"The world's very first Legendary Pokédex is about to be born?!"
"The story behind the so-called Legendary Guy—the real reason he's favored by the gods."
"The strongest researcher in history vs. the strongest modern researcher? Who's more powerful, the Oak of the past or Haru of today?"
"Professor Oak admired Haru for this reason—beating up Blue was a necessity?!"
Because of the first page of the Pokédex Haru completed at Professor Oak's home, the internet instantly exploded with a flood of rumors about him and Oak.
Most of it was baseless gossip, but the sheer volume was enough to show just how hot the topic had become.
Many people believed this was the signal of Haru's "march into" the research world.
Not that they thought he could ever become a respected Pokémon Professor, or that he'd get very far down that path.
But Oak's recognition of him was no joke—after all, Oak had never done something like publishing someone else's Pokédex entry before.
And everyone knows what kind of figure Professor Oak is… just having his approval was already more than enough to make people talk.
So Lacey spent the whole night scrolling through every bit of news about Haru online, even forgetting about her scheduled Pokémon training session.
She didn't even understand it herself—why was she so entranced…?
As for Kieran, having turned into a full-on panic-driven grinder, he tried to make up for his "fear" of Haru by hammering Drayton in battle today, and somehow managed to regain a bit of confidence.
That guy… he's growing way too fast. So fast Kieran could hardly accept it.
He had to vent his fear on someone, and the person who'd provoked him more than once before—Drayton—became the perfect target.
Fortunately, Drayton was something of a pushover, so Kieran didn't have to worry about being countered while unloading his stress.
Besides Kieran, there was another person at Blueberry Academy deeply troubled: the lowest-ranked Elite Four member, Fire-type specialist Crispin.
On the surface he looked brash and easygoing, but in truth he harbored a quiet fondness for Fairy-type Elite Four member Lacey. He just never had the courage to say it.
Now, though, with rumors about Haru and Lacey spreading everywhere, Crispin was panicking.
To make it worse, Lacey had been keeping a low profile lately. At first, she would at least halfheartedly deny a rumor or two, but eventually she stopped even bothering.
Why, Lacey? Why are you avoiding me?
If you weren't here, then I…
With that kind of tragic indignation in his heart, Crispin threw himself into the front lines of rumor control, trying to crush every bit of gossip that popped up.
He never expected that doing so only accelerated the spread and mutation of the rumors, turning things into even more of a circus.
In truth, Lacey and he were nothing more than ordinary friends, so all his anxiety was really misplaced.
Meanwhile, while Blueberry Academy was thrown into chaos by the unintentional storm Haru had kicked up, he himself was following Cynthia on a trip to the Unova region.
This time, though, Korrina and Liko didn't come with him.
According to Korrina, they had "girl talk" that couldn't be discussed in front of Haru, so they needed their own private space.
Haru didn't mind—he was only heading out to catch a Pokémon anyway, and he'd be back soon.
He just told the two girls to stay home and not run around, then set off for Unova.
Their goal this time: to visit one of Unova's strongest Trainers—Caitlin.
Among the Trainers Cynthia knew, Caitlin might not be the strongest, but she was definitely "the most Trainer-like."
Because she was a Psychic—one who, like Sabrina, had trouble controlling her powers.
If she lost a battle, her emotional outbursts could trigger her abilities to spiral out of control, causing massive destruction.
So instead of becoming a League challenger, Caitlin chose to remain in a place called the Battle Castle, letting her butler fight in her stead.
Of course, in Haru's memory, she eventually overcame her psychic instability and went on to become Unova's Psychic-type Elite Four.
Honestly, Haru didn't care much about her strength—he was more curious about what Caitlin looked like in reality.
In the games and anime she was the archetypal beautiful noble lady. In real life, she should be even more stunning, right?
But… before he and Cynthia could even notify Caitlin of their arrival at the Battle Castle, they ran into someone very unusual.
A young man with long green hair tucked under a baseball cap, dressed with impeccable care, but wearing a face clouded by unshakable melancholy.
He blocked Haru's path, staring at him intently.
Haru didn't react, simply stood where he was with a faint, playful smile, unconcerned about the man standing in his way.
Since Haru was taller, his downward gaze carried a natural weight, but the man didn't flinch—he continued to lock eyes with him.
Cynthia, confused, could only stand back and observe. Judging by Haru's expression, the two seemed to know each other.
After several long seconds, the green-haired man finally furrowed his brow and spoke:
"Why… why do I see fragments of her heart?"
"What does 'serving Father' mean…?"
Though his words were directed at Haru, his gaze remained fixed on Mew no. 2.
The black-haired beauty—Mewtwo in disguise—froze for a moment, then immediately flared up in outrage.
She shot him a furious glare and hastily threw several layers of psychic shields around her heart.
Seeing this, Haru finally spoke:
"You must be Mr. N of Team Plasma. I'd suggest you stop peeking, unless you want to be attacked."
"After all, not every Pokémon has Mewtwo's patience."
As he said this, Haru reached out to pat Mew no. 2's head—only to have her brusquely shove his hand away. She looked forceful, but hadn't actually used much strength, careful not to hurt him.
The name of the group, though, finally made Cynthia react.
"Team Plasma?!"
She had heard of them.
A criminal organization active in Unova, they used propaganda, persuasion, and outright theft to separate Pokémon from Trainers—seeking, in the end, to possess every Pokémon and rule the world.
Their public slogan: "Pokémon in human hands suffer misfortune; they should return to nature."
In short, the same as those extremist animal rights groups from Haru's past life: all "ideals" on the surface, all profit underneath.
Still, their public leader—the very man before them—was sincere in those ideals.
N admitted without hesitation:
"Yes, I am the leader of Team Plasma—the bridge between humans and Pokémon."
"Well then," Haru replied with a deeper smile, "what exactly do you want, standing in my way?
"By the way, when I think of a 'bridge,' the only kind I know are the Pokémon who carry us forward."
N frowned. There was something mocking in Haru's smile, but he pressed on, his eyes once again on Mewtwo:
"If I'm not mistaken… that's a Pokémon, isn't it? One who's suffered at human hands. Forced to fight for freedom the moment she was born. Truly pitiful."
Haru smoothly played along with N's narrative. He wasn't lying—this was Mewtwo's past. He just left out the details of her immense power.
And as he expected, N's eyes filled with pity.
"Humans enslave Pokémon for power. If you truly wish for your Pokémon's happiness, you should not force her to remain by your side.
"Nature—that is where she belongs."
Haru chuckled softly.
"You really think it's freedom to make a child leave her parents?"
N stiffened. "Then… as long as you release her whole family into the wild, wouldn't that be enough?"
Haru's smile sharpened. He leaned closer, voice low:
"Are you suggesting I release myself?"
"Lose my Pokémon, 'release' myself back into the wild, and die in some dark corner of the world at the hands of predators? That's what you're telling me, Mr. N?"
"?!"
For once, N was struck silent.
Haru took a sip from the insulated flask Mewtwo had pulled from one of her moves, then continued:
"You see, I am this child's father.
"Mewtwo is the true bridge between humans and Pokémon, born of both.
"She fled the organization that enslaved her, searched long for a home, and in the end came to me because she longed for family."
He screwed the cap shut and pronounced N's "death sentence" with finality:
"And your 'ideal' is to tear that away, to cast her back into wandering."
N faltered. For the first time, he doubted his ideals.
Could he really claim to grant Pokémon happiness by denying them the right to family?
And was it possible… that children of humans and Pokémon truly existed?
Haru stood, Cynthia beside him.
"Think carefully, N. What is it you're really chasing?
"For many Pokémon, their Trainer's side is the happiest place in the world. Who are you to say otherwise?
"And stop prying into Mewtwo's heart. If you truly respected Pokémon as 'people,' you wouldn't violate their inner world like that.
"Children as sensitive as her would never accept it."
Haru glanced at Mewtwo and smiled.
"Isn't that right, Mew no. 2?"
She didn't answer—just raised a clenched fist, her meaning clear.
N opened his mouth but had no words left.
His ability to hear Pokémon's hearts had always been his pride—proof, some said, that he was born of Pokémon himself.
But had he ever once asked for consent before using it?
Haru's parting words cut sharp:
"Farewell, Mr. N. I hope the next time I see you, it won't be in Officer Jenny's case files.
"Because I won't hold back."
With that, Haru and Cynthia walked into the Battle Castle, leaving N frozen in doubt.
Was Mewtwo… truly the bridge between humans and Pokémon?
---
Even across the whole of Unova, Caitlin was filthy rich.
Not only did she own "vacation villas" in multiple regions, she even had a castle built solely for battling.
According to Cynthia, she herself occasionally stayed in one of Caitlin's villas for holidays.
She hadn't seen Caitlin in a long while, though—life had been too hectic.
Now, meeting her bestie again after so long, even Cynthia was a little excited.
But unlike when she came, her mind wasn't on Caitlin at all.
Instead, she was still stuck on the bizarre exchange between Haru and N.
Perhaps the two of them understood each other, but to Cynthia it had just been…
A whole lot of incomprehensible blah blah blah.
"That man… does he really have the power to read Pokémon's hearts?"
"Yes," Haru replied, following a butler who introduced himself as Cilan through the corridor.
"He's not a bad person, really—just far too extreme, far too stubborn.
"He probably even knows his ideals have holes, but he refuses to think in that direction.
"Maybe that's why the Dragon of Ideals chose him.
"After all… believing in ideals doesn't need reasons."
"The Dragon of Ideals?"
Another new name Cynthia had never heard before.
"In simple terms, one of Unova's local Legendary Pokémon. Electric and Dragon type, representing yang. Strong, no doubt.
"Though in competitive play it got wrecked by Miraidon so hard it wasn't even funny.
'You're an Electric Dragon? I'm an Electric Dragon too. Only difference is—I one-shot with Discharge, and you… don't.'"
"…."
Cynthia didn't bother replying. She just thought to herself that Haru had to be some kind of Legendary magnet—how did he keep running into gods everywhere he went?
Maybe the "blessed by the gods" rumor was real after all.
No matter how absurd it sounded, Cynthia couldn't shake the feeling that Haru would one day have to face that dragon head-on.
With their own thoughts swirling, the two of them—and one annoyed feline—followed Cilan down the corridor until he finally stopped. According to Butler Cilan, their young lady was waiting for them in the room just ahead.