As the rain fell steadily, Kiyomi Tsugumi suddenly remembered a plot detail.
Have the gears of fate begun to turn? Has the story already started?He looked back in the direction of Pallet Town.
A pillar of thunder tore through the dark clouds above, crackling across the sky and lighting up the gloomy horizon. Even from this distance, Kiyomi felt its terrifying force.
As the thunder faded, the sky began to clear.A bond has been formed, he thought. I'm looking forward to fighting you in the future.
Without hesitation, Kiyomi turned back around and continued striding toward Viridian City.
He wasn't sure how long he'd been walking, but at last, something besides endless trees and grass came into view. Neatly arranged houses appeared on the horizon.
The moment he saw the houses, Kiyomi's heart skipped a beat. He quickened his pace.
The sun was already sinking toward the horizon, and the day had quietly given way to dusk. The grass beneath his feet gradually gave way to a neatly paved road leading into the city.
At the end of the path, just before the city entrance, stood a blue-and-white police station.
In front of the station, he spotted a woman standing guard. As he approached, her features became clearer.
She wore a blue police uniform, a short lacquered skirt, and her hair matched the color of her uniform.
(Fun fact: the Officer Jenny in each region is slightly different. Apparently, you can tell them apart by the badge logo on their hats.)
Just as Kiyomi noticed her, Officer Jenny spotted him.
She approached with a polite but firm expression."May I see your ID, young man? There have been a few Pokémon thefts reported in Viridian City recently. I appreciate your cooperation."
Kiyomi nodded and pulled out his Pokédex from his backpack without complaint.
Jenny took it, tapped a few buttons, and the familiar voice of Professor Oak rang out from the device.
Upon hearing the voice, Officer Jenny's serious expression softened.
"Thank you, young man. I appreciate your help. Enjoy your journey!" she said with a smile, handing the Pokédex back and returning to her post.
The city was bustling. Even with dusk falling, the streets were lively, full of trainers and townspeople going about their business. The atmosphere was infectious, and once Kiyomi entered the city, he felt his body relax.
After a full day of walking, he was exhausted, but he still had important errands to take care of.
First, he needed to find the PokéMart.
He stopped a passerby, asked politely for directions, thanked them again, and made his way to the store at a leisurely pace.
After five or six minutes of walking, he spotted the familiar building with its blue semi-domed roof and clean white lower walls. Trainers were constantly coming and going through the entrance.
Inside, the products were arranged neatly in clearly labeled sections.
Kiyomi grabbed a basket and headed straight for the medicine section. Healing items were top priority. He picked up five Potions, each costing a painful 100 Pokécoins. It hurt his wallet, but he didn't hesitate.
Next were status-healing items—antidotes, burn heals, freeze heals, and paralyze heals. All except the antidote cost 100 Pokécoins each. The antidote was 200.
(Unlike in the games, these are single-use, and you give your Pokémon a small amount to drink when afflicted.)
Poké Balls were unnecessary for now—Professor Oak had given him five for free. So he moved to the food section.
Shelves were packed with different brands and types of Pokémon food. It was overwhelming.
He carefully selected five large bags of high-quality, nutrient-rich food specifically formulated for Charmander (and even Charizard). Each bag was about the length of his arm.
Charmander couldn't eat that much in one sitting, of course—but Kiyomi wanted to be well-prepared. The food could be safely stored in his compressed-space backpack, so spoilage wasn't a concern.
With his basket now overflowing, he switched to a shopping trolley.
Next, he visited the equipment section.
He wanted a training vest for Charmander—something for use during outdoor practice. There were high-tech models available, with auto-adjusting weight systems and real-time health tracking, but they were far too expensive.
So he chose a manual version, with adjustable steel weight strips, and added it to the cart.
After checking out, Kiyomi looked at his now-light wallet and sighed bitterly.
Vest: 500 Pokécoins
Food: 1,000 Pokécoins (200 each × 5)
Potions: 500
Status cures: 500Total: 2,500 Pokécoins
His wallet was almost half-empty, but the peace of mind it brought was worth every coin.
With shopping done, it was time to find the Pokémon Center.
The street lamps had begun to glow softly as darkness crept in. He remembered the directions the store clerk gave him, and after a few turns and short walks, he arrived.
The building looked like a larger version of the PokéMart, but instead of blue, its upper half was painted a warm red. It was twice the size of the store.
Inside, white-uniformed nurses bustled about, pushing carts filled with injured Pokémon. The front hall was divided into two main sections: counters and a large resting area filled with seats and small tables.
This rest area took up nearly five-sixths of the space, though only a dozen or so trainers were there. Most had already turned in for the night.
Kiyomi walked up to the counter, where Nurse Joy, with her signature pink hair, greeted him warmly and opened a room for him.
(By the way, in this world, Pokémon treatment and lodging are free for all official trainers under 16, as recognized by the Pokémon League. Also, "meat" in the world comes from regular animals like fish or chicken—not Pokémon.)
Near the hall was a small cafeteria. At the window, Kiyomi ordered a pork cutlet rice bowl. The rich, savory smell made his stomach growl.
While he ate, Charmander was handed over to Nurse Joy for a full checkup.
Once he finished eating, Kiyomi picked up Charmander from the recovery window. He opened his backpack and poured out some of the food he'd bought. Charmander sniffed it, gave an excited chirp, and began eating happily.
It had been more than 20 minutes since the battle, and Charmander seemed to enjoy the food. When he was finished, Kiyomi stretched, took a deep breath, and headed toward his room with Charmander in his arms.
In the room, he first took a nice warm bath. Of course, he also cleaned Charmander, wiping him gently with clean water.
Charmander, being a Fire-type, naturally hated water and struggled fiercely. But his resistance didn't work—he still got washed.
After drying him carefully, Kiyomi carried Charmander to the bed. Charmander curled up against his trainer's chest, his eyes already heavy with sleep.
"Good night, Yan," Kiyomi murmured, smiling as he gently patted his partner's back.