Kaito woke before the sun. He sat up on the cot and listened. The lab was quiet. He could hear the soft steps of someone moving in the hall. He felt Bulbasaur breathing on the floor and Rattata curled near the door. He put on his jacket and stepped outside.
The air was cool. The sky was pale. He walked down the hill toward the center of town. He kept his hands in his pockets. He kept his eyes on the path. He wanted to see who was awake and what work needed doing.
A woman was sweeping in front of her house. She looked up when she saw him.
"Good morning, Kaito," she said. "You and your Pokémon look well."
"Good morning," Kaito answered. He nodded. He did not stop. He walked past the small shop and toward the stream. He had a training plan in his head. He would do short drills with Bulbasaur and focus work with Rattata. He would check on the small boy who played near the bakery. He would follow Oak's rules.
At the stream, he set down his pack. He took out a small cloth and wiped Bulbasaur's leaves. He checked Rattata's paws. Both looked healthy. He called them close.
"Bulbasaur, follow my hand," he said.
Bulbasaur stepped forward and matched his hand. Kaito moved his hand slowly in a circle. Bulbasaur walked around him and kept its eyes on his face. Kaito kept his voice calm.
"Good. Rattata, stay low and watch my hand," he said.
Rattata crouched and watched. Kaito held a small stick and tapped it on the ground. He moved the stick left and right. He counted in his head and kept the rhythm steady. He wanted Rattata to learn timing and to move with the stick.
"Rattata, Quick Attack on the mark," he said.
Rattata waited. When Kaito tapped the stick twice, Rattata dashed forward and tapped the stick with its shoulder. It returned and sat. Kaito gave it a small piece of bread.
A line of text appeared in his mind.
SYSTEM – APPRAISAL Pokémon: Rattata Type: Normal Current Tier: D Potential Tier: B Notes: Improved timing; responds to rhythm-based drills
Kaito read the appraisal. He felt the facts. He did not let the facts tell him what to do. He used them to plan. He set the next drill.
"Bulbasaur, Vine Whip to the left, then hold," he said.
Bulbasaur lashed its vine to the left and held the position. Kaito moved a small rock into place and then asked Bulbasaur to pull it back.
"Bulbasaur, Vine Pull," he said.
Bulbasaur pulled the rock and placed it where Kaito wanted. Kaito checked Bulbasaur's breathing. He gave it water. He gave Rattata a rest.
People walked by and watched. A few nodded. A child waved from the bakery yard. The child was the small boy Kaito had seen before. He was older by a few months and he held a toy. He looked at Kaito and then at Bulbasaur. He smiled.
Kaito waved back. He kept his focus on the drills. He did not want to be distracted. He wanted to make each repetition count.
At midmorning, Oak walked down the hill. He had a small notebook and a calm face. He sat on a rock and watched Kaito train.
"You are steady," Oak said. "You keep the sessions short. You watch the Pokémon. That is good."
Kaito looked at Oak. He said, "I follow your rules. I watch their breathing. I stop when they look tired."
Oak nodded. He wrote a note and then closed the book.
"Today a traveling trainer will pass through," Oak said. "He likes to test young trainers. He will not be mean, but he will push. Be ready."
Kaito felt a small tension. He did not want trouble. He also wanted to learn. He said, "I will be ready."
Oak stood and walked away. He left Kaito with a small piece of advice.
"If you fight, keep it clean," Oak said. "Protect the route. Protect the people. Do not fight for show."
Kaito watched Oak go. He felt the truth of the words. He set a new drill for Rattata. He wanted Rattata to be ready for quick changes.
"Rattata, Quick Attack, then Dodge left," he said.
Rattata practiced the move. It moved fast and then slid left. Kaito gave it a reward. He felt the system in his mind.
SYSTEM – TRAINING COMPLETE 10× Efficiency Applied
The message was short. Kaito read it and felt the work count. He did not feel like he had cheated. He felt like his practice had been more effective.
A shout came from the road. Voices rose. Kaito looked up. A trainer walked into town with a small team. He had a confident step and a bright cap. He looked at Kaito and smiled.
"Hey, kid," the trainer said. "You train here? I'm passing through. Want a quick match? Nothing big. Just a test."
Kaito looked at Bulbasaur and Rattata. He checked their breathing. He thought about Oak's rules. He thought about the people in town. He nodded.
"Okay," Kaito said. "One match. Clean fight. No rough moves."
The trainer laughed. He sent out a Pidgey first. Kaito sent out Rattata.
"Rattata, Quick Attack!" Kaito called.
Rattata dashed forward and hit Pidgey. Pidgey flapped and used Gust. The wind hit Rattata and pushed it back.
"Rattata, Dodge and Bite!" Kaito shouted.
Rattata dodged and bit Pidgey's wing. Pidgey fell. The trainer called it back.
"Good speed," the trainer said. "You handle your Pokémon well."
Kaito kept his voice steady. He said, "Thank you."
The trainer sent out a Bellsprout next. Kaito sent out Bulbasaur.
"Bulbasaur, Vine Whip!" Kaito ordered.
Bulbasaur lashed its vine and hit Bellsprout. Bellsprout used Wrap and tried to hold Bulbasaur.
"Bulbasaur, Sleep Powder!" Kaito said.
Bulbasaur released powder. Bellsprout's eyes closed. It fell asleep. The trainer recalled it.
The trainer sent out a Geodude. He smiled and said, "This will test your strength."
Kaito looked at the rock Pokémon. He thought about the field. He thought about Rattata's speed and Bulbasaur's vines.
"Rattata, come!" Kaito said.
Rattata ran forward. It moved low and fast.
"Rattata, Quick Attack then Sucker Punch!" Kaito shouted.
Rattata hit Geodude with Quick Attack. Geodude swung a rock arm. Rattata used Sucker Punch and hit Geodude hard. Geodude staggered.
"Geodude, Rock Throw!" the trainer called.
Rocks flew. Rattata dodged. Bulbasaur used Vine Whip to pull Rattata back.
The trainer called his last Pokémon, a Growlithe. He said, "This will be the end."
Kaito thought fast. He looked at Bulbasaur and Rattata. He thought about timing.
"Bulbasaur, Sleep Powder on Growlithe!" Kaito ordered.
Bulbasaur released powder. Growlithe's eyes drooped. It fell asleep. The trainer recalled it.
The trainer sighed and smiled. He said, "You win. You have good control and timing. I did not expect a child to handle three Pokémon like that."
Kaito bowed his head slightly. He said, "We train every day."
The trainer offered a small tip. He said, "Keep an eye on stamina. You push them hard. Rest is important."
Kaito nodded. He knew the trainer was right. He had used the system to speed training, but he had not pushed beyond what the Pokémon could handle. He had watched their breathing. He had stopped when they were tired.
After the match, the trainer walked to Oak and spoke quietly. Oak listened and then looked at Kaito.
"You kept the match clean," Oak said. "You followed the rules. That is good."
Kaito felt a small relief. He had wanted Oak to see he would not use the system to cheat. He had wanted Oak to know he would protect the route.
A child from the bakery yard ran up. He held a small toy and he looked at Kaito with wide eyes.
"Are you the boy who trains with Bulbasaur?" the child asked.
Kaito smiled a little. He said, "Yes. I train every day."
The child's mother called him back. She said, "Come on, Toma. Don't bother the trainer."
Toma waved and ran back. Kaito watched him go. He felt a small warmth in his chest. He did not know why. He only knew he wanted to keep training and to keep helping.
That afternoon, Oak asked Kaito to help with a small task at the lab. A visiting researcher had brought a sick Oddish and Oak wanted Kaito to help calm it while they checked its condition. Kaito agreed. He walked into the lab and sat with the Oddish. He spoke in a low voice and he let Bulbasaur sit nearby. The Oddish relaxed. The researcher thanked him.
"You have a calm way with Pokémon," the researcher said. "Keep that."
Kaito nodded. He felt the truth of the words. He felt tired and he felt the day in his bones. He fed Bulbasaur and Rattata and checked their paws. He gave them water and a small piece of bread.
A short line of text appeared in his mind as the sun moved low.
SYSTEM – TRAINING COMPLETE 10× Efficiency Applied
Kaito read the message and felt a steady satisfaction. He had worked and the work had counted. He had not used the system to force results. He had used it to make honest work more effective.
Before sleep, he sat by the window and watched the town lights. He thought about the trainer who had passed through. He thought about the child who had waved. He thought about Oak's words and the map Oak had given him. He thought about the system and the way it showed facts and numbers.
He closed his eyes and decided to keep training. He decided to keep his promise to protect Pokémon and people. He decided to be brave and careful. He decided to meet tests when they came and to use clear commands and calm timing. He decided to learn one step at a time.
Outside, the town was quiet. Inside, the lab light burned low. Kaito slept and the Rattata slept on a small mat near the door and Bulbasaur curled on a blanket. The system waited in the back of his mind, a set of facts and numbers that would appear when he needed them. For now, the work would be simple and the days would be long. Kaito would learn the rules of this world one step at a time.