Only a very small number of Pokémon that have reached their final evolutionary stage possess the ability to Mega Evolve…
After undergoing Mega Evolution, these Pokémon become far more ferocious and aggressive.
Even those with normally gentle temperaments can completely lose control.
But… despite such serious consequences, many Mega Evolution users—including Gurkinn himself—still consider Mega Evolution a "gift" bestowed upon ordinary Pokémon by the heavens.
Through Mega Evolution, ordinary Pokémon can unleash power on par with legendaries, drastically narrowing the gap between them.
And yet now… Haru was saying that two first-rank legendaries could evolve even further—and one of them was the Mewtwo standing right in front of them?!
Come on, seriously? You legendaries are already born on a whole other level, and now when us "commoners" finally get a little trick to narrow the gap, you still want to dip your hands in the pot too?
How's anyone supposed to keep playing fair if you're that outrageous?!
And besides—Mewtwo's genetic template, Mew itself, can't even Mega Evolve, so why should Mewtwo be able to?
If Mew could evolve further into, say, some kind of "Dense Big Mew" with a base stat total of 720, then fine—I'd admit it had the right to Mega Evolve.
Seeing everyone wearing the exact same "you've got to be kidding me" expression, Haru first reached out to help Mew No. 2 up off the ground, then finally explained:
"Don't look at me like that.
I'm not lying—Mewtwo really does have the potential to Mega Evolve.
And just like Charizard, she can evolve into either an X or Y form."
"Mewtwo X has a rougher, more masculine appearance and its typing is Psychic + Fighting.
Mewtwo Y, on the other hand, looks slimmer and more feminine, and remains purely Psychic."
"Of course, a dual type isn't always better than a single type."
As Haru spoke, he gave Mew No. 2 a meaningful glance.
He knew all too well that Mewtwo's choice of human form had to be a hundred percent Necrozma's suggestion-because no matter how you looked at it, it was way too similar to that certain customer service lady from That Time l Got Reincarnated and Killed My Weaker Past Self: The Daily Life Chronicles.
For a while, it really made Haru—this "reluctant father"—suspect he might go bankrupt in the future.
Still, that appearance was exactly why Haru subconsciously hoped Mewtwo would choose Mega Mewtwo Y as her evolutionary path.
Because frankly, Mega Mewtwo X was just way too much of a joke. Sure, it looked like it had high attack power, but its actual damage output wasn't even better than a Heatran's.
And this wasn't a game—it was real life. But the moveset pool doesn't magically change just because the setting does.
In the games, Mewtwo X doesn't learn Close Combat or Extreme Speed, so in reality it naturally wouldn't either.
The truth was: Mega Mewtwo X, as a physical attacker, simply had no reliable physical attacks to use.
Mega Mewtwo Y, on the other hand, had everything: from its signature Psystrike to wide-area Psychic abilities, Earth Power, Ice Beam—you name it. Almost no blind spots in coverage.
So if you really had to choose between the two…
Statistically, 99.9% of Mewtwo who wanted to rise up would pick Y.
After Haru helped her up, Mewtwo herself seemed to calm down a little.
She no longer paid any attention to Mew, just stared blankly at her hands, clearly lost in thought.
It was then that Gurkinn spoke:
"How do you know all this?"
There weren't many Mega Evolution users to begin with, and Gurkinn was confident he was among the people who understood it best…
Yet the things Haru had just mentioned—he'd never even heard of them.
And according to Haru's own story, Mewtwo had only recently been born in Team Rocket's labs. So how could he possibly know whether Mewtwo had the potential for Mega Evolution?
Unless Haru could… see the future?
Haru just shrugged.
"I know plenty—secrets of legendaries, myths from all over the world, truths buried in history."
"As for why I know them? Same as I told you before: I've seen it with my own eyes."
Being on the receiving end of a riddlemaster was pure torture—but being the riddlemaster yourself was pure joy.
Haru didn't feel like making up a backstory for his knowledge, so he just leaned into the mystery.
No one could force him to reveal anything.
As long as he never clarified, no one would ever uncover his secrets.
Cynthia fell into thought at his words. She remembered how when she'd once asked Haru about the origins of Sinnoh's mythology, he had answered in exactly the same way.
Could it be… Haru wasn't lying?
But how could that be? Who the heck was Haru, to know everything?
Haru, of course, had no idea what she was imagining. He casually tossed out a Poké Ball, recalling Mew—who had been making faces at Mewtwo—and continued:
"If you don't believe me, we can always test it.
Mega Evolution requires both the Pokémon's Mega Stone and the user's Key Stone. We don't have Mewtwo's Mega Stone here, but at the very least, we can test whether she resonates with a Key Stone."
"One test will tell us whether Mewtwo really has the potential for Mega Evolution."
Gurkinn didn't want to believe Haru, but still half-skeptically ran the test.
As an inheritor of Mega Evolution, he had more precise ways of measuring.
True, he couldn't reveal what the evolved form or abilities would be—but if it was just testing for the potential itself, he could do that.
And the result shocked everyone.
Everything Haru had said was true. This Pokémon named Mewtwo really did have the ability to evolve further.
And just as Haru described, she had two divergent branches—one leaning to raw physical offense, the other to overwhelming special power.
After that conclusion, Gurkinn grew so excited that he completely forgot about the danger of approaching a legendary Pokémon and actually tried to step closer to Mewtwo, intending to touch her.
But before he could take two steps, an invisible wall of psychic power stopped him cold, slamming him spread-eagled against the barrier.
Mewtwo's expression was one of naked disgust.
Though she had wandered among humans for some time, thanks to Team Rocket she still bore little goodwill toward them.
She wouldn't even allow them to come close, let alone touch her.
Of course, Haru—with his genetic link—was an exception…
But her coldness did nothing to dampen Gurkinn's passion. He seemed caught in some strange fervor.
"This… this is fascinating! I never expected Mew's genes to hold such potential for Mega Evolution.
Or perhaps… the potential comes not from Mew at all, but from the human genes themselves? Interesting. Could it be that human DNA hides some great secret?"
Muttering his theories to himself, the old man's gaze turned back on Haru, eyes blazing:
"So you plan to use her to practice Mega Evolution, then?
If she's your child, perhaps she truly fulfills the condition of a 'bond.'
Even if this is only your first time meeting."
At this, his tone grew strange.
He had met many Mega Evolution users, but never encountered a case like this—father and daughter fighting side by side.
And yet to call Haru some kind of pervert preying on Pokémon… no, that didn't fit. Mewtwo was a genetic creation of Team Rocket, and Haru himself was more of a victim—forced into the role of "dad."
Haru calmly shook his head.
"Some of her genes may come from me, but that doesn't mean she's my Pokémon.
If she's willing, I'll train her, help her develop her potential. But whether she leaves or stays by my side—that'll be her choice.
I won't force her to be my Pokémon."
He never intended to use "father" as a command.
In his mind, he only had a responsibility he had to shoulder.
As for forcing Mewtwo to obey him… pointless. Impossible. Better to let things run their natural course. He wasn't some wannabe tyrant who thought he could solve everything by throwing a Poké Ball.
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, Haru turned to Blue:
"So really, you don't need to worry about me using Mewtwo against you in battle. She's not my Pokémon."
Blue's face shifted into a curious expression.
…Oh. That's right. Which meant he wouldn't have to fight Mewtwo at all.
He quickly recalculated—subtracting a first-rank legendary with Mega potential—his odds suddenly looked a lot better.
Thinking it over, Blue decided: yeah, maybe he could win this after all.
The wind had stopped, the rain had passed. Blue was back in business!
Of course, on the surface he maintained his nonchalant bravado:
"What're you even saying, Haru? You think I'm scared?
I'm the Champion!"
Korrina, who had vaguely heard stories, piped up curiously:
"A ten-minute Champion, right? I don't remember the exact time, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't longer than half an hour."
"That's… that's not how it happened!"
And so Blue, overheating, began spouting lines about "Red having no honor" and "the terror of the master of counter-teams," filling the air with half-coherent bluster that left everyone around laughing.
Mewtwo, meanwhile, gave no response at all to Haru's words. She just kept staring down at her hands, perhaps to hide the faint blush at the corners of her eyes.
Since Haru had proven his information true, both Cynthia and Gurkinn—who had "research needs"—grew even more eager.
And when Haru mentioned more traits of Mewtwo's Mega Evolution, Gurkinn suddenly clapped his hands:
"Korrina, since you've reached the age for a journey, why not travel alongside Haru?
He hasn't mastered Mega Evolution yet, but he clearly has unique insights on training Pokémon to use moves. Learn from how he teaches them!"
"I don't know how he does it, but it must be some high-level training method."
Then his tone grew serious:
"And you must also teach him the fundamentals of Mega Evolution, guide him step by step to mastery.
Remember—record Mewtwo's condition at all times, especially after Mega Evolution! Understood?"
"Yes, Grandpa."
The blonde girl, eager for her long-awaited adventure, cheerfully agreed.
Originally, Gurkinn had wanted to keep Haru and Mewtwo nearby to study them…
But Haru had no interest in living under an old man's roof, and without a Mewtwo Y Mega Stone, Gurkinn had little choice but to compromise.
As compensation for looking after Korrina and sharing information on Mega Mewtwo, Gurkinn gave Haru a Key Stone, which Haru set into a pendant.
Now, if he could just get Mewtwo's Mega Stone, he would have everything needed for Mega Mewtwo Y.
Unfortunately, Mega Stones weren't easy to come by. He'd probably have to ask Steven, the stone enthusiast, if he had any "unknown" stones lying around.
As night fell, everyone dispersed.
Cynthia took Haru's contact info and address, promising to visit him again tomorrow.
Korrina, following her grandfather's orders, stuck close to Haru—her journey had officially begun.
Gurkinn himself was called back to his notes. Though Blue had hoped to strategize with him, Gurkinn's head was far too full of new Mega Pokémon discoveries to care. He rushed home to record his findings, leaving poor Blue standing in the wind, completely lost.
Dude, weren't you supposed to be my backup?
A huge question mark practically appeared above Blue's head.
---
Later that night, in Kanto…
The neon lights dimmed along the streets, leaving only a hazy glow in the air.
Few pedestrians remained. The occasional late-night wanderer strode quickly home, their shadows stretched long under the streetlamps, flickering with their steps.
A lone taxi rolled by, its empty sign flashing on and off, as if whispering the silence of the night.
A few Pidgeot flapped overhead, adding some life to a city sinking into darkness.
Haru strolled down the quiet street, but his mind couldn't settle. Instead, unease crept in.
Things seemed to be getting stranger and stranger.
He glanced at his companions—Liko, Mewtwo, and Korrina—and felt complicated.
Heaven help him, this time he really had come to do serious business. So why were more and more girls inexplicably gathering around him?
And now he was supposed to teach Korrina move usage techniques…
Should he actually teach her? If he really taught her everything, it might expose too much.
Why did every attempt to do something serious end up weird like this?
Korrina, of course, didn't overthink it. Leaving home for the first time had her practically glowing with excitement. She roller-skated circles, sneaking curious glances at Haru and Mewtwo.
Like her grandfather, she saw this as an excellent opportunity: a chance to train herself, and to study an entirely new kind of Pokémon.
Maybe when she went with Haru to meet Steven, she could even find the Mega Stone her Lucario needed.
Liko, however, was far less enthused about Korrina's arrival. Instead of another companion, she wanted Haru all to herself.
And the more people around, the higher the chance of someone catching her in the act when she did things she really shouldn't.
Lately, she'd felt her self-control slipping. Every so often, she found herself secretly doing things she knew she shouldn't.
Mewtwo, meanwhile, was uneasy.
Haru was taking her "home"… but would that home truly be hers?
She couldn't answer. She didn't even dare ask Haru the question.
…
The four of them walked on toward Haru's lodging, each lost in their own thoughts.
Haru hadn't bought a house in Kanto. His temporary residence was a hotel suite in Cerulean City.
Lusamine, ever the rich patroness, had offered to buy him a house there outright, but Haru had refused, claiming he wouldn't stay long-term.
In truth, he suspected Lusamine was only testing how long he planned to remain in Kanto.
If he'd accepted, it wouldn't have been long before both Lillie and Lusamine herself came "visiting" for all sorts of reasons.
Anyway, his battle with Blue was scheduled three days from now in Celadon City.
So he had some time to explore Kanto, maybe meet a few famous trainers.
Like Misty, the local Gym Leader in Cerulean; or Professor Oak in Pallet Town; or Erika in Celadon.
And maybe, after his match with Blue and catching some new Pokémon, he could even take on the Gym Challenge.
After all, beating Blue ≠ being Champion. As a titleless trainer, it was perfectly reasonable for him to collect badges.
So why not drop by the Cerulean Gym tomorrow?
Not that he was particularly interested in the Sensational Sisters' water ballet shows—he just wanted to see a Water-type Gym firsthand. And pick up a badge while he was at it.
With plans set, Haru returned to the hotel, gave the two spare rooms to Korrina and Mew, then went to bathe with Psyduck before turning in.
He'd had a long day, and though he felt fine, he still fell asleep almost instantly.
What he never imagined was that the real drama of the suite was only just beginning after he drifted off.
Alone in her room, Liko had meant to sleep quickly.
But her "bad girl" instincts suddenly flared up.
The moment she closed her eyes, her head filled with all kinds of wicked thoughts…
At first, she managed to suppress them. But as her body grew hotter, she finally couldn't resist—silently slipping out of bed.
Wearing only her pajamas, the girl glanced at the clock: past 2 a.m.
By her experience, unless Haru was in a battle, he'd be in a deep sleep by now.
So… should she go?
Bathed in the faint moonlight through the glass window, she stared at her room door, whispering the question to herself.
She knew Haru himself wouldn't notice—whether battling or sleeping, he'd never catch her.
But Korrina and Mewtwo were another matter. She wasn't familiar enough with them yet.
She hesitated a full five minutes before finally laying her hand on the doorknob.
She wasn't heading to Korrina's or Mewtwo's room anyway. Surely they wouldn't notice. Maybe they were already sound asleep.
Clinging to that slim hope, she crept out, padded softly across the suite, and pressed her ear to Haru's door, listening.
Just as she thought: silence. He was in a deep sleep.
So, heart pounding, she carefully pushed the door open and slipped inside.
I'm a bad girl… such a bad girl…
But I can't help it. No matter what I tell myself, I just can't stop.
Face burning red, Liko scolded herself in her mind, but her eyes wandered involuntarily to Haru—and to the pile of clothes beside him.
Haru had a habit of sleeping nude.
But she had… underestimated Mewtwo a little.