"Professor Oak, why are you at my house again?"
"Hahaha, it's you, Ash!"
"You're leaving on your journey tomorrow, remember? Make sure to show up early to pick your starter Pokémon. Don't be late!"
At the doorway, Professor Oak hurried off like the wind.
Ash turned to look at him, slightly confused.
But he quickly perked up—tomorrow marked the first major step toward his dream of becoming a Pokémon Master!
Getting his very own starter Pokémon.
As for Professor Oak's warning not to be late, Ash didn't think much of it.
He had already arranged everything with his buddy Natsume, who worked at Professor Oak's lab. Natsume had promised to keep an eye out for him.
The Next Day – Professor Oak's Laboratory
"Wha—They're all gone!?"
A startled voice rang out, startling a few Spearow from the trees nearby.
Inside the lab, a boy clutched his head in despair.
Off to the side, Professor Oak was flipping through a small notebook. Watching the crestfallen Ash, he sighed and shook his head.
"Silly boy. How could you trust Natsume to save you a Pokémon? That kid never wakes up before noon."
Ash: "..."
The mood turned awkward and heavy.
Suddenly, a sharp whoosh split the air.
Thud!
A red-and-white Poké Ball smacked Ash square on the head.
Unfortunately, the Poké Ball's sensors didn't detect a Pokémon, and though the red light flared briefly, it didn't attempt to capture him.
"Ow! Natsume! How many times do I have to tell you—I'm not a Pokémon! Quit throwing Poké Balls at me, that hurts!"
Ash winced in pain, clutching his head as he looked toward the doorway.
A tall, lean teenager stepped through, silhouetted by the morning sun.
As he got closer, his appearance became clearer—dressed in casual sportswear, with fair skin and delicate features, he gave off a refined, bookish aura. He seemed like a polite, well-mannered young man.
Floating beside him was a smartphone with tiny electric wings buzzing softly.
Natsume just shrugged at Ash's protest.
"Who knows?"
He sighed, bent down, and picked up the still-beeping Poké Ball.
32 failed attempts to capture the strongest humanoid Pokémon: Ash Ketchum.
[Ding! D-Rank Research Topic – "Is Ash a Humanoid Pokémon?" Decoding Progress Complete. Conclusion: No.][Reward: 1 Scratch Card!]
Natsume's eyes lit up as a new scratch card materialized in his system space.
Finally! That made ten of them!
Just as he was wondering whether to head home, shower, and enjoy a celebratory ten-card pull, Ash's voice rang out again, full of frustration.
"Natsume! Where's the starter Pokémon I asked you to hold for me?"
Natsume froze. Ash looked like he was about to explode.
"Don't tell me you forgot! I just got roasted by Gary outside!"
"Oh, that?" Natsume turned to face him, looking sincere.
"Of course I didn't forget. What I've prepared for you is… a very special Pokémon—unlike anything the other trainers got."
"Super rare and super valuable~"
His tone was almost hypnotic. Ash blinked, intrigued.
Since Natsume was Professor Oak's assistant, maybe it really was something good?
His eyes sparkled with curiosity and excitement.
Natsume walked over and pressed a hidden switch behind Ash.
With a soft click, a mechanical lift slowly raised a creature into view.
A small, yellow rodent Pokémon.
"Whoa! That looks awesome! It must be super strong!"
Ash's eyes sparkled as he pulled out his newly issued Pokédex and aimed it at the Pokémon.
A mechanical voice rang out:
Pikachu – Mouse Pokémon. So common they're like stray mutts on the street.
Ash: "..."
"Natsume... didn't you say this Pokémon was super rare? Hello? Natsume?"
Ash turned around—only to find Natsume was no longer in the room.
Instead, he was already outside, pointing behind Ash.
Ash and Professor Oak turned around—only to meet the furious glare of Pikachu.
Apparently, the Pokédex's brutally honest description had offended it.
"Pika—CHUUU!!"
A Thunderbolt surged through the lab. Both Ash and Professor Oak were instantly fried.
"N-Natsume... you're so unreliable..."
Ash lay charred on the floor, his pajamas scorched black. He lifted a trembling finger and pointed at the unscathed Natsume outside the lab.
What a poor kid.
Natsume just shook his head.
This Pikachu really was special.
[Ding! Special individual Pikachu detected!][S-Rank Research Topic unlocked: "Decode Ash's Pikachu!"]
As expected, Ash's Pikachu was a unique specimen.
When Natsume had first crossed into the Pokémon world, he had bound himself to the Pokémon Research System.
As long as he continued to discover and study unusual individuals within common species, he could keep earning rewards.
The first Pokémon that came to mind?
Naturally, Ash's Pikachu.
Its Thunderbolt was so powerful that even Arceus would need a plate to block it. That level of strength clearly marked it as a rare outlier.
Watching Ash and Professor Oak twitching on the ground, Natsume smiled gently.
"Ash, I already spoke to Aunt Delia. I'll be traveling with you."
Outside Oak's Lab
A small crowd had gathered.
Today, five trainers were departing from Pallet Town, and the townsfolk had come to see them off.
Three had already left. Now it was Ash and Natsume's turn.
In the crowd, Delia (Ash's mom) was busy stuffing bags into Ash's arms.
"Here's your water bottle, tent, rope... and take these rubber gloves—who knows when they'll come in handy!"
"Okay, okay, Mom!"
Ash's hands were almost full to bursting.
Delia smiled gently and added, "And remember, Natsume's going with you."
"I know, Mom. He already told me back at the lab."
Ash scratched his head.
But something felt off. The neighbors were watching with intense enthusiasm—way more than when Gary and the others left.
"Haha, good. On the road, you need to look after Natsume, alright?"
"Got it, Mom. I'll listen to Natsume—wait, what!?"
Ash froze, pointing at himself in disbelief.
His expression said, "You want a ten-year-old to take care of an eighteen-year-old adult?"
Oddly enough, none of the neighbors found this strange. In fact, they all chimed in:
"Exactly, Ash! Please take care of Natsume for us!"
"Yeah, don't forget—he's from Sinnoh, not from Pallet Town! Make sure to explain things to people you meet!"
"Uh… sure."
Ash scratched his head, overwhelmed by all the voices. Eventually, he just nodded along.
Everyone's acting so weird…
Just then, a shout came from afar:
"Ash! Let's get going!"
It was Natsume, wearing a fresh tracksuit and carrying a travel backpack. He was waving with a bright smile.
Seeing everyone gathered to see them off, Natsume felt a surge of emotion.
He'd lived in Pallet Town for five years now. The warm-hearted anime vibes of this world were starting to get to him.
Someday, when he became a true Pokémon Research Master, he'd return to repay these simple townsfolk.
"Go, Ash! Never give up on your dream!"
"Yeah, you're gonna be a Pokémon Master someday! Until then, make sure to guide Natsume well!"
Everyone was encouraging them.
"Alright, I'm off! When I become a Pokémon Master, I'll come back and visit everyone!"
Ash smiled and waved as he and Natsume set off together.
Under the setting sun, their shadows stretched long across the road.
Outside Oak's Lab – Moments Later
As Natsume and Ash disappeared into the distance, the crowd's mournful expressions evaporated.
In their place?
Unfiltered joy.
"He's gone—he's finally gone! That demon Natsume is out of here!"
Someone cheered.
"Praise Arceus! Ever since he moved here from Sinnoh five years ago, my Ponyta hasn't slept a wink!"
"And my Oddish—he kept using it for..."