"BEEP BEEP BEEP"
Beneath the covers, a somewhat stiff arm extended, reminiscent of a zombie's. It moved back and forth at the bedside, resembling a car's windshield wiper, as if on a quest for something.
Recognizing the familiar sound of the alarm clock, Ryuji swiftly pressed down on its head.
Silence ensued...
Was there anything significant on the schedule for today?
Ryuji cast aside the blanket, uncovering his head as he stared up at the ceiling, lost in thought...
Seemingly not.
Well then, back to sleep!
In an instant, Ryuji concealed his head under the blanket, cocooning himself within the bed's warm embrace.
Ah, the comfort of slumber!
"TAP TAP TAP"
A gentle knock echoed from the door.
Simultaneously, the deep and authoritative voice of Ryuji's father reverberated slowly,
"Son, make sure you excel in today's Pokémon battle simulation! Don't be tardy! Breakfast awaits in the kitchen. I'm heading to work! Eagerly anticipating good news from you upon my return!"
"Yeah, yeah, got it..."
Muttering impatiently within the cozy enclave of his bed, Ryuji responded.
As the sound of the door closing and a final "Rise and shine, sleepyhead" resonated from downstairs...
The wind outside howled.
In the sunlight streaming through the window, the corner of Ryuji's eye caught a fleeting glimpse of an orange-red Charizard fluttering by.
Ryuji: ...
What's happening?!
Suddenly, a jolt surged through Ryuji amidst his daydreaming. He cast off the covers, his wide eyes fixed on the ceiling...
The ceiling lamp in the shape of a pink Ditto seemed rather ordinary upon closer inspection.
Wait a minute!
With the urgency of someone "sitting up on their deathbed," Ryuji, positioned on the bed, immediately dashed to the window and gazed at the gradually receding orange hue in the sky...
A fiery flame burning at the tip of a Charizard's tail seemed to ignite a surge of passion within Ryuji's heart, soaring toward the heavens!
"What on earth! It's Charizard!"
"My dad is actually riding Charizard to work?!?"
Ryuji finally comprehended...
The present situation might be somewhat extraordinary.
Had he... transmigrated?!
"Is it finally my turn to transmigrate? And into a world with Pokémon, no less?!"
Ryuji gazed at the sky with an exuberant grin.
A world with Pokémon, indeed!
Wasn't this the world Ryuji had always yearned for?
If he weren't clad in Pikachu-themed pajamas, and instead adorned in blue and white vertical stripes, one might assume he was a patient at some private mental institution!
"Could this be for real?!"
In the sky beyond the window, myriad Pidgey circled and danced in clusters. On a branch of the tree in his yard, Ryuji could discern more clearly that some Pidgey were meticulously preening their feathers.
Hold on...
Since when did his yard sprawl to such vast proportions?
An alternate world?
Yet, the concept of his father in this world being a "commuting dad" riding a Charizard to work and possessing such an expansive yard... it didn't seem entirely implausible.
He, too, had become a transmigrator who could "rely on his dad"!
Ryuji began to recollect the words his father had uttered while knocking on the door...
Pokémon battle simulation... initial test?
"Right!"
This is it — the preliminary test for Pokémon battles!
Could this mean that Ryuji, in this world, already has his very own first Pokémon?
Before Ryuji could become too excited, in the yard below his house, a charming little Pokémon with light green fur, resembling one in a white dress, instantly captured Ryuji's attention!
It's Ralts!!
No way...
"Could it be... the moment I transmigrated to this Pokémon-filled parallel world, fate was already smiling upon me? Could my starter Pokémon... be this — Ralts?!"
The Ralts in the yard, akin to a graceful little princess, stood daintily on the dew-covered grass. With a delicate leaf clasped in its tiny hand, it gently brushed the flower's petals against its sweet cheeks, savoring the fragrance...
Absolutely perfect!
Spot on, bro!
This is exactly the kind of Pokémon Ralts is!
Every movement of Ralts is so light, like scratching Ryuji's heart.
Especially in the morning breeze, a few wisps of light green hair gently ruffled were enough to allow Ryuji to envision its future elegance once it evolves into Gardevoir.
What luck!
To transmigrate and instantly possess a precious Pokémon like Ralts in this world with Pokémon?
Ryuji felt certain that he must have accumulated countless virtues in his previous world, resulting in such a marvelous beginning!
Yet, as Ryuji's lips curled into the triumphant grin of a returning dragon king, with a light, nimble sound of the door opening, another lively figure appeared in Ryuji's line of sight.
She was approaching Ralts from behind!
She... What was she planning to do with Ralts?
"Ralts, time for breakfast! Oh, you're watering the little flower, aren't you?"
"ralts!"
Ralts delicate hand cradled a dewdrop collected from the grass, gently trickling it onto the petal of a small purple flower.
Sadly, this endearing scene...
Ryuji's viewpoint was utterly obstructed!
"Huh? Mizuki, come down and get ready for breakfast! We also need to prepare for today's preliminary test of Pokémon battles!"
Mizuki was about to lead Ralts back inside when he suddenly noticed Ryuji by the window. She greeted him with a cheerful wave, a small fang slightly protruding from her smiling lips, infusing her expression with youthfulness and innocence.
Outside, Ryuji was all smiles...
Inside, Ryuji was about to cry...
In his memories, Ryuji had a sister named Mizuki, who was born in this world a few minutes before him.
Ryuji's father, Akira Takashi, held a high position in the Pokémon League Bank.
Ryuji's mother, Yukiko Takashi, was a renowned Pokémon breeder and a star of the Pokémon film and television industry, a unique celebrity profession in this Pokémon-filled parallel world.
Ryuji and Mizuki's current identities were quite simple — both were Senior students at Kagayaku City Pokémon Academy in Nihon.
The third year of senior high was an extraordinary grade.
In this world, when people turn 18, they receive a gift from the Pokémon League — a unique, personalized Poké Ball.
This signifies their potential to become certified Pokémon Trainers of the Pokémon League.
In search of their own Pokémon companions, aspiring to become Trainers and fight alongside them, with only 101 days remaining until the nationwide unified college entrance examination, all senior high third-year students at Pokémon Academy would experience their school's first official preliminary test of Pokémon battles.
It was an introduction to large-scale Pokémon battles.
Coincidentally, Ryuji transmigrated into this parallel world on the very day of the preliminary test of Pokémon battles.
Ralts...
It was Mizuki's first Pokémon, also her starter Pokémon...
So, what about Ryuji?
Just as Ryuji's face became as expressionless as a returning dragon king, a Poké Ball on the desk suddenly emitted a bright light!
...
Silence!
Silence!
The air, as if frozen!
Ryuji's numb expression became even more numb...
His eyes gazed emptily at the Pokémon that was locking eyes with him while clutching its head...
"Psyduck!"
Psyduck: ???
Psyduck tilted its head, showing a peculiar grin.
Ryuji almost burst out with exasperation.
His headache-inducing Pokémon...
It's Psyduck!!