The walk home from the academy felt longer than usual.
Ray's mind was swimming with possibilities. Ranger. Researcher. Breeder. Doctor. He had never imagined that being a trainer would lead him to this kind of fork in the road. For so long, everything had been about becoming stronger, guiding Pidgeotto and now Dratini—but now, the world had widened.
When he arrived home, his mother noticed immediately.
"You're quiet today," she said, setting down a warm plate for him.
"Something happen at the academy?" his father added, glancing over the rim of his tea.
Ray hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah… Instructor Delan explained the specialization tracks. Said we can choose careers beyond being just battle trainers."
His parents exchanged a look—curious, not surprised.
"That's a big decision," his father said. "But it has to come from you. We'll support you, whatever path you choose."
His mother smiled gently. "Don't rush it. Let yourself feel what pulls you most. The right path has a way of revealing itself."
That Evening
Ray sat outside with Kira, both of them looking up at the stars. Pidgeotto rested nearby, and Machoke—recently evolved and proudly stoic—stood like a guardian behind Kira.
"So," Kira said, breaking the silence. "You've been quiet. Thinking about the specializations too?"
Ray nodded. "Yeah. I've been considering it a lot. Being a Ranger sounds… right. After everything that happened last year in the forest, I can't shake the feeling that I want to be able to protect others properly."
Kira blinked, surprised. "That's exactly what I was thinking. I mean, I love battling—but Rangers are out there making a real difference. And if I want to be the best Fighting-type trainer, I need to understand wild environments too."
Ray chuckled. "Guess we think alike."
"But," he added, "I'm also considering Researcher."
She turned to him, brows raised. "Really? You? The guy who jumps into danger without blinking wants to become a researcher?"
Ray grinned. "Yeah. I mean, I'm not saying I want to be stuck in a lab all day, but… I have this project in mind. Something big. If I can pull it off, I think it could change how people interact with Pokémon forever."
Kira tilted her head, intrigued. "What kind of project?"
"I can't say yet," he replied, lowering his voice. "But let's just say it has to do with understanding Pokémon potential better than anyone ever has."
She punched his shoulder playfully. "Well, if anyone can pull off something crazy like that, it's you."
Ray smiled, warmth blooming in his chest. "Thanks. That means a lot."
The End of the Week
When Friday came, Instructor Delan called students one by one to submit their chosen paths.
When it was Ray and Kira's turn, they stepped forward together.
"Specializations?" Delan asked, eyes flicking between them.
"Ranger," Kira said confidently. "I want to become the strongest Fighting-type Ranger in the League."
"Ranger as well," Ray added. "And Researcher."
Delan blinked. "Both?"
Ray nodded. "I've made up my mind."
The instructor crossed his arms, considering. "Ranger is already a demanding path—requires stamina, strategy, survival instinct. But Researcher… it's a whole other world. Data. Analysis. Long-term studies. It doesn't pair well with field-heavy careers."
Ray didn't waver. "I know. But I've seen things. I understand Pokémon in a way others don't. If I don't follow that lead, it'd feel like I'm wasting something important."
Delan was silent for a moment. Then: "There's only one trainer I know who ever managed to balance high-level training and groundbreaking research."
Ray already knew the name before he said it.
"Professor Oak," Delan finished. "A Champion and one of the most respected minds in modern Pokémon science. But he's one in a million."
"I don't want to be him," Ray replied. "I want to be me. I'm ready to try."
Delan gave a rare smile—faint but approving. "Very well. You've earned the right to try."
He marked the tablet and waved them off.
As they stepped outside, Kira gave him a sideways glance. "One in a million, huh?"
Ray shrugged with a grin. "Guess I better start working like it."