10/10 accepting this version as canon. Beautifully written.

I can't believe I haven't read this before, its fantastic! I love the way you write the episodes in but in Drew's point of view. He is so in character, which is pretty difficult to do since he doesn't appear too much in the anime. I can't wait to see how you'll write the 'Unbeatable Lightness of Seeing!' episode next!

This is an amazing story! I absolutley love it! Author you're awesome

Woohoo! You updated! Hope you're staying safe. I'm sort of sad that this story is nearing the end. Are you planning to do more on contestshipping in the future, or anything else related to the coordinators? I love the way that you are able to pinpoint how the coordinators are able to feel exactly and provide any explanations for plotholes left in the anime.

It'll be interesting to see Drew explain to Solidad his pure hatred of Harley, or parts of this story told more in Solidad's POV. Even you writing Harley's POV and his thoughts on why he needs to terrorize May so much. If that's anything you plan on writing in the future, I'll be sticking around!

Yes! you updated! I await the next chapter! Oh wow- thank you so much for your writing! I really like your writing style!

OH MY GOODNESS YOU'RE BACK!

I remember I found this GEM of a fic from you back in my university days & I fell absolutely in love! Thank you for continuing this wonderful fic! I was ESTATIC when I saw you had updated this! Contestshipping was always my favorite Pokemon ship and it's always wonderful to come back to it after all these years! Thanks again and I hope you continue this! Stay healthy & Much love! 3

Damn! I can't believe I never noticed this story earlier, but when I found it I couldn't stop reading it, I loved reading how Drew grows to love May and I'll admit my least favorite chapter was reading the Rubello contest chapter since watching the anime version of chapter I always felt bad for May but I did enjoy the following chapter where Solidad set Drew straight about why May behaved the way she did in the contest. I do hope you show the Johto contest circuit since the anime didn't show it.

Oh my God. This chapter was so... POWERFUL. I keenly felt the highs, lows, and everything in between, and the climax of May and Drew's dance on the battlefield was such a satisfying peak to the crescendo of emotions that preceded it.

In addition, I did not expect an update in a million years, but I am so glad you did.

Yay you updated! :D I was so shook when I got an email saying you just updated this fic; I was so happy! Drew is just so in love with May in this chapter (and woah, 52k words omg XD) Thank you so much for bringing all these episodes a second perspective and another layer, I really really love your fic! Ah, it's been 17 years since Drew's debut, and I still miss them so much 3

I had two modes constantly flip flopping with the other while reading this chapter:

1) normal reading
2) WHISPER-YELLING AT MY PHONE HOW ABSOLUTELY, UNEQUIVOCALLY, COMPLETEL DREW IS FOR MAY.

This boy has no damn reason being so in love like that! Like wow. At this point, we need a word count of every time he calls May “beautiful,” because I could literally play the drinking game on it.

And everything else, just, wow. This story is incredible and it’s definitely one of the best stories that Contestshipping fans can celebrate about. You have nailed pretty much everything that’s essential in a good story. The buildup, the pacing, the emotions, everything, just absolutely incredible. Not to mention you came back with not just an everyday regular-schmegular update. Oh no, that’s not what you did. You came back after a year with a fucking Goliath. This chapter’s word count alone is downright soul-shaking. Like - WHAT? HOW? All in a SINGLE chapter! This literally took nearly half of my day to read. Absurd.

You’re absurd. Talented as fuck.

God I can’t believe we’re now back in the waiting phase again. It’s only been like a week or two since I first read this story, but goddamnit that “Last updated: Feb. 2019” was daunting. Now I’m really gonna be in for the wait.

Good luck on the next chapter and I hope you update again soon.

I’m also sending you virtual applauses through this review because someone needs to do it.

Man, I've missed this fic, and what a way to come back! It took me the better part of the day to read this behemoth, and it was totally worth it! The Grand Festival was amazing, and I loved all the new scenes you added in. It's interesting that Harley was the one to get into Drew's head and cause him to stress out, rather than it just being caused by nerves for the Festival. It's a shame that we never got to see Harley and Drew face off. Solidad is a major contestshipper, and her mentally gushing over May when they first meet is kind of funny. Sol is a great big sister figure to both of them.

Drew and May are finally coming to terms with their feelings, though who knows how long it'll take for them to actually confess! Fennel Valley is next, not counting any original content you plan to add, and that'll be the last canon Drew episode. If you plan on taking this fic to Johto (and beyond?), then I can't wait to see what happens once we reach uncharted territories!

I'd love to know more about Harley and Solidad's friendship - I've wondered how the heck that happened. It would also be nice to Drew battle Harley and Solidad since we haven't seen those matchups yet. And May developing her own style will be nice - she has a very offensive based style since she learned most of what she knows about battling from Ash, and maybe her father to an extent. That can only take her so far, however, so I want to see what she'll do to overcome that wall.

Thanks for the amazing update 3 this fic is an absolute gem. thanks so much for writing it!

I absolutely adore your story. I don’t why I never gave it a chance before, but boy do I sure regret it now. After giving it a go about 2 days ago, I couldn’t put it down. I was constantly putting off everything I needed to do like honework and other basic human necessities like eating because this story is just relentless. You’ve written yourself an amazing story here, and I can definitely say with confidence that it’s one of the best contestshipping fanfics out there. Not only is it written well, but you’ve managed to do something that most people don’t do in the contestshipping fanfic community. And that would be writing it in Drew’s POV, as well as writing it completely following the anime. That’s dedication and planning right there. I hope to see an update soon, even though I’ve gotten the clear message that you’re a notoriously late updater, but no worries. With the average amount that you write per chapter, it’d only make sense as to why they take so long. So in the meantime, I’ll be waiting for the continuation of this incredible story.

Side note: if there’s anything that I love the most about this story, it’s that you’ve somehow managed to not only normalize this one little aspect of Drew, but also you’ve made it flow so well to the point where it’s not cheesy. I mean, I have never ever read a good story where I’ve seen this happen. Drew is SO FUCKING WHIPPED FOR MAY. Like there’s your average crush/romantic relationship, and then there’s Drew here, WHO’S FUCKING WHIPPED TO LIQUID FOR THAT GIRL. I honestly can’t get over how adorable and hilarious that is lmaooo.

I guess Drew was more or less trying to run away from love in this chapter! it's always hilarious when anyone's afraid of their own feelings for another.

OMG! I absolutely love this! Definitely my favorite fic! Your writing is amazing, how you describe every detail perfectly. And it was great to see like a “behind the scenes” and more in depth side to the anime. How contestshipping would have been canon in the anime, how it all started. Seeing things from Drew’s POV. And i like how you included in his friendship story with Solidad. I really really hope you will continue and update this fic! Hopefully there would be a sequel too? Of their journeys in Johto? Anyways good job and thank you for writing this! Made me smile at how cute Drew and May are! Cheers!