The scene on the screen shifted once more.
Inside the nursery, Misty was struggling to change baby Aoi’s diaper.
It was obvious she had practiced many times before, but putting that practice into action was another matter entirely.
Her lips were tightly pursed, tiny beads of sweat forming on her forehead as she muttered under her breath.
“Aoi, be good…
don’t move…
Mommy’s almost done…”
Standing nearby with a baby bottle in hand, Asher could only laugh helplessly.
“Honey, want me to do it?”
“No!”
Misty immediately refused.
“This is my first battle as a mother!”
“How could I possibly lose to a diaper?!”
The moment she finished speaking, the baby in the crib burst into tears.
“Waaahhh!”
Tiny legs kicked wildly.
Misty instantly panicked.
Her confident expression collapsed on the spot.
“Aoi, don’t cry!
Mommy’s sorry!”
“Honey, help me!”
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Brock: Pfft.
Ash: Brock…
did you just laugh?
Brock: No.
Gary Oak: You definitely laughed.
Brock: …
Fine.
I couldn’t help it.
Misty: YOU GUYS AREN’T ALLOWED TO LAUGH!!!
Lorelei: It seems the parallel-world Misty still has a long way to go when it comes to parenting.
Bruno: Hahaha!
Changing diapers really is a fierce battle!
Back when I was raising baby Pokémon, I…
Lance: ???
Bruno, what do you mean “changing diapers”?
Bruno: What?
I spend a lot of time training in the mountains.
Besides, taking care of Pokémon is a form of training too.
Daisy: See, Misty?
Even as a mother, you’re still adorable.
Misty: DAISY!!!
Violet: Though honestly, that Asher guy seems pretty patient.
You keep ordering him around and he never gets upset.
Lily: And he actually helps with childcare.
That’s surprisingly rare.
Misty: ENOUGH!!!
WHO ASKED FOR YOUR OPINIONS?!
Leon: This may not be the right time to mention it…
But now I’m curious how Aoi eventually became a Water-Type Elite Four member.
Iris: Right?!
I want to see how she caught Lugia and Suicune!
Those are Legendary Pokémon!
Steven Stone: I’m more interested in her father.
I have a feeling Asher Winter isn’t an ordinary person.
Cynthia: I agree.
A man capable of raising a Water-Type Master…
His story is probably just as remarkable as his daughter’s.
Professor Oak: At this point, this isn’t just a matter concerning one family.
The existence of parallel worlds and the identity of Asher Winter are both matters worth investigating.
Misty: For the record, whatever decisions my parallel-world self made have absolutely nothing to do with me.
Don’t mix us together.
Brock: Aren’t you at least a little curious?
About the life another version of you lived?
Misty: …
Misty: Maybe a little.
Just a little!
Ash: I get it!
I want to know if the version of me in another world already became a Pokémon Master!
Gary Oak: You?
The version of you from another world is probably still an idiot.
Ash: WHAT DID YOU SAY?!
The video continued.
This time, several years seemed to pass in an instant.
The cradle had become a toddler bed.
The newborn had grown into a crawling little girl.
Aoi’s orange hair had become thicker, resting softly atop her head.
Her golden eyes sparkled with curiosity as she explored the world around her.
Asher sat cross-legged on a carpet.
In front of him was a row of Pokémon plushies.
Squirtle.
Psyduck.
Poliwag.
Shellder.
Every single one was a Water-type Pokémon.
Little Aoi sat opposite him, waving her tiny arms while babbling excitedly.
“Asher picked up the Squirtle plush.”
“Aoi, look at this.”
“This is Squirtle, a Water-type Pokémon.”
“It evolves into Wartortle, then into Blastoise.”
“When it becomes Blastoise, it’ll have two huge water cannons on its shell.”
“Pretty cool, right?”
Aoi immediately reached for it.
Missed.
Then lunged forward.
And face-planted directly onto the carpet.
“Waaahhh!”
Asher quickly scooped her up.
“You haven’t even learned how to walk yet and you’re already trying to steal things?”
Misty’s voice came from nearby.
“Honey!”
“How old is she?”
“Why are you already teaching her Pokémon species?”
“Early education.”
Asher answered without hesitation.
“Do you know how important early education is?”
“A future Water-Type Master has to start young.”
“What Water-Type Master?!”
Misty walked over, picked up Aoi, and glared at him.
“Aoi can become whatever she wants.”
“You’re not deciding her future for her.”
Asher raised both hands in surrender.
“I was only joking…”
Yet while resting in her mother’s arms, Aoi continued staring at the Squirtle plush.
Half her body leaned forward.
Her tiny hand stretched desperately toward it.
“Daah!”
Premium Seat Chat
Professor Oak: This Asher Winter really doesn’t seem ordinary.
Cynthia: When he mentioned a “Water-Type Master,” he sounded completely natural.
As if it were something easily achievable.
Lance: Which raises the same question.
Who exactly is Asher Winter?
If someone like him exists in our world, there should be some record of him.
Leon: Maybe he’s from a remote location?
Some forgotten island nobody knows about?
Wallace: Unlikely.
A family capable of producing a Water-Type Elite Four member couldn’t remain unknown forever.
Unless…
Cynthia: Unless he intentionally hid his identity.
Steven Stone: Interesting.
A powerful Trainer who deliberately stays hidden?
What kind of hobby is that?
Cynthia: Mr.
Steven, please try to take this more seriously.
We’re discussing information related to parallel worlds.
Steven Stone: Haha, my apologies.
Still, I’m becoming more curious by the minute.
This Asher Winter definitely isn’t simple.
The scene changed once again.
This time, the location was Cerulean Gym’s aquatic arena.
Misty stood beside one of the pools with Aoi in her arms.
“Aoi, watch carefully.”
“This is one of Mommy’s favorite Pokémon.”
The moment she finished speaking, a Staryu leapt gracefully from the water.
It spun through the air.
Sunlight reflected off the spray, creating tiny rainbow-colored sparkles.
“Ah!”
Aoi stretched out her chubby little hand and burst into delighted laughter.
Misty’s eyes immediately lit up.
“Honey!
Did you see that?”
“Aoi smiled!”
“She reacted to a Water-type Pokémon!”
Asher sat nearby holding a thermos cup.
His expression was helpless.
“I saw.”
“But honey…”
“She’s only two years old.”
“She’d probably smile at anything that moves.”
“You don’t understand!”
Misty declared confidently.
“This is a bloodline awakening!”
Asher nearly choked.
“Yesterday you said her crying was a bloodline awakening.”
“The day before that, you said her hiccups were a bloodline awakening.”
“Asher, be quiet!”
Premium Seat Chat
Brock: …
What exactly is a bloodline awakening?
Ash: I have no idea.
But it sounds awesome!
Gary Oak: Of course you don’t understand.
There are plenty of things you don’t have.
Ash: ???
Ash: What’s that supposed to mean?!
Are you saying my bloodline isn’t good enough?!
Gary Oak: I’m simply stating facts.
Lorelei: Hehe.
I actually find the term “bloodline awakening” rather interesting.
Misty, did you invent that yourself?
Misty: HOW WOULD I KNOW?!
THE PARALLEL-WORLD VERSION OF ME SAID IT!
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ME!
Cynthia: …
(quietly takes notes)
Wallace: Hold on.
That scene just now.
The angle of Staryu’s leap.
The way the water droplets reflected the sunlight.
It would make an excellent Contest performance.
Steven Stone: …
You always focus on the strangest details.
Wallace: Says the man obsessed with rocks.
Everyone else is watching a heartwarming family video.
You’re busy investigating the father.
Steven Stone: I’m not obsessed with rocks.
Steven Stone: Raising children and collecting stones actually follow the same principle.
You provide the proper environment for growth instead of interfering too much.
Wallace: Still talking about rocks.
Phoebe: Pfft.
Glacia: Wallace has a point.
Steven Stone: …
You people are impossible.