>>53516455Kusaka doesn't even care about those characters enough to even really imply that. No "well I'm not interested in battling but you have fun," not even some stupid sad backstory shit. As soon as the concept of gyms is introduced, their entire existence and role in the plot centers around boosting up Platinum, with no individual motivation or interests of their own. It never seems to even occur to them that, hey, I have Pokemon and I end up training/fighting with them a lot, why I don't I actually attempt this because it's not that different from what I've already been doing? They exist only as soulless vessels to support Platinum.
They are actually worse than NPCs, because even in the game as NPCs your rival at least also does the badges. It's very clear that the only character Kusaka was truly interested in was Platinum and everyone else is just am accessory to make her look better, as symbolized in the opening of the arc with her literally wearing diamond and pearl rings on her hands. They're just her jewelry and nothing more.
