Shinko is a beginning trainer that was at
Professor Rowan lab the day that
Dawn went to visit him for the first time after competing in the Sinnoh Grand Festival.
Shinko likes to take notes of everything so she doesn't forget and can review and study at a later time.
While she was contemplating which Pokémon she wanted to pick as her first Pokémon, the Piplup and Chimchar began fighting and the window in
Professor Rowan lab broke and the two Pokémon quickly jumped out through it.
Professor Rowan and
Dawn were outside when they heard
Shinko scream.
Shinko already knew who
Dawn was as she had watched her at the Grand Festival. While traveling in the forest together to find the missing Pokémon,
Shinko congratulated
Dawn and told her that it was an honor to be able to talk to her as she thought
Dawn was a great role model and had been studying her techniques.
Dawn and
Shinko chased after the two escaped Pokémon and were cornered and captured by a group of
Ariados. With the help of
Dawn's Quilava, they were able to rescue the Pokémon and return to the lab. The same events happened to
Dawn when she was selecting her first Pokémon as well, so
Dawn and
Shinko share a common experience.
Professor Rowan asked
Shinko when she returned to the lab after her ordeal in the forest if she had decided what Pokémon she wished to chose as her starter Pokémon. She explained to
Professor Rowan that she wanted to wait a bit so she could learn a bit more about them before she made her final decision.
Shinko became friends with
Dawn after that day and was at the boat dock waving goodbye to
Dawn who was off to the Houen region.