Time flew by.
It had been a week since Eevee was born, and today was also the day Kai and the others were leaving for their trip.
After washing up in the morning, Kai woke Eevee and prepared for departure.
Vermilion City wasn't far from Viridian City, which was one reason the Psychology Club chose it as a destination.
Eevee knew today's schedule. Hearing Kai's call, it blinked awake drowsily. Instinctively, it reached for the Silk Scarf, but even after a week, draping the large scarf properly was still tricky.
"Here, I'll keep it safe for you." Kai held out his hand.
Besides Kai, the Silk Scarf was perhaps the most important thing to Eevee—the first gift from Kai and his parents, a source of warmth and constant companion for a week. The little one cherished it deeply.
Once the scarf was off, Eevee immediately felt a bit empty and unsettled. With a slightly mournful expression, it hopped onto Kai's shoulder.
"Haha, let's go."
............
The Viridian No. 1 High School Psychology Club had five members.
Besides Kai and Maya, there were President Luis, Vice President Maxwell, and club member Dawn.
Kai arrived relatively late; the other four were already gathered. Seeing him, they immediately joked, "The new president has arrived!"
"Come on, cut it out." Kai scratched his head and smiled.
"Alright then, let's head out and try to reach our destination by noon," Luis said.
The West Coast Resort was a famous tourist spot in Vermilion City, known for its first-class sunshine, air, beach, and seawater.
The exact origin of its name was lost to history, but it was known that the area had originally been a relatively small Secret Realm. After a long period of integration with Earth, no trace of the realm remained.
"Eevee, you'll need to go into your Poké Ball for a bit, but I'll let you out again soon."
Trains didn't allow Pokémon outside their balls, so Kai had no choice but to explain this to Eevee. Security checks also required Pokémon to be inside their balls. These were the rules.
"Vee…" Eevee looked more aggrieved.
"A Pokémon's newborn stage is the most adorable time; you must cherish it. My Geodude was the same… so well-behaved at first, but after evolution, its temper became terrible," Maxwell said.
"Isn't that because evolving made it impossible for you to hold anymore? Of course it got annoyed. At least it hasn't hugged you with those rocky arms," Dawn replied.
The five chatted and finally boarded the maglev train.
The service was notably good.
"Dear passengers, the train will depart in 28 minutes. During the wait, we will provide beverages. A special reminder: our 'Magikarp Splash Soda' is a very famous drink that lets you experience the thrill of a Splash attack. Don't miss it."
"I'll have one," Maya said.
"+1", "+1", "+1", "+1" — the other four ordered as well.
The essence of human nature is to follow the crowd, it seems.
The journey was long, leaving phones as the main companion. On the train, few initiated conversation; everyone picked up their phone.
Kai had planned to watch a movie, but without Eevee, it felt boring alone.
He closed the movie app and opened his chat group.
Lucas: I solemnly remind everyone: do NOT throw your Poké Ball. Those tutorial videos are deceptive. Do not attempt it!
Homeroom Teacher: Please do not damage your Poké Balls. Do not damage your Poké Balls. Do not damage your Poké Balls. We will teach you proper throwing technique when school starts.
"Heh, still so green…" Kai remained perfectly calm.
He'd had the foresight to practice extensively with a weighted training ball long before receiving his Pokémon egg.
Kai scrolled through the chats a while longer but soon grew bored. After a moment's thought, he began searching for information about Dojos.
Vermilion City had several dojos, which intrigued him. If he had the chance, he wanted to visit one.
It was said that Trainer Dojos originated during the War of Magical Creatures, with prototypes also appearing in anime lore.
Before the Pokémon Alliance formed, the first groups of Trainers established non-governmental organizations to protect towns from wild Pokémon and share command experience—the embryo of the dojo system.
After the Alliance formed, many countries established Trainer Associations, absorbing most non-governmental Trainers.
However, due to initial manpower shortages and inability to manage all areas, such independent organizations persisted.
After the War, someone from the Johto region combined newly emerging martial arts with training Fighting-type Pokémon, achieving excellent results. Seeking fame and fortune, they established a dojo to teach their methods, which gained a following.
Since then, the dojo model was widely imitated. Trainers who survived the War created various distinct schools based on their specialties. For instance, meditative disciplines from other regions produced some of the first powerful Psychic-type users. In various places, philosophical principles also became training concepts and combat techniques, such as focused "Meditative Arts."
Of course, due to the high fees dojos charged for imparting knowledge, many dubious, profit-driven dojos emerged during that period. The situation gradually improved after crackdowns by Trainer Associations.
Moreover, with the spread of standardized education and technological development, weaker dojos faded away, were absorbed by Associations, or transformed.
Vermilion City housed several dojos that survived to this day, some reportedly founded by notable Psychic-type users. The dojo masters were often senior members of the local Trainer Association with prominent status.
Wealthy families didn't just send their children to key high schools; they also spent considerable sums to have them apprentice at these dojos—learning battle techniques, cultivation philosophies, and gaining better development.
"A dojo… isn't that like the Saffron City Fighting Dojo from the anime?" Kai mused.
Kai knew little about such things. While official Pokémon media sometimes mentioned various schools—like the Grass-Field Style, Torrent Style, or Boulder Style—he didn't know how effective they'd be in reality.
However, since dojos had survived to the present, they must have unique merits.
Though the founders of each school varied in strength, they were granted noble titles in their time.
Pokémon Master.
Kai read the title silently. It sounded pretty cool—something to aspire to if given the chance.