"Coo."
A sound came from outside the window.
Rick, who had been sound asleep, slowly opened his eyes. On the railing of the balcony beside him stood a half-meter-tall gray bird spreading its wings, with a dark green mailbox hanging around its neck.
"Mail for me?" Since this wasn't the first time the carrier Pidgey had delivered letters to him, Rick wasn't particularly surprised.
"Coo!"
Getting a clear answer, he sat up and reached out to take a palm-sized paper pouch from the bird's mailbox.
Inside was an exquisitely designed postcard featuring the scenery of a famous tourist spot abroad. On the back was written:
[Happy birthday, sweetie! Congrats on becoming a novice Trainer!]
"Guess they still remember my sixteenth birthday." The postcard was, of course, from Rick's mom. If he had to guess, she was probably traveling abroad with his dad right now. If not for this postcard, he might've suspected his parents had drunk too much "forget-the-kid milk," given how rarely they were home.
Just then, the Pidgey outside the window cooed again, this time holding a form-like document in its beak.
"A feedback form, huh? Here you go… five stars." Seeing the expectant look in its eyes, Rick ticked the "Excellent" box on the form. The Pidgey let out a happy cry, politely bowed its head, then flapped its wings and flew off to the next house.
"Even Pokémon have to work hard early in the morning."
After the Pidgey left, Rick sighed.
In this world, humans and Pokémon had coexisted harmoniously for centuries. From the early days when they were called "monsters" and seen as enemies, to now being called "Pokémon" and regarded as partners, it was all thanks to the revolutionary invention of the Poké Ball, which allowed humans to understand Pokémon on a deeper level.
"Time to get up."
He got out of bed and headed to the bathroom to wash up. In the mirror, he saw his reflection—black hair, dark eyes, and a height of around 178 cm. Though he wasn't vain, Rick had always been considered handsome since childhood.
Too bad I don't have a girlfriend.
Just as he finished washing up and changing clothes, he heard the sound of the front door opening downstairs, followed by a lively voice:
"Good morning, Rick! Rise and shine!"
Walking to the staircase, Rick saw a girl walk in carrying a bag of groceries.
She had long black hair with straight bangs and a pair of large, bright eyes—clear and full of life. Her fair skin carried a faint rosy hue, and she wore a T-shirt with denim shorts, her long, slender legs giving her an energetic vibe.
"Oh? You're already up?" Seeing that Rick was dressed and ready, the girl's eyes curved into adorable crescents. "Could it be that you stayed up all night because today's the day you get your starter Pokémon?"
Today was Rick's sixteenth birthday, meaning he could go to the Pokémon Center to receive his first Pokémon and register as a novice Trainer. For anyone aspiring to become a Pokémon Trainer, this was undoubtedly a big day.
Rick poured a glass of water and handed it to the girl, then pointed at the faint dark circles under her eyes. "Looks like you're the one who couldn't sleep."
"Hehe, I was just thirsty." She didn't deny it, taking the glass and downing the water in one go.
Shiyu wasn't just Rick's neighbor—they were born on the same day in the same hospital. Their families had always been close, and the two of them were no exception. They'd grown up together, and today, they were heading to the Pokémon Center to get their starter Pokémon as a pair.
"I'll handle breakfast today. You go take a shower." Glancing at An Shiyu's long hair, Rick figured it was about time he returned the favor instead of always relying on her to cook.
Shiyu blinked curiously. "How did you know I went for a run?"
"Well, the sweat on you…" Rick leaned in slightly and sniffed her hair.
Before he could finish, Shiyu's face flushed red, and she covered her head before dashing upstairs in a fluster.
By the time Rick finished making breakfast, Shiyu had finished showering and returned downstairs. She'd changed into a white T-shirt—one so oversized that it covered her denim shorts, leaving only her fair legs visible. Somehow, the look worked for her.
"Isn't that mine?" Rick eyed the Pikachu-printed T-shirt. "That Pikachu's pretty big."
"Ran out of clothes." Her reply was matter-of-fact.
Not that Rick minded—this wasn't the first time, after all.
After breakfast, the two headed out to the Pokémon Center.
Since the nearest one was a bit far, they took the train. Sitting side by side, Rick caught a whiff of a pleasant floral scent and turned his head.
"W-What? I washed off the sweat, you know!" Noticing his gaze, Shiyu immediately covered her head again.
Rick smirked. "Why so nervous? I didn't say anything."
Shiyu averted her eyes, puffing her cheeks slightly.
After about ten minutes on the train, they arrived at their destination—one of the city's Pokémon Centers.
The massive red-and-white building served multiple functions: medical care, shopping, Trainer registration, and more. The place was bustling with people coming and going.
"Rick, look! That Pokémon is so cute!"
"Wow, what's that one?"
Beside him, Shiyu's face was alight with excitement as she kept tugging at Rick's sleeve. He couldn't help but give her a deadpan look.
Are you a kid?
"Oh yeah, Rick, which starter Pokémon did you reserve again?" Shiyu suddenly turned to him.
Rick glanced at her. "A Fire-type."
"A Fire-type, huh…" Shiyu thought for a moment, but since there were too many Fire-type starters at the Pokémon Center, she quickly gave up.
Well, we'll find out soon enough.
Entering the Pokémon Center and getting their queue numbers, they waited about ten minutes before a staff member led them to a room. Inside the plain white space was a table with two Poké Balls placed on it.
The first step to becoming a novice Trainer was obtaining a starter Pokémon. While one could technically buy a Poké Ball and catch a wild Pokémon, doing so was dangerous—not to mention, a Pokémon caught by someone else might not obey its new Trainer.
So, if finances allowed, reserving a freshly hatched, docile starter Pokémon at the Pokémon Center was the best option.
"Come on out, Rowlet!" Shiyu picked up her assigned Poké Ball and pressed the button. A round, owl-like Pokémon appeared on the table, spreading its tiny wings. "Hoot!"
Rick eyed the bird. "So, it's a Rowlet."
Rowlet, also known affectionately as "Birb," was a round, avian Pokémon with a white face and brown feathers. It was a dual Grass/Flying-type.
Thanks to its special ability to fly silently and its owl-like night vision, it excelled in nighttime battles.
Shiyu was overjoyed, hugging the Rowlet tightly. "Let's get along well, okay, Rowlet?"
"Hoot!" Rowlet seemed just as pleased.
Watching this, Rick picked up his own Poké Ball.