Hoenn Region – Petalburg City
"Mayu! If you don't come down now, your tempura soba will be eaten by Furret!"
Misaki—wearing a black-and-white striped apron—lightly tapped a clay pot with a wooden spoon.
On the stove, Furret curled around the freshly warmed miso soup, fluffy tail proudly wagging.
"Coming, coming~"
Light footsteps echoed from the stairs.
The eighteen-year-old girl descended gracefully. Chestnut curly hair fell to her waist. A faint blush—from hurrying—colored her fair, delicate face.
Soft, gentle light illuminated her profile. Her bow-shaped hair ornament shimmered. Amber eyes gleamed with honey-like luster. A small, light brown mole dotted the corner of her left eye.
When she smiled, she possessed both a maiden's pure beauty—and an added touch of alluring charm.
"Eh? Is this the latest Pokémon movie?"
Mayu glanced at the served soba noodles—then through the rising steam at the television.
A forest engulfed by a fire dragon. Continuous powder snow. A charging horde of wild Pokémon.
Eerie. Impactful. Like a disaster movie.
"No, no—it's a live broadcast~"
Misaki untied her apron, adding another scoop of golden corn chowder to her daughter's bowl.
"Forest fire in Hiyori Town—Sinnoh region. Wild Pokémon agitated. Rioting."
The middle-aged man across the table sipped fresh hot tea.
"Norman! You didn't wash your hands!"
Misaki—arranging golden, crispy shrimp tempura into a petal shape—glared.
"Cough, cough~"
Norman shivered. Nearly choked.
Accustomed to their daily bickering, Mayu picked up steaming noodles with her chopsticks—and turned her gaze to the live broadcast.
"According to our station's reports—"
The serious-faced announcer continued.
"—the forest explosion caused by Hunter J's large poaching syndicate has resulted in widespread fire in Hiyori Forest, Sinnoh region, as well as a large-scale wild Pokémon riot."
The screen changed.
A field reporter in a helicopter. Hovering over the forest.
The overhead camera zoomed. The tragic scene—fully, completely revealed.
Violent figures. Roaring sounds.
Mayu frowned. Chestnut hair trembled with her quickened breathing.
Then—a powerful cold current swept through.
The helicopter shook violently. Mayu's heart leaped to her throat.
The camera—despite hitting the cabin wall—did not lose functionality. It dutifully focused its lens.
"That is—"
Mayu's beautiful eyes widened.
A Pokémon—flapping ice-blue wings—descended from the dim sky like a deity.
Biting, howling cold wind overwhelmed the roars of the rioting wild Pokémon.
The suddenly intensified Blizzard fell.
The rampant, spreading flames—extinguished.
And a figure stood in front. Composed.
"It's Articuno."
Norman—hands washed, seated—recognized the Pokémon instantly.
"To capture a Pokémon of this level... this youth is an incredible Trainer."
"Then... how does he compare to Dad?"
The chestnut-haired girl's eyes brightened.
Norman smiled. Shook his head. Picked up a piece of crispy tempura.
"I can't do something like that."
He looked at the black-haired youth on the television—eyes full of admiration.
"The new generation of Trainers has taken over."
Petalburg Gym Leader. Next Elite of Hoenn.
Norman's strength was undeniable. But facing this situation alone? He couldn't quell the beast horde by himself.
"So... so amazing."
Mayu turned back to the television.
On screen, the black-haired youth's hand waved—lightly.
Articuno—empowered by the Icicle Plate—displayed an unprecedented aura of pressure.
More intense than the raging inferno. More intense than the violent beast horde.
A Blizzard swept across the entire forest.
Mayu's chopsticks hovered over the soup noodles. Sauce dripped from the soba—spreading ripples in the bowl.
She leaned forward. Delicate chestnut hair almost brushed the noodles.
Unaware.
The scene before—despair. Inextinguishable fire. Endless Pokémon rampage. A human inferno.
Then—Articuno descended.
The black-haired youth gazed down like an emperor at the wild Pokémon—who dared not move.
Everything reversed.
Unlike a normal Blizzard , the vast snowfall wasn't gently falling.
It condensed.
A spiraling ice storm.
Each snowflake—a blade tempered by Ice-type energy. Where it passed, towering tree branches shrieked like metal. Pine needles instantly froze into jade-colored icicles.
Biting cold wind swept.
The wild Pokémon—gathered, preparing to charge—cried out in agony. Sent flying backward.
The youth who had quelled the beast horde looked indifferent.
As if he'd merely done something incredibly trivial.
The sky-filling Blizzard abruptly ceased.
Crystal-clear ice shards lightly sprinkled down—a victorious curtain call.
"Mayu? Your noodles are getting cold~"
Her mother's voice—from a great distance.
The girl snapped back. The tempura in her bowl had become soggy.
She'd watched her father battle countless Trainers. Watched Champion battles—Mr. Steven, the others.
A scene like this? Truly her first.
With just a raised hand, he'd achieved the feat of defeating thousands.
Unable to find words for the youth, Mayu recalled his figure—beneath the icy, snowy curtain.
She took a bite of juicy tempura.
Her heart beat faster than ever before.
Pure maidens are always prone to romantic feelings.
Counting the days—next week, she'd go to Littleroot Town. Receive her starter from Professor Birch.
So, for the first stop of her journey...
Should she go to the Sinnoh region?