Free from the caution and tension he had felt at Team Rocket's research facility, Ryuuske seemed to have returned to his usual peaceful daily life. He climbed out of bed, put on his shirt and pants, and reached for the Poké Ball on his nightstand—the Master Ball, also known as the "Champion's Ball," was tied to a long cord. He hung it around his neck, letting the ball rest against his chest.
"Good morning, Mewtwo."
[Good morning, Ryuuske.]
After their usual morning greeting, Ryuuske walked to the window and drew back the curtains. When he pushed open the window, a refreshing breeze swept in, filling him with a sense of exhilaration.
He closed his eyes, savoring the clean air—untainted by pollution, crisp and pure, as if capable of cleansing even the most ruthless hearts. Even the most vicious humans or Pokémon would find their cruelty softening here.
This was Pallet Town—the purest, most unblemished place in the entire Pokémon world, an ideal land shaped by the lifelong efforts of Professor Oak.
The sound of flapping wings suddenly filled the air as a flock of Pidgey flew by, chirping cheerfully. In the grassy field outside his window, Sandshrew and Rattata could occasionally be seen nibbling on roots or digging in the dirt.
Nidoran♂ and Nidoran♀ cautiously moved through the thick grass, while a few Doduo happily pranced about. In the distance, a shimmering lake reflected dazzling sunlight as Water-type Pokémon leisurely rode the waves.
On the fenced lawn below, three Growlithe barked playfully as they herded a flock of sheep. These Growlithe served as shepherd dogs, guard dogs, rescue dogs, and even pets—truly versatile companions.
This world wasn't just populated by Pokémon—ordinary animals still existed. Creatures like chickens, ducks, cows, and sheep had long been part of the human diet, and most fish in the ocean were still ordinary, edible species. It wasn't as if every fishing attempt would hook a Pokémon. However, compared to the vast biodiversity of another world, this one's non-Pokémon species seemed somewhat lacking.
Perhaps the existence of Pokémon prevented the natural development of a richer variety of species. The animals that managed to survive in this world were mostly low-level herbivores at the bottom of the food chain. Any carnivorous creature would quickly become prey, even against the weakest Pokémon.
Fortunately, thanks to Pokémon's influence, livestock like chickens, ducks, cows, and sheep had evolved to reproduce at astonishing rates, far beyond what one might expect, ensuring that most people never went hungry.
The vast majority of humans still relied on crops and ordinary animal meat for sustenance. It wasn't that Pokémon couldn't be eaten, nor was it due to some moral prohibition—rather, Pokémon's bodies contained energy attuned to various elements, which human physiology simply couldn't process. As a result, Pokémon meat wasn't just unpalatable—it could even have adverse effects, akin to consuming carcinogens.
Still, no matter the world, there were always some extreme outliers. There were indeed people who dared to eat Pokémon, unafraid of the consequences—though they were exceedingly rare.
Ryuuske had already spent quite some time living at Professor Oak's lab, and he had adjusted without much difficulty. Aside from the existence of Pokémon and the slightly more advanced technology, everything else wasn't too different from before.
After washing up in the bathroom, the last remnants of drowsiness faded away. In this world, while toothbrushes existed, most people preferred using specialized mouthwash—far more effective than the kind from another world, capable of effortlessly cleaning teeth. It had been invented primarily for travelers.
Technically, this wasn't exactly Pallet Town—the actual town was some distance away from the lab. As a research facility dedicated to Pokémon, it couldn't be built right in the middle of a populated area, as that might invite unnecessary trouble. Ryuuske had visited Pallet Town several times for supplies, and unlike the simplistic two-or-three-house setup from the games, it was a fully functional town with all necessary amenities.
Professor Oak's lab was quite large. As Ryuuske pushed open the front door, a Pidgeotto swooped down from the sky, a newspaper pouch hanging around its neck. It flapped its wings as it landed beside him, allowing him to pull out a newspaper.
Just like in another world, despite the existence of the internet, many people still preferred reading the newspaper in the morning—especially older individuals like Professor Oak, who couldn't shake the habit.
"Thanks for the hard work, Pidgeotto."
Casually grabbing a snack from a bucket by the door, Ryuuske tossed it over. Pidgeotto caught it mid-air with precision, swallowed it happily, and then took off with a cheerful cry, heading to the next house to deliver papers.
Placing the newspaper on the table and weighing it down with a small Sandslash-shaped paperweight, Ryuuske went to prepare breakfast.
As a guest, he felt he ought to contribute something instead of leaving everything to Professor Oak. Having lived alone before, he had developed decent cooking skills.
The vegetation in this world differed from what he remembered, but as long as the vegetables were edible, it didn't matter. Cooking methods didn't need major adjustments either. While traditional seasonings like salt and oil weren't common, the vast variety of crushed or juiced Berries provided an even richer range of flavors. Experimenting with different Berry combinations had become a new hobby for Ryuuske.
Moreover, cooking techniques in this world were different. When Ryuuske applied his knowledge of Chinese-style cooking, Professor Oak had praised him highly—so much so that Ryuuske felt that even if he became a chef, he could reach "Champion-level" status, perhaps even pioneering a whole new culinary style.
"You're up early as always, Ryuuske."
Professor Oak had already woken up and finished his morning routine. Entering the living room, he sniffed the air and smiled.
"...I feel bad having you, our guest, cook every day."
Despite his words, the professor didn't seem the least bit apologetic. In fact, he sometimes lamented privately—once Ryuuske set off on his journey, how would he ever enjoy such delicious meals again?
"If you hadn't taken me in, Professor, I wouldn't even know where to stay or what to eat. It's only right that I do something in return."
Ryuuske chuckled as he brought out a simple breakfast.
"I wish my grandson, Gary, was as polite as you. That kid's always so full of himself, never listening to a word I say."
Mentioning his grandson made Professor Oak rub his temples in frustration.
"Still no sign of Bulbasaur?"
Sitting across from the professor, Ryuuske began eating his own cooking.
"Sigh, it's been two days now. Who knows where it's run off to? If only I hadn't been so careless..."
The professor's tone was heavy with self-blame.
"Maybe it just went out to play. It'll probably come back when it's had enough fun."
Ryuuske offered the consolation, though he didn't quite believe it himself.
To be continued…