James stood near the entrance, adjusting his coat awkwardly.
"I'll be leaving you here for a while," he said, looking at his younger brother.
"So don't trouble Granny and Pops while I'm gone."
Satoru looked up at him, expression calm but eyes sharp.
"Why do you have to go home alone?"
A pause.
"Can't you just skip the event?"
James puffed his chest slightly.
"Well… it's my engagement."
He nodded, trying to sound confident.
"It would be disrespectful if I didn't attend."
Satoru blinked.
"…Do you even know what an engagement is?"
James froze for half a second.
"Of—of course I know!"
He turned away quickly.
"It's… you know… an event where you get a best friend for life!"
And then—
he ran.
(How would I know what an engagement is…)
James thought, panicking internally.
Satoru slowly brought his hand to his face.
Of course he doesn't know…
His brother had skipped—or slept through—most of his etiquette lessons.
Still…
Satoru didn't follow.
As long as James refused it, nothing else mattered.
"Bye!" James shouted from a distance.
And just like that—
he was gone.
A few days later—
Events unfolded much like they were meant to.
James arrived in the Kanto Region—
only to realize he had been deceived.
The engagement was a trap.
The girl—Jessiebelle—was… overwhelming.
Demanding.
Controlling.
She didn't want James.
She wanted to change him.
And that—
was something he couldn't accept.
If a person changes just to suit others… they're nothing more than fools.
It was the first thing his grandfather had taught him.
Though—
he had also said:
If it's for family… or for those who truly cherish you… then changing might be worth it.
But this?
This wasn't that.
So James ran.
For the first time in his life—
he ran away from home.
As he ran through the streets, night slowly crept in.
Snow began to fall.
Heavy.
Relentless.
Behind him—
his Growlithe followed faithfully.
Eventually—
his steps slowed.
His vision blurred.
And then—
he collapsed.
Darkness.
Some time later—
he was dragged back home by the butler.
🌿 Back in the Hoenn Region
The mansion felt… quieter.
For the first time in his life—
Satoru was alone.
No loud voice.
No chaotic energy.
No one calling out to him.
He sat quietly—
holding the egg close to his chest.
Then—
something soft climbed onto his shoulder.
The Hattrem.
It didn't speak.
It didn't need to.
Satoru looked at it.
For a moment—
his expression softened.
"…I forgot to name you, didn't I?"
A pause.
"What about… Rem?"
The Hattrem stared at him.
"…."
It seemed like it was about to say something—
then stopped.
(Why even bother…)
Satoru looked down at the egg in his arms.
"And you…"
A faint smile.
"If you're a boy…"
He thought for a second.
"Ultron… or Escanor."
Another pause.
"If you're a girl…"
"…Friday."
Suddenly—
Rem squealed softly and rushed into his arms.
For the first time since James left—
the silence didn't feel so empty.