From that moment onward, life seemed to take on a different course.
Yu Heguang had always been someone who planned far ahead.
After his parents died in the maritime accident, he had received a sizable compensation payment. Over the years, not only had he preserved that money, but thanks to several successful investments he made during university, it had multiplied several times over.
It was obvious he had returned with a plan.
Before long, Yu Heguang established a seafood company in Crescent Moon Town and invited Qin Kaicheng—who had already spent years working in the industry—to join him.
Life wasn't exactly booming, but they lived comfortably enough.
That peaceful routine lasted until the end of that summer.
Creatures from another world suddenly descended upon Earth.
At the time, Yu Heguang's deep-sea fishing vessel happened to be out on the ocean and was attacked by those mysterious creatures. Fortunately, no one lost their life, but the financial losses were enormous.
The moment Qin Kaicheng heard the news, he rushed to the hospital where Yu Heguang had been admitted and immediately gave him an earful.
After all...
In Qin Kaicheng's eyes, Yu Heguang was the boss.
Why was the owner of the company constantly sailing out to sea alongside his crew?
Wasn't there something wrong with that?
Even if he wanted to experience the profession that had sustained his late parents, there were better ways to do it.
Now look what had happened.
He had nearly gotten himself killed.
Of course...
The people Qin Kaicheng cursed the most that day were those mysterious monsters that had thrown the entire world into chaos.
Yet Yu Heguang, sitting on his hospital bed, seemed completely unconcerned that he had almost died.
Instead, he told Qin Kaicheng not to hate the monsters too much.
This guy's lost his mind...
Too exasperated to argue with his "big brother," Qin Kaicheng simply gave up.
But soon...
An even more serious problem presented itself.
With the arrival of the monsters, the entire world had descended into chaos.
Order was collapsing.
After suffering repeated attacks from the supernatural creatures roaming the sea, the vast majority of Crescent Moon Town's fishermen became terrified.
Everywhere they looked were warnings about the dangers posed by the monsters, along with official announcements urging residents to remain indoors.
People lived in constant fear.
But for fishermen...
Losing the sea meant losing everything.
Waiting helplessly would only make the conflict between humans and Pokémon grow worse.
Finally...
One day, Yu Heguang sought Qin Kaicheng out.
"Kaicheng."
"I need your help again."
"Let's change what's happening in this town."
"And let's change this chaotic world."
To be honest...
Qin Kaicheng was completely dumbfounded.
Changing the town's situation was one thing.
But changing the world?
That...
That sounded like the kind of thing only a middle-school chuunibyou would say.
He honestly suspected that Yu Heguang's adolescent delusions had simply arrived late.
Because of everything he'd experienced growing up, Yu Heguang had never gone through a rebellious fantasy phase as a teenager.
Now that he'd seen creatures with supernatural powers...
Perhaps all those delayed fantasies had finally erupted at once.
However...
Unlike Qin Kaicheng's teasing grin, Yu Heguang's expression remained utterly serious.
"Kaicheng."
"I mean every word."
"Those 'monsters' aren't monsters."
"Their real name is Pokémon."
"And they didn't come to this world of their own free will."
"They never intended to throw everything into chaos."
"W-What are you talking about?"
Qin Kaicheng couldn't help wondering whether that accident at sea had somehow damaged Yu Heguang's brain.
His friend had already been acting strangely ever since returning.
And now he was saying things like this?
But Yu Heguang seemed to read his thoughts.
"I haven't gone crazy."
"Not every Pokémon in this world is evil."
"Not all of them are hostile toward humans."
"There are Pokémon who are incredibly kind to people."
"And how would you know that?"
Qin Kaicheng challenged.
Yu Heguang merely answered calmly.
"Most people don't remember anymore..."
"But during that accident at sea..."
"I still remember clearly."
"We were saved..."
"...by a Pokémon."
"What?!"
Seeing the disbelief on Qin Kaicheng's face, Yu Heguang asked once more.
"Help me, Kaicheng."
"I need you."
"And I'll prove it to you."
"I'll prove that humans and Pokémon really can live together."
...
To Qin Kaicheng...
Yu Heguang was not only the big brother he acknowledged—
He was also his closest friend.
So although he insisted that he wouldn't believe any of it until Yu Heguang proved it...
Deep down, he had already decided.
He would help him.
Or, perhaps more accurately...
He would go along with his madness one last time.
The following morning...
Yu Heguang brought Qin Kaicheng to one of the most unusual places in town—
The orphanage.
There, Qin Kaicheng met a very unusual boy.
A boy whom everyone in the orphanage feared.
"That boy's name is Gao Tianming."
"He's become extremely close to a Pokémon called Charmander."
"He even wanted to bring Charmander home and raise it himself."
"His foster parents strongly opposed the idea."
"They had a serious falling-out."
"In the end, the adoption was dissolved, and Gao Tianming temporarily returned to the orphanage."
Yu Heguang looked toward Qin Kaicheng.
"I want to adopt him."
"I want him to live with us."
"Didn't you say he's already sixteen?"
"I don't know much about adoption laws, but..."
"I don't think you're even legally qualified."
Qin Kaicheng rubbed his temples.
Yu Heguang merely smiled.
"That's alright."
"Whether the adoption is official or not doesn't really matter."
"What the boy needs..."
"...is simply a place where he can live in peace."
Qin Kaicheng sighed.
"Fine."
"You're my big brother."
"It's your life."
"You decide."
Knowing he couldn't stop him anyway, Qin Kaicheng simply chose to wait and see.
Meanwhile, the orphanage staff—already at a loss over how to handle Gao Tianming—agreed almost immediately upon hearing that Yu Heguang and Qin Kaicheng wanted to take him in.
This was a small, remote town.
There weren't many formalities.
Besides, both Yu Heguang and Qin Kaicheng were well-known locals.
No one expected any trouble.
In the end...
The only thing that mattered was whether Gao Tianming himself agreed.
...
Inside a small room separated from the rest of the orphanage...
Qin Kaicheng met the lonely teenager sitting silently in the corner.
And in the boy's arms...
He saw a strange creature with orange-red skin.
It resembled a tiny dinosaur.
A flame burned steadily at the tip of its tail.
Yu Heguang called it...
"Charmander."
Whether Qin Kaicheng had simply been born fearless, or whether Yu Heguang's constant talk about Pokémon had gradually influenced him...
When he first saw Charmander, he felt no fear.
Only curiosity.
On the other hand...
After hearing why the two men had come, Gao Tianming immediately became wary.
Although he never said it aloud...
His expression clearly declared:
You're after Charmander.
Just as Qin Kaicheng was wondering how they were supposed to deal with such obvious suspicion...
Yu Heguang walked straight over.
He crouched beside Gao Tianming.
Then—
Right before the stunned boy's eyes—
He reached out toward Charmander.
"Big Brother!"
Qin Kaicheng didn't even have time to stop him.
Charmander glanced curiously at the hand resting gently atop its head.
Then...
Instead of resisting...
It affectionately rubbed its head against Yu Heguang's palm.
This time...
It was Qin Kaicheng's turn to stand there dumbfounded.
Whatever resentment he had still harbored toward Pokémon...
Melted away completely.
Not because of words.
But because Yu Heguang had shown him with his own actions.
Qin Kaicheng shook his head helplessly.
"My mom always says I'm too reckless."
"She keeps telling me to learn from you."
"I used to think that was ridiculous."
"But honestly..."
"I think you're even crazier than I am."
Then he noticed something.
After the initial shock faded, Gao Tianming's expression slowly hardened with determination.
Looking directly into Yu Heguang's eyes, he asked,
"When you said..."
"You wanted to change the world..."
"And let humans and Pokémon live together..."
"Were you serious?"
"Of course."
Yu Heguang smiled.
"I've never broken a promise."
"So..."
"Tianming."
"Will you help me?"
"The bond between you and Charmander..."
"...is proof of the future I believe in."
"...Yes."
The fire burning at the tip of Charmander's tail reflected in Gao Tianming's eyes.
It was as though another flame had ignited deep within them.
He nodded firmly.
"If Charmander is willing to trust you..."
"Then..."
"So will I."
For just a brief instant...
Watching Gao Tianming grasp Yu Heguang's outstretched hand and slowly rise to his feet...
Qin Kaicheng felt as though he had witnessed the beginning of something extraordinary.
Changing the world...
Maybe...
Being an overgrown dreamer wasn't such a bad thing after all.
A smile spread across Qin Kaicheng's face.
And just like that...
Their tiny team welcomed its very first official member—
Gao Tianming...
And his Charmander.
(To be continued in Part 3.)
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