"Pikachu!"
The black-haired, spiky-headed boy suddenly jolted upright. Taking in the familiar surroundings of his room, he scratched his head.
"So it was just a dream…"
He glanced at the clock by his bedside.
8:30.
"Ah, it's already this late?!"
He hurried out of bed, quickly washed his face, brushed his teeth, changed his clothes, and rushed downstairs. His mom had already prepared breakfast for him.
"I'm full!"
He devoured everything on the table like a whirlwind. Then he dashed to the entryway, slipped on his sneakers, grabbed his red-and-white cap from the shoe cabinet, and called out as he headed for the door—
"I'm heading out!"
"Don't run so fast, there's still time! Ash, did you hear me? Ash? Ash!"
"Honestly…"
Watching her son disappear into the distance, his mother shook her head helplessly.
"That boy is still so reckless…"
...
His name was Ash, an ordinary boy from Pallet Town who aspired to become a Pokémon Master.
Today was the day he would receive his Pokémon. Normally, after staying up too late the night before out of excitement, he might have overslept and been late. But because of a nightmare, he had miraculously woken up before the scheduled time.
Even now, despite his excitement at finally getting his own Pokémon, he couldn't stop recalling fragments of that dream.
He couldn't remember the details clearly, but deep down, he had a vague feeling…
As if someone had taken everything from him.
But soon, Ash pushed the thought aside.
Because Professor Oak's Laboratory was already right in front of him.
"Professor Oak, I'm here to get my Pokémon!"
"Ash? Why are you only arriving now?" Professor Oak looked at the reckless boy with mild dissatisfaction. "Everyone else has already received their Pokémon and set off."
"Huh? But isn't it just the agreed time right now?" Ash checked the clock. "It's exactly nine."
"Young people these days don't even know how to arrive ten minutes early?" Professor Oak said leisurely.
"I don't really get that," Ash replied honestly. Then his expression brightened with excitement. "Anyway, Professor, where are the Pokémon? Where's mine?"
"What's the rush?" Professor Oak walked over to the console and operated it. A platform slowly rose up, with four Poké Balls placed on top.
"I already decided last night!" Without hesitation, Ash grabbed one. "I choose you—come out, Charmander!"
Whoosh!
Nothing happened.
"…Professor, why is this Poké Ball empty?"
"Charmander was already taken by someone who arrived earlier."
"How could this be…" Ash looked disappointed, but quickly shifted his attention to the remaining Poké Balls. "Then I choose you—Bulbasaur!"
Whoosh! Still empty.
"Squirtle!"
Empty.
Still empty.
"Why are they all empty, Professor?!"
"Well, it can't be helped. Too many people got here early," Professor Oak said, looking at Ash. "But there is still one Pokémon left. However, this one has some… issues, which is why no one has chosen it."
Already desperate, Ash said without hesitation, "I'll take that one, Professor Oak!"
"Are you sure? Alright then." Professor Oak took out a Poké Ball from his pocket. "Here it is."
"Come out—my partner!"
Ash threw the Poké Ball without hesitation.
Whoosh!
A flash of white light—
The next moment, a blue Pokémon appeared before his eyes.
"Froa…?"
"Huh? What Pokémon is this?" Ash looked at it in surprise, then muttered unconsciously, "And why isn't it Pikachu…?"
"This is a starter Pokémon from the Kalos region. Its name is Froakie."
"Froakie, huh…"
Ash nodded slightly, then crouched down and extended his hand toward the Froakie, who was looking around curiously.
"Froakie, I'm Ash. Nice to meet you. Let's work well together from now on."
"Froa…?"
Froakie followed the outstretched hand and slowly looked up at Ash's face. After seeing the sincerity in his eyes, it let out a small cry and placed its little hand into Ash's.
A smile appeared on Ash's face.
But in the next moment, he heard Professor Oak speak calmly—
"However, this Froakie has a small problem…"
Before the sentence even finished, the Froakie in Ash's hand suddenly vanished.
In the blink of an eye, it reappeared right in front of him.
Ash watched in shock as Froakie floated in midair. The next second, Froakie lifted its leg—
And kicked forward fiercely!
Smack!
Ash spun through the air in a full seven-hundred-and-twenty-degree flip.
"Its speed is astonishingly fast."
Professor Oak finished his sentence slowly.
"Ow…" Ash clutched his cheek, staring in shock at the Froakie now standing on the ground with its arms behind its back. "Is this Pokémon really that ruthless?!"
"Exactly. That's why it's nearly impossible for a beginner Trainer to command it," Professor Oak continued. "Do you want to switch Pokémon? But you'll have to wait another week for the next batch."
"It's fine—I'll choose Froakie!"
Ash said without hesitation.
Once again, he extended his hand toward Froakie, a wide smile spreading across his face.
"You're really strong, Froakie. My name is Ash, and I'm training to become a Pokémon Master."
"I may be weak right now, but I'll definitely become very, very strong in the future. So… Froakie, will you help me on my journey?"
"Froa…"
Froakie paused.
Looking at Ash—who was still showing kindness even after being beaten up—it couldn't help but feel a little surprised.
This human… seemed different from the others.
And hitting him felt different too.
More… comfortable.
Froakie fell into thought.
A Pokémon Master, huh?
Heh. Interesting.
The next second, Froakie vanished again.
Before Ash could react, the Poké Ball in his hand flashed red. Froakie had already returned to it without him noticing.
Ash froze for a moment, then his smile widened.
"Then from now on, let's get along."
"Froa."
Inside the Poké Ball, Froakie let out a quiet cry that no one heard.
Don't misunderstand.
It's just that your durability feels better than others.
You make a better target.
...
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