The seven-day summer camp quickly came to an end.
After handing the children over to their parents, Professor Oak took Fuyuki and Ash to Professor Oak's lab in Pallet Town.
"We're here! This is my lab!"
Professor Oak said with a smile to Fuyuki.
Fuyuki looked around curiously, and soon realized that it seemed pretty much the same as the one he remembered from the anime.
"Want to stay and play for a couple of days?" Professor Oak invited.
The trip had been so enjoyable for Fuyuki that he almost forgot about home. He was about to agree when Raikou telepathically told him,
"Little one, we should go back. Entei has returned to Mt. Tensei."
Fuyuki swallowed his words, shaking his head regretfully,
"No need, Professor Oak. We've been out for too long; it's time to go back!"
Seeing Fuyuki's determination, Professor Oak could only nod, "Alright."
Then, an embarrassed smile appeared on his face as he requested,
"Um… Fuyuki, I have a small favor I'd like to ask you for."
"What?" Fuyuki was taken aback.
Professor Oak's eyes lit up: "Could I take a picture with Raikou?"
Hearing this, Raikou frowned slightly.
It exchanged a glance with Fuyuki, then sighed helplessly.
Fuyuki grinned, "Dad agreed!"
Professor Oak's face lit up, and he quickly told his stunned assistant to get a camera to take a picture of him and Raikou.
With a click, the image froze.
Professor Oak looked at the photo, his heart filled with joy.
"Thank you, Fuyuki, Raikou."
"We'll be going now!" Fuyuki climbed onto Raikou's back, waving goodbye to Ash and Professor Oak.
"Yeah, remember to come find me at the lab when you turn ten! You're always welcome to come whenever you have time!" Professor Oak said. "
Fuyuki, we'll definitely meet again! By then, I'll be a Pokémon Trainer!" Ash shouted.
"Yeah, definitely!" Fuyuki waved to the two of them.
He rode Raikou and quickly disappeared from their sight.
Ash went home, leaving only Professor Oak at the lab.
Professor Oak opened his computer, found a friend working at the police station in his email, and sent him an email.
[Seven years ago, were there any missing children in Viridian Forest?]
While waiting for a reply, Professor Oak looked at the photo of himself and Raikou in his hand, a smile spreading across his face. "Ah, sharing is caring," he thought, "this kind of thing must be shared."
With that in mind, Professor Oak opened his email again and sent the photo to Professor Elm in the Johto region, Professor WestWood in the Seaform Islands, Professor Birch in the Hoenn region, and Professor Rowan in the Sinnoh region.
Shortly after sending the photo, Professor Oak's email inbox started beeping.
[Professor Elm: Raikou?! Where did you find this Pokémon? Did a trainer catch Raikou and keep it at their lab? How did you do that?! Wait for me, I'm coming right now!]
[Professor Westwood: ?]
[Professor Birch: This is… the legendary Pokémon Raikou? That's amazing! I did a search, and this seems to be the first time such a clear photo of Raikou has surfaced!
Professor Oak, I'm so envious of you!]
[Professor Rowan: As expected of Professor Oak! This will make the academic records about Raikou more complete. Professor Oak, could I study Raikou with you? I'm very interested in whether Legendary Pokémon can evolve. I'll pay you a visit another day!]
Professor Oak leisurely sipped his hot tea, reading the replies from his friends and colleagues, feeling only one thing in mind:
Great!
Let these guys be envious!
Just then, another email popped up in his inbox.
[Investigator 007: Seven years ago? A horrific case of a missing baby did indeed occur in Viridian Forest.]
The email included a news article from seven years ago.
Professor Oak quickly put down his tea and checked the news.
[Outrageous! Despicable Pokémon hunters harm innocent citizens!
Yesterday morning, we discovered a car accident scene on a road in Viridian Forest. According to Officer Jenny's investigation, the family of three driving the car were Mr. Matsuda, his wife Yumiko, and their child Fuyuki, residents of Viridian City.]
This family of three had been happily planning a camping trip, but unexpectedly encountered a ruthless Pokémon hunter on the way. Mr. Matsuda was brutally murdered on the spot, and Mrs. Yumiko tried to escape with their child in her car, but ultimately died at the scene. Their child, Fuyuki, disappeared without a trace.
Currently, Kanto League investigators and Officer Jenny have apprehended the two evil Pokémon hunters. Given their crimes, the Kanto League has decided to execute them.
If anyone finds Mr. Matsuda and Mrs. Yumiko's child, Fuyuki, in Viridian Forest, please contact Officer Jenny immediately at 39158328!
Professor Oak was stunned.
Fuyuki's innocent smiling face flashed through his mind.
Seven years ago…
the time matched, the place matched.
Could the Fuyuki he encountered today be the child who went missing in that incident?
A wave of sadness, pity, and sympathy washed over Professor Oak.
Combined with Raikou's consistent wariness of humans,
Professor Oak's mind was filled with images of the incident seven years ago—
Mr. Matsuda, who had lived with Pokémon since childhood and received a good education, bravely got out of his car to stop them, but was ultimately forcibly injured by the Pokémon hunters.
Mrs. Yumiko, seeing her husband murdered, panicked and tried to flee in her car with her young child.
However, she was attacked by the Pokémon hunters, causing the car to crash and Mrs. Yumiko to die instantly.
Raikou might have just happened to pass by.
Having witnessed the humans die protecting Pokémon, it, as a Pokémon itself, couldn't bear it and decided to adopt the child named Fuyuki and raise him.
Until this day.
Professor Oak was overwhelmed with mixed feelings.
He sympathized with Fuyuki's plight, yet was genuinely happy that he had been adopted by Raikou.
[Professor Oak: What happened to the couple's bodies?]
[Alliance Investigator 007: We collected their bodies and buried them in the Viridian City cemetery. What's wrong, Professor? Why are you suddenly asking this?]
[Professor Oak: Give me the address.]
If Fuyuki ever wanted to find out his origins, he would tell him all this, so he could go and pay respects to his human parents.
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300 power stones for extra chapter
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You can read up to chapter 81 and more soon on [email protected]/PokeficLord.