Chapter 232: The Grand Pokémon Contest

After testing — unexpectedly secure?

Baimu was a little incredulous at first, but then figured out the reason. "You rascal — you can even shrink the size inside the hole?"

The hole on the side of Aggron's head wasn't smaller on the outside, but a little deeper inside it was clearly a size smaller, forming a funnel-like shape that held the Mega Stone firmly in place.

"You… alright then, I didn't even know you could do something like this."

He could only think that Pokémon truly lived up to their name — magical creatures indeed.

"Grrroar~"

Aggron gave an embarrassed chuckle. In truth, it didn't know it could do something like this either; it had only thought it couldn't let the Mega Stone fall off, and it had ended up like this.

Baimu watched a couple more times, clicked his tongue twice, and thought of Mawile.

He wondered where this one's Mega Stone would go in the end. Most likely it would be custom-made into a hairpin and tied together with a red silk ribbon, but who knows — maybe it could be stuffed into the mouth on the back of its head?

With similar thoughts in mind, he washed away a day's worth of travel and fatigue in the bathroom.

The next day.

The moment Baimu woke up, his first thought was to consider his plans going forward.

Should he return to Rustboro City and head back to the Petalburg Woods to re-check off his childhood memories, or simply stay in Kanaz City and challenge the Gym?

He asked Aggron and the other Pokémon for their opinions and got a perfunctory "anything's fine" in response.

"I really shouldn't have asked you lot to help me plan."

Baimu sighed, got out of bed, got dressed, and washed up.

Mawile glanced at his retreating back, holding a flyer in its hand as if hesitating over something. "Chii-doh…"

"Lucky?"

Chansey stepped forward and waved its little hands as if cheering it on. "Lucky!"

Aggron lazily let out a roar along with them. "Grrroar~"

"Mo Nao!"

Zweilous looked around in bewilderment.

Galarian Corsola: "…"

Mawile glanced at its companions who were cheering it on, and finally made up its mind. Seeing Baimu come out of the bathroom, it hurried over to him. "Chii-doh!"

It raised its head and held up the flyer, trying to get its Trainer's attention.

"Hm?"

The latter took the flyer and glanced at it. "A Pokémon Contest, huh… You're really interested in it?"

"Chii-doh!"

Mawile nodded.

"If you're interested, then let's enter." Without much hesitation, Baimu agreed, gently patting the other's little head. A Trainer and Pokémon need to accommodate each other.

Since Mawile was willing to challenge Gyms with him, what was so strange about him entering a Pokémon Contest with Mawile?