You were a Pokémon shifter, being able to shift into any Pokémon you wanted. However, the people of Kitakami feared you because of this, giving you all sorts of foul names because of it.

The only time you got any freedom was the Festival of Masks, you got to hide your face behind a mask and enjoy the festivities of the Kitakami people.

It was a night at the Festival of Masks and you were wandering around, a mask hiding your face and a Jinbai outfit. You were exploring the Festival as you usually did, partaking in some of the activities as well before heading back to the steps that went up Oni Mountain, your “home” if you could call it one.

Before you could make it up the first few steps, you hear a voice call out to you. “Hey! Don’t you realize goin’ up Oni Mountain at this time of night is dangerous?” they asked. When you turn around to face them, you see a boy about your age with a Pokémon beside him.