'Pikachu, I choose you!': Man proposes at STXCC

McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — "Pikachu, I choose you!" That's a phrase that was asked by a now-engaged man to his girlfriend on the main stage of the 2025 South Texas Comic Con during the cosplay championship.

Jonathan Co, cosplaying as Ash Ketchum and Crystal Hernandez, cosplaying as Pikachu, walked on stage to present their outfit to the audience.

While on stage, Co asked the audience if they liked magic tricks, and proceeded to throw a Pokeball at Deadpool to demonstrate how a Pokeball works.

In the mists of twists and turns, Co made way to Hernandez, went down on one knee, opened a Pokeball, and said, "Babe, I love you. I choose you. Will you be mine?"

After Hernandez said, yes, with shock and happiness in her eyes, the now-engaged man screamed out in joy the famous phrase, "I choose you, Pikachu!"

Co and Hernandez were featured cosplay guests for the 2025 STXCC, where they had the chance to meet fans, create skits, promote social media, and be a part of the cosplay championship.

The couple has been together for a year, and with many dates and great times together, there is one specific memory that stands out to Co.

"It was our first convention that we hung out at and made friends. We were driving in the car, and she started talking to the car. She was like,'What are you doing? Where are you going?’And I'm in the car. ‘Who are you talking to?’ But I thought it was the cutest thing ever," Co said.

Co told ValleyCentral, when planning his proposal, he said he was thinking of proposing during a convention, since they are cosplayers and that is what they do.

"I had a good idea that I wanted to do [the proposal] at a convention," Co said. "[Initially] I was going to plan it at another convention, but when I tell you, the big man was like, nope, it's not going to happen."

He explained that things did not seem to line up while planning the proposal at another convention; however, at the STXCC, "things naturally came together."

"Her family, her mom and dad, decided to come. Her brother is the emcee here [also known as Deadpool], and he really helped me plan out everything," he said.

Hernandez told ValleyCentral she had a sense he was going to propose, but she did not expect it would be at the South Texas Comic Con.

As the convention went on, Hernandez said, she was preparing to change into the Ash costume, as she usually cosplays as that character, when her brother convinced her to stay in the Pikachu costume.

Moments later, Hernandez explains, Co told her, her brother said they should sign up for the cosplay contest since they needed more participants, which she said seemed odd to her because that never happens, but ultimately agreed.

"I love knowing things. I'm a planner. I have to know things, so I asked him, 'What are we doing when we get on stage?' He's like, 'Just trust me.' But I'm like, 'Tell me what are we doing, I want to know where do I go?” she said as she giggled.

She explained that at the moment leading up to the proposal, she could only think about telling herself to be prepared and stay cool.

"[During his magic trick] he said 'Ok, here's another pokeball, a special pokeball.' And starts [moving towards me], and I'm like ok, be prepared, you got this... he got the Pokeball and said I choose you," Hernandez said.