"An Unbelievable Fact: Trainer Ryuuske from Pallet Town, Viridian City!"
"Truth or Hype? Pewter City Gym Leader Brock's Swift Defeat!"
"What's Ryuuske's Connection to Lance? Our Special Report from Sootopolis!"
"Professor Oak: He's an Outstanding Trainer..."
"Exclusive Report: The Past Life of Ryuuske!"
——
Early the next morning, headlines flooded both digital and print media across the Kanto region. As in any world with media, reporters always moved faster than anyone else. Ryuuske clearly remembered his battle taking place just after 6 PM the day before, and after eight matches, less than ten hours had passed by the next morning.
And yet, somehow, these journalists had already put together this barrage of reports. Even Ryuuske had to admit, their efficiency was impressive—these reporters really didn't know how to mind their own business.
Within that short ten-hour window, some reporters had already rushed to Johto's Sootopolis City to investigate the hometown of the Dragon-type Elite Four member, while others had raced to Pallet Town to get interviews from its most reputable figure—Professor Oak.
The good professor even called to complain about being woken up mid-sleep for an exclusive interview, which he had no choice but to give.
As for those trying to dig into Ryuuske's past, they were bound to come up empty. Before transmigrating, Ryuuske was just a regular orphan from Viridian City, living a plain and uneventful life with next to no social connections. There was even a blank spot in his records for a few months—that was when he'd been captured by Team Rocket.
Professor Oak covered for him by saying that during that time, Ryuuske had developed the desire to become a trainer and came to live in Pallet Town. As for the so-called "Power of the Dragon Lineage," Professor Oak used his influence to suppress any related reports.
Although netizens were already speculating heavily about Ryuuske's surname online, without concrete proof, it all remained conjecture. No matter how close their guesses were to the truth, they were still just guesses.
Ryuuske's resume—simple and clean—perfectly aligned with the ideals that the Pokémon League liked to promote: Orphan, Hard Work, Hope, Perseverance, Training, and Success. So far, everything the public had seen from Ryuuske painted a glowing, upright image, and the Pokémon League was sparing no effort in hyping him up. It almost seemed like they were grooming him to become the next supernova of the Kanto region. The League had a heavy hand in pushing these widespread reports—almost to the point of risking overexposure.
All Ryuuske could do was sigh—he had only wanted to keep a low profile. How did things escalate into global fame overnight? In an age of hyper-information, one moment you're nobody, the next you're trending across the entire region.
He could only blame himself for trusting his memories of the games and anime too much. In those versions, gym battles always took place in private little rooms, barely with an audience. Who would've guessed that in this real world, gym challenges were like massive festivals, full of cheering crowds? At the time, he just wanted to look cool—but it ended up spiraling into this.
"Team Rocket probably can't sit still now," Ryuuske mused.
At the second-floor buffet of the Pokémon Center, he enjoyed his breakfast: bread, fried eggs, bacon, and congee. Aside from the Pokémon-themed items, the food here wasn't much different from what he was used to—something that helped him feel more at home.
He set his tablet down. Though he kept a stoic face as if indifferent to the attention, inwardly Ryuuske was over the moon. He was, at his core, just like most regular people—except maybe a bit braver in risking his life and a bit more ruthless toward both others and himself when necessary. But deep down, the media attention made him genuinely happy.
He wasn't like those celebrities already jaded by the paparazzi. Ryuuske loved the feeling of being at the center of everything—the spotlight, the admiration, the envy in others' eyes. It made him feel alive.
Sure, there's that old saying about "getting rich in silence," but if one lives too quietly, then what's the point of life? Especially for someone young—if you're not loud, bold, and a bit flashy, you might as well be living like an old man. Maybe someday he'd get tired of the spotlight, but that day hadn't come yet. Even with the mental maturity of someone in their early twenties, his heart was still eager to embrace this new life with open arms.
The only real downside? Team Rocket might make a move. Before, when no one knew who Ryuuske was, even holding Mewtwo wouldn't have made them bat an eye. But now that he was the rising star of Kanto, they couldn't afford to ignore him. If he kept developing and built a team around Mewtwo and other elite Pokémon, he'd become a nightmare for Team Rocket. Ryuuske could already sense that his journey ahead wouldn't be as smooth as it had been.
"Oh well… If I'm gonna live out loud, I'd better be ready to handle the consequences."
Finishing the last bite of his congee, Ryuuske wiped his mouth with a napkin and got up to leave. With his first badge in hand, he now qualified for several trainer benefits offered by the League. Next, he planned to head directly to Mt. Moon. If he lingered in town any longer, he'd definitely get swarmed by journalists.
Although he enjoyed being the center of attention, Ryuuske was also very clear about where his fame came from—power. If he got too comfortable basking in fame and slacked off on training, it wouldn't be long before headlines started reading things like: "Tragic Fall: Talented Trainer's Meteoric Rise Ends in Disgrace." The media had no shame—they'd say anything for clicks. They'd worship you today, and drag you through the mud tomorrow.
"Look, look! Isn't that Ryuuske over there…?"
"Hehe~ You just noticed? Every trainer in here has been sneaking glances at him for a while now. You're the only one who didn't notice—too busy eating."
Two young female trainers whispered to each other, unaware that thanks to Mewtwo's psychic powers, Ryuuske could hear everything within a certain range, no matter how softly they spoke.
"Ugh, stop it~ You make me sound like a pig~ Ah! He's looking this way, he's looking this way!"
"What are you getting shy about? Maybe he thinks you're cute and that's why he glanced over. Why don't you go ask for his number?"
"You go if you're so bold! I'm too nervous… but seriously, he looks even better in person than in the photos. I watched the recording of his battle yesterday at least five times. The way he commanded in battle… just so cool."
The girl practically swooned.
"…"
Ryuuske glanced at them briefly before turning away. They weren't particularly stunning, but they were cute and pleasant enough. Still, why not just come talk to me? Say hi! I don't mind giving out a few autographs or something!
Thinking this, Ryuuske stepped out of the Pokémon Center and headed toward Mt. Moon.
To be continued…