The video continued playing.
Night.
Niji lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.
Eevee was curled up beside her pillow, already asleep, its small body gently rising and falling with each breath.
Niji rolled over and stared at the three small boxes on her bedside table.
The Key Stone, the Blastoise Mega Stone, and the Gyarados Mega Stone.
Then she pulled the blanket over her head, curling up beneath it completely.
[Elite Viewing Chat Group]
[Peony]: Is the child nervous?
[Rosa]: Probably.
She’s about to set off on her journey, so it’s normal to feel anxious.
[Daisy]: But with all those amazing gifts from her father, the pressure must be huge too.
[Brock]: I don’t think Shoto gave her those things to pressure her.
He gave them so she would feel secure.
[Koga]: Brock is right.
For a ten-year-old leaving home for the first time and stepping into an unknown journey, the trust and support from her parents are her greatest source of confidence.
[Bruno]: Exactly!
This is inheritance!
The predecessor passes strength to the next generation, and the next generation carries it forward!
[Phoebe]: That’s the true path of a Trainer.
The video continued.
Morning.
At the entrance of Cerulean Gym.
Niji stood there with a backpack, Poké Balls hanging at her waist.
Misty stood in front of her, while Shoto Winter stood beside her, one hand in his pocket and the other holding a camera.
“Niji.”
“Yeah?”
“Look over here.”
Niji instinctively turned her head.
Click.
Shoto lowered the camera, glanced at the screen, and smiled.
“This one’s good.”
“Dad!
You’re taking candid shots again!”
“It’s not candid.” Shoto said calmly.
“Capturing the moment my daughter sets off is a father’s duty.”
Niji opened her mouth to argue, but in the end just huffed and turned her head away.
Misty walked over and adjusted Niji’s collar.
“Did you pack everything?”
“Yes!”
“Medicine?”
“Yes.”
“Pokémon food?”
“Yes.”
“Extra clothes?”
“Mom, you’ve already asked three times.”
Misty froze for a moment, then smiled and patted her daughter’s head.
“Did I?
I forgot.”
Niji didn’t dodge, letting her mother mess up her hair.
“Mom.”
“Yeah?”
“I’ll call home often.”
“…Mm.”
“And video call too.”
“Mm.”
“And I’ll come back often.”
“Mom, don’t cry.”
“I’m not crying.” Misty turned her face away.
“The wind is just strong.”
Niji said nothing, stepping forward and hugging her.
“Thank you, Mom.”
Misty stiffened for a moment, then slowly relaxed and wrapped her arms around her daughter’s shoulders.
“…Take care on the road.”
“Mm.”
“If you can’t win, run.
Don’t try to act tough all the time.”
“Mm.”
“And also…”
“Mom.”
“Yeah?”
Niji looked up into her eyes.
“I’ll come back.” she said.
“Once I’m strong enough, I’ll come back and challenge you.”
Misty froze, then smiled.
“Alright.
I’ll be waiting.”
Shoto walked over and crouched down so he was eye level with Niji.
He didn’t say much.
He simply reached out and gently ruffled her hair.
“Go on.”
Niji nodded.
She turned around.
After three steps, she stopped.
Without looking back, she raised her hand and waved.
“I’m off!”
Then she walked forward, not turning back even once.
Shoto and Misty watched her figure grow smaller, farther away.
Until she disappeared around the corner of the street.
[Ordinary Chat Group]
“Waaahhh I’m crying…”
“When the mom’s eyes turned red, I lost it too…”
“That’s exactly how a mother feels…”
“This family is so warm…”
“So Niji becoming a Water-type Elite later makes sense.
She had this kind of support…”
“I can’t take it, I’m calling my mom right now.”
“Wait, what time is it?”
“Doesn’t matter.
My mom won’t yell at me.”
[Elite Viewing Chat Group]
[Brock]: …Damn it, something got in my eyes.
[Ash]: Brock, are you crying?
[Brock]: I’m not.
I’m just… emotional.
[Gary]: You’re definitely crying.
[Brock]: …Fine, I am!
So what?
[Delia Ketchum]: Ash, I cried when you left home too.
[Ash]: Huh?!
Really?
I didn’t know that!
[Delia Ketchum]: You left without looking back, just like your father did back then.
[Ash]: …
[Gary]: Genetics really are terrifying.
[Koga]: Hehe, but honestly, this farewell scene reminded me of when I left home too.
[Bruno]: Oh?
Even Koga cries?
[Koga]: Bruno, do you want to experience being frozen solid?
[Bruno]: …I didn’t say anything.
[Professor Oak]: Ahem, back to the topic.
Niji’s departure marks the true beginning of her journey as a Trainer.
What comes next is where her real growth begins.
[Cynthia]: Professor Oak is right.
From what we’ve seen so far, Shoto has laid a very strong foundation for her.
But once she leaves her parents’ protection, how far she can go depends entirely on herself.
[Lance]: I’m looking forward to it.
A ten-year-old girl traveling with Blastoise and Gyarados, and even possessing Mega Evolution.
That kind of setup already surpasses most peers.
[Iris]: What I’m most curious about is where Niji will go first.
There are many towns in Kanto.
Which Gym will she challenge first?
[Lance]: Normally, starting from Cerulean City, the nearest would be Vermilion or Pewter.
The video continued.
A wide open road stretched ahead, flanked by vast fields and distant hills.
Niji walked along it, backpack on her back, three Poké Balls at her waist.
Eevee wasn’t inside its Poké Ball.
Instead, it trotted beside her feet, hopping through the grass, occasionally letting out cheerful “Bu-ee!
Bu-ee!” cries as it chased a wild Rattata.
“Eevee, don’t run too far!”
“Bu-ee!”
Eevee jumped out of the grass, proudly holding a leaf in its mouth, waving it at Niji.
Niji crouched down, took the leaf, and smiled as she patted its head.
“Alright, I know you’re excited, but we need to keep moving.”
“Bu-ee!”
Eevee rubbed against her hand and obediently followed beside her again.
Niji stood up and looked at the sky.
Blue skies.
White clouds.
Perfect weather.
She took a deep breath and smiled faintly.
“Alright, next stop, Pewter City!”
[Ordinary Chat Group]
“Aaaaaa so cute!!!”
“Eevee is too adorable, I want one…”
“That smile is so healing…”
“This is youth… starting a journey at ten, what a beautiful age.”
“How old are you?”
“28.”
“You’re still youth.”
“Forever youth!”
[Elite Viewing Chat Group]
[May]: So cute!
Eevee is so attached to her!
[Max]: Sis, were you like this when you started your journey?
[May]: Well… I didn’t really want to be a Trainer at first.
[Max]: Right, you wanted to be a Coordinator.
[May]: It’s different now!
Trainers and Coordinators aren’t mutually exclusive!
[Wallace]: Exactly.
Many people misunderstand Contests.
Even strong Trainers participate to improve their Pokémon’s performance and control skills.