INTERLUDE — Pokenet I
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CHIMEGRAM
tufftuffking • Cianwood City
[PHOTO: Various belongings stuffed into cardboard boxes. Some boxes are open and some have been taped shut with packing tape already.]
tufftuffking I'm moving to Cherrygrove City, guys. Like RIGHT now. Called up a real estate agent the moment the match ended and bought an apartment and everything already. I'll support the Cherrygrove Gym with all my heart and watch every match I can next season. Gym Leader Arin and his Wigglytuff have my undying loyalty. I WILL FOLLOW YOU TO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD, SIR!
5,761 Likes
Posted 31 min ago
tabithajones8 ? you're moving halfway across the country just because of a GYM? um, wait, that's not quite right. because of a POKEMON?
29 min • 98 likes • Reply
— View Replies (65)
coffeebluelover Er tufftuffking …You do realize that Wigglytuff is one of Leader Arin's Elite Pokemon, right? It's not gonna show up in any of the gym badge challenges. It could maybe show up in an Elite tier challenge, but that'll probably be like… once every couple months or something if Arin rotates through all his Elites equally.
20 min • 351 likes • Reply
— View Replies (98)
— tufftuffking coffeebluelover First of all, that Wigglytuff's name is TAFFY, thank you very much. Watch the match replay and re-educate yourself! Secondly, I don't care. I'm going to support the Gym anyway!
20 min • 987 likes • Reply
— coffeebluelover tufftuffking Ahh sorry, I didn't mean to come off as condescending or anything! Just didn't want your hopes to get dashed later if you don't get to see your favorite Pokemon. ;-; And yeah, I do know his Wigglytuff's nickname, I just didn't use it the first time around.
20 min • 150 likes • Reply
— tufftuffking coffeebluelover No it's fine, I'm sorry too for getting a bit worked up. It might seem silly to some people that I'm choosing to uproot my whole life here to move to another city for a Gym, but this is what I want to do, and by Ho-Oh, I'm going to do it!
19 min • 1,492 likes • Reply
— coffeebluelover tufftuffking Mad respect for you… Good luck with the moving process! Hope all goes smoothly.
15 min • 287 likes • Reply
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FARBOOK
BLACKTHORN CITY COMMUNITY
About
• Blackthorn City Community is a community page for the locals of our historical city.
• Use this group to get advice, share interesting things going on in the Blackthorn City scene, and to connect with other members of the community.
• Be respectful to each other.
Discussion / Newest Activity →
Goro Abei (Admin) • 5h
Hello, I am one of the administrators for this Farbook Community Page. If you would like to talk about anything regarding the Cherrygrove Gym, Fairy types, Arin Watanuki, or the promotion test that just ended, please talk about it in the comments below. Too many people have been requesting approval for dozens of posts about these topics, and the moderator team has decided we would like things to stay in one place for organization. So please use this post to chat. We will delete any incoming post requests for the aforementioned topics from now on.
312 reactions / 1,571 comments
Top Comments →
Janeru Ju I don't know how to feel about these Fairy types to be honest… We're known as the City of Dragons. This just feels… wrong somehow.
3h / Like / Reply
Simon Lang I asked my son to help me figure out how this works so I could send my first message here. I just want to say that I disapprove of the Cherrygrove Gym.
4h / Like / Reply
Karina Celeste Does anyone know if Gym Leader Clair has said anything yet in response to the Cherrygrove Gym's promotion test results?
1h / Like / Reply
— View Replies (22)
— Jurie Waruiya Karina Celeste No. I've been checking the news, but she hasn't made any sort of statement yet. It's likely we'll hear from her later though. This is the first time in all of Johto's history that the ranks of the major gyms have been expanded. I'm sure all the Gym Leaders will have reactions to this.
1h / Like / Reply
— Timothy Henderson Karina Celeste I imagine she and the Blackthorns won't be happy. I for one am certainly upset. I take pride in being a part of the City of Dragons. These new Fairy Pokemon honestly disgust me a bit.
2m / Like / Reply
— Maribelle Tinnoran Timothy Henderson Really? I actually think they're quite beautiful. They might not have the distinct majesty of our beloved dragons, but they're still lovely…
2m / Like / Reply
— Timothy Henderson Maribelle Tinnoran You must be joking. Do you have no pride as a Blackthorn local?
1m / Like / Reply
— Maribelle Tinnoran Timothy Henderson Why are you questioning my pride as a local? I never said I didn't like Dragons anymore. Am I not allowed to like both Dragon and Fairy types?
1m / Like / Reply
— Jason Suzukino Timothy Henderson She has a point. I'm a huge supporter of the Blackthorn Gym myself, and I admit I didn't really think that highly of Fairy types before, but I've changed my mind after the promotion match. Fairy types are actually kind of… cool. I think I like both types, too.
1m / Like / Reply
— Timothy Henderson Maribelle Tinnoran Jason Suzukino Disgusting. You should both be ashamed of yourselves. If you were true citizens of Blackthorn City who appreciated its long history and culture, then you wouldn't take the side of Pokemon that challenge our traditions.
Just now / Like / Reply
— Garrett Nyugen (Moderator) Timothy Henderson This is the first of three warnings for you before a ban from this community page. Please remain respectful during conversation. We're all a part of the same city here.
Just now / Like / Reply
— Timothy Henderson But are we really?
Just now / Like / Reply
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DUNCORD
POKENERDS (Community Server)
• 12,768 Online • 30,691 Members
A server for aspiring Pokemon Researchers, students, or just nerds who love discussing Pokemon. Our proud members come from all corners of the Kinjoh Area. We only have three rules.
1. Please follow Duncord's TOS.
2. Try to keep discourse respectful and on topic.
3. No fuckery, only nerdery. You may, however, use the word fuck and other swear words when no other words can properly convey your thoughts. („• ᴗ •„)
Main Chats → #cherrygrove-gym-promotion-test
Due to HIGHLY popular demand, we have temporarily created a new channel under this category to discuss the recent Cherrygrove Gym promotion test. No bot commands are allowed in here.
kamkam • Today at 1:46 PM
SOMEONE please tell me they know SOMETHING about those Pokemon Arin Watanuki used. Yes, Wigglytuff and Azumarill, we all know those, but which regions are the others from?
Sleep Deprived Student G • Today at 1:47 PM
Check the pins… A moderator already posted official lists with pictures and names of all known Pokemon in the Kinjoh Area, and they're not shown on any of them. Either they've been undiscovered until now, which could be possible, or they're from outside the Kinjoh Area (the latter is much more likely).
Wooper Blooper • Today at 1:47 PM
I literally just came online. So you're telling me these are probably new and unregistered Pokemon? Oh my Arceus. OMA OMA. Legendaries, if only I could see them up close and write about them for my thesis next year… I would be valedictorian for sure. :sob:
hushbubble • Today at 1:47 PM
On the bright side, at least we know one thing about all of them? They're all Fairy types.
Gimme more research funding • Today at 1:47 PM
Well… okay fine. We at least know that. I think we can also safely say two of them are dual types? The fox-like Pokemon who fought Weavile definitely had to be part Ice judging by its physical appearance and its mastery over Blizzard alone, and the Pokemon with dark fur (or hair? I have no idea what it is) that fought Abomasnow looked like it could be Dark type. I'm only making guesses though, so don't quote me later. (But hopefully this message ages well with time.)
hushbubble • Today at 1:48 PM
I think my favorite is the last one Arin used, the pink and white Pokemon with ribbons. It was so beautiful when it flew through the air. Maybe it's part Flying type?
Gimme more research funding • Today at 1:48 PM
:shrug: Who knows? Hopefully we'll get some answers from regional professors or from Arin himself soon.
kamkam • Today at 1:48 PM
I should be studying for my exam in two days, but I just can't stop thinking about those unknown Pokemon… gahhh, it's bothering me so much.
Sleep Deprived Student G • Today at 1:48 PM
Me too, brother, me too… I want to sleep but I can't. Why? Because my curiosity is the size of a Snorlax. T _ T
Abrakadabra • Today at 1:48 PM
Oh oh oh speaking of Snorlax, y'all remember how Arin's Wigglytuff inflated to half the size of the field towards the end of the first match-up?
kamkam • Today at 1:48 PM
Yeah. It was pretty memorable. Why do you ask?
Abrakadabra • Today at 1:49 PM
I Zoogled how big a standard field is and ran some calculations based on average sizes for Wigglytuff and Snorlax. An average Snorlax can maybe take up a fourth of a standard field. That means Wigglytuff inflated to DOUBLE the size of a Snorlax in an instant. Crazy. I knew they could inflate to become bigger, but I've never seen one grow that big before.
kamkam • Today at 1:49 PM
Seriously?
Extroverted Introvert • Today at 1:49 PM
While we're on this topic, I watched a Professor Oak documentary before about Wigglytuff. It showed a few of them competing to inflate the farthest. None of them got nearly as big as Arin's Wigglytuff, though. His is a prime specimen.
How To Write Essays 101 • Today at 1:49 PM
Wait, that sounds interesting. Can you link the video here? I'm totally not gonna watch that now instead of finishing up this paper… ;;
Extroverted Introvert • Today at 1:50 PM
(Oi, just make sure you finish that paper on time, yeah?) But anyway, here's the link: https;/poketube/watch?v9ka/channel=OakTalks
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POKETUBE
BATTLE CENTRAL
BattleCentral • 6.1M subscribers • 3k+ videos
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[THUMBNAIL: A picture split in two halves with close-up shots of Arin Watanuki and Pryce Yanagi. They have determined expressions, and in each of their hands is a Pokeball waiting to be thrown.]
AN ULTIMATE BREAKDOWN: Arin Watanuki vs. Pryce Yanagi
1M+ views • 5 hours ago
Join experts Fujino Jiro and Cai Holman as they analyze the epic battle between Cherrygrove Gym Leader Arin Watanuki and Mahogany Gym Leader Pryce Yanagi. This match was conducted during the final portion of the Cherrygrove Gym's promotion test and originally broadcasted by the Indigo League.
[Play Video at 4:06? → Yes]
[Experts Fujino and Cai sit next to each other in front of a table and two large screens. One screen is replaying the Cherrygrove Gym's promotion match and the other has graphics and various numbers and text on it. They have papers on the table in front of them and presentation remotes.]
"—tuff is not normally seen in high tier battling. In fact, we combed through different archives and found out there has never been a single person in the Kinjoh Area who placed high enough with a Wigglytuff in a major tournament. The only instance that comes close is Murata Yoni in the Kanto region who made it to the top 64 of the Indigo Conference three years ago, and he retired from battling to join Kanto's Ranger Corps after," Expert Fujino explains.
"Yes, so it's really quite incredible that Arin Watanuki has raised his Wigglytuff to be so powerful. This is a Pokemon that managed to take down not one, but two of Pryce's famed Ice types. And as we are all aware, both Dewgong and Delibrid were active members of his team during his tenure as Champion," his co-host, Expert Cai, follows up. He gestures to the screen as shards pierce a vastly inflated Wigglytuff, sending shockwaves everywhere. "This moment here was one of the highlights of the match. For viewers who don't understand what happened, let me slow it down…"
He picks up a remote and clicks it, rewinding the video back a few moments and then playing it in slow motion this time. "As you can see here, the moment the Ice Shard from Dewgong hits Wigglytuff, it sends out shockwaves that end up hurting and stunning Dewgong enough for Arin's Pokemon to deal a devastating last blow with Hyper Beam. How did this happen? Well, let's think of a balloon. When you pop a balloon, you hear a loud bang, right? It probably startles you because of how sudden and loud it is. Where does the bang come from? It comes from the tear in the balloon. That tear grows faster than the speed of sound, breaks the sound barrier, and creates a sonic boom. Arin's Wigglytuff was basically a gigantic balloon that popped because of the Ice Shards piercing its fur, so you can think of it as being an exponentially more powerful sonic boom. I—"
[Skip to 7:58]
"—ther highlight from the match is this moment here. Viewers, were you surprised when the Blizzard went up instead of down?" Fujino chuckles. "I know I was! This was because of an incredible display of Gravity from Arin's Wigglytuff. This was a Gravity powerful enough to wrap around the entire field AND control a raging Blizzard."
"It's unfortunate that we could not see most of the second match-up due to the arena's weather, but what we did see was—"
[Skip to 12:41]
"We don't know what Pokemon this is, but we don't have to know the species to understand that it is another incredible battler. Thankfully, during this match-up, we were able to actually see through the Blizzard. It's a bit hard to see, though, so we'll do close ups for you viewers," Fujino says as he zooms in on the screen. There, a white and blue fox is engaged in a fight with a Weavile. "Arin's second Pokemon that he released overwhelmed Pryce's famous Weavile with its masterful illusions and powerful long-range attacks—"
[Skip to 20:15]
"Another Pokemon we don't know, but this one was powerful enough to stand toe-to-toe with Pryce's Abomasnow, who is one of his team's biggest physical attackers. We were surprised to see how fast it could set up screens in the beginning—"
[Skip to 25:19]
"—feated Jynx in just one hit!" Cai exclaims. "Even fragile Elite tier Pokemon are usually trained to be able to take more than one hit before going down, but Pryce's Jynx was knocked out almost instantly. Arin's Azumarill is the prime example of a terrifying physical attacker. Most likely, Arin's Azumarill has trained its Huge Power ability, which, on top of Belly Drum, proved—"
[Skip to 29:02]
"—versus Pryce's most powerful Pokemon, his starter, Mamoswine. And, for lack of a better description, what an epic final match-up it was. Arin's Pokemon unleashed a devastating barrage of moves that pierced through Mamoswine's high defenses—"
[Skip to 40:33]
"Overall, those of us at Battle Central unanimously agree that Arin Watanuki is a Champion-level trainer. With a sizable gap in the final score to prove it, he and his Pokemon displayed overwhelming strength and creativity, and we're looking forward to seeing more Elite tier matches from Arin in the future."
[Pause Video]
500k+ Comments
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Pinned by BattleCentral
BattleCentral (Verified) • 5 hours ago
What did you think about today's breakdown and the match itself? Let us know in the comments below!
120k+ likes / Reply
— View Replies (800k+)
yumixoxo • 3 hours ago
I'm sorry, Lance… I have a new bias now… WHY IS ARIN SO HOT. 33
1k+ likes / Reply
TinyLotad • 5 hours ago
I think I forgot how to breathe like a hundred different times when I watched the broadcast. That's how intense and fast-paced it was. Thanks for the breakdown BattleCentral!
3k+ likes / Reply
superbpancaker • 4 hours ago
LET'S GO, ARIN! Can't believe he beat Pryce so handily!
574 likes / Reply
tracksprinter10 • 4 hours ago
LOL and so many said he was going to fail! Where are the doubters now, huh?
290 likes / Reply
FreeParasect • 2 minutes ago
I think you guys are overhyping Arin too much. Maybe Pryce was holding back? He was the former Champion for Ho-Oh's sake.
2 likes / 2 dislikes / Reply
— View Replies (2)
— jolliROO • 1 minute ago
FreeParasect Oh thank Arceus someone agrees with me. There's no way someone with Pryce's experience would lose with such a big gap.
0 likes / Reply
— APEX6Red • Just now
FreeParasect jolliRoo You guys have got to be kidding me. You really think PRYCE would hold back in a LEAGUE-MANDATED exam that's meant to ensure a certain standard for gyms in Kanto-Johto? That's literally the stupidest thing I've heard all year. Arin is Champion-level, deal with it and stop making excuses.
P.S. Pryce is kinda washed up, y'all.
0 likes / Reply
tsunamipika45 • 2 hours ago
I'm surprised BattleCentral didn't mention how many freaking Elite Pokemon Arin has. Did anyone else see the quick shots of his belt at 0:29, 0:45, and 1:10? If you combine all those different view angles, you'll see he had about nineteen Pokeballs total or something. Even Lance and Pryce only have like… thirteen to fifteen max Pokemon each off the top of my head? It's crazy.
5k+ likes / Reply
— View Replies (2k+)
— TinyLotad • 1 hour ago
Holy Moltres, you're right. Just went back to check and that is a LOT of Pokeballs. Dream Balls, Love Balls, Heal Balls… so many. Props to you and your keen eye.
106 likes / Reply
— FortreeForever6 • 1 hour ago
Yeah I caught that, too. Think he might be tied with Champion Cynthia from Sinnoh, she has about eighteen or nineteen as well. Conclusion? They're both insane. Insanely good.
157 likes / Reply
— TipTopFlower • 1 hour ago
I can't help wondering what other Pokemon he has aside from the ones he showed… Maybe a Granbull? Or uh… Clefable? I can't remember which Pokemon are Fairy types now, ugh.
120 likes / Reply
— dicedicebaby • 1 hour ago
TipTopFlower He has a Togekiss and a Dragonite!
208 likes / Reply
— TipTopFlower • 1 hour ago
dicedicebaby Oh the Dragonite I knew about already from reveal articles I read online, but I didn't know about the Togekiss. Where'd you hear about that?
93 likes / Reply
— dicedicebaby • 1 hour ago
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
TipTopFlower Arin's Caterpedia page. Some people already made one for him and began contributing to it. They got the Togekiss from eyewitness posts someone read on Chatter. Check out the site if you have time.
208 likes / Reply
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CATERPEDIA
Welcome to Caterpedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.
Main Page → Article
ARIN WATANUKI
Page / Talk
[PHOTO: Picture of Arin Watanuki in March 2023.]
Arin Watanuki (born November 28, 2002) is the Cherrygrove City Gym Leader and a notable Fairy Specialist in the Kinjoh Area.
Personal Details
Age (20) / Height (5'11'') / Hair Color (Pink) / Eye Color (Blue)
Early Life
Arin Watanuki was born on November 28, 2002 in Cherrygrove City as the only son of Adriel Watanuki, who was Gym Leader of the Cherrygrove Gym at the time, and his wife Kana Watanuki.
At some point during his childhood, Watanuki left Johto to travel the world. He returned in the year of 2023 to take over the Cherrygrove Gym.
Travels
Information not available yet.
Gym Leader Career
Information not available yet.
After taking over the Cherrygrove Gym from his father, Watanuki changed the Gym's type specialization from Grass to Fairy type. The Cherrygrove Gym is currently undergoing construction and remodeling efforts at this time.
Personal Life
Information not available yet.
Trainerpedia
Watanuki is a Champion-level trainer who specializes in Fairy type Pokemon.
Watanuki's personal team consists of nineteen different members. They include a Wigglytuff (nickname: Taffy), Azumarill, Dragonite, Togekiss, and other unidentified Pokemon as of this moment. Whether they are all Elite tier or not remains to be seen.
His starter Pokemon is unknown.
Click here for detailed information regarding his team such as known moves, abilities, etc.
Match History
March 30, 2023: Arin Watanuki v. Pryce Yanagi (6-4) [Match details: Elite tier, six-on-six, no switches]
Accomplishments
On March 30, 2023, Watanuki took and passed a gym promotion test conducted by the Indigo League, becoming the first ever Gym Leader to do so in the history of both Kanto and Johto. He succeeded in turning the Cherrygrove Gym into a major gym, also another first in the history of the two regions. He is also the first Leader of a Fairy Gym in the Kinjoh Area.
He has stated in a previous press conference that he has competed in Conferences such as those in Hoenn and Sinnoh, but also ones outside of the Kinjoh Area's influence. His placements in them and the locations of these Conferences were not mentioned.
Notable Quotes
"Just watch me. I'll show you how far I can go." — Press conference, March 2023
Page / Talk
StarDust Arceus… this page is still so barren. (T _ T) I tried to fill in what I could, but there's really not much information available about Arin yet. He's only had one press conference and one public match so far… I even had to dig around for random eyewitness accounts on social media and the trainer forums. I need more than just these meager bread crumbs!
SnailMaster5 Wait, I literally just saw your name in the edit history. You're the top contributor for this page!
StarDust Yeah… I'm a fan of Arin now. I wish I lived in Johto so I could at least visit the Gym sometimes to watch matches. I'm all the way over in Sinnoh so I can only resign myself to soaking up any news I can get online. *sigh* You people who live in Kanto-Johto are so lucky…
MMY Ah… Yeah, I live in Johto. I'm sorry for you. ;; Anyway, nice work with the Caterpedia page so far! I came here to get more info on him too haha. Mostly more details about his Pokemon.
StarDust That's the question everyone wants to know, isn't it? It'd be cool if we could see the rest of his team soon.
KitKat I just came here to find out his relationship status. o Is he single?
SnailMaster5 …Are you for real?
StarDust The other contributors and I didn't add that in because we aren't sure. Don't think he mentioned that in his press conference or any other setting yet.
KitKat Shame. :c My friends and I want to start a fan club at our school for him.
StarDust Go for it! Doesn't matter if he's single or not, you should support him anyway. Heck, I even joined a fan club already.
SnailMaster5 …Are you for real? (Again!)
StarDust Yeah, go check on Chatter. ArinFanClub that's the one. Some Cherrygrove locals made it a week ago and it's really taking off now.
MMY Oh I saw that when I looked earlier! There are a lot of fan clubs already, but that's the biggest one. Sadly there are a lot of anti-fan clubs too.
StarDust Ugh. Don't remind me. I got so mad when I scrolled down and saw how many there were. It doesn't matter, we'll outnumber them in the end anyway! Guys, you can also follow Arin's own social media accounts too by the way!
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CHATTER
Arin Fan Club (Verified)
ArinFanClub
The Official Arin Watanuki Fan Club. A must follow for any true fan! Join us in the world of Fairies!
2 Following 308K Followers
[Followed by StarDust, tufftuffking, and more]
Posts →
Pinned by ArinFanClub
Arin Fan Club (Verified) ArinFanClub • 5 hours ago
History was made today! Arin became the first Gym Leader in Johto's history to pass the promotion test, and the Cherrygrove Gym is now a major gym. Watch highlights of the match below.
[VIDEO: Highlight reel of the promotion match that's been edited professionally.]
10K Comments / 19K ReChats / 32K Likes / 50K Views
— View Comments (10K+)
Arthur Sotheby (Verified) arthursotheby • 5h
I could not be prouder. The whole CITY could not be prouder. Big congratulations to Arin!
Perry Wu perrywu • 5h
Cherrygrove local here! GO ARIN! Also, wow, I can't believe Mayor Sotheby's following this fan club too LOL.
Janna Zhang jannazhang7 • 3h
My family and I all watched the match together. Now my kids are begging me to take them to Cherrygrove Gym matches in the next League Circuit haha. Keep it up, Gym Leader!
Tuff Tuff King (Verified) tufftuffking • 5h
GYM LEADER SIR! I'm going to be a Cherrygrove local soon, too! I will come support you at gym matches! KEEP ROCKING ON!
franticgold franfrangold • 2h
Dang, all the Cherrygrove locals came flooding here to Chatter LOL o_o I'm also one of them! I didn't know anything about Fairies before but I'm invested now. Congrats Leader Arin!
FAIRY HATE fairyhate886 • 2m
[This reply has been deleted by a moderator for offensive content. The user has been banned from the page and their post reported.]
Arin Watanuki (Verified)
arinwatanuki
Believe in yourself, and you'll go far. Gym Leader of the Cherrygrove City Gym & Fairy Specialist.
78 Following 529K Followers
[Followed by ArinFanClub, wallacemikuri, and more]
Posts → Sort By Latest
Arin Watanuki (Verified) arinwatanuki • 1 day ago
Ready for the promotion test tomorrow. :)
31K Comments / 68K ReChats / 74K Likes / 129K Views
View Comments (31K+)
rikaisitrika rikaisitrika • 3h ago
arinwatanuki Hey congrats! Knew you could do it! Heh, hope you realize who this is from. It took a bit getting past the block. I think I'll use this from now on to check out your timeline. We all watched the match by the way!
0 Comments / 0 ReChats / 0 Likes / 0 Views
Wallace Mikuri (Verified) wallacemikuri • 2h ago
arinwatanuki Bravo, Arin! It was a wonderful match, and I enjoyed seeing you battle again after so long. Congratulations on your success.
9K Comments / 15K ReChats / 20K Likes / 31K Views
— fanofcontests22 fanofcontests22 • 2h ago
Am I dreaming? Did WALLACE MIKURI the freaking Hoenn Gym Leader and Top Coordinator just reply to Arin's post? ARE THEY FRIENDS?!
— JACKfine Jackfineee • 2h ago
fanofcontests22 You're not dreaming cuz I see it too. XD Also, don't be too shocked, but if you look at the top of Arin's followers and following lists, you'll see he has a looooot more important connections… Remember to breathe! Say it with me! Breathe!
— fanofcontests22 fanofcontests22 • 2h ago
Jackfineee OMA. OMA. OMA. Winona Nagi, Drake Genji, Crasher Wake, Volkner Denzi… he even knows the freaking president of the DEVON CORPORATION? I— ahhhhhhh my mind is blown. Breathe, me, breatheeeee!
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THE GOLDENROD POST
BREAKING NEWS
[Arin Watanuki passes the promotion test.]
By Wilfred Kemp / Published March 30, 2023 at 12:44 PM JST
Today is a historic day for Johto as the ranks of the eight major gyms shift into that of nine. Just an hour earlier, Arin Watanuki, Leader of the Cherrygrove Gym, became the first Gym Leader in Johto's history to pass the promotion test in a stunning 6-4 victory against the exam proctor, Gym Leader Pryce Yanagi of Mahogany Town. Arin is also the first Leader of a Fairy Gym in all of the Kinjoh Area. A man of many firsts and precedents.
The political landscape of Johto has certainly shifted, and only time will tell how exactly this will impact the region going forward. Johto has only ever had eight major gyms. For readers who are unaware of the history of the Johto gyms, here is a short explanation.
The eight major gyms were granted long ago to eight separate Clans after the Scarlet Conflict in Johto's storied history: Hayato of Violet City, Tsukushi of Azalea Town, Akane of Goldenrod City, Matsuba of Ecruteak City, Shijima of Cianwood City, Mikan of Olivine City, Yanagi of Mahogany Town, and Blackthorn of Blackthorn City. These families went on to safeguard their respective gyms through entire generations leading up until present day, and they became known as symbols of stability and power through times of peace and conflict.
The Cherrygrove Gym boasts a very long history itself and dates back to about fifty years after the Scarlet Conflict. Its founder was granted the gym for contributions in a small-scale conflict between Johto and invaders from the sea. Its founder also contributed significantly to helping Cherrygrove City expand into the city it is today.
Now, this institution has gone from being a minor to a major gym. This is the latest change in an entire wave of changes after four different Gyms started this League Circuit with new Leaders. These include the Violet, Azalea, Goldenrod, and Mahogany Gyms. All eyes will be on Arin Watanuki from here on out. The Goldenrod Post will continue to keep you updated with the latest news.
Comments (1,173) →
Optimistic Pokefan • 30 minutes ago
The brief history refresher was nice, thank you Goldenrod Post. I remembered learning about it last year in class but I slept through the lesson because I was tired… Anyway, congrats to the Cherrygrove Gym! I think it's cool we have nine major gyms now.
— View Replies (71)
— Rather Be A Gloom • 29 minutes ago
Optimistic Pokefan You should pay more attention in class, child. Education is important. And if you had TRULY listened to your teachers and what this article talks about, then you would realize the importance of the original eight major gyms and families. They protected Johto during the Scarlet Conflict and have continued to do so to this very day. The Cherrygrove Gym doesn't hold any significance compared to what they have achieved. Youngsters these days don't have any appreciation for the past.
— Johto Forever • 28 minutes ago
Fully agree with you Rather Be A Gloom. I don't care that the Cherrygrove Gym passed the test, they shouldn't be allowed into the ranks of the major gyms.
— green as the grass • 28 minutes ago
Rather Be A Gloom Johto Forever ? I get that history is important, but does it really matter so much that you're going to boycott the Cherrygrove Gym over it? Shouldn't we just look ahead to the future and what Arin and the Gym will accomplish from here on out?
— Rather Be A Gloom • 27 minutes ago
green as the grass How foolish! Johto prides itself on its long history and traditions that have endured the test of time. It's what sets us apart from the rest of the world. The Cherrygrove Gym will just be a stain on that history.
— Johto Forever • 27 minutes ago
green as the grass I highly doubt the new Gym Leader will be able to accomplish anything. He's too young and inexperienced. He won't be able to serve Johto to the best of his ability and help protect it.
— whaduyamean • 27 minutes ago
Johto Forever Uhh listen, mister or lady, did we not watch the same promotion test on TV? If you're so worried about protection, you shouldn't be. He literally proved his skills as a trainer today. Pretty sure he could help protect the region in a crisis.
— LETS TRAIN • 26 minutes ago
Rather Be A Gloom Johto Forever Screw history. As a trainer who seriously aims for the Conference every year, I'll tell you one thing. I just care about getting good challenges at gyms so that me and my team can get stronger. Arin's match today made me hopeful that he's going to be a good Gym Leader, and I plan on visiting the Cherrygrove Gym next season.
— Optimistic Pokefan • 16 minutes ago
Okay wow, I did not think my comment was going to set off an entire freaking argument in the reply section. You all need to chill. I'm just trying to be happy for a guy who clearly put in the work to pass a damn test (very relatable by the way, curse those midterms I just took).
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THE VERMILION GAZETTE
[Cherrygrove Gym becomes the ninth major gym in Johto.]
By Tristan Tsunayoshi / Published March 30, 2023 at 1:29 PM JST
History was made today in Johto as Arin Watanuki successfully completed the promotion test and changed the Cherrygrove Gym's status into that of a major gym. The political scene over in Johto may be rapidly changing, but it is also changing in Kanto as well. There are already growing concerns among the citizens that power may be shifting too far into Johto's balance with nine major gyms versus Kanto's eight.
Minor gym leaders in Kanto, both present and past, have begun speaking out against the Indigo League as well. Through the criticisms they have begun directing at the League, it has been revealed that previous promotion tests involved the applicants needing to fight the reigning Blackthorn City Gym Leader for the final part of the exam. Minor gym leaders are outraged over the fact that Arin Watanuki did not have to do the same. The general masses are split fifty-fifty on whether it was a fair substitute or not to have Pryce Yanagi fill in as the proctor instead.
When asked for comments, the Indigo League responded that they needed to change the final proctor for the Cherrygrove Gym's test due to "inherent type immunity issues between Fairy and Dragon types." They also stated that "the point of the final test was to test the applicant's full capabilities as an Elite trainer and keep things fair for both the applicant and proctor." This more than reasonable statement has quelled some of the questioning from minor gyms and the public alike, but there is still restlessness among the public.
It was only 50 years ago that Kanto and Johto formally united under the flag of Indigo after the War of Ashes, and 15 years since the Rocket War. Kanto-Johto relations have improved rapidly within the last decade, but this latest shift in the political landscape of Indigo paints an uncertain future. Those of us at the Vermilion Gazette hope that Kanto and Johto will continue to maintain good relations amidst tensions caused by Team Rocket's revival and new political structures.
Comments (980) →
Kantonian8 • 12 minutes ago
Screw Johto. They just want to oppress us again, and I won't stand for it.
— View Replies (5)
— tired and retired • 11 minutes ago
Kantonian8 I share your sentiments exactly. Even before the fucking War of Ashes 50 years ago, we fought with Johto so many times and lost so many lives over the years. We might have peace now, but who knows when it'll shatter. I won't ever forgive Johto anyway. Memories still haunt me.
— Kantonian8 • 10 minutes ago
tired and retired Ah… a fellow brother-in-arms. Former member of the 5th Regiment of the Pewter City Corps here.
— tired and retired • 10 minutes ago
Kantonian8 Good meeting you too, and Legendaries, I am sorry to hear that. I know the Pewter City Corps went through hell and back defending the north. I was leader of the 12th Squadron of the Viridian Forces.
— Kantonian8 • 9 minutes ago
tired and retired You had it rough too… The Battle of Mt. Silver was one of the deadliest during the War. Sigh. Forget all the hatred, I just feel tired now. Would you like to meet up for drinks sometime?
— tired and retired • 8 minutes ago
Kantonian8 That's how I always feel nowadays. Tired and bitter. And yes, let us meet up for drinks if possible. I will send you a private message with my contact details.
whispersofdoom • 25 minutes ago
Initially, I found the chaos happening in Johto over Arin Watanuki and the Cherrygrove Gym to be pretty funny. Johto deserved all the panic for everything they've done to us in the past. But I still had a bad feeling before the promotion test… and now it's come true. They have nine major gyms now to our eight. Who's to say this is the last step? What if they encroach further on the fragile political balance?
— View Replies (36)
— Liam sprints • 16 minutes ago
I'm sorry, I don't understand why this is such a big deal I guess? They have a new major gym. Why are so many people concerned over that?
— Disambient • 14 minutes ago
Liam sprints I was a bit confused too so I asked my family about it. Apparently the older folks are still shaken up over the War of Ashes and the overall long period of oppression we faced against Johto in the past. Kanto actually used to be a vassal state to Johto way in the past before they broke off. They basically often strongarmed us into disadvantageous trades and other policies that benefited them more than us. After uniting together as Indigo, and after careful policies made by Champions throughout the years and most notably Lance as of late, we're at peace and things are much better. But… I guess people are still worried about Johto taking any advantage they can get to increase their own power. They feel threatened, or so my grandmother says.
— Liam sprints • 13 minutes ago
Disambient Damn… I had no idea. I should probably start paying more attention in history class…
— Prayers for the fallen • 13 minutes ago
whispersofdoom You're right! This is absolutely not the last step. I swear this is just part of an elaborate plan by Johto to accumulate enough power that we can't do anything to them when they eventually strike. There's going to be war again!
— Meowther • 12 minutes ago
Prayers for the fallen Are you crazy?! Why would you say something like that? Take it back. We're at peace, and there won't be another war.
— Prayers for the fallen • 12 minutes ago
whispersofdoom No, YOU listen to ME. They added one more gym, next they'll bring back their army and invade Kanto! SCREW JOHTO!
— smileCURE • 11 minutes ago
Stop! Stop fighting! We're supposed to be unified as one country!
— Doubledip • 11 minutes ago
Sigh… There are worse things to be thinking about at the moment like Team Rocket. Who cares about politics right now…
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"Is it working?"
"Yeah, it should be working…"
"Then why hasn't it started yet?"
"Probably because Arin's still taking the first half of the test— Oh! It's on!"
The Paldea Elites stopped their squabbling and watched with excited expressions as the screen flickered to life. Geeta made a mental note to thank the small army of Porygons and Rotoms later. They had spent no small effort infiltrating the regional blocks and allowing them to watch the Indigo League's official channel while keeping their activities hidden.
"Good morning, citizens of Indigo," the League official on screen greeted. She was seated at a desk with a white wall behind her and a co-host sitting to her left. "In five minutes, we will begin the promotion test for the Cherrygrove Gym. In the meantime, we will explain the rules and format of the test as well as introduce the applicant and proctor…"
Rika groaned. "Ugh, ANOTHER five minutes of waiting? Yeesh…"
"Shh!" Hassel said quickly as he focused on the screen with interest. Larry couldn't hold back an amused quirk of his lips as Rika rolled her eyes.
Geeta blinked in surprise when the official announced Pryce Yanagi as the exam proctor. She was well aware of who he was. The former Champion of the Indigo League. She'd researched him in great detail in the past when she first took up her post as Top Champion and tried to form an opinion on Johto's governing body.
Still, she wasn't worried. She doubted Arin was either.
The Elites were all snacking on popcorn on the couches in Geeta's house. She had invited them over for a watch party, and now here they were, about to witness Arin announce his presence to the Kinjoh Area. Poppy was especially excited, and she bounced up and down in her seat impatiently.
Thankfully, five minutes came and passed quickly, and the match began.
All of them focused sharply on the match. It was a good chance to not only support Arin, but to get intel on the former Champion of the Indigo League. Throughout the match, they only commented briefly out loud to each other about strategies and moves, and they decided to analyze the match more thoroughly afterwards.
"Good use of momentum from Arin's Wigglytuff."
"Huh, that Dewgong is rather bulky. Its Thick Fat ability must have been trained extensively."
"Yes, I would have expected Taffy to melt it all by now…"
Poppy… Poppy was just excited. Every time Pryce sent out a Pokemon, she asked what it was because she'd never seen any of them before.
"Ooh, what Pokemon is that?!" Poppy squealed, pointing at the huge white seal on screen that Taffy was slamming into.
"That's a Dewgong, Poppy."
"What does it do? Does it dance?"
"Uh… they CAN dance?"
"What about that Pokemon?" She pointed to the next one.
"Delibird—"
"AWW! I can't see it anymore in the snow! It was so cute…"
And so on and so forth.
Then the match went to the last match-up between Vel and Mamoswine, and all the Elites leaned forward to the edges of their seats with bated breath. Even Poppy fell silent as she watched with wide eyes.
"Mamoswine is unable to battle. With a final score of 6-4, Gym Leader Arin is the victor of this match."
The instant those words came out of the referee's mouth, everyone was cheering loudly. Hassel had even leaped up from the couch and was punching the air with his fists as he hollered. Rika and Poppy were clapping enthusiastically, and Geeta didn't miss how Larry quietly did a fist pump when he thought no one was looking.
Geeta herself wore a very proud expression as she rose slowly to her feet, clapping with just a bit more force than she normally would. She stared at Arin's figure on screen and smiled.
Now… the winds of change were blowing in Johto, and hopefully for the better.
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Cheers arose not just in Paldea, but elsewhere on their side of the world as well.
In Kalos, a woman with colored contacts and dressed in an elaborate kimono spun in place happily. "MAGNIFIQUE!" Valerie squealed loudly into the phone she held in her hands, and Siebold winced. Her eyes never left the TV screen in front of her.
"Not so loud into my ear please…" Siebold muttered through the phone, but he chuckled anyway. There was a sudden whooshing sound, and then Diantha's voice filled the phone instead. She must have snatched the phone from Siebold.
"Arin did it!" Diantha laughed, just as giddy as Valerie. She and Siebold had been watching the broadcast live, too. "It's too bad he didn't use his Altaria, I was hoping to see Arya again."
They chatted for a long time, happy for their mutual friend's success.
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In Alola, a young woman covered from head to toe with splotches of bright paint flung her arms outward, nearing hitting the man next to her in the process.
"YAY ARIN!" Mina screamed, and then she smiled sheepishly as she pulled her arms down. "Er, sorry Professor Kukui."
Kukui merely smiled at her in amusement as he adjusted his glasses. "No worries, Mina. I know you're just excited. I am too," he chuckled. "Wanna go see what Hala and the Tapus think?"
Mina blanched. "Uhh… maybe Hala, but not the Almighty Tapus…"
As friendly as they sometimes were to the islanders, the Almighty Tapus were still Gods. Beings of immense power. Fairies.
And as a Fairy Specialist, she knew better than anyone how capricious the moods of Fairies could be. Their Gods had decimated before for the smallest of offenses.
Kukui coughed, clearing his throat. "I was just joking about the Tapus, Mina. That would be… pretty risky. I don't think they'd care too much anyway."
"Oh whew," Mina said with a nervous laugh. She hurriedly pulled on Kukui's sleeve, tugging him outside and moving past the ominous subject. "C'mon! I wanna go see what Hala thought about the match!"
And off they went.
----------------------------------------
"That young man really did it," Opal whispered with a smile. The old woman sipped her tea as the rest of the Galar League's Elites talked excitedly around her. Leon seemed especially fired up as he waved his arms around everywhere and pointed at the still playing TV screen. They'd all gathered to watch it.
Opal simply rolled her eyes at their Champion's antics and leaned back in her seat. She made a mental note to send a congratulatory message to Arin later, and perhaps some tips for being a Gym Leader if he needed any. If only Arin had accepted her offer to become her Gym's successor…
Well, she mused to herself with another small smile. It couldn't be helped.
Arin had found the place where he was meant to be.
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"Souta, do you want to watch the promotion test with us?"
Souta Ishimoto froze in place for a moment. Slowly, he looked over his shoulder. Both his parents were looking at him with hopeful expressions from where they sat in the living room. There was a League official on the TV screen explaining that the match would start soon.
A lump formed in Souta's throat. He swallowed it down with difficulty. "…No thank you."
He felt a bit bad when he saw his mom and dad deflate at the answer, but Souta quickly turned and headed upstairs. He ignored his Pokemon — especially Snubbull — who tried getting his attention and entered his bedroom, closing the door behind him.
He flopped onto his bed and exhaled slowly.
Arin. He'd been thinking a lot about the words Arin left him with two weeks ago. He was still depressed over his rejection from the academy, but he had actually been trying harder to get over it after Arin's visit. He felt like he'd only made a bit of progress, though.
It was like there was one last little block around his heart that he just couldn't tear down. Something preventing him from moving on.
He wished he could be more like Arin. He was so confident in himself and had a clear goal of what he wanted to achieve. Even though people were expecting him to fail, he pressed on anyway.
Souta had actually talked to him a few times when they were both much younger. While the most they ever did was exchange greetings, he still clearly remembered how confident Arin had been even as a kid.
Arin's parting words were still fresh in his mind, and they rang out now.
"I'll prove to you and all of Kanto-Johto the strength of Fairy types. Just wait and see."
Arin had told him he was right. That Snubbull wasn't and had never been a mistake. That the academy had been wrong to deny him entry because of a Fairy type Pokemon.
Souta bit his lip as he stared at the mini TV on his desk.
After a few long moments, he got up from his bed and sat down in his desk chair. The TV was turned on with one click. He pressed the buttons until he got to the channel he wanted.
His eyes widened when he saw Arin was about to fight Pryce Yanagi. The freaking former Champion of the Indigo League himself. Master of Ice Types, the Prodigy from Mahogany Town, the famed Ice Specialist and Sculptor, the list went on and on.
Arin had to fight THAT kind of person to achieve his dream?
That was so… unfair. Did the League actually think it was okay to pit a Gym Leader against a person that had, until recently, been their Champion? It almost felt like they were setting him up for failure on purpose, and that instantly made him angry. It reminded him of his own experience with the academy.
Souta's shoulders sagged as he leaned back in his seat. He wasn't sure he could watch this. Arin had confidently told him he would pass, but this was insane. Souta had half a mind to turn the TV off, but then the match started, and he resigned himself to watching just a minute or so.
Souta almost forgot how to breathe as a Wigglytuff — a Wigglytuff! — demolished Pryce's Dewgong.
One minute turned into two, and then three, and then more as he kept his eyes glued to the screen.
Arin was… Arin was winning. He was in the lead, and he was fucking kicking Pryce Yanagi's butt with his Fairy type Pokemon.
One Pokemon went down after the other as Arin demonstrated to the nation his strength as a trainer. By the time the final match-up rolled around, Souta's mind was beyond fried with shock as he watched the epic last showdown.
And Arin finally won. He took down Mamoswine, and he made history.
Souta sat there in wordless shock after the broadcast ended. He was pretty sure he heard his dad yelling out in excitement and joy from downstairs.
Arin had achieved his dream just like he said he would. He had faced impossible odds and came out on top of them. He was a Champion-level trainer.
He had proved Fairy types were awesome.
Souta didn't realize he was crying until a few tears fell onto his pants, and he hurriedly rubbed at his eyes.
Legendaries, he'd been so pathetic until now. Continuing to mope around wouldn't change anything. Just like Arin had told him, he needed to get back up. The real losers were the ones who stayed down and did nothing.
And he was not a loser. He was a winner, and he had the best damn Snubbull in the world. Screw the Blackthorns and the academy. He didn't want to go there anyway if the people were so narrow-minded. It was their loss and not his.
He was going to keep moving forward.
Souta shot up out of his seat and threw open his bedroom door. His heart broke when he saw Snubbull sitting outside. She jumped up in surprise from the door opening so quickly, and now she looked up at Souta with wide eyes. How many times had she been there waiting for him? Too many to count.
Souta immediately scooped Snubbull off the ground, breaking down into tears as he cried into her fur. His other Pokemon hurriedly dashed towards him from where they'd been hiding around the corner.
"I'm sorry, Snubbull… I'm sorry, you guys…" he cried. "Thanks for waiting for me."
With her stubby arms, Snubbull awkwardly patted him and let out comforting, distressed growls. His other Pokemon let out comforting noises of their own.
Souta cried for a long time with his Pokemon surrounding him.
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In Olivine City, Haru Agawa sat at his desk with Turtwitch pulled up on the old computer in front of him. His Azurill, Mimi, sat on a puffy cushion on his lap to watch with him. She'd been a present from his mom — a lil Egg at the time — and he'd hatched her just a few months ago.
The kids at his high school had been envious of him at first when he announced he had a Pokemon of his own, but when they found out about Mimi, they quickly changed their minds. The boys and even some of his friends had laughed at him and said he got a weak Pokemon. The girls had been much nicer and said his Azurill was cute.
He was very much inclined to agree. Mimi was cute, and he was thankful to his mom for the surprise gift. He knew it probably had cost a lot of money to purchase the Egg for him, and they weren't very well-off. His mom was most likely still feeling deep guilt over the fact that she couldn't send him on a Pokemon journey last year.
Not enough money. The life of a traveling trainer could not be afforded by everyone.
Haru pushed aside any depressing thoughts and looked at the live chat. The Indigo League was broadcasting the match live on all their official channels across all platforms available. The promotion test had been the only thing people could talk about at his school for the last week, and it was finally about to begin.
EmmyZooks: Just here for some entertainment. XD
CrazyMeowthLady: he's gonna lose he's gonna lose ain't no way he beats pryce
gulpIN: FRFR man's in over his head, this is gonna be a quick fight.
Ruxiy33: CMON ARIN I believe in u!
CrazyMeowthLady: he's gonna lose he's gonna lose ain't no way he beats pryce
RaISiN: Ugh, can you PLEASE stop spamming!
Haru rolled his eyes. The viewer count on the League's Turtwitch channel was over a million strong already, and the chat was going fast. Most people seemed to think Arin was going to lose. Haru didn't have an opinion. He didn't know anything about Arin Watanuki or Fairy type Pokemon, but he was interested in watching the match. It finally began after another minute.
Pryce led with a Dewgong. He leaned forward excitedly to see what Pokemon Arin would start with. Probably something big and strong to make an impression on the League.
His brows furrowed as his expectations were dashed and a Wigglytuff popped out instead. That… was certainly an interesting choice. One quick glance at the chat revealed that other people were thinking along similar lines.
Bizarre Blizzard: WTF
70 Cents: OMA it's over
See_You_Gulpin: :shock: :shock: :shock: wigglytuff? Who uses that pokemon?/
There was no time to read more of the messages zooming past one after the other. Wigglytuff and Dewgong sprang into action.
And Arin's Wigglytuff was a monster. Haru couldn't believe half of what it was doing against Pryce's bulky Dewgong, and he and Mimi both jumped in shock when the sonic boom hit. Dewgong went down. As soon as he had calmed himself down from the jump scare, Haru glanced at the chat again.
VVUEEVEE: HOLY MOTHER OF CLOYSTER THAT WAS SO LOUD
EmmyZooks: WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT :scream:
geogeo: oi oi dewgong's down
FlyingFan4: that wigglytuff is friggin OP
And so on and so forth. Yet again, Haru had to wrench his gaze away from the chat to focus on the match as Pryce tossed out his second Pokemon, a Delibird.
Once more, Wigglytuff thrashed Pryce's Pokemon. It wasn't the only one to do so. Every single member of Arin's team that he sent out was a living monster that took down more and more of Pryce's Pokemon. Haru didn't recognize a lot of them, but he felt his heart beating faster with every move that flashed across the screen and every command that came out of the trainers' mouths.
This was epic. There was no other way to put it.
The people in the live chat were quick to change their tune.
COUGH Koffing: YOOOOO pryce might actually lose
JakeHush: who's that Pokemon?!
Flippin 77MRed: ARIN ARIN ARIN LETS GO ARIN
Haru's favorite part turned out not to be the admittedly amazing showdown between the unidentified Pokemon and Mamoswine, but when Arin sent out an Azumarill against Pryce's Jynx. He and Mimi watched in awe as it slammed into Jynx and took it out in one hit.
Just one.
The live chat exploded with activity after Arin won.
KeepsakeKing: I WANNA CHALLENGE THE CHERRYGROVE GYM IN THE FALL
EmmyZooks: OMA he's CHAMPION LEVEL
geogeo: YOOO WE JUST WATCHED HISTORy HAPPEN!1 RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW
But Haru wasn't looking at the live chat anymore. His eyes were locked onto the screen where the camera had zoomed up close on Arin. It showed his back, but it also showed Arin lifting a fist high into the air above his head in a silent victory pose.
That image of him was so powerful. It practically burned itself into Haru's mind. It was so cool, he thought to himself. Arin was so cool.
Haru looked down and found Mimi looking back up at him with wide eyes full of awe. He was sure he probably looked the same, and he grinned as excitement coursed through his veins.
"Do you think we could be like that too?"
Mimi hopped up and down enthusiastically in response.