"Jake, get up!"
"It's mock exam day. If your teacher calls me again, I'll tan your hide!"
Jake bolted upright, startled, eyeing the woman with a spoon at the door. Reflexively, he mumbled, "Got it, Mom, I'm up."
Mom nodded, satisfied, and returned to the kitchen to finish breakfast.
Jake scratched his head, confused. "A 3500-a-month desk jockey taking mock exams? Wait, didn't I rent a place near the office? Why's Mom here?"
He got up to ask why she'd come to cook breakfast. Passing the wardrobe, he caught a glimpse in the full-length mirror.
"What the—? Is that me?"
Staring at the youthful face in the reflection, he touched his lips. "No beard! Ha, no scratchy stubble!"
Unable to contain his joy, Jake let out a whoop. "Hell yeah! I'm back!"
"Quit yelling and come eat!" Mom called.
"Coming!" he replied, bounding to the bathroom.
Splashing water on his face, Jake studied his seventeen-year-old reflection, thinking, I missed the isekai train, but somehow I'm a reborn kid now? Still just as good-looking. Man, I was an idiot for ignoring that talent scout. Maybe this time I'll be a star.
Humming excitedly, he mused, "A celebrity! I know all the movies and shows that'll blow up. Mix in with the right crowd, and I'm set!"
Grinning, Jake strutted to the living room—then froze. "A Clefairy?!"
A Clefairy was struggling to carry a tray of plates, wobbling in the living room. "This is a dream, right? Gotta be a dream!"
A sharp, needle-like pain stabbed his head. "Oh… so that's it," Jake muttered, wincing. "Not reborn. The world's changed."
He hadn't changed—the world had.
"You two, breakfast! School and work wait for no one. Don't be late!" Mom snapped, glaring at Jake, who was still dazed by the bathroom door, and Dad, who was buried in a newspaper on the couch.
"Coming, coming!" they chimed in unison, exchanging a glance of mutual appreciation. Father and son, perfectly in sync.
They sat to eat.
"Jake, you know what's at stake," Mom said, clutching a pancake, her eyes narrowing. "If your teacher calls about this mock exam, you're done."
"Got it, got it," Jake said, forcing a smile. The world's different now. Who knows what this exam's about?
"Mark, head to the shop after this," Mom continued, turning to Dad. "Don't hide in your study. Feed the Pokémon with Clefairy first, then mind the store. Kids like Jake are getting their first Pokémon soon, so business should be good. I'll join you later."
Dad swallowed his food slowly. "Sure thing, honey."
Mom shot Jake a sneaky glance. What's that look for? Jake thought, pretending not to notice in the cramped dining room. Mom blushed, giving Dad a playful glare, her tone softening. "I'll clean up here, grab some groceries, and meet you at the shop soon."
"Sounds good. I'll wait," Dad replied.
"Mom, Dad, I'm done. Off to school!" Jake, unable to stand the mushy vibe, grabbed his backpack and bolted downstairs.
"Slow down! Do well on the exam!" Mom called after him.
"Got it!" he shouted back.
"That kid," Mom sighed.
Walking to school, Jake mulled over the new info flooding his mind. The world's structure hadn't changed much, but instead of nuclear arsenals, the five major powers had pacts with legendary Pokémon. Only five nations had such alliances:
The Eastern Union with Rayquaza.
The Western Federation with Yveltal.
The Northern Bloc with Regigigas.
The Island Dominion with Lugia.
The Southern Alliance with Cresselia, though they kept pushing to join the big leagues, unaware Cresselia might bolt if she knew.
Smaller nations had their own pacts. The Frostland had Zapdos, its neighbor had Moltres—constantly at odds, lucky Articuno stayed out of it in the far north. The Canal Republic had Latios and Latias, sticking to their waterways. Others, like the least populous nation, had Uxie, while places like the Iron Plains had Registeel, the Glacier Isle had Regice, and the Desert Coast had Regirock.
Some legendaries roamed free, rarely seen—Kyurem in the high mountains, Ho-Oh spotted near ancient ruins. Others, like Suicune, Entei, Raikou, and the Swords of Justice, wandered the world.
"Hey, Jake, you're early! Usually don't see you at this hour," a voice called. A teen dashed up, slinging an arm around Jake's neck.
"It's mock exam day, man. Gotta be on time," Jake said, shrugging off the arm and rolling his eyes.
This was Ethan, Jake's lifelong friend. Their parents were close, so they'd grown up together, practically brothers. Ethan was the "perfect kid" Jake's parents always praised—great grades, but Jake knew his real, goofy personality and didn't care about the label.
"Should be fine, right? Just those tricky final questions," Ethan said, grinning. The school tacked on obscure Pokémon trivia to the exam, meant to separate the nerds from the normies. Those questions were the key to top universities.
"Ugh, I'm not feeling great about it," Jake admitted. In his old life, he was a Pokémon fanatic—games, anime, manga, even a semi-popular video creator online. But who knew what this world's exam would throw at him?
"No sweat. If I'm near you, I'll sneak you some answers," Ethan said, draping an arm over Jake's shoulder again.
Jake pushed it off, used to the routine. "Fine, whatever."
"Hey, after the exam, wanna hit your family's shop? We get to pick our first Pokémon today. Got any ideas?" Ethan asked, buzzing with excitement.
Senior year's final mock exam, three months before the big test, let students choose their first Pokémon—either a newborn or an egg. Eggs hatched Pokémon with higher bonds, but newborns let you check their potential, though better ones cost more. After three months of training, the college entrance exam's practical and written tests—each 50% of the score—decided your future. Excelling in one could get you special admission, but that was rare.
"Haven't decided yet. You?" Jake asked.
"I'm set on a sun team, but I'm torn. Vulpix? Torkoal? Or maybe a strong starter like Charmander, Houndour, or Growlithe?" Ethan said, counting on his fingers.
"Go for a heavy hitter to ace the practical," Jake advised. "But Charmander's pricey, and Growlithe are rare—mostly with law enforcement. You sure?"
Ethan grinned. "Forgot about my aunt? Her Arcanine had pups. She asked if I want one, or she'll give it to the force. I'm still debating…"
"Are you kidding?!" Jake nearly jumped, smacking Ethan's head twice. "Growlithe! It evolves into Arcanine—555 base stats, looks badass, and hits hard. Perfect for your sun team. What's there to debate? You waiting for a legendary or something?"
"Alright, alright," Ethan laughed, rubbing his head. "I'll call her this afternoon and lock it in. Arcanine can set up sun anyway, so I'm good. What about you?"
"If you're going sun, I'll build a rain team," Jake teased.
"You jerk!" Ethan laughed, and the two started roughhousing on the way to school.
Back home, Dad finished breakfast and set his newspaper on the coffee table. "Honey, I'm heading to the shop," he called to Mom in the kitchen.
"Alright, mind the store. I'll be there soon," she replied.
"Got it." Dad slipped on his jacket and left, the newspaper's bold headline facing up on the table.