The scene shifted once again.
This time, the setting was a beach.
Aoi looked about four or five years old now.
Her orange hair was tied into two little pigtails as she crouched near the shoreline, staring intently into the water.
“Squirtle…?”
A blue head popped out from the sea.
The Squirtle blinked and tilted its head curiously at the tiny human in front of it.
Aoi held her breath and slowly reached out a small hand.
The Squirtle glanced at her hand, then at her face, as if carefully evaluating her.
A few moments later, it let out a cheerful cry.
“Squirtle!”
Then it leaned forward and rubbed its head against her palm.
Aoi’s eyes instantly lit up.
She spun around and shouted excitedly,
“Dad!
Dad!”
“It rubbed against me!”
“It likes me!”
Asher’s amused voice came from off-screen.
“Yeah.”
“It likes you.”
Aoi’s eyes sparkled.
“Then can I keep it?!”
“That’s a question for your mother.”
Asher chuckled.
“The Gym is her territory.”
Without hesitation, Aoi turned in another direction.
“Mom!”
“Can I keep it?!”
Misty walked over with a helpless expression.
“First ask whether it wants to go with you.”
Aoi immediately turned back toward Squirtle.
Her expression became serious.
“Squirtle.”
“Would you like to become my Pokémon?”
Squirtle tilted its head thoughtfully.
A few seconds passed.
Then it nodded vigorously.
“Squirtle!
Squirtle!”
The little Pokémon leapt straight out of the water and launched itself into Aoi’s arms.
The impact knocked her backward two steps before she landed on her bottom.
But Aoi didn’t care.
She hugged Squirtle tightly and laughed.
“Yay!”
“I have my own Pokémon now!”
Standard Seat Chat
“AAAAAHHHHH THAT’S TOO CUTE!”
“Wait, hold on.
Was that Squirtle wild?”
“So Aoi’s first Pokémon wasn’t given to her by her parents?”
“No way you’d randomly find a starter Pokémon in the wild.”
“Maybe her parents arranged it?”
“I don’t know.
It looked more like Squirtle chose her.”
“When I was five, I was wrestling Caterpie.”
“Excuse me?
Wrestling Caterpie?”
“…I was a very skinny child.”
Premium Seat Chat
Ash: Wow…
That Squirtle chose her on its own!
Brock: That’s actually quite rare.
When a Pokémon chooses a Trainer, it usually means it sees something special in them.
Ash: My Squirtle chose me too!
Gary Oak: So you’re saying you’re on the same level as a five-year-old?
Ash: GARY!
I’M CHALLENGING YOU TO A BATTLE TODAY!
Lorelei: Squirtle is certainly a wonderful Pokémon for beginner Trainers.
Still, allowing a four-year-old to raise a Pokémon feels a bit early.
Janine: My father introduced me to Pokémon at around the same age.
Though I spent an entire day crying after getting stung by a Tentacruel.
Bruno: Hahaha!
That’s the fate of every Trainer!
Professor Oak: Hmm…
Owning a Pokémon at four years old is indeed quite early by Kanto standards.
But considering Misty is a Gym Leader, it’s not completely unreasonable.
The video continued.
The scene returned to Cerulean Gym.
Aoi stood excitedly beside the pool while Squirtle floated in the water before her.
Asher and Misty watched from nearby.
“Squirtle!”
“Use Water Gun!”
A small stream of water shot from Squirtle’s mouth and struck a practice target.
Water splashed everywhere.
“Yay!”
Aoi jumped up and down while clapping excitedly.
Asher smiled.
“Looks like she has talent.”
Misty still looked worried.
“She’s only four.”
“Shouldn’t she learn the theory first?”
“Practical experience is the best teacher.”
Asher paused before adding:
“Besides, look how happy she is.”
Aoi had already jumped into the pool.
She splashed around with Squirtle, laughing so hard her eyes curved into crescents.
Misty watched silently for a few moments before finally sighing.
“…Fine.”
“But you’re staying right there.”
“Nothing bad is allowed to happen.”
“As you command, Gym Leader.”
“…Don’t call me that.”
“Then what should I call you?”
“The mother of my child?”
“ASHER WINTER!”
Before Misty’s shout even finished, another splash erupted from the pool.
Aoi was trying to climb onto Squirtle’s back.
Her tiny legs kicked desperately, but she couldn’t quite make it.
In the end, Squirtle gently nudged her upward with its head.
The little girl landed on its shell.
“Wow!”
“Squirtle is amazing!”
Aoi wrapped her arms around its neck as the pair slowly paddled through the pool.
Her laughter echoed throughout the Gym.
Misty instinctively took a step forward, ready to pull her daughter out.
Asher stopped her.
“Wait.”
“Wait for what?!”
“She’s only…”
“Look.”
Misty followed his gaze.
Squirtle was swimming very slowly.
Very carefully.
Its short legs moved rhythmically beneath the water.
Whenever Aoi started tilting too far to one side, Squirtle subtly adjusted its position to keep her balanced.
Misty froze.
“…It’s doing that on purpose?”
“Yeah.”
Asher leaned back against the wall.
“This little guy is smarter than we thought.”
In the water, Aoi had completely forgotten any fear.
She lay happily across Squirtle’s shell with her cheek pressed against the cool surface.
The little Pokémon glanced back at her.
“Squirtle.”
Then it continued swimming steadily.
Misty remained silent for a long time.
Eventually, she sighed.
“…Maybe you’re right.”
“Of course I am.”
“Don’t sound so smug.”
“I wouldn’t dare.”
“You’re absolutely being smug.”
Premium Seat Chat
Brock: …
Am I the only one who feels like Asher is extremely experienced when it comes to handling Misty?
Ash: Really?
He’s just agreeing with everything she says.
Gary Oak: Which is exactly why you don’t understand.
Ash: And you do?
Brock: Ash, you’ll understand once you get a girlfriend.
Ash: A girlfriend?
What’s that?
A female friend?
Paul: …
Brock: …
Gary Oak: …
Ash, you’re hopeless.
Ash: ???
Why is everyone insulting me?!
Delia Ketchum: Sigh…
How is my son this clueless?
The video continued.
Beside the pool, both Aoi and Squirtle were soaked from head to toe.
At the exact same moment, they sneezed.
“Achoo!”
“Achoo!”
Asher struggled to suppress a laugh as he handed over a towel.
“Finished playing?”
Aoi accepted the towel.
But instead of drying herself off, she carefully began wiping the water from Squirtle’s shell.
“Squirtle can’t catch a cold.”
“If it gets sick, it’ll be sad.”
Squirtle blinked.
Then suddenly threw itself into her arms.
“Squirtle!”
It rubbed its face against her over and over.
Aoi burst into giggles.
“That tickles!”
“Squirtle, stop!”
Asher glanced toward Misty and raised an eyebrow.
The expression clearly said:
See?
She’s a natural Trainer.
Misty snorted and looked away.
But the small smile at the corner of her mouth betrayed her true feelings.
Premium Seat Chat
Brock: Wait.
I have a question.
Ash: What question?
Brock: Aoi dried Squirtle off.
But she’s still soaking wet herself.
Gary Oak: …
And your point?
Brock: She’ll catch a cold.
Misty: @Brock
Exactly!
That idiot Asher!
How could he let a child stand there soaking wet for so long?!
Brock: ?
Actually, I meant Asher should have…
Misty: I know!
I’m criticizing him!
Ash: …
But the Misty in the video seems pretty happy.
Misty: ASH!
BE QUIET!!!
Lorelei: Hehe.
For a child that young to instinctively care for her Pokémon before herself…
That’s quite remarkable.
Bruno: That’s a Trainer’s instinct!
When I first met my Hitmonchan…
Lance: Bruno.
You were fifteen when you met Hitmonchan.
Bruno: …
Fair point.
Not exactly the same thing.
Iris: She’s so adorable!
And Squirtle is adorable too!
The first Pokémon I met when I was little came right up to me as well!
Leon: Pokémon that approach you willingly often become your closest partners.
Charizard and I were the same way.
Raihan: Oh?
Are we about to hear the touching story of how you met Charizard again?
I’ve already prepared my yawn.
Leon: Raihan, you…