novelraw Chapter 759: Serena’s First Performance! The Short-Haired Girl
Chapter 759: Serena’s First Performance! The Short-Haired Girl
The first round’s theme was “Style Duel,” the performers needing to do their partners’ makeup and coordinate outfits.
Those with the most votes advanced to the next round.
The second round’s theme was “Free Performance,” a format similar to a coordinator’s grand routine.
Jessie and Serena were placed in different groups.
In the opening round, Serena wore a princess gown and took the stage with her Fennekin.
Lu Ye had already returned to the judges’ seats on the second floor and asked, “Has the contest started?”
“Mm, it seems Serena’s performance is being well received.” Ms. Yatsu said.
During the voting, the audience raised their voting sticks.
The venue lit up with pink lights representing Serena.
“Congratulations to Serena, she has advanced to the next round!”“Yay~” Serena hugged Fennekin close, pressing them together.
Jessie appeared for the second group, having styled her Pumpkaboo into a grotesque look of bandages, will-o-wisps, and a witch hat.
The audience’s expressions shifted subtly.
This… if this outfit isn’t ugly, then it’s actually beautiful…
“I actually quite like Musashi V’s gothic style.” Melisa remarked.
“Her technique is quite proficient, though it doesn’t quite fit the theme.” Lu Ye mused.
Suddenly Musashi stepped out from backstage, and the audience brightened.
A turning point.
Musashi had changed into a Halloween witch costume.
With that, Pumpkaboo’s appearance no longer repelled people, and instead complemented the performer!
Lu Ye gave a slight smile.
Don’t judge Musashi as comic relief—she has real substance in coordination!
The vote results were announced, and Musashi advanced to the next round.
“Musashi—”
“Wonderful meow!!”
Amid the audience’s surprised looks, James and Meowth loudly cheered.
“Ahahaha, thank you all~”
Musashi laughed as she blew kisses to the crowd.
“The three finalists for this contest have now been decided.”
The host announced, “They are the uniquely styled Musashi V—”
The camera focused on her fan-flourish, Musashi like a queen.
“Newcomer Serena!”
Serena had her hair in a high ponytail, her turquoise eyes sparkling.
“And Shauna from Asaka Town!”
Shauna joyfully waved to the audience.
“Who will claim this Princess Golden Key? Let’s wait and see!”
By the floor-to-ceiling windows on the second floor, Ms. Yatsu asked, “What do you two predict for the results, Mr. Lu Ye, Master Melisa?”
“I’m leaning toward Serena.” Teacher Lu said plainly.
“As for me, I really like Musashi V’s style, and she feels oddly familiar.” Melisa said.
Lu Ye glanced upward.
After all, Musashi had participated in Sinnoh’s coordination contest, and it was Melisa who had judged her back then.
The final began.
Musashi sent out Pumpkaboo and Wobbuffet.
“Pumpkaboo, use Shadow Ball!” Musashi shouted.
“Narn—!!”
Pumpkaboo’s eyes flared as a pitch-black Shadow Ball shot from its mouth.
Under the audience’s trembling gazes, the Shadow Ball hurtled toward the unsuspecting Wobbuffet.
“Wobbuffet, use Counter.” Musashi waved her fan. “Pumpkaboo, Bullet Seed!”
“Soh—n hiss!” Wobbuffet burst into radiant light.
The Shadow Ball rebounded, colliding with Pumpkaboo’s Bullet Seed in an explosion that sent up smoke and glittering shards of grass-type energy.
Musashi stood beneath the sparkling debris and bowed gracefully.
The audience didn’t quite understand what they’d seen, but they were deeply shaken.
“What kind of art form is that…”
“I get it now—art is an explosion!” someone declared.
Lu Ye’s mouth twitched.
How to put it… Musashi might become the founder of a unique coordination style!
The second performance was Shauna’s;
the girl twirled ribbons while her Bulbasaur danced a dazzling Aromatherapy Waltz.
The audience responded with warm applause.
“Shauna’s performance was wonderful.” Ash praised.
“Heh, I still think the previous performance was more distinctive!” Clemont pushed up his glasses.
“Because brother really appreciates explosions.” Bonnie giggled.
“That’s not true!”
Serena watched Shauna’s performance blankly.
Whether it was Musashi V’s confident presence, or Shauna’s unique technique… I seem unable to do either…
But… there are so many spectators, all expecting my performance…
Serena lowered her head, fingers trembling slightly, while Fennekin watched her anxiously.
“Next, please welcome the final contestant, Serena!” the host announced.
Applause rose from the audience.
Serena took a deep breath and walked onto the runway with Fennekin.
“That girl’s not quite right.” Ms. Yatsu frowned.
Teacher Lu nodded lightly and said with concern:
“She’s putting too much pressure on herself…”
The free performances began. Serena’s display wasn’t outstanding, and mistakes quickly appeared.
In full view of everyone, Fennekin stepped on its own ribbon and tripped, pulling Serena down with it.
The performance was forced to stop;
the audience erupted.
Ms. Yatsu knitted her brows.
The anticipated accident… had still happened…
“Serena…” Bonnie looked at her with worry.
“That girl looks like she twisted her ankle meow.” Meowth said.
“That means the champion is Musashi’s!” James paused, then said, “But it looks like the girl can’t continue competing.”
The blazing spotlight burned down on Serena.
She lay awkwardly on the runway;
the venue fell silent.
At the director’s signal, the music stopped. The silence became even more unbearable.
Fennekin looked guilty and tried to help Serena up. Serena propped herself on an arm;
her dress was dusty and her head bowed so her face couldn’t be seen.
This awful silence lasted about three seconds.
Someone in the stands suddenly stood up with a ‘whoosh’.
Ignoring the surprised looks, in that dead quiet of the hall,
Ash cupped his hands as if to make a microphone and shouted:
“Come on, Serena!!”
“Pikachu!!”
Clemont and Bonnie stared at Ash for a moment, then snapped back and shouted loudly:
“Go, Serena!!”
The silence was still oppressive.
James and Meowth shouted at the top of their lungs: “Come on!!”
Musashi’s eyes flickered, but she didn’t step forward to help. If she intervened, Serena’s performance would be declared over.
The audience gradually stopped savoring the spectacle and shifted away from that attitude.
By the second-floor windows,
Lu Ye looked at Ms. Yatsu and said coldly:
“Who told you to stop the music?”
Ms. Yatsu was startled, then snapped back and fumbled to press her Bluetooth, whispering with effort:
“Continue the performance!”
Gentle music resumed.
Serena forced herself up, head bowed, and slowly finished walking the runway.
She bowed at the audience, the symbolic, unsuccessful close to her performance.
“All three contestants’ performances have concluded!”
Host Pierre returned to the stage, relieving the atmosphere, and loudly said:
“Now, please wave your voting sticks for the performer you support!”
In the dim venue, the lights of the voting sticks shone.
The crowd cheered for the contestants.
In the end, Musashi won the first Princess Golden Key by a narrow margin!
“Great, Musashi won meow~”
James and Meowth cheered:
“All our hard work wasn’t for nothing!”
Musashi flourished her fan with flair, hiding her red lips, unable to hold back a smile as she laughed theatrically:
“Master-level contest, Musashi V is here, hahaha~!”
“But you need to gather two Golden Keys to enter the master tournament.” Pierre said with an awkward laugh.
Musashi blinked confusedly: “Eh, that’s how it is?”
Serena hugged Fennekin and walked backstage in low spirits.
“Wuu~” Fennekin showed a guilty expression.
“It’s okay.” Serena said softly, “I cared too much about the decorations.”
“Serena!” Ash and the others ran over.
“Are you all right, Serena?” Bonnie asked anxiously.
“I’m fine~ I’ve recovered already.”
Serena lowered her eyelids and smiled faintly, “There will be more chances to win the Princess Golden Key, I’ll get it next time for sure!”
Bonnie and Clemont exchanged a look.
“That’s great.” Ash smiled, “Let’s go get dinner, I’m starving.”
“Mm…” Serena nodded slightly, a little absentminded.
“Serena.”
She looked up at a figure walking over from a distance.
He slowly removed his sunglasses, revealing a familiar, serious face.
“Teacher Lu?” Ash and the others said in unison.
Lu Ye ruffled Bonnie’s hair, looked at Serena, and said seriously:
“I just wanted to tell you—everything we did in the past wasn’t meaningless.”
Serena was stunned, memories of pre-contest days flashing through her mind.
Nights of hard practice, discussing techniques, designing outfits…
And then on the main stage, nothing came together…
Serena’s chest trembled;
she took a deep breath.
“All of us are made up of everything from our past.” Lu Ye said gently. “So don’t easily deny your past;
it exists, and it will matter.”
“Mm… mm.” Serena replied, trembling.
“All right…” Serena cleared her throat and smiled, “Let’s go eat dinner.”
“Huh?”
Ash scratched his cheek and nodded, half-understanding: “Oh…”
Dinner passed in silence.
No one spoke that night.
The next morning, Lu Ye rode the Rotom bicycle along the coastline for morning exercise, past the island loop and greenway, returning to the circular fountain in front of the luxury hotel, circling it once, and then riding off again.
The sky was faintly lightening;
waves slammed against ironlike rocks, spraying pale foam.
Lu Ye stopped his bicycle and gazed from the pier for a while, catching sight of a figure wearing a red hat.
Serena stared out over the sea;
the breeze lifted her chestnut hair, and her turquoise eyes looked deep in thought.
Teacher Lu didn’t disturb her.
He left Haunter to keep watch and rode his bicycle to the Pokémon Center.
“Teacher Lu!” Nurse Joy exclaimed in surprise.
“Hello.”
Lu Ye smiled.
“I came looking for Ash.”
…
The horizon was dim, the night wind howling, waves crashing on the reef and pulverizing into mist.
Serena’s chestnut hair fluttered in the wind, with Pancham and Fennekin following her anxiously.
Her turquoise eyes flickered as she recalled the morning’s tumble.
Ash’s cheering.
The rival performances.
Teacher Lu’s encouragement.
‘Everything we did in the past wasn’t meaningless.’
Crystal tears rolled down her cheeks, then like a broken string, Serena began to sob.
Half-kneeling, she wiped the corners of her eyes;
large tears splashed the ground as she cried loudly on the empty pier.
In the distance, the purple chubby one watched silently.
Haunter held a handkerchief in its mouth, eyes misty: Gengarrr! (இωஇ)
Pancham and Fennekin had tears too and leaped into Serena’s arms.
“It’s okay.”
Serena cuddled the two little ones and nuzzled her forehead against them, saying, “I’m sorry, it’s all my fault…”
A ship moored at the pier reflected a faint light;
dawn appeared, and a pale glow rose in the east.
“But now, I feel this for the first time.”
Serena smiled, “Now I’m a challenger too.”
Pancham and Fennekin looked up at her, then were pulled into her embrace.
Sharing each other’s warmth, Serena set them down and took a makeup kit from her bag.
She took out a pair of scissors and slowly stood.
Facing the sea breeze, she closed her eyes, her beautiful chestnut hair drifting in the wind.
The sun was about to rise, the sea burning as the golden sun slowly climbed.
Scenes from the past flickered by: meeting Ash, riding Rhydon, catching Fennekin… all of it.
She closed the scissors.
A lock of hair was snipped and swept away by the breeze;
another strand followed, blown off by the wind.
Above the pier,
Lu Ye rode the Rotom bicycle and glanced at Ash, panting as he pedaled a shared bike.
“Good thing my bike is electric,” Lu Ye thought, “otherwise I wouldn’t catch up to Ash.”
“Serena—!!”
Ash shouted loudly.
Serena slowly turned her head;
a flicker of surprise passed through her turquoise eyes.
She stood on the pier with the sunrise over the sea, her short hair giving her a boyish innocence, her eyes swollen and red.
“Ash…” Serena touched her ear, feeling the short hair, her cheeks flushing.
“It’s only one failure!”
Ash shouted, “I’ve failed many times too, and, and…”
“I think short hair suits you!” Ash bellowed like he had nothing to lose.
Lu Ye: Σ(っ°Д°;
)っ
Handsome guy, who are you?
“So, you can definitely become the Kalos Queen.”
Ash extended his hand earnestly and said:
“Just like Pikachu and me, we can definitely reach the top of the Lumiose Conference!”
“Pika!” Pikachu looked determined, its cheeks crackling faintly.
Serena’s face warmed;
she touched the short hair at her ear, didn’t take Ash’s hand, but clasped her hands behind her back and nodded firmly, smiling:
“Mm!”
Haunter held the handkerchief: Gengarrr~ (இωஇ)
Lu Ye: “...Save me a piece too, thanks.”