

“Well, you always said yourself that the forest has a lot of strong Pokémon, so maybe that Corvisquire proved your point.” Ririka mused, knowing that Kanade was certainly salty after being upstaged by Yume during their fight. “Serves you right for underestimating Yume, though I have to admit I also did. She’s definitely got the potential to be stronger than us.”

“I-, uh… gah!” Kanade could only run her fingers through her hair in anguish as she realized she had been outwitted by Ririka again. “Fine. You’ve won this time, but I’ll have my rematch with Yume someday! Time to win back Kumiko-senpai’s heart from our bespectacled friend!”

“Lopunny, the Rabbit Pokémon. It swings its ears like whips and strikes its enemies with them. It has an intensely combative disposition.” – Pokédex entry for Mega Lopunny.

“The ‘Max Raid Battle’ challenge Miss Mamiko issued to Hazuki and Midori was certainly interesting.” Reina remarked to Kumiko. “While regular Max Raid Battles can only be found in Galar’s Wild Area, the way your sister adapted the format for use in a Gym Battle greatly reminded me of what I’ve read about them.”

“And I also didn’t know she could Mega Evolve her Lopunny until those fights.” Kumiko noted. “While I’ve seen Mamiko battle with her Lopunny before she went to Kalos, the way she fought Hazuki and Midori in their battles was a lot more refined and technical compared to back then.”

“The road to being a Gym Leader is certainly tough, but I think your sister certainly reaped the rewards.” Upon challenging Mamiko, Reina was seriously impressed by how strong Kumiko’s sister was. “I hope that someday I can become as graceful and elegant as her when fighting. If I want to be special, then that’s one more thing I have to work towards.”

“Cottonee, the Cotton Puff Pokémon. Pillows and beds stuffed with cotton exhaled by Cottonee are soft and puffy, light and airy—altogether top quality.” – Pokédex entry for Cottonee.

“Petilil, the Bulb Pokémon. The deeper the color of a Petilil's leaves, the healthier the Pokémon is. Petilil sometimes make its home in a well-tended field or flowerbed.” – Pokédex entry for Petilil.

“Just where did Marcato and the others find Mitsuke and Ai?” Kumiko wondered in front of Reina. “I know that Mamiko was taking care of our Pokémon during our date, so there’s no way they could have gone out by themselves.”

“Maybe they went out when your sister was asleep?” Reina hypothesized. “That’s the only way I could see them sneaking out without her knowing. Though that still doesn’t answer the question of how they met Ai and Mitsuke.”

“Yeah, they’re still the most mysterious Pokémon on our teams.” Kumiko admitted, regretting she didn’t really have the time to better know her newest partner. “Suddenly finding one Pokémon is strange enough, but two? Something definitely happened that we don’t know about.”

As Marcato observed his Trainer and her girlfriend talking about Mitsuke and Ai, he shook his head in exasperation. Even if he told Kumiko the truth about how he met them, Marcato was sure she either wouldn’t get what he meant or completely misinterpret his gestures.

“Hey, without hesitating anymore, I can believe of a future because you’re merely by my side. More than any words, a future where I'm with you.” – Lyrics from Ai wo Mitsuketa Basho (The Place Where We Found Love).

“While I can’t pull off a stunt like arranging another date again, I thought that you and Kumiko could wear these matching hair decorations as a couple!” Mamiko’s words rang in Reina’s mind as she stared at the twin sunflower clips Kumiko’s older sister gave her. Just when could she give one to Kumiko as a present.

“Reina, what’s wrong?” Kumiko asked, worried about her girlfriend’s anguished look. Quickly closing her hand carrying the two sunflower clips, Reina then relaxed her expression as she smiled at her girlfriend.

“It’s nothing. I was just thinking about the date your sister planned out for us.” While it had certainly derailed midway due to unforeseen circumstances, Reina was still thankful that she was able to get together with Kumiko on that wonderful night. “I really can’t thank her enough for what she’s done.”

“[Reina’s] hobbies are watching movies by herself and going to concerts with her father.” - Excerpt from the Hibike! Euphonium wiki, information translated from the official Hibike! Euphonium novel website.

“I can’t believe you’re friends with someone like Miss Kousaka.” Natsuki remarked to Yuuko. “You two are so different to each other that it’s honestly surprising you two manage to get along with each other. On that note, how did you even meet her in the first place? I can’t imagine that going smoothly, that’s for sure.”

“Rumors were flying around that there was a hotshot kid with a Froslass picking a fight with anyone who dared challenge her.” Yuuko began to explain. “I’d normally ignore hearsay like that, but since it was posted on the Kaori Nakaseko fan page, I decided to check it out for Kaori-senpai’s honor and glory!”

“After some searching, I managed to track down Kousaka to Relude Town and fought her in a one-on-one match.” Yuuko continued. “For someone so young, she managed to beat me quite easily. It wasn’t until later that I learned she herself posted that rumor on Kaori-senpai’s fan page to find strong people to fight, so I decided to keep in touch with her after that.”

“So you’re only friends with her because you want to beat her for defacing your precious Kaori’s pride? And I thought I was your pride and joy!” Natsuki couldn’t resist but laugh out loud as she ran away from a Yuuko foaming at the mouth.

***

“[Kumiko’s] special skill is being able to drink a can of corn soup without leaving a grain.” - Excerpt from the Hibike! Euphonium wiki, information translated from the official Hibike! Euphonium novel website.

“Kanade-chan, don’t you think it’s wrong to idolize Kumiko just because Asuka called her ‘kouhai’ once?” Ririka asked. “I know she’s a newbie Trainer with lots of potential, but I still can’t believe how quickly you latched on to her side. She seemed really uncomfortable when you did that!”

“Relax, Ririka-chan.” Kanade reassured her friend. “Since when was I ever uncomfortable to be around? Besides, don’t you think learning from the best is the best way to improve yourself. Even though I may never get close to Asuka myself, settling for her ‘kouhai’ is definitely the next best thing. Whatever Kumiko-senpai learns, I learn as well!”

“Cinccino, the Scarf Pokémon. Their white fur feels amazing to touch. Their fur repels dust and prevents static electricity from building up.” – Pokédex entry for Cinccino.

“How long has Miss Mamiko had her Cinccino?” Reina asked her girlfriend, knowing that Kumiko would definitely have the inside scoop on her older sister’s Pokémon. “Out of all her Pokémon we’ve faced in our Gym challenge, it seems the closest to her.”

“Actually, Mamiko’s Cinccino is her starter Pokémon.” Kumiko explained. “I still remember the day she brought it home from the lab as a Minccino. Even after our mom had just finished tidying up, it still ran around the house trying to clean everything using its tail, almost breaking some things along the way. Maybe that’s why mom was so eager to send Mamiko off so soon…”

“I see…” Reina noted, surprised to learn that her girlfriend’s older sister had been given such a baptism of fire. “Well, at least it looks far more well-trained from what I’ve seen of it compared to what you’re telling me. I guess Miss Mamiko really matured a lot between then and now.”

“Dubwool, the Sheep Pokémon. Weave a carpet from its springy wool, and you end up with something closer to a trampoline. You'll start to bounce the moment you set foot on it.” – Pokédex entry for Wooloo. (tease Roulade!)

“I still can’t get over the fact that you named your Dubwool after me!” Kumiko addressed her older sister. “Just because Dubwool’s wool is fluffy and my hair is also fluffy doesn’t mean that you can up and do that! At least show some concern for my feelings!”

“Well, I really couldn’t help it.” Mamiko admitted. “I first met Kumiko (the Dubwool of course) during a trip to Galar with my friends. Since I had already shown them a picture of you before, they also thought her fluffy wool looked like your fluffy hair, so they encouraged me to catch Kumiko. Speaking of which, I also caught her little sister as well.”

“Wait, Kumiko has a little sister?” Despite knowing how weird that sentence sounded, Kumiko (the human) couldn’t help but ask in confusion. “Why haven’t you told me about this before?”

“Well, perhaps I should show you another time.” Mamiko replied, winking at her younger sister. While she wanted to give Kumiko an explanation now, time was running short. “There’s a time and place for everything, so I’ll tell you then!”

“Deino, the Irate Pokémon. When it encounters something, its first urge is usually to bite it. If it likes what it tastes, it will commit the associated scent to memory.” – Pokédex entry for Deino.

“Since Deino are quite rare in this region, I wonder where yours could have come from.” Reina mused, interested in the Pokémon which had hatched out of Kumiko’s Egg. “What sort of Trainer could’ve caught a Deino or one of its evolutions?”

“I don’t really know. Maybe you have some idea?” Kumiko admitted, unsure about Trip’s origins. As he was the first Deino Kumiko had ever seen, she had almost nothing to work with. “Are there any types of Trainers Deino are associated with in this region?”

“Aside from Dragon-type specialists, there’s not much.” Reina replied. “I’ve heard one of the old Elite Four members several years back had a Hydreigon, but that’s the only specific example I could think of. Maybe we could ask Miss Kenzaki where this Egg came from when we see her again.”

“Yeah, maybe.” With the memory of Ririka teasing her about the Pokémon in her Egg resurfacing again, Kumiko hoped she could get a direct answer this time. There were so many secrets surrounding both her and Reina’s Eggs!

“Sound! Euphonium is a series of novels written by Japanese author Ayano Takeda. The story is set in Uji, Kyoto and focuses on the Kitauji High School Music Club, whose concert band is steadily improving thanks to the newly appointed adviser's strict instruction.” – Wikipedia entry for Hibike! Euphonium.

“Kumiko, did you know there’s an anime about a high school concert band?” Reina told her girlfriend. “I haven’t watched it yet, but it seems to be quite good based on reviews I’ve seen on the Internet. However, it’s also been highly divisive among a certain part of the fanbase, so I hope that doesn’t affect my viewing experience.”

“Wait, really? Why didn’t you tell me about this sooner?” While memories of her middle school concert band days started to course through her mind again, Kumiko was still intrigued by the concept alone. “And what’s the discourse you mentioned about?”

“I only discovered it through a compilation of noises the main girl makes. She really reminds me of you.” Reina replied. “And the controversy stems from how the two main girls didn’t get together despite the chemistry between them, and the main character instead got together with a guy she has much less interaction with.”

“Feebas, the Fish Pokémon. Feebas's fins are ragged and tattered from the start of its life. Because of its shoddy appearance, this Pokémon is largely ignored. It is capable of living in both the sea and in rivers.” – Pokédex entry for Feebas.

“How does a Feebas evolve into a Milotic?” While Reina had already told Kumiko the pitiful-looking Feebas would become one of the most majestic Pokémon once it evolved, Kumiko was still unsure how that would happen. “Does Feebas evolve by gaining more experience, or through some other method?”

“Feebas is the only Pokémon with two ways of evolving.” Reina explained. “The first is to raise its ‘hidden’ Beauty, which can be done by feeding it Pokéblocks or Poffins and participating in Contests. The other way is to have it hold a Marvel Scale while it is being traded with another Trainer.”

“Which method will you use on Handel, Reina?” As her girlfriend had recently caught a Feebas, Kumiko was certain she would find a way to evolve him. “Are you going to participate in Contests, or find a Marvel Scale?”

“I haven’t decided yet, but one thing is for certain.” Reina replied. “Handel joined my team to become stronger, so I have a duty to help him as his Trainer. Therefore, he will definitely evolve to be a fine Milotic under my watch.”

“Salamence, the Dragon Pokémon. Salamence came about as a result of a strong, long-held dream of growing wings. It is said that this powerful desire triggered a sudden mutation in this Pokémon's cells, causing it to sprout its magnificent wings.” – Pokédex entry for Salamence.

“What’s the strongest Pokémon on the Champion’s team?” Kumiko asked Reina. Since her girlfriend seemed to be quite close with him, she would most likely know more about him than most people would. “Is it one we’ve seen before?”

“Yes. It was the Pokémon Sensei was riding on when he fought the Deoxys, his Salamence.” As Noboru Taki had taught her the basics of battle several years ago, Reina fondly remembered the stories he told her about his Salamence. “It was Sensei’s first Pokémon, given to him by his father, and it has the ability to Mega Evolve. However, the battle with Deoxys was the first time I’ve actually seen it in action.”

“Wait, really?” Kumiko was now confused. How could Reina not have seen Taki’s main Pokémon despite knowing him well? “Where was it during your time with him? Do you mean you haven’t seen it fight before?”

“Actually, I haven’t seen it before at all.” Reina clarified. “For some reason, he didn’t have any Pokémon on him when we first met, but he still managed to be an excellent teacher. I don’t believe I would be standing where I am right now without his knowledge.”

“Ninetales, the Fox Pokémon. It creates drops of ice in its coat and showers them over its enemies. Anyone who angers it will be frozen stiff in an instant.” – Pokédex entry for Alolan Ninetales.

“What could be the connection between Demi and Ms. Sezaki’s Alolan Ninetales?” After witnessing the battle between Reina and the Eigve City Gym Leader take an unexpected turn, Kumiko wasn’t sure what to make of what happened there. “I know they’re related, but who could have been their parents’ Trainer?”

“It definitely has to be someone strong.” Reina offered. “Demi hatched out of her Egg knowing some extremely powerful moves, while you saw how Miss Sezaki’s Ninetales almost wiped out my entire team single-handedly. That said, we should wait until we return to the Day Care in Perto City before we get any answers.”

“Hopefully Ririka can find that out for us.” Kumiko thought back to the Egg-loving girl who worked as a part-timer at the Day Care. “But to think one of your Pokémon is related to a Gym Leader’s! Looks like you’re one step closer to becoming special now!”

“[Azusa] likes potato chips, roasted sweet potatoes, baked potatoes with butter, and practicing.” – Excerpt from the Hibike! Euphonium wiki, information translated from the official Hibike! Euphonium novel website by Tekketsu08.

“I wonder how Azusa’s doing right now…” Kumiko mused. “Ever since she got that invitation, I haven’t heard from her at all. Not even a phone call or a text message all this time… I really hope that she’s all right wherever she is.”

“Azusa? You mean Azusa Sasaki from our middle school? The one who played trombone in concert band?” Reina asked, to which Kumiko nodded her head. “If it’s her, then there’s nothing to worry about. While I’m sure I don’t know as much about her as you do, I have complete confidence Miss Sasaki can handle any challenge coming her way. That’s the type of person she is.”

“How are you so sure? You just admitted you don’t really know her that well.” Confused by Reina’s contradictory statements, Kumiko was still intrigued by Reina’s old declaration. “Should I tell you more about her before you actually say that?”

“Eevee, the Evolution Pokémon. Having gotten even friendlier and more innocent, Eevee tries to play with anyone around, only to end up crushing them with its immense body.” – Pokédex entry for Gigantamax Eevee.

“I still can’t believe there’s a Power Spot directly below Ongaku Stadium.” Reina remarked in disbelief to Kumiko. “Before our fight with HTT’s Yui Hirasawa and Azusa Nakano, I’ve only watched Pokémon Dynamaxing and Gigantamaxing in replays of Galarian Gym and League battles, so seeing a Pokémon Gigantamax up close and personal really puts everything into perspective.”

“When you say it out loud, Pokémon becoming bigger in battle sounds stupid, but it’s kind of terrifying once you see it yourself.” Kumiko noted, feeling unnerved as she remembered that fateful battle. “Doubly so if it’s such a cute and unassuming Pokémon like Eevee. A Pokémon like Eevee really fits someone as innocent as Yui, but seeing hers Gigantamax like that really makes me think twice about what sort of person she could be.”

“Though they did give us Wishing Stones right after our battle.” Reina seemed conflicted by this, then her eyes widened. “Wait a moment. If the only place outside of Galar where Pokémon can Dynamax or Gigantamax is Ongaku Stadium, then are they expecting us to return there at some point?”

“Sirfectch’d, the Wild Duck Pokémon. Only Farfetch'd that have survived many battles can attain this evolution. When this Pokémon's leek withers, it will retire from combat.” – Pokédex entry for Sirfetch’d.

“Kumiko, remember that time we helped out that girl with a talking Sirfetch’d find a missing mascot suit?” Reina asked her girlfriend. “That was something I never expected to do, especially before going to the HTT concert. Upon looking back at what happened, it seems so comical compared to everything else we’ve been through.”

“You mean Tamako and Dela?” Kumiko clarified. For some reasons, their names seemed to really stick inside her mind. “How could I forget that? Meeting them and their friend did seem out of their place now that you mention it, but it really helped to serve as a breather between challenging the Subdomi City Gym and facing HTT right after that.”

“I’d have to agree with you.” Reina nodded her head. “Without something more relaxing like that in between, I don’t think I would be able to fight two big battles like those one day after the other. However, achieving the endurance to do so is another step towards becoming special, which is why I must strive to overcome my own limitations and be the best that I can be.”

"Carkol, the Coal Pokémon. It forms coal inside its body. Coal dropped by this Pokémon once helped fuel the lives of people in the Galar region." – Pokédex entry for Carkol.

"For some reason, I really want a Carkol." Shuichi remarked to no one in particular. "Don't you think they look cool? With how they roll around on their legs, getting around must be easy for them. And who wouldn't want a portable source of heat wherever they go? They're the perfect Pokémon for travellers like us."

"No one asked you for your opinion, Shuichi." Kumiko barbed back, unsure why Shuichi was suddenly talking to her about a Pokémon he would like to have. "The last time I met a Carkol, it was when I fought Subdomi City's Gym Leader. It moved so fast I had trouble keeping up with it!"

"Maybe I should get a Carkol just for the sole purpose of defeating you." Shuichi mused, causing Kumiko to glare daggers at him. "Since you always beat me in fights, it's about high time I give you some well-deserved payback!"