Chapter Ten: I Find Peace Here

Chen Ou lounged back in his chair, yawning, his gaze unfocused, hovering somewhere between sleep and wakefulness.

Professor Oak looked at this dispirited young man and, pressing his hand to his forehead in exasperation, said, “You—first you made such a fuss about staying in Sinnoh, and now you want to return to Kanto?”

Chen Ou yawned again, waving his hand to motion the professor to stop talking—he wanted to catch a few winks.

It was the third day since the incident with the deity of time and space had ended. Chen Ou had spent time in Celestic Town, examining murals and ruins, and had discussed the myths of the Sinnoh region with Cynthia.

Though the recent events had been perilous, they greatly benefited Cynthia. As a scholar of mythology, having faced the legends firsthand would allow her to study them with greater accuracy and objectivity.

As a mythologist, Cynthia was already outstanding.

Of course, in terms of research, Cynthia still couldn’t quite match the prodigy Chen Ou, who had risen to fame with a single lecture.

After finishing his studies, Chen Ou naturally wanted to return to Kanto, so he quickly called Professor Oak to book him a ticket home. Professor Oak expressed strong disapproval at Chen Ou’s unreliability—after all, he had promised to travel Sinnoh—yet immediately booked the ticket anyway.

But when he arrived at the airport and saw Chen Ou and Cynthia chatting and laughing together, he regretted it. Their relationship had just started to thaw—why not stay a bit longer and seize the moment? As he thought this, his finger was already tapping open the refund page on his phone.

Sharp-eyed, Chen Ou noticed the refund screen despite having been up late the night before discussing Pokémon breeding techniques. He hurried over to stop Professor Oak, bade Cynthia farewell, then rushed off to collect his ticket and clear security.

Professor Oak could only look on with helpless resignation—nothing seemed to move Chen Ou, and scolding was just as ineffective. At such a young age, he already had the stubbornness of a seasoned veteran. Yet, since this was always how Chen Ou behaved, there was little the professor could do.

He watched as Chen Ou, now breathing steadily, drifted off to sleep, and shook his head with a smile.

Chen Ou hadn’t shared the details of the past few days, merely saying that his issues were resolved and it was time to go home. But Cynthia had relayed everything that had happened in meticulous detail. The professor felt sorry that Chen Ou could not return, yet deep inside, he couldn’t help but feel a certain joy and relief.

“Professor… huff… I want to be a trainer… mm… I want to travel…” Chen Ou murmured in his sleep, the words drifting softly to Professor Oak’s ears.

Leaning back in his chair, eyes closed, Professor Oak smiled and replied, “Very well, when we get back I’ll sign you up for this year’s Indigo League.”

“…huff… okay…”

Through the window, Professor Oak watched the sea of clouds and the occasional flying Pokémon, tenderness shining in his eyes.

After five years of living side by side, even those who weren’t close by nature had become like family.

“Silly child, was this your original aspiration all along?” he whispered. “Wonderful—our family will have another remarkable trainer.”

——————————————

“Oh, Chen, you actually met Dialga and Palkia on your journey!” Red exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement as Chen Ou recounted his recent experiences.

Chen Ou nodded with an air of self-satisfaction, nose in the air, wearing a look that all but demanded praise.

“What a pity! If I were you, I’d have tried to catch them!” Red said, frustrated that he hadn’t been there himself, itching to declare, “I could’ve taken your place!”

Chen Ou’s smugness faded instantly. His smile froze as he struggled to find a place for the corners of his mouth.

Brother, those two are fiercer than the Hoenn duo…

There were few legendary Pokémon who didn’t enjoy a good fight—Reshiram and Zekrom, Groudon and Kyogre, Xerneas and Yveltal… every one of them loved a brawl.

But those would sleep for centuries and then duke it out. Dialga and Palkia, on the other hand, fought every day in the rifts between time and space over territory.

It’s just that their battles are in another dimension, so people can’t see them.

Did Red really think it was as simple as tossing a Poké Ball?

…Well, actually, who knows—it’s not like legendary Pokémon haven’t been caught before, sometimes under less than glorious circumstances. Anything’s possible.

Chen Ou quickly laughed it off, steering the conversation elsewhere. This topic was best left alone—unlike Ash, Red didn’t often encounter legendary Pokémon, but he absolutely had the strength to catch them. Ash, on the other hand, saw plenty, but couldn’t win against any.

“So you’re planning to start your journey? Challenge Gyms, compete in the Indigo League?” Green asked, eyeing Chen Ou as he stuffed things into a folding backpack.

To be honest, Green had only ever seen successful trainers become researchers, like Professor Oak, but never a researcher turning back to become a trainer.

Chen Ou scratched his head. “Not exactly. I mostly just want to travel, see the world. I’ve been here so long, but I’ve never really explored.”

Green and Red both nodded; it was true—Chen Ou seldom left the lab.

“But,” Chen Ou’s expression grew complicated, “I don’t think the League’s rules suit me. I prefer wild battles.”

Wild battles, where trainer and Pokémon fight side by side.

At this, Green and Red couldn’t help but picture Chen Ou releasing his Pokémon, then following up with a Fire Punch that knocked out both the opposing trainer and their Pokémon.

They shuddered.

Exchanging glances, each saw the other’s thoughts.

“We definitely shouldn’t do wild battles with this guy.”

Red and Green were both skilled at wild battles—after all, before the League was formally established, that was how everyone fought. Especially when fighting over Pokémon, the matches often decided not only victory, but life and death.

But fighting alongside Chen Ou? That would be more like two Pokémon against one trainer and one Pokémon.

Utterly unfair!

But… I like it…

Green and Red gave Chen Ou a thumbs-up, unable to hide their envy.

“Want my grandpa to get you a Pokémon?” Green offered suddenly.

Chen Ou understood the implication—if you were asking Professor Oak, it meant you wanted a rare and high-quality Pokémon. Otherwise, there’d be no need for his help. Though he and Red were top-tier trainers, their careers were still young, and they lacked connections with certain people.

Such was the downside of reaching the peak at debut—an impressive start, but not much depth.

Yet, knowing this, why did Chen Ou still feel so envious?

So, in his best “I’m not jealous at all, I rely on myself” manner, Chen Ou waved his hand and said, “No need. I’m planning to wander Viridian Forest for a few days and find a companion that matches my temperament. You know, it’s not just about talent or species—sometimes a Pokémon is outstanding for other reasons.”

Green and Red, no novices themselves, understood immediately and didn’t press further. After chatting for a while longer, they left, leaving Chen Ou alone to pack whatever he might need.

He packed in silence, feeling both a lingering regret at not being able to return home and an eager hope for a new life.

These mixed emotions left him both joyful and composed, neither overly exuberant nor despondent.

Suddenly, he stopped and gazed out the window. Professor Oak was chasing a herd of Tauros, Nanami was giggling nearby with her notebook in hand, and Red and Green had launched into yet another battle.

Everything was as it always had been, but to him it all felt new. He realized, after a moment’s thought, that it was he himself who had changed.

A smile crept across Chen Ou’s face as his eyes landed on a charcoal sketch hanging by the bed.

It depicted a man, a woman, and a young boy—a family portrait drawn from memory. The woman held the boy in her arms, the man stood behind them, and all three wore bright, joyful smiles.

“Dad, Mom, I am safe and settled here. Please don’t worry.”