Chapter 20. Brock Joins the Team
Natsume roughly sorted out the idea for Shōko, and along the way had his Rotom Phone run several tests according to her experimental plan.
After the whole process, the sky dimmed, and it was already near dusk.
"I'm heading out first.
Keep in touch."
"Senior Natsume, take care!"
At the entrance of the Pewter Museum of Science, Shōko bowed deeply to Natsume's departing back.
Behind her, quite a few of her researcher colleagues from the museum had gathered, looking at Shōko with envy.
This kid had worked the shortest time, but as things stood, she might be the first to graduate and get League research credentials!
Though envious, everyone was also full of confidence in themselves.
When that Mr. Natsume left, he said that whenever there was a chance to hold a symposium, he would invite them.
He took the contact information of almost every researcher present, so this clearly wasn't just polite talk.
A symposium hosted by someone who would definitely become a Pokémon Professor in the future—no matter what, they had to go and learn!
And surely, a new Pokémon Professor would pick assistants, right?
After saying goodbye to everyone at the Pewter Museum of Science, Natsume went straight back to the Pokémon Center and immediately placed a call to Professor Oak.
Soon, a face with dark circles, bedhead, and the look of a worn-out old man who hadn't slept for two days and two nights popped up on the screen.
"Natsume?
Why is it you!"
"Click!"
Professor Oak hung up, out of sight, out of mind.
Natsume scratched his head, deciding it might be that he was too far from home and Professor Oak missed him so much he couldn't sleep, so he dialed again.
"Speak.
What is it this time?
And let's be clear, I will absolutely, absolutely, absolutely never help you revise a paper again."
Professor Oak's expression turned utterly done-with-life; his usually kind eyes now looked like those of a red-eyed Gastly, as if they could eat someone alive.
Natsume cleared his throat.
"Ahem.
I couriered a Wishing Star to you."
"What did you say?
A Wishing Star?
Where did you get it!"
The fatigue vanished from Professor Oak's face, replaced by shock.
"Someone gave it to me.
Apparently they picked it up at Mt. Moon."
"Found in Kanto?"
Professor Oak's expression suddenly became extremely grave.
"Natsume, do you know why Wishing Stars have only been discovered in Galar?"
"I do.
Because, drawn by Galar particles, the fall trajectories of Wishing Stars skew toward the Galar region."
"Mm.
Since you say someone picked this up at Mt. Moon—"
Halfway through his sentence, Professor Oak stared straight at Natsume.
"That would mean there might be something like Galar particles at Mt. Moon?"
Natsume, wearing a strange look, took the line.
In fact, when he learned from Flint that he'd found the Wishing Star at Mt. Moon, Natsume had considered that possibility.
But, thinking that Mt. Moon showed no abnormalities while giant Pokémon appeared elsewhere, Natsume leaned more toward a Wishing Star having fallen somewhere in Kanto, then by a twist of fate ending up at Mt. Moon where Flint found it.
"Natsume, you did very well!
I'll apply to the League to organize a team to survey Mt. Moon."
Professor Oak's voice followed in quick succession.
He knew perfectly well what Natsume's Wishing Star meant.
If it were real, Kanto might very well become the second region after Galar to promote Dynamax!
Hearing this, Natsume nodded.
Having the League send people to investigate was good, too.
If they really found any clues, he could easily get the news from Professor Oak, which would certainly help with the system's later task to decipher giant Pokémon.
"By the way, Professor Oak."
Natsume seemed to remember something and reminded him, "My Wishing Star is the size of a fist."
"A fist-sized piece!"
Professor Oak started, then said, "You lucky kid.
To make a single Dynamax Band, even a Wishing Star shard the size of a fingernail would do."
"Exactly."
Natsume nodded.
"So keep half of that Wishing Star as evidence.
As for the rest, please ask Professor Magnolia in Galar for a favor—make as many Dynamax Bands as possible."
"Alright, no problem!"
With such good news, Professor Oak's voice grew ringing and firm.
"Natsume, I got the Boulder Badge!"
No sooner had the call ended than Ash's voice came from outside.
Natsume turned and saw three figures.
"Hmph, what's that supposed to mean?
It was Brock letting you have it."
Misty, walking along, still took time to cut him down.
"Brock?"
Natsume looked up and directly at the narrow-eyed one following behind Ash.
"Natsume, guess what—Uncle Flint is actually Brock's father!
He's taken over the Gym now, and Brock's going to travel with us!"
Ash chattered excitedly on the side.
"Mm, that's pretty good."
Natsume pretended not to know, feeling a bit regretful he seemed to have missed a family-reunion drama.
"Hello, I'm Brock.
My dream is to become the world's number-one Pokémon Breeder!"
Brock reached out his hand and introduced himself to Natsume with due solemnity.
"Hello, I'm Natsume.
I plan to open an academy in the future.
If there's a chance to invite you to give a lecture, don't turn me down."
Natsume smiled and shook Brock's hand.
"Eh?
Natsume, you're going to open an academy?
Can we come?"
Misty and Ash looked at Natsume with curiosity.
"You're Gate Guard No. 1.
You're Gate Guard No. 2."
Natsume flicked each of them on the forehead.
"Quit looking down on people!
I'm the future Pokémon Master!"
"Yeah, and I'm the future Water-type Pokémon Master!"
The two seemed a little unconvinced and were about to say more, when they saw Natsume shouldering his pack.
"Let's go.
We're heading out."
"Eh?
It's so late already.
Aren't we resting for the night first?"
Even the ever-energetic Ash felt a bit surprised at Natsume's move.
"I think Natsume wants to go to Mt. Moon."
At the side, Brock spoke thoughtfully.
"What's that got to do with Mt. Moon?"
Ash and Misty turned in unison to look at Brock.
"Because Mt. Moon is most wondrous at night.
From Pewter City to Mt. Moon, it's about two days on foot.
Subtracting rest time on the road, if we set out now, we'll arrive on the evening of the third day."
Brock gave them a little lesson.
"Exactly.
That's the plan—let's move."
Natsume's voice drifted over.
When they looked back, he was already at the door.
The Wishing Star matter was important.
The League would probably act quickly, and three days later would be just about perfect timing.
Natsume calculated in his mind.
"Alright, no time like the present.
Let's set out now and witness Mt. Moon's wonders!"
Ash, full of drive, shouldered his pack and followed in Natsume's steps.
"Hey, wait for me.
Let me grab something!"
Misty, backpack on, hurried after them.
"Looks good."
Watching the trio's backs, Brock smiled faintly and followed as well.
Walking out the Pokémon Center's front doors, Natsume suddenly stopped.
Hiss—he felt like he'd forgotten something.
Had he?
"Pika—ka!"
In the backyard, on the revelry chair, center-parted Pikachu let out a roar of utter despair.
Right—his Pikachu!
Natsume smacked himself on the forehead.
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