ContestShipping

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May and Drew in Who, What, When, Where, Wynaut?

This article is about shipping. As hints and evidence for ships are mostly speculation, this page may contain personal points of view.

ContestShipping is the name given to the May/Drew coupling supported by fans of the Pokémon anime. It is considered the most obvious pairing in the anime, aside from PokéShipping. The name stems from the fact that the pair, May and Drew, are rivals that compete against each other in Pokémon Contests.

Evidence

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

• Win, Lose or Drew

Drew's second appearance on the television series introduces the recurring theme of Drew giving May roses. Drew hands his rose to May who stares at it in surprise. She blushes and thanks him for the rose. Albeit, Drew responds with, "it's not for you, it's for your Beautifly! It looks like the co-ordinator still has a lot of training to do."

• Pros and Con Artists

After May's Beautifly performs its failed Gust and String-Shot combination, Drew appears and makes a negative comment about May's ability as a coordinator. He openly flirts with May this time, claiming that he's flattered that May remembered his name and hands her a second rose. Before he leaves, he warns May to not "get her hopes up" as his excuse for coming to talk to her was to see Beautifly.

• Come What May

Upon receiving her first ribbon from the Fallarbor Contest, May is congratulated by Drew, delivering her his third rose. Upon receiving it, May asks Drew rather coyly if the rose is for Beautifly again, indicating that she has suspicions as to the true nature of Drew's roses. Drew slightly admits this time that the roses aren't really for Beautifly as he responds to her question with "Yeah... Something like that."

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A jealous Drew featured in Hi Ho Silver Wind

• Hi Ho Silver Wind

Amidst May and Drew's conversation, Harley interrupts and notices that May has received her fourth rose from Drew. He immediately suspects that May and Drew are in love which causes May to blush and protest at Harley's remark.

While Harley is talking to May in the background, Drew is seen in the foreground sulking, indicating that he's jealous of Harley. Although his behavior may be passed off as suspicion, Drew makes no apparent efforts to stave May away from Harley's false advice.

• Rhapsody In Drew

When May and Drew say their goodbyes at the end of the episode, May stares after Drew, blushing, as he walks away. She barely seems to acknowledge Ash, Brock, Max, and her mother, all who have come over and are standing right next to her.

While May is talking to her friends and family, May's mother, Caroline, interrupts and teases her daughter about Drew. In response, May overreacts and protests in embarassment.

• Gonbe's Debut Battle! Harley and Taking the Game Seriously!

At the end of the episode following May's defeat to Harley, May receives a letter and a rose from Drew via Lillian which informs her of another contest where she can again qualify for another ribbon. It is noted that this rose is given an unusual amount of focus during this double-take in which it takes up the entire screen.

• Juptile vs. Tropius! Grassland Duel!

May is holding the rose and the letter she receives in the previous episode while on a boat. She apparently considers these two items as sentimental her. As May already knows quite well what Drew means with the roses at this point in time now, her keeping and looking at a romantic token of his featured in a prior episode is quite significant.

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May blushes as she stares after Drew while holding an unconscious Wakana in AG162.

• Pokémon Contest! Yuzuriha Convention!

It is revealed that the rose and the letter was not sent by Drew but by a rookie coordinator named Wakana. May teases Drew about the mix-up, rationalizing that it's not her fault for thinking the rose and the letter was from him. Drew gets slightly embarassed and blushes when his Roselia begins teasing him as well.

Wakana presses the question if May likes Drew or not. In response, May's behavior becomes cautious and coy as she blushes, obviously sensitive to the idea of her and Drew being a couple.

Jessie is made to notice May's love life twice in this episode. She first comments about young love when talking to Wakana and May. The second time, she's sitting with Manene on the beach, commenting and reminicsing on young love. James and Meowth observe from a distance, confused with her out of character personality.

At the end of the episode, Drew reminds May that she only has two ribbons left until the Grand Festival in Kanto. Again, Drew walks off on the beach with May staring after him, blushing.