Chapter 293: Is There Anyone Left in This World Steven Actually Cares About?

The video continued playing.

At Daigo Tsuwabuki’s command, an extraordinarily bizarre electronic track immediately began blasting from the speakers.

The beat staggered wildly up and down and every now and then, two random "meows" were mixed into it.

Then Daigo Tsuwabuki began to dance.

His left leg twisted left.

His right leg twisted right.

His upper body drew circles.

His neck rotated in another direction entirely.

Every joint seemed to be moving independently, making him look as though four different people were simultaneously grabbing his limbs and pulling outward.

Metagross’s dance was even more earth-shattering.

Using the center of its body as an axis, it alternated lifting its four legs off the ground—

Then began spinning at high speed.

The sequins covering its body scattered flashing spots of light wildly across the walls surrounding the stage.

Several audience members began covering their eyes.

Even the host started backing away.

Wallace shot to his feet.

"STOP!"

Daigo Tsuwabuki was still spinning.

"What did you say?!"

"I CAN’T STOP!"

"THE DANCE OF A GOD IS ALL ABOUT SPINNING!"

Metagross spun faster and faster.

Eventually, it lifted clean off the stage—

Hovering in midair like an enormous reflective spinning top.

It completed three rotations—then crashed straight back into the center of the stage, sequins and all.

BOOM——!!!

A spiderweb of cracks five meters across instantly spread through the sturdy stage.

The audience fell into deathly silence.

[VIP Chat Group]

[Bruno]: If I’m not mistaken, this Daigo Tsuwabuki guy is Steven, right?

[Koga]: Do you even need to guess? Just look at the Metagross.

[Fantina]: This dance... it certainly has impact. Mon Dieu! I’m a Ghost-type Trainer, and even I feel like I’m about to die after watching it!

[Steven]: I can’t believe the new dance I’ve been practicing lately got leaked by the parallel world ahead of schedule. Mm. Not bad, not bad. The effect is pretty much what I envisioned.

[Steven]: Sigh. Ever since this livestream appeared, many viewers seem to have developed some misunderstandings about me. They think I, Steven Stone, am an irresponsible rock fanatic. But in reality, I’m a reliable Champion who possesses both looks and strength while also harboring a deep passion for the arts. Where am I supposed to go to clear my name?

[Steven]: Hahahaha! Why did the entire group suddenly go quiet?

[Metagross]: Bro really is kinda handsome.

[Raihan]: PFFFFFFT! HAHAHAHAHAHA! WHO COULD POSSIBLY KEEP A STRAIGHT FACE AFTER THAT?!

[Volkner]: Hahahahaha! I can’t hold it in either! Steven really is one of a kind!

[Leon]: Damn it! I can’t believe this is what finally broke me. Has Steven’s power truly reached such terrifying heights?

[Flint]: Steven is actually invincible. To keep his dignity he straight-up used Metagross’s screen to compliment himself?!

[Sidney]: Is there seriously anyone left in this world Steven cares about?

[Mr. Stone]: ...

[Wallace]:@Steven, I’m begging you. Can you please have even a tiny bit of shame?

[Asher]: If he actually had any shame, would things have ever developed this far?

[Lance]: ...

[Steven]: You’re all just jealous of my talent.

[Wallace]: I think the thickness of your skin might be your greatest talent.

[Raihan]: Same question as always: Is Steven really human?

The video continued playing.

Wallace lowered his head and looked at the shattered stage.

Then he looked at Steven, who was still lying in the crater flashing a peace sign.

Finally, he turned toward the event organizer.

"Charge the damages to him."

"Thank you."

Before the organizer could answer—a powerful voice came from inside the crater.

"No problem!"

"I’ll pay for everything!"

"But I have one condition—"

"LET MY PERFORMANCE FINISH!"

"I STILL HAVE THIRTY SECONDS LEFT!"

Wallace turned toward the host.

"Unplug the speakers."

Daigo Tsuwabuki immediately sprang out of the crater.

"NOOOO!"

"My dance still has one final move!"

"Metagross!"

"MAX REVERSE-SPIRAL ASCENSION KICK!"

Wallace finally snapped.

"STEVEN!"

"HAVE YOU HAD ENOUGH YET?!"

Backstage...

Hina and May were hiding behind the curtain and peeking through a narrow gap.

"Hina, look!"

May whispered.

"Mr. Steven can stand in front of everyone in Sunyshore City looking like that and still not feel embarrassed."

"So your social anxiety really isn’t that bad!"

"You can try being a little braver in the future!"

"N-No..."

Hina frantically shook her head.

"Something like that..."

"No matter how I think about it, there’s no way I could ever do it!!!"

Onstage—

Steven was still arguing with Wallace.

"Wallace! Let the audience vote!"

"The eyes of the audience are discerning!"

"THE AUDIENCE’S EYES ARE ABOUT TO BE SPUN BLIND! CAN’T YOU SEE THAT?!"

Wallace took a long breath, barely stopping himself from passing out on the spot.

"Steven..."

"I ran all the way from Hoenn to Sinnoh, and you still refuse to leave me alone!"

"Are you some kind of vengeful spirit?!"

Steven folded his arms.

His tone became extraordinarily serious.

"Wallace, I’ve tolerated you for a long time."

"Your obsession with so-called elegance is precisely what’s limiting the possibilities of Pokémon Contests!"

"Look at Brother Asher!"

"Why did his Dark Quaquaval become a legend of the dance world?"

"Because I dare to combine the abstract with elegance!"

"Absorb the strengths of a hundred schools!"

"Meanwhile, you’ve been stubbornly clinging to outdated conventions!"

"No—can you please stop dragging Asher into everything?!"

Wallace covered his face.

"And what he does isn’t remotely the same as what you’re doing!"

"That Dark Dance might contain abstract elements, but it’s built upon control so precise it’s practically flawless!"

"What you’re doing is just performing falling-object hazards from high altitude!"

"My Metagross has precise control too!"

Steven immediately pointed toward it.

"Look at where it landed just now!"

"Exactly in the center of the stage!"

"The deviation was less than 0.3 centimeters!"

"YOU CRACKED THE ENTIRE STAGE AND YOU STILL HAVE THE NERVE TO BRAG ABOUT PRECISION?!"

"ART IS AN EXPLOSION!"

"SHUT UP!"

"You artless terrorist!"

"Get back to Hoenn and approve your paperwork!"

...

In the end—

The championship of the dance competition still went to May and Hina’s team.

The reason was simple.

After watching Steven’s performance, Wallace had only one thought left in his mind: End this farce immediately and give the trophy to the pair who looks the most normal—and the easiest on the eyes.

Wallace didn’t even want to bother with audience voting anymore.

He turned directly toward the event organizer.

"Bring me the trophy."

"I’ll present it right now."

Steven, however, didn’t seem to care much about winning or losing.

He straightened his cape once more.

Then gave the audience a deep bow.

"Thank you, everyone!"

The Dancing Diamond’s performance for today ends here!

"The date of my next live performance will be announced at a later—"

"THERE WON’T BE A NEXT TIME!"

Wallace roared.