Heading to Saffron City-Sabrina Contacted Me Again?

Celadon City, the manga studio.

"Smeargle, help me check. Did I forget anything?"

Shiraishi Ritsu crouched on the floor, a half-open suitcase spread out before him.

Inside were two changes of clothes, a booklet of interview guidelines, and several copies of original Pokémon Adventures pages to display at the promotional event.

Smeargle sat beside him and checked everything carefully.

Then he raised his tail and pointed at the workbench.

"Smear!"

"Art supplies?"

"Smear!"

"Already packed. They're in your little backpack."

Smeargle pointed at the Berry cookies on the table next.

"Packed the snacks too."

"Smear!"

"Let's leave the premium paints behind! We're only going to Saffron City for two days, not moving house!"

Smeargle lowered his tail regretfully.

Shiraishi Ritsu didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Ever since the first volume of Pokémon Adventures had achieved good sales, this fellow had grown increasingly demanding about his art supplies.

Before, a box of ordinary paints would keep him happy for hours.

Now, even when heading out for a promotional event, he practically wanted to bring the entire workbench along.

"All right, partner. Stop thinking about your paints."

Shiraishi Ritsu closed the suitcase and let out a long breath.

"We're going to Saffron City tomorrow for an official promotional event. We should at least look like professional manga artists."

"Smear!"

Smeargle immediately puffed out his chest.

Professional manga artist!

He was growing fonder and fonder of that title.

Especially after the last signing event in Celadon City.

So many readers had clamored for him to draw little portraits, and some children had even brought their own Pokémon illustrations to ask him for advice.

For a Smeargle who loved drawing, that was simply the best reward.

Shiraishi Ritsu glanced down at the little bow tie on his chest.

"Not bad. You really look the part this time."

"Smear!"

Smeargle waved his tail proudly.

But Shiraishi Ritsu soon added another remark.

"Though how come your bow tie cost more than mine?"

Smeargle immediately pretended not to hear and turned to organize his backpack.

The promotional event in Saffron City was an extra arrangement the publisher had made at short notice after sales of the first collected volume rose.

It was slightly larger in scale than the previous signing event.

Besides the meet-and-greet with readers, the publisher had invited several media outlets, hoping to conduct a formal interview with Shiraishi Ritsu.

Of course, he would still attend as the manga artist Masuda Senbei.

His real name, private residence, and studio location would remain undisclosed, as always.

Kikkawa Maho took this particularly seriously.

After all, the previous exclusive interview had already caused quite a stir.

Even now, plenty of readers still eagerly discussed the article titled "Shocking! Popular Manga Artist Masuda Senbei Has Close Ties to Three of Kanto's Gym Leaders!"

Some had even written specifically to ask which Gym Leader Masuda Senbei had studied under.

After reading those letters, Shiraishi Ritsu had nearly failed to resist replying:

I couldn't even beat a Rattata before!

Of course, he had ultimately been too embarrassed to put something so humiliating in writing.

Beep, beep, beep!

The communicator on the table suddenly rang.

Shiraishi Ritsu casually answered it.

"Hello, Miss Maho?"

"Mr. Masuda, how's your packing coming along?"

"Pretty much done. I'll leave on time tomorrow."

"Good. The venue in Saffron City is all set, and the publisher will have staff there to welcome you."

The sound of Kikkawa Maho shuffling documents came through the communicator.

"Also, we've already reviewed the questions for this media interview in advance."

"What happened last time shouldn't happen again."

Shiraishi Ritsu immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's great!"

"However, if someone at the venue asks about the three Gym Leaders..."

"I know, I know!"

Shiraishi Ritsu hurriedly cut in.

"Normal interactions, no private master-disciple relationship, and no involvement in commercial promotion."

"An excellent answer."

Kikkawa Maho couldn't help laughing.

"It seems you're quite experienced now, Mr. Masuda."

"How could I not be? These days, just hearing the words 'Gym Leader' practically makes my scalp tingle."

"Haha, then get some rest. See you tomorrow!"

After hanging up, Shiraishi Ritsu flopped onto the sofa.

"Sigh. Being a manga artist isn't easy either."

Smeargle came over and gently patted his shoulder.

"Smear!"

Shiraishi Ritsu turned to look at him.

"What, you think it's hard work too?"

Smeargle nodded earnestly.

Then he extended a paw and pointed at the large stack of unfinished background sketches on the workbench.

Shiraishi Ritsu immediately chuckled.

"Don't worry. Miss Maho is already making arrangements for assistants."

"Once we move into the new studio, you won't have to draw the backgrounds all by yourself every day."

"Smear!"

Smeargle's eyes lit up.

He was already looking forward to that spacious, bright new art studio.

Meanwhile, in Saffron City.

Saffron Gym.

In the spacious training room, Kadabra floated cross-legged in midair, his eyes partly closed.

Several metal balls slowly revolved around him, speeding up and slowing down while maintaining a steady distance throughout.

Sabrina stood nearby, observing quietly.

"That's enough."

Hearing his master's voice, Kadabra opened his eyes.

The metal balls returned to their original positions one after another.

"Kadabra."

Sabrina nodded slightly.

"That's all for today's training."

Kadabra put away his spoon and turned toward the rest area.

Holding her doll, Sabrina returned to a room inside the Gym.

Several recent issues of Shonen Adventure lay on the desk.

Beside them was a small document box.

Several letters lay neatly arranged inside.

They were the reader letters the publisher had forwarded to her earlier.

Sabrina picked up one of them and read it over again.

The writer was a little girl from Lavender Town.

She had asked how to get her newly caught Abra to cooperate with training.

A few days earlier, Sabrina had already had the Gym staff reply on her behalf with some basic advice.

She had originally thought that would be the end of it.

Unexpectedly, she had received another letter from the child today.

[Thank you, Miss Sabrina!]

[I followed your advice and let Abra get used to the training environment first. Now he's willing to practice with me on his own initiative!]

[Someday, I want to become an amazing Psychic-type Trainer just like you!]

At the very bottom of the letter was a drawing of an Abra sleeping soundly.

As Sabrina looked at the drawing, her expression softened a little.

"Hee-hee!"

The doll suddenly poked its head out.

"Sabrina, you're reading fan mail again!"

"I'm just checking the reply."

"But this is the third time you've read that letter today!"

Sabrina folded the letter expressionlessly.

"You've certainly kept count."

"Of course!"

The doll bobbed its head with a giggle.

Then it noticed the magazines on the desk.

"Oh, right, Sabrina. Isn't a new issue of the manga coming out today?"

Sabrina's movements paused briefly.

"It should be."

"Do you want to read it, then?"

"Whatever."

"Hee-hee, but you always read it so carefully!"

Sabrina lowered her gaze to the doll.

It immediately shut its mouth obediently.

Still, no matter how one looked at it, that smiling expression held a hint of mischief.

Sabrina put the letters away, and her gaze returned to the magazines.

A moment later, she picked up the communicator on the desk.

Celadon City.

Shiraishi Ritsu had just finished his shower and was about to check tomorrow's itinerary one last time.

The communicator suddenly rang again.

Thinking Kikkawa Maho had forgotten to tell him something, he casually answered.

"Hello, Miss Maho. Was there something else?"

"It's Sabrina."

"..."

Shiraishi Ritsu froze instantly.

He looked down at the caller information on the communicator.

Saffron Gym.

It really was her!

"M-Miss Sabrina?"

Shiraishi Ritsu hurriedly sat up straight.

"Good evening! What made you contact me all of a sudden?"

Hearing Sabrina's name, Smeargle came closer curiously as well.

"Smeargle?"

Shiraishi Ritsu hurriedly waved at him, signaling him to keep quiet for now.

At the other end of the communicator, Sabrina spoke calmly.

"I heard you're coming to Saffron City tomorrow."

"Ah, yes!"

Shiraishi Ritsu hurriedly answered.

"The publisher arranged a promotional event for my new book. It officially starts the day after tomorrow."

"Mm."

Sabrina gave a quiet acknowledgment.

Then she fell silent.

Shiraishi Ritsu waited a while, gradually growing uneasy.

This young lady suddenly called me. Could it be about the manga's plot again?

Did I accidentally make her look too fierce in the latest installment?

Or did one of Smeargle's illustrations upset her?

Just as his imagination was running wild, Sabrina finally spoke again.

"How far are you planning to draw in the next installment of Pokémon Adventures?"

Shiraishi Ritsu froze.

"Huh?"

"The manga."

Sabrina repeated herself.

"The contents of the next installment."

Shiraishi Ritsu blinked.

"Are you asking about the plot?"

"Mm."

"Well..."

For a moment, he actually had no idea how to answer.

Did I hear that wrong?

Sabrina, the Saffron Gym Leader herself, a renowned psychic in the Kanto Region, actually called to ask about a manga update?

This turn of events was way too strange!

"Masuda Senbei."

Sabrina's voice came through.

"Are you listening?"

"Yes, yes, I'm here!"

Shiraishi Ritsu hurriedly snapped back to his senses.

"The next installment mainly follows Red and the others as they continue investigating leads on Team Rocket. Green will also have some important scenes."

"Oh."

Sabrina paused.

"Will that boy in the cap battle Green?"

"There'll be some conflict."

"Who wins?"

Shiraishi Ritsu couldn't help laughing.

"Miss Sabrina, I can't reveal that ahead of time."

"..."

The other end of the communicator fell silent.

Shiraishi Ritsu's heart tightened.

Oh no.

Was I too blunt?

But Sabrina simply answered in her usual quiet tone.

"Understood."

Shiraishi Ritsu let out a sigh of relief.

He suddenly felt that this Gym Leader didn't seem quite as difficult to get along with as before.

At least now, the two of them could discuss the manga's plot normally.

Although Sabrina still refused to admit that she liked Pokémon Adventures.

But who would go out of their way to call and ask about upcoming installments of a manga they didn't like?

At that thought, the corners of Shiraishi Ritsu's mouth lifted slightly.

"By the way, Miss Sabrina."

"Hm?"

"Do you quite like Red as a character?"

"He's all right."

"What about Green?"

"Also all right."

"Then which character is your favorite?"

Sabrina fell silent for a moment.

"Kadabra."

Shiraishi Ritsu: "..."

All right.

That answer certainly suited her personality.

Beside him, Smeargle couldn't hold back his laughter any longer.

"Smeargle!"

Sabrina seemed to hear his voice.

"Is Smeargle there too?"

"Of course."

Shiraishi Ritsu said with a smile.

"He's coming to Saffron City with me tomorrow."

"Mm."

Sabrina's voice softened a little.

"I received the portrait he painted last time."

"As long as you like it!"

"It's very well painted."

Hearing that praise, Smeargle immediately perked up.

"Smeargle!"

He excitedly raised his tail, nearly knocking over the glass of water beside him.

Shiraishi Ritsu quickly reached out to steady it.

"All right, all right, I know you're happy!"

The two chatted about the manga for a little longer.

Seeing that it was getting late, Shiraishi Ritsu was about to end the call when Sabrina suddenly remembered something.

"By the way."

"What is it?"

"A rather unusual challenger may be coming to the Saffron Gym soon."

Shiraishi Ritsu was a little curious.

"An unusual challenger?"

"Mm."

Sabrina's tone remained calm.

"The Gym staff received some information that a young Trainer from Pallet Town is traveling toward Saffron City."

"Pallet Town?"

Shiraishi Ritsu remarked casually with a smile, "What a coincidence. He's from the same hometown as Red in the manga."

"Apparently, he has a Pikachu with him."

"Oh, a Pikachu..."

Shiraishi Ritsu was just about to continue.

Suddenly, he froze completely.

Pallet Town.

Pikachu.

A young Trainer.

Those keywords quickly came together in his mind.

A name that couldn't have been more familiar suddenly surfaced in his mind.

Ash!

Wait!

Thinking it over carefully, the world he had transmigrated into really was very similar to the Pokémon Original Series anime he had watched in his previous life.

Since Sabrina was still serving as the Saffron Gym Leader, that boy who traveled around challenging Gyms with his Pikachu could certainly be traveling through the Kanto Region too!

More importantly...

In the anime's original plot, Ash's challenge at the Saffron Gym hadn't gone very smoothly.

Especially with Sabrina's troublesome psychic powers.

At that thought, Shiraishi Ritsu instinctively looked at the communicator.

Sabrina was still waiting for his answer.

He suddenly felt uncertain whether he should warn her in advance.

After all, this Sabrina was very similar to the anime character he remembered.

But now Pokémon Adventures had begun serialization, and his arrival had brought some changes to this world.

Who knew whether what happened next would still follow the original plot exactly?

Shiraishi Ritsu thought it over, but ultimately couldn't hold back.

"Wait, Miss Sabrina."

"Hm?"

"That challenger you mentioned... does he wear a cap and have a really rash personality?"

At the other end of the communicator, Sabrina fell silent for a moment.

"You know him?"

Shiraishi Ritsu opened his mouth.

An image of a boy wearing a red-and-white cap, with a Pikachu standing on his shoulder, had already appeared in his mind.

Along with Misty and Brock following beside him.

Thinking of what they were about to encounter, Shiraishi Ritsu couldn't help rubbing his nose.

"...Maybe."