After weighing the pros and cons, Leo made his decision.
He wasn't the type to hesitate endlessly. Improving his strength now was what mattered most.
As for the future, he'd deal with it when the time came. Right now, he didn't really have another choice.
The mouse clicked several times.
In an instant, the points the original owner had painstakingly saved were reduced to 45.
Three manuals cost 1,000 points.
He also bought two boxes of beginner-grade Ground-type energy cubes, 200 points, enough to cover Cubone's early training needs.
Leo quickly shut down the computer and took a deep breath.
There were simply too many tempting items on the exchange list. If he'd had more points, resisting the urge to spend them all would've been difficult.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, he didn't.
The exchanged items would be delivered the next day by a messenger Pokémon. Team Rocket's exclusive air delivery service was still extremely reliable.
Leo turned his head and looked at Cubone, who had been quietly waiting the entire time.
Without realizing it, he smiled again.
"The training manuals will arrive tomorrow," Leo said softly. "Then we'll officially start training."
As he spoke, his hand once more rested on Cubone's hard skull.
This time, Cubone didn't stiffen.
Instead, there was a trace of confusion in its eyes.
Today's Trainer seemed… a little different.
That wasn't a bad thing.
---
The next morning, Leo woke up still feeling slightly dazed.
The unfamiliar surroundings, and Cubone, already awake beside him, finally convinced him that none of this had been a dream.
Fortunately, he had no lingering worries.
And now, with Cubone at his side, he felt an unexpected sense of contentment.
From now on, I'm Leo.
The thought echoed silently in his mind.
In that moment, his body felt lighter, as if some invisible shackles had finally fallen away.
Moved by something he couldn't quite explain, Leo subconsciously placed his hand on Cubone's head.
"Cu?"
Cubone looked up at him in confusion, seemingly wondering if Leo liked the skull it was wearing.
If he really liked it… should it give it to him?
---
The ramen shop was about to open, and the day was just as busy as expected.
Captain Yusaku had already begun recruiting staff. From his practiced demeanor, no one would ever guess that he was an undercover intelligence officer for Team Rocket.
Leo, meanwhile, received a new assignment.
The shop's signboard had arrived.
He watched as the installers carefully mounted it above the entrance.
[Musashi & Kojiro Ramen Shop]
Leo's eyes widened.
How could he not recognize those names?
And if he remembered correctly, there was an episode in the anime that mentioned this very ramen shop.
What was it about again?
What was it about,
That's right.
A Shiny Metagross.
In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, Team Rocket's main trio temporarily split up due to internal conflict.
Meowth believed he had found true meaning in life running the ramen shop. Jessie went off to participate in Pokémon Contests, leaving James behind—who risked everything in an attempt to capture a Shiny Metagross and reunite the team.
And that ramen shop…
Was this one.
Which meant,
Leo suddenly turned around and scanned the surroundings.
To the north of town, a barren, iron-gray rocky mountain stood out starkly against the landscape.
"Excuse me," Leo grabbed one of the installers. "What's the name of that mountain?"
"Huh? What mountain?"
"The bare one to the north."
"Oh, that?" the installer replied casually. "It doesn't really have a name. We just call it Rock Mountain."
"Are there any particularly famous Pokémon living there?"
"Famous? Not that I know of," the man said, puzzled. "I've lived here for decades and never heard anything special about it."
Hearing this, Leo finally relaxed a little.
Ash and Pikachu's journey hadn't even begun yet, and it was unknown how long it would take before events reached the Sinnoh Region.
Whether a Shiny Metagross even existed there right now was unclear.
And even if it did, it wasn't something he could handle at his current level.
Still, knowing the plot in advance meant he couldn't just sit around doing nothing.
Back inside the shop, Leo confirmed with Captain Yusaku that Musashi and Kojiro really were the two people he was thinking of.
The answer was exactly what he expected.
Leo's gaze toward Rock Mountain immediately grew more intense.
And then,
"Cubone, we have to work hard!"
Leo's sudden burst of motivation left Cubone momentarily confused.
Still, it nodded seriously.
Then… it would do its best.
Even if it didn't fully understand why.
Leo's thoughts were already racing.
Metagross was a Steel- and Psychic-type Pokémon, naturally weak against Ground-type attacks.
And Cubone's Bone Boomerang was a rare Ground-type move capable of hitting airborne opponents.
Just those two points alone meant there was plenty of room to plan.
---
At noon, a small, red, slightly adorable messenger Pokémon fluttered into the ramen shop's backyard, delivering exactly what Leo needed most.
Knowledge.
Leo wasn't foolish enough to believe that watching hundreds of anime episodes, reading special manga editions, seeing movies, or playing handheld games in his previous life meant he could effortlessly raise powerful Pokémon in the real Pokémon world.
His true advantage lay elsewhere.
He knew certain future plot points, rare Pokémon appearances, and valuable opportunities ahead of time.
But right now,
Training came first.
After the daytime rush, Captain Yusaku once again cooked dinner himself.
Tonight's special was seafood ramen.
It was excellent.
Leo drank the soup down to the last drop and could already envision the shop's booming future business.
After dinner, it was finally time to rest.
Cubone looked at Leo with bright, sparkling eyes. The loneliness and indifference from yesterday had faded considerably,
At least, toward Leo.
"Your initial training won't be difficult," Leo said with a smile. "Let's try it together, okay?"
Cubone nodded seriously, its expression solemn, as if preparing for something incredibly important.
After informing Captain Yusaku, Leo took Cubone out of the shop.
This wasn't about avoiding supervision, some basic training was simply better done outdoors.
For example,
Aerobic exercise. Running.
At a nearby park, Leo found a quiet corner and began warming up with Cubone.
"Keep your arms straight. Match your breathing to your movements."
"The bone club is essential to you, so your running rhythm has to account for its weight."
"Don't forget your tail, it helps with balance and coordination while running."
Perhaps as a side effect of transmigration, Leo had gained a trait many protagonists seemed to have,
An excellent memory.
The three manuals he'd read earlier that day were now firmly etched into his mind. Based on Cubone's condition, he could already plan the training in detail.
Cubone listened intently, its tail swaying rhythmically from side to side as it followed every instruction without hesitation.
The trust in its actions deeply moved Leo.
What a good kid.
After warming up, it was time to start.
"Let's try one lap around the park. Tell me if you can't keep going."
One lap was about 400 meters.
For a beginner-level Cubone that had just left the larval stage, and with its short legs, it was no easy task.
Cubone said nothing.
Its stance was already set, waiting for Leo's signal.
"Then… start!"
The moment the words fell, Cubone pushed off and ran.
Leo followed closely behind, calling out, "Don't rush, keep a steady pace!"
Cubone heard him. Even though it still had strength left, it obediently slowed down.
The first 200 meters went smoothly.
After that, fatigue gradually set in.
But then Cubone remembered Leo's earlier reminder, and suddenly understood.
"Come on, Cubone! The finish line is almost there!"
The encouragement from behind felt like a surge of fresh strength.
With that, Cubone pushed forward,
And finally completed the full 400 meters.