"Smeargle, make his expression fiercer here!"
Celadon City, the manga studio.
Shiraishi Ritsu sat at his worktable, pencil in hand, pointing out changes to the manga storyboard he had just finished.
In the panel, the towering Lt. Surge stood inside a Secret Base with his arms crossed. Beside him, electricity coiled around Raichu, giving off quite an imposing aura.
Following his instructions, Smeargle lowered the character's eyebrows slightly and added a few more bolts of lightning around Raichu.
"Yes, yes! Just like that!"
Shiraishi Ritsu nodded in satisfaction.
"He's an important Team Rocket executive. His entrance has to feel intimidating!"
"Smeargle!"
Smeargle held up the drawing and wagged its tail proudly.
It thought the drawing was pretty good too.
Especially the lightning around Raichu. Those densely packed lines alone had taken it quite a bit of effort.
Just as Shiraishi Ritsu was about to check the next manuscript page, the communicator on his desk suddenly rang.
Beep, beep, beep!
"Who is it? Calling at a time like this."
He casually picked up the communicator and glanced at the caller information on the screen.
The next second, the smile froze on his face.
[Saffron Gym-Sabrina]
"..."
Shiraishi Ritsu silently put down his pencil.
He did not know why, but ever since Sabrina had come to see him in person last time, he could not help feeling a little nervous whenever he saw her name.
"Smeargle?"
Smeargle leaned over curiously.
Once it saw the name on the screen, it shrank back too.
The man and Pokémon exchanged a look.
Shiraishi Ritsu took a deep breath before pressing the answer button.
"Hello? Miss Sabrina?"
"It's me."
That familiar cool voice came through the communicator.
Shiraishi Ritsu hurriedly put on a smile.
"Haha, Miss Sabrina, what brings you to call today? Is there something wrong with the recent manga chapters?"
"Yes."
The smile instantly vanished from Shiraishi Ritsu's face.
Oh, boy.
There really was?!
"Um... please go ahead."
"Lt. Surge contacted me."
"Lt. Surge?"
Shiraishi Ritsu froze for a moment.
Then he suddenly realized something.
"Wait, do you mean the Electric-type Gym Leader from Vermilion City?"
"Yes."
Sabrina's answer was very brief.
"He saw your manga."
Shiraishi Ritsu fell silent.
He glanced down at his worktable.
In the drawing he had just finished, Lt. Surge wore a Team Rocket uniform and looked vicious as he commanded Raichu in battle.
Shiraishi Ritsu suddenly felt as though the drawing was a little too hot to handle.
"And then?"
"He's very unhappy."
"..."
"He said you made his battling look too stupid."
The corner of Shiraishi Ritsu's mouth twitched.
No, wait!
That was what he focused on?
"Miss Sabrina, didn't he ask why he'd become a Team Rocket executive?"
"He did."
"Then what did you tell him?"
"I told him you thought powerful Trainers were suited to being villains."
Shiraishi Ritsu's vision went dark.
For the love of-!
He had gone to so much trouble back then just to barely get that explanation accepted.
How had it turned into such a simple sentence coming from Sabrina?
"And then?"
"He thought it made sense."
Shiraishi Ritsu: "..."
For a moment, he did not know whether to be happy or upset.
Sabrina continued, "But then he saw himself losing to a few young Trainers in the manga and got angry again."
"So..."
"He plans to come see you."
Shiraishi Ritsu shot up from his chair.
"What?!"
Smeargle jumped in fright, its tail trembling as it nearly flicked ink onto the freshly finished manuscript.
Shiraishi Ritsu had no time to worry about that and hurriedly asked, "Miss Sabrina, is he really coming to Celadon City?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"I don't know."
"..."
Shiraishi Ritsu covered his forehead.
I'm finished.
After Sabrina, a second Gym Leader was getting ready to come knocking!
How was he supposed to live like this?
He only wanted to draw manga in peace, earn some manuscript fees, and buy a house. Why did these Gym Leaders all insist on making life difficult for him?
"Miss Sabrina, did you help explain things for me?"
"I did."
"What did you say?"
"I told him the manga was fictional and that the publisher had already issued a statement."
Shiraishi Ritsu had just breathed a sigh of relief when Sabrina continued:
"But he still wants to come see you."
"..."
Great.
That explanation was useless.
"Anything else?"
Sabrina asked.
"No... nothing."
"Then I'm hanging up."
"Wait!"
Shiraishi Ritsu suddenly remembered something and hurriedly spoke.
"Miss Sabrina, um... thank you for calling specifically to warn me!"
The other end of the communicator went quiet for a moment.
"It's nothing."
Then the call ended.
Shiraishi Ritsu stared at the darkened screen without speaking for a long while.
Beside him, Smeargle quietly reached out a paw and tugged at his clothes.
"Smeargle?"
Shiraishi Ritsu glanced down at it, then looked at the manga on the desk.
In the panel, Lt. Surge was grinning, his smile radiating an intensely intimidating air.
Shiraishi Ritsu suddenly felt that the more he looked at that smile, the more it begged for a punch.
"Partner."
"Smeargle?"
"Do you think there's still time for us to change this page?"
Smeargle looked down at the work it had just put so much effort into drawing.
Then it shook its head firmly.
"Smeargle!"
Was he kidding?!
It was already finished, and he wanted changes?
No way!
Half an hour later.
The editorial office of Shonen Adventure magazine.
"What?!"
Kikkawa Maho shot up from her chair.
Her voice was so loud that even several nearby editors at work could not help looking up.
"Mr. Masuda, you're saying Gym Leader Lt. Surge is coming to see you too?!"
"That's right!"
Shiraishi Ritsu sat opposite her, looking utterly done with life.
"Sabrina just called and told me herself."
Kikkawa Maho held her forehead and slowly sat back down.
She suddenly began to wonder whether she had signed a manga artist who specialized in causing trouble for the publisher.
Pokémon Adventures was doing so well, its popularity with readers kept rising, and even the collected-volume release was already on the agenda.
Yet its creator managed to spring a surprise on her every few days.
Of course, she did not want this kind of surprise at all!
"Mr. Masuda, just what were you thinking back then?"
"What do you mean, what was I thinking?"
"Why did you have to portray real Gym Leaders as Team Rocket executives?"
Shiraishi Ritsu spread his hands.
"The plot needed it."
"The plot needed it again!"
Kikkawa Maho could not help rolling her eyes.
"Do you have any idea how much trouble the publisher would be in if these Gym Leaders joined forces to complain?"
"That's why I came to discuss a solution with you, isn't it?"
Shiraishi Ritsu hurriedly said, "Miss Maho, we're in the same boat now. You can't just leave me to die!"
"Who's in the same boat as you?!"
Despite her complaints, Kikkawa Maho still took the relevant materials she had recently organized out of her drawer.
She looked through them carefully for a while, gradually calming down.
"How about this? Since Gym Leader Lt. Surge has already clearly expressed his dissatisfaction, we'd better contact him first."
"Contact him first?"
"Yes."
Kikkawa Maho nodded.
"First, we'll send a formal letter of explanation on behalf of the publisher, stating that the manga's plot is entirely fictional and that the identities of the characters concerned have no connection to their real-life counterparts."
"Then what?"
"Include a signed sample copy, too, to show our sincerity."
Shiraishi Ritsu rubbed his chin.
"That's it?"
"Of course that's not enough."
Kikkawa Maho glanced at Smeargle sitting beside them and suddenly smiled.
"If I remember right, Gym Leader Lt. Surge specializes in using Raichu, doesn't he?"
"That's right."
"Then have Smeargle draw an illustration of him and Raichu."
Shiraishi Ritsu's eyes lit up.
That makes sense!
Last time Sabrina came calling, hadn't he successfully eased the tension with Smeargle's portrait?
If the same approach worked on Sabrina, maybe Lt. Surge would go for it, too!
"All right! Let's do it!"
Shiraishi Ritsu slapped the table.
"Partner, we've got work!"
"Smeargle?"
Smeargle had been sitting in a chair, examining the snacks provided by the editorial department.
Hearing its trainer call, it reluctantly raised its head.
"Draw a portrait of Gym Leader Lt. Surge!"
"Smeargle!"
Once Smeargle heard it was drawing, it perked up.
Still, out of habit, it extended a paw and made a gesture in front of Shiraishi Ritsu.
The corner of Shiraishi Ritsu's mouth twitched.
"I know, I know! You'll get your overtime pay!"
This little guy.
It was getting better and better at doing business!
That evening.
Shiraishi Ritsu and Smeargle returned to the studio and began preparing their gift for Lt. Surge.
This time, the two of them learned from their previous mistake.
Shiraishi Ritsu, in particular, stressed it several times.
"Remember! No Team Rocket uniform!"
"Smeargle!"
"And no red R!"
"Smeargle!"
"And definitely don't add any Team Rocket grunts beside him!"
Growing impatient with his reminders, Smeargle simply picked up a pencil and drew a huge X on the paper.
Only then did Shiraishi Ritsu relax.
Soon, a brand-new illustration gradually took shape.
At the center, Lt. Surge wore his usual training clothes, his arms folded across his chest and a hearty, confident smile on his face.
Beside him, Raichu stood with its head held high, dazzling sparks bursting from its cheeks.
The background was the training ground at the Vermilion Gym.
Smeargle had deliberately chosen a low-angle perspective, fully capturing Lt. Surge's towering build and Raichu's imposing presence.
Raichu, especially.
The lightning-bolt shape of its tail, combined with the surrounding electrical effects, filled the entire picture with a sense of power.
Shiraishi Ritsu inspected it carefully and nodded in satisfaction.
"Nice, very nice!"
"This one definitely looks cool enough!"
Smeargle proudly puffed out its chest.
Then it drew a tiny Smeargle head in the bottom-right corner of the paper as its personal signature.
The next day, Shiraishi Ritsu handed the illustration, explanatory letter, and signed sample copy to Kikkawa Maho.
After checking the contents, the publisher officially mailed them to the Vermilion Gym.
Two days later.
Vermilion City, Vermilion Gym.
"Gym Leader! A package for you!"
A Gym apprentice carried a cardboard box into the training room.
Lt. Surge had just finished training Raichu and turned around curiously at the announcement.
"Who sent it?"
"The publisher of Shonen Adventure magazine, in Celadon City!"
"Oh?"
Lt. Surge raised an eyebrow.
"That Masuda Senbei?"
He had been planning to contact the publisher himself in a few days, but to his surprise, they had sent something first.
"Bring it here! Let me see!"
When he opened the package, a formal explanatory letter lay on top.
Lt. Surge picked it up and read through it.
The letter mainly explained that Pokémon Adventures was a fictional manga, and that the characters' identities and experiences did not reflect reality.
The publisher also apologized for any misunderstandings the character portrayals might have caused and expressed a desire to discuss the matter with him.
"Hmph. At least they're showing some sincerity."
Lt. Surge set the letter aside and continued looking through the package.
Soon, an exquisite illustration in a protective sleeve caught his eye.
"Hmm?"
He took out the illustration.
The next instant, his eyes lit up.
"Hahaha! Now this is nice!"
In the picture, he looked majestic, while the Raichu beside him had an even more imposing presence.
Everything from the character's expression to the details of the Pokémon releasing electricity pleased him immensely.
"Raichu! Come take a look!"
"Raichu?"
Raichu ran over curiously.
When it saw itself in the illustration, it immediately cried out in excitement.
"Raichu! Raichu!"
Lt. Surge laughed heartily.
"Well? Looks cool, doesn't it?"
Raichu nodded vigorously.
Several nearby Gym apprentices also gathered around to admire it.
"Wow! That Smeargle drew this?"
"Amazing! Raichu's pose looks so lifelike!"
"Gym Leader, you look so badass in this picture!"
Listening to everyone's praise, Lt. Surge grew even more pleased.
"Hahaha! That Masuda Senbei really knows how to handle things!"
He immediately summoned an apprentice.
"Go! Find me a suitable frame!"
"Gym Leader, you're going to hang it up?"
"Of course!"
Lt. Surge nodded as though it went without saying.
"Wouldn't leaving such a good picture in a box be a waste?"
Before long, the exquisite illustration was framed and hanging on the wall of the Gym's lounge.
Lt. Surge stood before it, admiring it for quite a while, growing more pleased the longer he looked.
"Nice. Really nice!"
He even began to think that perhaps the manga artist wasn't so annoying after all.
However, just then.
The apprentice beside him suddenly picked up the sample manga included in the package.
"Gym Leader, there's a copy of the latest Pokémon Adventures here, too!"
"Oh? Let me see!"
Lt. Surge took the magazine and casually flipped through it.
The early part of the story was fairly normal.
Red and the others continued their adventures and encountered new enemies along the way.
Lt. Surge read with relish.
Until he reached the Team Rocket storyline.
In the panels, a familiar blond man stood inside the Secret Base.
He was wearing a black uniform.
And on his chest was a huge red letter.
R!
The smile gradually vanished from Lt. Surge's face.
He kept turning the pages.
His manga counterpart was directing Team Rocket members on a mission and issuing orders to his subordinates.
He turned another page.
He was even reporting on the operation to Giovanni!
"..."
Lt. Surge looked down at the manga.
Then he looked up at the imposing illustration on the wall.
Finally, his gaze returned to the manga.
Well, well!
First they sent him a cool portrait, then they had him slaving away for Team Rocket in the manga?
What was this kid playing at?!
"Gym Leader?"
Noticing something wrong with the atmosphere, the apprentice beside him asked cautiously, "What's wrong?"
Lt. Surge took a deep breath.
A moment later, he suddenly laughed.
"Hahaha!"
His laughter was hearty.
But the apprentices who knew him could all hear a hint of teeth-gritting behind it.
"Interesting!"
Lt. Surge set the manga down on the table.
"That Masuda Senbei really is an interesting fellow!"
He turned to look at the illustration on the wall.
He had to admit, it really was well drawn.
Lt. Surge genuinely felt a little reluctant to take it down.
But the matter of the manga clearly couldn't be left at that.
So he picked up his communicator and dialed the number for the Shonen Adventure editorial department.
When the call connected, Lt. Surge grinned.
"Hello? This is Lt. Surge from the Vermilion Gym."
"Yes, the very same Lt. Surge from the manga!"
"Pass a message along to that Masuda Senbei."
He glanced up at the illustration on the wall, a trace of helplessness in his voice.
"The picture really is good, but he'd better not think this settles things!"