Natsume was still puzzled.

Why did so many professions in the Pokémon world… look exactly the same?

Joy and Jenny are fine, but now even the Renovation team has become a family business! ?

Natsume looked up at the sky.

"Now that I think about it, doesn't every game protagonist start by moving to a new town and getting visited by a renovation crew…?"

Like in Hoenn, Alola, Galar…

Natsume-sensei was torn between amusement and exasperation. He patted his own shoulder reassuringly:

"Eh, it's fine. At least this isn't some kind of New Game Plus feature!"

Suddenly, the doorbell rang again.

Natsume opened the door and blinked in surprise.

The Sinnoh-Form Renovation Captain stood there, expressing his sincere gratitude to Natsume-sensei.

He then presented a VIP membership card for Sinnoh, hoping for future collaborations—

"Don't get the wrong idea," the captain said, scratching his head with a grin.

"We just wanted to thank you… for taking such good care of my little bro back in Kanto!"

"Ahem!"

Natsume coughed awkwardly, his mood delicate. "I'll… call if I need anything."

Saying I wouldn't take the VIP card… but of course I will.

The money saved could go toward Rotom's electric bill…

Then it hit him.

I just paid a year's worth of electric bills in Kanto before moving.

Now, in Sinnoh, I'll probably be running the power all night again…

"This is a total scam!" Natsume smacked his thigh in frustration.

"Beep… Rotom~"

Rotom Pokédex was leisurely watching a detective show.

When the culprit was revealed, Rotom cheered and floated into the washing machine, humming loudly:

"Who am I?"

Rotom played a recording of Professor Oak's educational segment.

"Togepi doo-ee~ ヾ"

Togepi toddled past the washing machine, clutching its handheld console.

"NO! Not Togepi!" Rotom declared.

"The truth is clear! I am the Wash Rotom—"

Natsume cut it off with a shout:

"Rotom, get over here! We're testing new Pokéblock recipes!"

Having just wrecked the house, Rotom obediently floated over. "Roger, Rotom!"

"Gengar~!"

Seeing that no one was stealing its household chores today,

Gengar put his hands on his hips, nodded in satisfaction, and grinned.

...

February 23rd, Monday. Sunny.

Pallet Town.

The sun shone brightly as a graceful woman wiped her brow and smiled softly.

"That boy Ash overslept again… Could you check on him, Mr. Mime?"

"Mime!" Mr. Mime marched upstairs and knocked, then pushed the door open in surprise.

The room was empty—bed neatly made, not a soul in sight.

"Mime!" Mr. Mime's face twisted with emotion.

"My, Ash is already gone?" Delia appeared behind Mr. Mime, broom in hand.

"It seems he's found himself some wonderful mentors and seniors!"

Elsewhere in Pallet Town,

Blue Oak, dressed in scholarly attire, strolled leisurely.

Suddenly, he looked up toward the hillside, where a young man's voice rang out:

"Sinnoh, here I come!!"

Blue smirked and stepped into the lab.

"Oh, Ash is setting off?" Professor Oak chuckled.

Blue nodded slightly. "That kid never changes."

"Professor Rowan in Sinnoh is my senior. I've already recommended Ash to him."

Professor Oak stroked his beard thoughtfully.

"Once Ash reaches Sandgem Town, Professor Rowan will handle his Lily of the Valley Conference registration."

To compete in a regional league, trainers needed official qualifications—

Whether through academy evaluations, professor recommendations, or champion invitations.

Only after registration could a journey truly begin.

That's why new trainers always visited the local Pokémon Professor first.

"Also?" Blue caught the word. "Who else did you recommend?"

"Not so much a recommendation… Professor Rowan met Natsume before I did."

Professor Oak smiled.

"Given how highly he thinks of Natsume, the registration was probably settled without me mentioning it."

Blue nodded, eyes glinting.

With Natsume-sensei's personality, this trip to Sinnoh…

Is he really joining the Baby Cup? Wait, no—the actual League?!

"…Did I just call it the Baby Cup out of habit?" Blue muttered.

Chat Group:

Ash: "Pikachu and I are taking a ship to Sinnoh!"

Lt. Surge crossed his arms. "Want to ride my S.S. Aqua, rookie? I'll give you 30% off!"

"Huh?" Ash scratched his head. "But I already promised Mr. Brineyl!"

"Never mind then." Lt. Surge nodded seriously. "He's a legendary sailor—used to work with Elite Four Drake!"

"Say hi for me!" Ruby chimed in.

Sapphire: "Same here~"

Lorelei, clutching a plush Clefairy, removed her glasses and rubbed her temples.

Ugh… Couple avatars are blinding me!

"Ash, where are you staying?" Natsume asked.

"Not sure yet!" Ash laughed.

"But as long as Pikachu's with me, anywhere's fine!"

Red: [Pikachu dancing.jpg]

Yellow: [Pikachu rolling.jpg]

Gold: [Pichu playing cards.jpg]

Natsume-sensei: "Wait, one of these doesn't belong."

Crystal: "Stop teaching Pichu bad habits, Gold!"

Gold grinned. "Relax! It's just the card game Natsume-sensei invented. Even his Togepi loves it!"

"Togekiss!" Togebo poked Gold with a wing, eyes narrowed.

You got a problem with my little sis!?

Natsume gazed skyward.

Pikachu's cute… but I still prefer Gengar.

Sylveon's great too~ Ah, all my Pokémon are adorable!

Satisfied, he reached for the Sylveon sauntering past.

"Sylveon?" It tilted its head—then scoffed and dodged.

Undeterred, Natsume scooped it up by the scruff…

Using both hands, but his arm strength was legit.

"Sylveon! (〃＞皿＜)"

Seated on the couch, Natsume poked Sylveon's pink paw pads, grinning.

He gave it an Aura of Ripple for good measure.

The little one immediately calmed down,

resting its head on Natsume's lap, ears twitching as it peered up with sapphire eyes:

"Sylveon~"

That afternoon's plan: Visit Professor Rowan.

After some quality Sylveon time, Natsume felt refreshed and ready to go.

Why not pet the others?

Gengar's… poisonous.

Togepi's too hyper—parenting's a sweet burden.

Sirfetch'd and the doggo are sweet but kinda dopey. Tsunderes are just more fun to tease.

"Gengar, let's head out!"

Natsume pulled on his red-and-black fingerless gloves, slung a single-strap bag over his shoulder, and turned—

"Whoa, what the—?! Σ(っ°Д°;)っ"

A wobbling "Wash Rotom" shuffled toward him.

"Who am I?" Rotom played the show's audio.

"R-Rotom?" Natsume ventured.

"Gengar! "

"It's Gengar—" Rotom gasped.

"NO! Rotom! Stop stealing my lines, Rotom!"

"You're ridiculous!" Natsume huffed. "Fine, give me another riddle!"

"Togepi~" Togepi shook its head and sighed.

Life's hard when your family's this chaotic…

...

The sunlight was warm and pleasant.

Natsume was playing in the yard with the little ones.

Rumble—

A cargo truck carrying shipping containers pulled up at the gate.

"Mr. Natsume, I have your express delivery. Please sign for delivery!"

A delivery guy in a black Team Rocket uniform leaned out the window and called loudly.

Natsume glanced toward the gate, slightly stunned.

Since moving into the new place, I haven't ordered anything online…

"Alright, Rotom, fess up—did you hack into my phone?"

"Wrongfully accused, Rotom! o(TヘTo)"

Buzz—

Natsume looked down at his phone's unread message.

[Cabbage Ice Cream: The delivery should be there by now, right?]

"Yeah, it's here. What did you buy?" Natsume asked curiously.

"Nothing much."

Cynthia replied: "Just got you a car."

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