Ash, Daisy, and Delia cautiously made their way back, only to be see an increasing number of media vans.

"Holy shit," Ash exclaimed, taken aback by the scene.

"Language," Delia reprimanded gently.

Ash paused, thinking.

"Maybe I should just give them the interview? Sneaking around might draw more attention."

"Don't give these people an inch, Ash. Once you give one interview, they'll never stop, and your every move will be under constant scrutiny," Daisy advised firmly.

Ash pursed his lips. "Is being Tier 10 really that big of a deal?"

"Not in itself," Daisy sighed. "It's the expectations that come with it. Every Tier 10 trainer across the world has gone on to become a champion."

"Champion..." Ash echoed nervously. "They expect me to become the future champion of Kanto?"

"Exactly," Daisy said. "And they'll document everything - your first battle, your first loss. Everything becomes a story for them."

Ash visibly gulped.

"Have people ever been affected by this pressure?"

Daisy's expression hardened.

"All the time. Some don't even want to be trainers, but the media pressure can be overwhelming. They always want to pry into your life because of some damn tabloid."

"They did that to you, didn't they?" Delia asked sympathetically.

Daisy gave a quiet nod, her expression somber.

"I was Tier 9. But you know what I really wanted? To be a radio host."

Ash nearly did a double-take.

The idea of choosing to be a radio host over a Pokémon trainer seemed bizarre at first, until he remembered a key detail.

"Right, the year is 1996 here. No Spotify or podcasts," he mumbled to himself.

His thoughts were interrupted when he noticed Daisy trying not to look upset.

"But I was pushed into training Pokémon. With a grandfather like Samuel Oak and a father like the Champion Blue Oak, how could I not be? I had talent, they said. It was expected of me."

Ash's mind screeched to a halt.

"Wait, Blue and Gary are different people here?" he thought, his surprise almost making him say it out loud.

Daisy shuddered, her voice dropping to a whisper. "It almost cost me my life."

Delia hugged Daisy.

"It must have been hard for you."

"Yeah," Daisy acknowledged. "But I've grown stronger from it."

"You're an amazing woman," Delia said warmly.

"Thank you," Daisy replied, touched by her words.

Ash felt a heavy burden on his shoulders, a kind of pressure he had never known back on Earth.

There, expectations seemed straightforward: finish university, land a good job, maybe start a family someday. Yet, he never really felt pushed into any of it.

He wondered if his mom ever found out he dropped out of university.

She had worked tirelessly, making countless sacrifices to ensure he could attend college in another city.

And how had he repaid her efforts?

By dropping out, succumbing to loneliness and feeling like he didn't measure up.

The university must have informed her, yet she never confronted him, never added to his guilt.

Now, as he contemplated his new path as a Pokémon trainer—a dream from his childhood that should have filled him with excitement—he instead felt cornered, as if this dream had morphed into a duty rather than a choice.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

The excitement of battling and training Pokémon was overshadowed by the heavy cloak of obligation and the fear of not living up to everyone's expectations.

"I care too much about what others think, about what they expect from me," Ash admitted to himself in a moment of painful clarity.

Lost in his tumultuous thoughts, Ash barely noticed the comforting hand that rested on his shoulder, grounding him. He looked up to see Delia offering a warm, understanding smile.

"Son, you don't have to be a trainer for anyone but yourself. Don't let them dictate your path. You decide your own journey."

"T-Thanks, M-Mom," Ash stammered, grateful for her reassurance.

Daisy smiled at the heartwarming scene. "You have an amazing mom, Ash."

Delia blushed, rubbing the back of her head. "Well, I try."

"I have an idea on where we can go to escape the mandibuzzes," Daisy said, a plan forming in her mind. "Follow me."

....

The sound of lights flickering filled the air as Delia and Ash stepped into the house, their eyes widening in awe.

The house was a display of opulence, with high ceilings, elegant furnishings, and art adorning the walls.

Large windows allowed natural light to pour in, illuminating the spacious interior that exuded wealth and comfort.

"Welcome to my home," Daisy said, gesturing around.

"I think you two can stay here for the time being and leave when the coast is clear."

"Thank you," Delia replied, her voice tinged with awe as she looked around the lavish house, the likes of which she could never afford.

Meanwhile, Ash was preoccupied with the Pokédex, turning it over in his hands. It resembled a black metal box with a Pokéball logo at the center.

"How do you open this thing?" he wondered to himself.

"Oh, it's..." Daisy began to explain, but Ash, acting on instinct, placed his thumb on the Pokéball logo.

It glowed, and the box sprang to life, unfolding into a device that resembled a slightly thicker smartphone.

Intrigued, Ash quickly navigated through the menu, discovering four icons: ID, Map, Encyclopedia, and Team Registry. Curious, he tapped on the Team Registry icon. The screen flickered with a prompt: Point at registered Pokéball.

Ash took out Abra's Pokéball and held it in front of the Pokédex.

The screen scanned it, reminiscent of a QR code reader, and within moments, Abra's biodata appeared on the screen.

[ Name : Abra ]

[ Species: Psychicae somniator abra ]

[ Type: Psychic ]

[ Gender: Male ]

[ Physical Characteristics: ]

- [ Height: 0.9 m (2′11″) ]

- [ Weight: 19.5 kg (43.0 lbs) ]

- [ Body Structure: Bipedal, cat-like, with a thick tail and long ears. Yellow fur covers most of its body, with brown accents. ]

- [ Distinctive Features: Known for its ability to sleep through most of its life and teleport even while asleep. ]

[ Behavioral Traits: ]

- [ Activity Cycle: Mostly nocturnal, sleeps 18 hours a day. ]

- [ Habitat: Prefers urban areas, near humans, but can be found in grassy terrains. ]

- [ Diet: Omnivorous, with a preference for berries and meat. ]

- [ Social Structure: Typically solitary but may occasionally be found in small groups. ]

[ Moves: ]

- [ Teleport: Abra can instantly transport itself and others to a known location. Often used as a defensive mechanism to escape threats. ]

- [ Thunderpunch: Generates a burst of electric energy around its fist to strike opponents. Effective against Water and Flying types. ]

As Ash studied the biodata on the Pokédex, he noticed the absence of levels or stats. "Guess this world is more like the anime than the games in that regard," he mused to himself.

"Well, at least now I know I can't level grind here... shame."

Daisy watched in amazement as Ash navigated the Pokédex with the ease of someone flipping through a well-worn book. "Wow," she thought, her eyes widening. "That device is Gramps' latest creation. It's brand new, cutting-edge tech, and here Ash is, using it like it's nothing."

A hint of awe flickered in her eyes.

"As expected from a tier... Nope, nope, no, Daisy, don't you dare attribute anything to that stupid test." She scolded herself silently, refusing to let the league's rankings define Ash's abilities.

"Maybe Ash is just naturally good with tech," she concluded, pushing aside any thoughts related to the exam. "Yeah, it's got nothing to do with that damn test."

"Would you like something to drink or eat?" Daisy offered kindly.

"No thank you, dear," Delia replied, while Ash began to decline, but suddenly paused.

"I forgot about Yellow. She must be at the bus stop," Ash blurted out, his face flushing at the mention of his girlfriend.

"Who's Yellow?" Daisy inquired, a hint of teasing in her voice.

"My girlfriend," Ash said, still trying to get accustomed to this new reality where he had a girlfriend.

"Oooh," Daisy giggled, amused. "Don't worry, I'll get her. Bus stop, right?"

Ash nodded gratefully as Daisy left to fetch Yellow.

"So, girlfriend?" Delia asked in a low voice, her tone indicating she was treading into unknown territory.

Ash felt a wave of panic. He realized that the original Ash hadn't told Delia about Yellow.

"I can explain," he started, but then paused, realizing he didn't actually remember how the original Ash met Yellow or how they began dating.

"I can't explain," he admitted, feeling defeated.

Minutes later, the door swung open and Yellow, with a look of worry etched on her face, rushed in. She quickly wrapped her arms around Ash in a tight hug.

"Ash, I was so worried! After the exam results and all those media people... And then I couldn't find you. I was scared something happened to you," Yellow said, her voice trembling slightly, tears welling in her eyes.

Ash returned the hug, trying to comfort her. "It's okay, Yellow. I'm fine, thanks to Daisy and my mom here."

Yellow looked up and noticed Abra sitting on Ash's shoulders. Abra raised a hand in greeting.

"You got your Pokémon! I'm so happy for you," Yellow said, her voice brightening as she hugged him even tighter.

Suddenly, she opened her backpack and announced with a smile, "Meet Pichy." She revealed a sleeping Pikachu nestled inside her backpack.

The adorable sight of the sleeping Pikachu was interrupted by Delia's polite cough. Yellow quickly looked at Delia and bowed. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Ketchum."

Delia responded with a warm smile, "No need for that formality, dear. Call me Mom."

Yellow's eyes widened in surprise, and she glanced at Ash, who could only offer a sheepish thumbs-up in response.