As dawn broke over Jubilife City, the skies shimmered in hues of orange and pink, Jun stood in front of a small mirror in his small dormitory, adjusting his tie nervously as he glanced at the reflection: a calm, determined boy with unruly dark hair and soft brown eyes in the classic black flowy garb of graduation. Jun sank into his SystemDex™ pending, the first page had changed little over the past 2 and a half years, but to him it was significant.
Name: Jun
Age: 15
Talent: [Bug Affinity I]
Pokemon(observed): 135
Pokemon(owned): 0
Pokepoints: 35
Once he had breached the 100 pokepoints mark, the system had updated and had a new page added to it, the Redemption Shop. He had deliberated for quite a long time before spending 100 pokepoints on [Bug Affinity I]. This talent increased closeness to all Bug types and gave a 10% overall boost to all Bug type pokemon he owned by aligning his aura with Bug Type energy. Even without mentioning that Bug types were his favorite type, the perks that the later stages of Bug Affinity offered were also quite tempting.
Pulling himself away from the SystemDex, Jun turned away from the mirror and went over to his bed, on it was a worn leather backpack holding everything he owned. Today was not only a day of celebration but the dawn of new paths. Jun had secured an internship at one of the most prestigious Pokémon research labs in the city. Over the past year, he had debated with himself whether to go into research or battling, swinging between the two options like an overactive Mankey before finally deciding on pokemon research.
There were several reasons, but the main one was that pokemon research could best leverage the help that the SystemDex gave him. In the early days, Jun had the fantasy of becoming the greatest pokemon professor by relying on the SystemDex and his knowledge from Earth, but any illusion of superiority evaporated when he actually dug deeper into the world. The people here weren't idiots, most of the research on pokemon done in this world vastly outstripped the knowledge he brought over from my world.
He realized the only aspect that hasn't been fully explored by the research community were pokemon abilities, most people vaguely knew the most commonly occuring abilities that had concrete effects, such as Intimidate or Sturdy, but there wasn't a systematic list of pokemon abilities. With his SystemDex, he basically had an answer sheet and only had to “show his work” so to speak.
Of course, as a lab assistant, he wouldn't be able to start this project for some time yet, but taking the time to learn some more from established researchers would do nothing but help him in the long term.
Shaking out of his reverie, Jun picked up his backpack, took one last look at the dormitory, his home for the past 3 years, then resolutely left, locking the door behind him.
After the ceremony, he met up with Alyssa at their favorite café, Aroma Teas, just a few blocks from Jubilife Trainer’s School. The scent of pastries and brewing coffee filled the air, blending with the chatter of fellow graduates. Jun spotted Alyssa at their usual corner table, her sharp features accentuated by a triumphant smile. She was fiddling with her Pokégear, eyes scanning the device, probably checking the latest news on trainers who had recently conquered their respective gyms.
“There you are!” she exclaimed, her voice cutting through the noisy café as she beckoned him over with an impatient wave.
Jun returned the smile, though tempered with a hint of worry. “Are you sure you want to go through with it? As safe as this world is now, the percentage of trainer deaths have never fallen below 2.8% per year.”
Alyssa rolled her eyes, dismissing his concern with an exaggerated sigh. “I’ve told you a thousand times! I want to explore! I want to battle! I want to prove to everyone that I can be one of the best trainers in Sinnoh! Plus, you know I can’t stand being cooped up.”
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“True,” Jun replied, his calm demeanor maintaining the conversation’s balance.
“Jun, look!” Alyssa's voice lifted in excitement, her finger pointing at a trending news feed on her Pokégear. "Top Trainers of Sinnoh: Who will rise next?" “That could be me! All I need is a few badges and I’ll be on that list!”
Jun's eyes widened as he recognized the girl featured in that article. She was younger here, sure, but that iconic long wavy blonde hair and black double teardrop hair clips on the side of her head gave away her identity. So Cynthia had just started her climb to fame, that gave him some idea of what time period he was in, but he couldn't remember much of the story of pokemon anyways. He would have to pay attention to Team Galactic, he wondered if they were active yet, since he hadn't noticed any weirdos in gray, but he was skeptical of the idea that they would be dressed in villain attire if they did show up, considering that life wasn't a video-game.
Alyssa pushed her mug away slightly, breaking Jun out of his reverie. He looked out the window, gazing at the vibrant flow of life beyond. “You know, it’s strange to think that once we leave here, we might not see each other for quite a while.”
There was a quiet moment as Alyssa stirred her coffee, her expression shifting from levity to seriousness. “Yeah... Maybe. I mean, that’s how life is, isn’t it? We’ll be busy with our own things, won’t we?”
“True. But think about it: you’ll be challenging gyms, and I’ll be entrenched in research. It’s an exciting time. A fresh start.”
She nodded, though complication flickered in her eyes. “Just… remember that you're more than just your research, Jun. Stay in touch, I know how you get sucked into things. I’ll be expecting updates from your lab.”
He chuckled softly. “I’ll try to keep in touch. Just don’t think you can escape my Weird Fact Wednesday.”
“Ugh, please, no!” she groaned playfully. “I want to focus on battling, not listening to your obscure pokemon trivia! Though I might ask you for advice on some of my Pokémon choices…”
They shared laughter that filled the cozy café, drowning the silence of what lay outside. A soft serenity began to wash over him, musing about how their journeys would intertwine through the years.
Time ticked by, suddenly feeling fleeting amidst the warm atmosphere of the café. As the moment of their departure closed in, silence enveloped them for a brief period as they both lingered in the realization that they were about to part ways for an indeterminate time.
“Alyssa, promise me you'll stay safe out there,” Jun said softly, his expression serious now.
She smiled, but it was a bittersweet smile. “I’ll be fine, Jun. You focus on your research, I’ll be out there capturing the world!”
He offered her a gentle smile, filled with confidence that she would blaze trails wherever she went. They had always supported each other's ambitions, even while seeming to take divergent paths.
As they stepped out into the vibrant streets filled with graduates celebrating, Jun felt a tether pulling at him.
“Hey, Alyssa,” he said, as they paused at the café’s entrance.
“Yeah?”
“You’ll be amazing out there. Just remember, it’s not just about the badges. It’s about finding your partners, experiencing your journey together.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll crush it! And I expect you to make headlines with your research. Who knows? Maybe one day, I’ll be calling you as the champion!”
Alyssa’s grin widened, but sincerity seeped into her eyes as well. “You’re going to do just fine, Jun. Promise me you won’t center everything around the research. Go out there and explore, too.”
“Deal.” They shared a moment of silence, recognizing how this bond, crafted in laughter and warmth, would carry them through their separate journeys.
“Goodbye, Jun. Take care of yourself until our paths cross again,” she said, and in that instant, it felt like a chapter of their lives was closing, even as new pages awaited to be written.
“Goodbye, Alyssa,” he replied, voice barely above a whisper, as she turned, ponytail swishing around and strode off toward her destiny, every step resonating with purpose.
Jun watched her disappear into the crowd, knowing that their adventures were just beginning, even if they were to walk different roads.
With a deep breath, he stepped forward into the vibrant, swirling world of Jubilife City, ready to face the unseen and unknown wonders that awaited him in his new life as a Pokémon researcher.
And somewhere, amidst chaos and camaraderie, they would forever be a part of each other’s journeys—two orphans turned explorers in the grand Pokémon world.