[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/S4wTL3X.png[/img]
[color=SandyBrown][b]Mentions:[/b][/color] Hestia [@Ambra], Holly [@Fabricant451], [i]Everyone Else[/i][/center]

The hustle and bustle of Wyndon City was always especially apparent on the night before the opening of the annual Gym Challenge. Though Mika did not intend on being as fashionably late as he was, the usual snowstorm that painted the foothills of Route 10 seemingly beckoned for him to film a segment for [i]Earth Power,[/i] and it was quite easy to lose track of time during one of his journeys into nature. He'd made an exciting discovery on the perfect day when the media bloom was at its fullest; after straying from the usual challenger's path towards Wyndon, he'd encountered a shiny Snom, an occurrence that people like him could only hope to happen once in their lifetime.

This event prompted an expedition longer than expected, and by sunset, Mika had only just returned to his hotel accommodation in Wyndon to adjust his wardrobe for the decadent evening before the ceremony. He swapped the thick layers of his wintry exploration uniform to adhere to his partial knowledge of [i]The Last Dahlia's[/i] upscale dress code for the occasion. A tight maroon suit jacket pressed the white dress shirt into his shorter frame, fitting into a fresh pair of black dress pants and oxfords as he adjusted a dark blue bowtie at the collarbone. Finally settling with two small lotus-shaped earrings, he quickly departed for the preliminary gathering with a small backpack in tow.

Being among the last of the clientele to arrive at [i]The Last Dahlia[/i] did not come to Mika by surprise, as he had taken the liberty to sign a number of autographs by the Corviknight statue at Wyndon Square before shuffling away from the crowds. He took in the familiar ambiance of the venue as he whistled along with the tune from the radio, seeing that just about everyone else had already come before him. [color=SandyBrown][b]"How dare you start the party without me,"[/b][/color] Mika sauntered towards the bar with a sarcastic tone, leaning back-to-back with the Champion for a moment before gesturing towards Mason. [color=SandyBrown][b]"Mojito without the rum, thanks!"[/b][/color]

Bumping himself away from Ryker, Mika gave everyone a varying show of acknowledgement, from a bright smile to a light shoulder punch. [color=SandyBrown][b]"Looking out of place like [i]always,[/i] Hestia,"[/b][/color] he buzzed near the pink-haired woman with a chuckle before stopping near Holly. He couldn't quite determine just how long it had been since he'd seen every individual person, but it was always refreshing for all of them to come together. His backpack rumbled gently as he waved towards Holly. [color=SandyBrown][b]"Yo, Holly!"[/b][/color] he greeted Spikemuth's gym leader, a bright smile on his face. [color=SandyBrown][b]"Guess who I've brought along this time? Found this fella just today around Route 10, he ain't the same as--"[/b][/color]

Mika gasped when a light pressure climbed up the back of his neck, the faint aroma of berries wafting from the slit of his backpack as the Snom now nestled around his hair. [color=SandyBrown][b]"Heh, this guy,"[/b][/color] he reached up to gently scratch at the Bug Pokemon. [color=SandyBrown][b]"He's a shiny one. Don't recall the last time I've seen a Shiny Pokemon out in the wild, to be honest."[/b][/color]