The thought flickered through my mind for a brief second, but it didn't linger. It faded almost as quickly as it appeared, pushed aside by something far stronger: my resolve, my goal of meeting new Pokémon, traveling the world, and exploring dangerous places… among many other things.
So I lifted my gaze and looked straight at my parents again. They were still speaking, still trying to talk me out of it.
I didn't let them finish.
"Father… Mother…" I said firmly, my voice steady and clear. "I'm still going to become a Trainer."
The words landed heavy in the room.
Hearing those words, Father's face twisted with frustration. "Why can't you understand how dangerous this is?" he snapped, his voice rising. "We already lost your uncle in one of those rifts. Don't make us lose you too."
My breath caught.
Uncle… lost in a rift?
The words hit like a shockwave through my mind. I had always thought he had simply disappeared, maybe gone somewhere, nothing more than that…
But even so, I forced myself to steady my expression. "I'm ready to face it," I replied calmly.
Mother's eyes filled with fresh tears. She reached out and grabbed my arm, her grip tight and desperate. "Gil, please… stop talking like this. It's too dangerous. You don't know what's out there."
I gently pulled my arm away. "I'm sorry, Mother. I've made up my mind."
I met both their eyes with steady resolve.
"I am going to become a Pokémon Trainer. No matter how dangerous it gets, I will face every challenge and carve my own path."
After that, no one spoke for a long while.
The room grew heavy and quiet. The silence pressed down on everything as emotions slowly settled.
Finally, Father broke it.
"Since you are so sure about this, how about we make a bet?"
I looked up.
"One year," he said firmly. "Within one year, if you can reach the top sixty-four in the Pokémon League, we will accept your decision."
I thought about it for a moment.
This world was a lot different from the anime. Thousands of participants entered every year now. Reaching the top sixty-four in just one year was no easy task.
Still, I met their eyes and nodded.
"Fine. I accept."
Mother glanced nervously at Father, but he continued, his voice steady.
"But there will be no support from us. You will live and travel exactly like any other ordinary Trainer. No money. No servants. No special treatment.
They clearly thought I would give up quickly. Rich kids like me were used to maids, butlers, and cars. They expected me to crawl back within a week.
But what they did not know was that I had been preparing for this for a long time.
I had learned to cook, to camp, and to train my body to survive.
I didn't want to depend on anyone.
Especially not when it came to becoming a trainer.
I wanted to walk this path alone, on my own two feet.
Every step would bring me closer to all those hot, alluring Pokémon waiting for me in this vast world… their soft, fluffy fur, sleek scales, warm bodies, and tight little holes aching to be claimed, loved, and dominated in the most delicious ways…
So I agreed without hesitation.
A small, knowing smile appeared on both of their faces. Like they were already convinced I would return soon.
Then Mother took something out. A photograph.
She slid it across the table toward me.
I picked it up and stared.
The girl had long dark hair, sharp intelligent eyes, and that familiar haughty expression. Something in my chest tightened.
Wait.
Wasn't she the girl from the Pokémon School episode?
Why were they giving me this?
Father noticed my reaction and gave a small nod.
"Her name is Giselle," he said. "And she is your fiancée."
-><-
Note: Beyond Alola, regions like Paldea and Galar no longer exist. They don't remain in the MC's memory either or in this world anymore. I will use their Pokémon as Ultra Beast, like beings.
Some regions have already collapsed, while others simply merged.