Takeshi is one of the Pokémon trainers who arrives in the bustling Crown City. He accompanies Satoshi and Hikari on their journey, and together the group encounters a lost Zorua in the forest outside the city. They decide to accompany the Pokémon into Crown City to help reunite it with its caretaker, a Zoroark.

The group ventures into the sealed-off section of the city, where they are eventually captured by the antagonist Grings Kodai. They are later freed by Rowena, who is revealed to be an undercover journalist. Following their release, Takeshi is present when the group learns the location of the Time Ripple from Joe and Tammy.

During the climax, Takeshi and Hikari face off against Goone and his Pokémon in a battle. They receive crucial aid from Zoroark during this confrontation, as part of the urgent effort to reach the stadium and stop Kodai from absorbing the power of the Time Ripple.