Pokémon: My Parallel World Daughters Revealed

In the real world, outside the Devon Corporation headquarters.

Although no one in the livestream chat cared, Steven had completely immersed himself in the performance.

He transitioned from a Thomas flare into a windmill spin, his suit jacket tracing a smooth arc through the air as he rotated.

Applause and cheers rose from the surrounding crowd in wave after wave. Some people had already raised their phones to record him.

Several female Devon Corporation employees had even produced glow sticks from seemingly nowhere.

[VIP Chat Group]

[Viola]: I recorded the entire thing. This video will definitely go viral once it’s posted.

[Leon]: Could you send me a copy?

[Raihan]: Wait, Leon. Why do you want a video of Steven dancing?

[Leon]: Who said I wanted it for Steven’s dancing? I want the song!

[Valerie]: Me too! Send me a copy as well!

[Viola]: No problem.

In the real world.

The music in the plaza finally approached its conclusion.

As the final note sounded, Steven dropped to both knees and raised his hands toward the sky, ending the performance in a standard breakdancing freeze.

Two pillars of white light descended from above once again, enveloping Asher and Steven separately before returning them to their original locations.

A system notification appeared on the screen.

[System Notification: Correct answer—D. In front of the Gym.]

[The first stage of The Sovereign of Ideals has concluded.]

[Intermission: Twenty-four hours.]

[All viewers, please prepare yourselves.]

[VIP Chat Group]

[Max]: The answer was actually in front of the Gym?! Wait, that Joltik was caught right outside the Gym?

[Dawn]: Thinking about it carefully, Elesa said she had only caught Joltik that morning. She probably just happened to catch it on her way inside.

[Cilan]: So the trap in the question was the fact that it had been caught that very morning.

[Chili]: You should have said that earlier!

[Glacia]: Is Steven’s mental state genuinely all right at the moment?

[Wallace]: He’s fine. He’s probably delighted right now.

[Steven]: Wallace truly knows me best.

[Wallace]: You’re happy because you managed to drag Asher into the punishment with you, aren’t you?

[Steven]: That was an exclusive live performance from Brother Asher. You were allowed to hear it without paying anything. You should consider yourselves incredibly fortunate.

[Asher]: Get lost.

[Misty]: @Asher, you sang very well, honey. You’ll receive a reward when you come home.

[Cynthia]: I thought it sounded wonderful too. Could you sing it again?

[Asher]: ...

[Steven]: Look, Brother Asher! Your wives both loved it! I’ll choose you again next time!

[Asher]: Steven, just wait. I’m heading to your house right now.

[Lance]: The future of the League becomes more concerning with each passing day...

Nimbasa City, Elesa’s apartment.

Elesa lay on her bed with a cushion in her arms. A speaker beside her was still replaying the video of Asher singing.

Whenever the chorus began, the tip of her foot lightly tapped along with the rhythm.

At that moment, her communicator suddenly rang.

Elesa glanced at the caller ID and accepted the call.

"Ms. Elesa! The brand agreed to postpone the photo shoot you delayed until next week, but they’re hoping you’ll sing that ’Gotta Catch ’Em All!’ song during the shoot. It has already gone viral across social media!"

"...Asher sang that song. We don’t own the rights to it."

"Yes, yes! The brand was hoping you could perform a cover! Alternatively, you could invite Asher himself! Aren’t you and he—"

"I have no relationship with him."

"Of course, of course. In that case, could you at least consider performing the cover?"

Elesa ended the call and buried her face in the cushion.

Those brand representatives were seriously going to drive her insane.

Perhaps she really should go find Asher.

At least then she could enjoy some peace and quiet.

...

Somewhere along a woodland path in the Hoenn region.

Dawn walked with light steps, carrying her pink backpack and humming the melody of the song Asher had performed.

Piplup followed beside her feet, its round body swaying from side to side. Its wings swung with the rhythm, and the small tuft of blue feathers at the end of its tail trembled along with the beat.

"...Gotta catch ’em all!"

Dawn raised her fist and struck a catching pose.

Piplup immediately spun in place, puffed out its chest, and released an exceptionally solemn cry.

"Piplup!"

"Piplup thinks the song sounds amazing too, right?"

Dawn crouched, took hold of Piplup’s wings, and stared at it with eyes as bright as though she had discovered a new move.

"Piplup, piplup!"

Piplup nodded vigorously.

"I was thinking..."

Dawn sat cross-legged on the grass and rested her chin in both hands.

"What if I added a singing segment to my Pokémon Contest performances? Wouldn’t that make them more distinctive?"

"Piplup?"

"Think about it. The purpose of a Pokémon Contest is to display a Pokémon’s charm. But if the Trainer also possesses a talent and combines it with the Pokémon’s performance, wouldn’t that highlight the bond and coordination between the partners even more?"

"Piplup, piplup!"

"Right? I knew you would support me!"

Dawn excitedly sprang to her feet and clenched both fists.

"Then it’s decided!"

She took out a notebook and rapidly wrote several lines. Then she stopped and tilted her head toward Piplup.

Piplup took half a step backward beneath her stare.

"Piplup, would you like to learn Steven’s breakdancing routine too?"

Piplup frantically shook its head, its entire penguin-like body expressing the same message:

Absolutely not.

"Why not?! That Thomas flare looked so cool! I’ll sing while you breakdance beside me. The judges will definitely give us a perfect score!"

Piplup remained silent for two seconds.

Then it turned around and began running away at a speed that seemed completely impossible for a penguin.

"Piplup, come back! Wait! Don’t run away—!"

Piplup didn’t look back. Its flippers slapped rapidly against the ground as it fled.

It would rather practice Bubble Beam with Dawn one hundred times than learn something called a Thomas flare.

Absolutely not.

...

At the Porta Vista estate.

When Asher was transported back, Misty and Cynthia were sitting side by side on the living-room sofa.

"You’re back?"

Misty rested her chin on one hand, the faintest teasing smile appearing at the corners of her lips.

"You sang pretty well."

Asher sat down opposite them.

"Of course. I’ve always been a perfect all-rounder. Neither of you knew it until now, that’s all."

"Is that so?"

Misty tilted her head.

"Then how about singing it for me tonight?"

Cynthia leaned closer as well.

"I want to hear it too."

Asher looked at the sparkling eyes of his two wives and found himself unable to refuse.

He cleared his throat.

"Fine, but once I finish singing, we’re going straight to sleep."

...