Soon, the new Trainers arriving to collect their starter Pokémon came pouring in. One after another, they took their favorites and set off on journeys to pursue their dreams.
"Phew, all done."
One of the assistants sat down in a chair and let out a long breath, utterly drained.
"This is always the most exhausting time of year," another assistant said.
Chen Yan came over carrying drinks and handed everyone a can. One of them pulled the tab, gulped down a huge mouthful, and let out a satisfied sigh.
"Ah, that hits the spot... nothing feels better than a cold drink when you're completely worn out."
Chen Yan sat down, opened his own drink, and took small sips.
He had bought himself a room-temperature one. He had talked too much today and couldn't have anything icy.
With so many children flooding in at once, Chen Yan had been roped into introducing the Pokémon. For the rest of the session, his mouth had barely stopped moving.
"So, how's working as the professor's assistant? Getting used to it?"
The assistant beside him asked, and Chen Yan nodded.
"Honestly, I never knew handing out starter Pokémon could be so exhausting... I thought people would come to collect them one at a time. I didn't expect everyone to rush in as soon as it was time."
Another assistant laughed and said:
"Come to think of it, I was much more flustered than you the first time this happened to me. I even got the starter Pokémon's names wrong."
"But it's usually only like this for a day or two. These new Trainers all live in Sandgem Town or Twinleaf Town, so there are more of them. Once everyone from those two towns has collected their Pokémon, there won't be nearly as many Trainers coming from elsewhere."
"We usually only get a few a day."
"Oh? So that's how it works? I thought those were all the new Trainers coming to collect starter Pokémon..."
"No way. Our lab is the only one in the Sinnoh Region authorized to distribute starter Pokémon. So once new Trainers from other places receive a postcard from us, many of them come here to get theirs."
"Of course, some buy Pokémon from a Pokémon Day Care to begin their journeys instead. They just don't receive a Pokédex from our lab."
"A Pokédex... oh, right, do we have any spare ones? Could I borrow one for a look? I've never used a Pokédex before."
"Huh? You haven't? Most Trainers have one."
"I only started traveling recently, and I'm not a Trainer."
"Not a Trainer? Then what are you?"
"Hmm... just a photographer passing through?"
"Huh?"
"Hahaha, I'm kidding, I'm kidding."
Chen Yan took the Pokédex an assistant handed him. The Sinnoh Region's Pokédex looked like a flip phone. He flipped it open and scanned Gengar.
"Gengar, the Shadow Pokémon. The evolved form of Haunter..."
Wow! That announcement is such a classic...
Listening to the voice coming from the Pokédex, Chen Yan couldn't help laughing.
Sure enough, it was just like the Pokédex he remembered, and nowhere near as good as his own.
Chen Yan handed it back.
"Actually, besides identifying Pokémon, our Pokédex has another very important function. Its data is connected directly to the Sinnoh League Headquarters. Whether Trainers want to challenge Gyms or enter Pokémon Contests, they can do so directly with their Pokédex, without completing any extra paperwork."
No wonder Yi told me to get the paperwork done in advance. So that was why.
Professor Rowan had gone to handle some other matters, so Chen Yan and the others sat in their chairs chatting.
Just then, Chen Yan noticed a boy in a wheelchair beneath a tree outside, watching the lab.
He seemed to have arrived early that morning and had stayed beneath the tree ever since.
Whenever he noticed Chen Yan looking at him, he immediately turned his head away. After a while, he would turn back and continue watching the lab.
Chen Yan stood up and went outside.
When he reached the tree, Chen Yan crouched down in front of the boy in the wheelchair and asked:
"I noticed you've been watching the lab. Is there anything you need our help with?"
The boy blushed. "S-sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt your work. I just wanted to watch other people collect their starter Pokémon."
"That way... I... I can imagine I'm the one getting a starter Pokémon... I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to bother you."
Chen Yan glanced at his legs and the hands gripping them tightly.
"You don't need to apologize."
The boy looked at Chen Yan in surprise.
Chen Yan smiled. "You must really like Pokémon, right?"
"Of course... ever since I was little, I wanted to become a really great Trainer. But last year, they found something wrong with me during a checkup, and I couldn't stand up anymore..." The boy lowered his head.
"I can never become a Trainer now... so I can only come here and watch other people get their starter Pokémon. That way, I can pretend they're me."
Chen Yan looked at the boy's legs in silence.
Even with this world's incredible productivity and advanced technology, some illnesses still had no cure.
"I know they're them, and I'm me. No matter how much I pretend, I can't set off on a journey like they can, or watch Pokémon evolve like they can..."
"But not being able to travel isn't so bad. I'm Mom and Dad's only child. If I left, they'd be so lonely. If I stay home with them, they won't be lonely anymore." The boy gave a sincere smile.
Chen Yan smiled at his words.
Children were children. They always jumped from one topic to another so quickly.
"You want to watch Pokémon evolve?"
The boy nodded emphatically. "Yes. When Pokémon evolve, it means they're growing. I want to grow through evolution just like them. Maybe my legs would get better, and I could stand up again."
"I see. Then could you wait here for a moment?"
Chen Yan asked softly.
"Huh? What is it? Do you have something else to do?"
"Didn't you say you like watching Pokémon evolve? Actually, I'm a photographer, and I happen to have quite a few videos of Pokémon evolving. If you'd like, I can bring them over for you to watch."
"Really?" The boy's voice suddenly grew louder.
"Really." Chen Yan nodded with a smile.
Not far away, a green figure had witnessed it all.
Beside that figure stood someone in a suit.
"Would that be okay?"
"Of course, though you might have to wait a little. I didn't bring my tablet with me today."
"Yes, yes, I can wait! I'll wait as long as it takes!"
The boy nodded repeatedly. Chen Yan stood up and reached out to pat his head.
"Wait here a moment." With that, Chen Yan took off running.
Gengar followed right behind him, carrying Weedle.
Back in his room, Chen Yan unplugged his charging tablet, then dashed back to the tree.
The videos were on his camera too, but its screen was too small.
When he returned, Chen Yan found Professor Rowan and Snivy talking to the boy. He went over, greeted Professor Rowan and Snivy, then handed the tablet to the boy.
The boy took the tablet and, with Chen Yan's guidance, opened the first video.
There was no voice-over, only the sounds of Pokémon.
He saw the star of the video: a Wurmple.
After finishing a meal of leaves, its body suddenly erupted in brilliant light. The boy held his breath.
The light faded, and Wurmple had become a cocoon, hidden among the bushes.
Chen Yan hadn't edited the video yet, so the middle section was especially long. But the boy watched with rapt attention. Neither Chen Yan nor Professor Rowan interrupted him. The only sound around them was Gengar and Weedle chewing Toxic Orbs.
At last, white light burst from Silcoon. Within it, a pair of huge wings emerged from the cocoon, then flapped sharply, blowing the light away. A Beautifly appeared on the screen.
Beautifly glanced at the camera, then flapped its wings and flew away.
The video ended there.
Reluctantly, the boy handed the tablet back to Chen Yan. Looking up at him, he asked:
"Will you keep making videos like this?"
Rather than answer, Chen Yan asked him a question:
"Do you like them?"
"Yes! I like them! I really like them! I love them!"
The boy declared his fondness three times in a row.
"As long as you like them, I'll keep making videos like this."
"Thank you!"
Chen Yan smiled and patted his head. "Remember to follow my account, 'Gengar, Don't Steal My Chicken Leg.'"
"Gengar?!"
Σ(ﾟ∀ﾟﾉ)ﾉ
"I wasn't talking about you. That's my account name."
Gengar: Oh. [Munch, munch, munch.]
"Would you like a picture with Gengar and the others? I can print it out and give it to you later."
The boy's eyes lit up again.
"Can I?"
"Of course."
Chen Yan was about to turn toward Gengar and Weedle when he realized Gengar had already brought Weedle over to the boy and placed Weedle in his arms.
"Gengar-"
Here, hold this.
The boy took Weedle, feeling the smooth, slippery body, and broke into the same smile as Gengar. Since Weedle was quite heavy, he rested the Pokémon on his legs.
"Will you be okay with Weedle pressing on your legs?"
Chen Yan asked worriedly.
"It's fine. I can't feel my legs."
Chen Yan nodded silently.
Gengar pressed that big, chubby face against the boy's cheek and flashed a peace sign.
Feeling the coolness against his cheek, the boy smiled with narrowed eyes and made a peace sign too.
Snivy stood on the boy's other side with a gentle smile.
Professor Rowan stepped aside.
"All right, look at the camera. One, two, three, Gengar~"
The moment was captured.
Chen Yan showed the boy the photo. In it, Gengar was pressed snugly against him, Weedle looked adorably dazed in his arms, and Snivy leaned gently against his other side.
"Wow! Can I really have this photo?"
"Of course. Give me your address, and I'll send it over once I've printed it."
"Not just a photo. A Pokémon Egg, too."
Professor Rowan spoke up.
Chen Yan looked at Professor Rowan in surprise. The professor's face was full of smiles.
"Not being able to become a Trainer doesn't mean you can't adopt a Pokémon."
Tears began to well up in the boy's eyes.
"Th-thank you... Waaah!!!"
The boy burst into tears.
Snivy hopped onto the wheelchair and gently wiped his tears with Vine Whip, then softly drew his head down and touched her forehead to his.
"Snivy~"
Be happy, okay~
After the boy went home, Chen Yan looked at Gengar and Weedle beside him and praised them openly.
"You were wonderful."
"Gengar-" "Weedle-"
Heehee.
"You're as gentle as ever, Snivy. You were wonderful too."
"Snivy~"
Thank you~
Chen Yan walked beside Professor Rowan with his hands behind his head.
"A soul that longs to travel... can never be confined..."
Professor Rowan and Snivy looked at him.
He grinned.
"That's what being a photographer is all about."
Professor Rowan smiled too.
A photographer?
I see...
Before you continue