I Really Didn’t Want to Be a Trainer

"Why are you here?"

In a suburban house on the outskirts of Viridian City, Kikuko, hunched and frail, looked surprised.

"You came to the lab last time—can't I come visit this time?" Professor Oak replied righteously.

"Smooth talker." Kikuko tapped her cane and huffed, "Gengar, see him out!"

"Genga!" Gengar emerged from the shadow beneath Kikuko’s feet, baring its fangs and claws as it floated over to Professor Oak—but then cheerfully lowered its head.

"Yo, long time no see, Gastly... no, I should call you Gengar now." Professor Oak chuckled as he patted Gengar's head.

"Genga!" Gengar looked delighted, rubbing against Oak’s hand like reuniting with an old friend.

Kikuko's face turned grim.

"Let me get straight to the point."

Professor Oak clenched his fist and coughed: "Last time you came to the lab, the Gengar that was drawn..."

"Wasn't me," Kikuko cut in. "Then who drew it?" Professor Oak paused in confusion.

"You... saw wrong."

Looking at this familiar expression of hers, Professor Oak showed a helpless smile.

Time had passed. The joy of reuniting with an old friend was tinged with a sense of acceptance.

"Maybe, I didn’t see wrong."

Professor Oak sat down on his own and said, "This time I came on behalf of a few younger trainers."

Hearing that Professor Oak had a request, Kikuko suddenly seemed pleased. She smirked coldly: "No matter what the request is, I have only one condition."

"What is it?"

Kikuko stared directly at the aging Samuel Oak.

Just like back then—when a young Kikuko had challenged the strongest trainer from Pallet Town.

"Battle me."

A faint smile tugged at the corners of her wrinkled face.

"These days, you’re so weak you probably can’t even hold a Poké Ball, right?"

"Losing to the Elite Four? That’s expected... no—more like you brought it on yourself!"

Professor Oak, wearing his white lab coat, looked a bit embarrassed.

This was the sharp-tongued Kikuko he remembered...

But when it came to battles—

He suddenly took off his lab coat and folded it neatly, revealing a black tank top and a surprisingly muscular frame.

"I haven’t been slacking in training over the years, Kikuko."

Professor Oak spoke solemnly: "Then let’s battle!"

The sunlight outside was harsh.

Kikuko froze for a while.

He had still been training all these years?

Impossible!

He was clearly a leader in the scientific world… he’d betrayed his original promise to become a Pokémon Trainer!

Leaning on her cane, Kikuko closed her eyes in silence for a long time, then picked up her Poké Ball: "Then let me see how strong you are now..."

Don’t disappoint me. Kikuko shouted hoarsely:

"Challenger, Kikuko from Viridian City!"

For a moment, it felt just like the scene from the Indigo League Tournament.

A square-jawed, stern-faced man pulled out a Poké Ball, with a domineering Kangaskhan roaring by his side.

But snapping back to reality—it was just an aging Kangaskhan and an old man with a firm gaze.

"Challenger, Samuel Oak from Pallet Town!"

"Go, Gengar!"

"Kangaskhan, use Fake Out!"

…

"You got Granny Kikuko’s authorization?"

Lu Ye looked at Professor Oak, who was holding his back, in shock. "Are you okay?"

"N-No problem!" Professor Oak was sweating bullets, laughing, "I just threw out my back from not exercising in so long!"

Lu Ye nodded solemnly.

It was clear... Professor Oak had risked life and limb for this mission!

"Thank you so much, Professor Oak!" Lu Ye said gratefully.

"If you don’t help me collect data on the Legendary Pokémon, this favor’s not repaid!" Professor Oak shouted.

"What! Σ(っ°Д°;)っ You never mentioned that before!"

Supporting his injured back, Professor Oak returned to the lab to recuperate with help from Kangaskhan.

Leaving Lu Ye behind, with Gengar and the electronic Pokédex floating beside him, all thrown into disarray by the wind.

"Rotom."

Lu Ye turned around and said seriously:

"When we head to Sinnoh, don’t forget to collect Legendary Pokémon data."

"Beep beep... Roger that, Loto!"

Rotom scratched its head, puzzled:

"But isn’t the Master going along too?"

"Huh? Isn’t collecting data the Pokédex’s job? What does that have to do with a Trainer?"

"!?!" Rotom was shocked.

Makes sense… and totally unrefutable, Loto!

…

"Make sure the character design is pretty~"

In the chat group, Lorelei heard from Misty about the new project and tagged Lu Ye herself:

"Remember to keep the age settings strictly confidential!"

"Got it."

Gold stroked his chin and mused, "I’d heard of Aunt Lorelei’s name way back when I was ten..."

[Group member 'Gold' has been removed from the chat by group admin 'Lorelei']

Lorelei acted like nothing had happened, smiling sweetly: "What do you think, Professor Lu?"

"Roger that! We’ll spare no expense on the character design!" Lu Ye suddenly paused.

Wait, I’m the group admin. Why am I panicking?!

But he realized what was going on.

The guys were mostly discussing their teams and level settings.

The girls, on the other hand, were debating whether to prepare multiple outfits for their avatars.

Lu Ye felt a jolt.

They were turning Pokémon: Sword & Shield into Pokémon: Nikki Dress Up!

What, I play a female avatar myself? Then it’s all good.

Among the remaining Gym Leaders—

Janine, the Poison-type Gym Leader, as a longtime follower of Professor Lu, immediately signed up.

Marshal had originally thought it was too much trouble.

Showing his face wasn’t really what a Unova colonel should be doing...

"Hearing from Professor Lu that the game might boost followers after launch," Misty said.

"Eh, then maybe we can use it for product promotions?" Leaf blinked.

"My little perfume shop business might get a nice boost too," Erika smiled faintly.

Thinking of his music account with over ten thousand followers, Marshal was shaken: "Count me in!"

"Is... isn’t there a Johto region?" Janine blushed and asked quietly.

"Ah… next game, we’re just testing the waters for now." Lu Ye replied.

Steven’s eyes lit up, suddenly interested.

When Professor Lu reaches Hoenn—

Wouldn’t I be... challenging myself in-game?

"Why didn’t Devon Corp’s game division think of this..." Steven muttered.

Far away at the Cinnabar Island resort, Blaine naturally had no objections.

Joining these young people’s project, Blaine stroked his beard and typed with a flurry of keystrokes:

"Oooh!! I’m feeling fired up!"

"Eh, why is the chat dead now?"

Blaine looked at the silent group chat and suddenly felt a bit sentimental.

…

Once the authorization issue was settled,

Lu Ye handed the entire new project over to Oleana.

"Make sure the designs are top-notch!"

"Understood," Oleana replied calmly. "I’ll emphasize that to artist Jasmine repeatedly!"

The HD remake of Pokémon: FireRed incorporated real-time battle command mechanics from Pokémon: Battle Revolution.

From the system specs, it seemed like Battle Revolution with a storyline added.

Lu Ye looked up at the sky.

The black tech of the Pokémon world always maxes out in the weirdest areas.

Like Poké Ball teleportation, trade evolutions, flying battleships, and so on.

And in gaming—

The Kalos region’s Lysandre Labs had their virtual imaging technology.

This tech might even be used for card games someday...

…

Friday, February 19

After several days of busyness, Professor Lu finally had some downtime.

Pokémon: FireRed was underway.

Before the official release… they might even invite Ash and the gang to record a theme song together.

With things finally settled, the most important matter now—

"Time to find Momo~"

Taking advantage of the weekend, Lu Ye planned to pack and get ready to leave.

That night—

Professor Lu finally returned to his livestream.

As soon as it started, gift effects exploded across the screen, completely covering the interface.

"Stop with the gifts, bros… Mods, can you mute the gifters a bit?"

Professor Lu cleared his throat: "Tonight’s just an announcement. I’ll stream new strategies after moving into the new place!"

"Shocking! Professor Lu's going rogue again!"

"I already got my hospital appointment. Just tell me when the next stream is!"

"D*mn it, can’t beat him in battles, can’t outplay him in games… guess my only edge is my looks."

Since it was just a teaser for new strategies,

That night’s stream featured a wild mix of Plants vs. Zombies and Dou Dizhu.

"Eh, put a Wall-nut dumbbell here, then four Acorn berries around it... can't bite it? So frustrating!"

But according to witnesses—

The livestream was filled with Lu Ye's loud howls: "Lawnmower, save me!!"

"A zombie entered the house, saw Professor Lu, and walked away in disgust."

"Can’t eat anymore, seriously can’t eat anymore!"

Then came the classic Dou Dizhu session.

As the "Charity King of Cards," Professor Lu used Rotom as a card counter, boosting his win rate.

"Using the Rotom Pokédex as a card counter!?"

"That’s f*cking nuts. Should be banned forever!"

The stream was full of fun and laughter. Just another day of entertainment from Professor Lu.

"Thanks to ‘Where’s Professor Lu Moving To’ for the big rocket gift."

Lu Ye glanced at the chat and pondered aloud: "Heading to Sinnoh to travel… and find Momo."

Instantly, the entire chat turned lemon yellow.

"At the peak of Pokémon, there’s no room for love!"

"Women only slow down my Poké Ball throws… don’t hold me back, I’m not jealous!"

"Sinnoh… Momo… if you know, you know. Small world, staying anonymous."

…

After the dramatic exit and explosive show,

Night had fully fallen.

Lying in bed, Professor Lu tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

"Gengar."

"Geh-heh?"

In the darkness, Lu Ye looked toward Gengar, its white teeth glowing.

Sylveon poked its ears out from the covers, like it was eavesdropping.

The little ones seemed to have fallen asleep.

But Lu Ye could still hear rustling sounds—as if they were sensing his mood.

"It’s nothing."

He gave a soft smile.

"Let’s pack in the morning."

"We’re moving!"