After lunch, Professor Oak began leading the children around to observe the wild Pokemon living nearby, all under their eager gazes.
Fuyuki was among them, walking with Ash and Serena.
Unlike the other two, though, he seemed only mildly interested in the explanations Professor Oak gave along the way.
"Fuyuki, did you really grow up with Pokemon?" Ash asked, unable to hold back his curiosity.
"Of course."
"What's it like, living with Pokemon?" Ash's eyes shone with longing. "Like, waking up every morning and seeing their faces, playing with them every day. Is it really like that?"
"Pretty much," Fuyuki said with a smile, nodding.
"Whoa!" Ash's eyes lit up. "I want to live with Pokemon too!"
"Ash…" Serena tugged gently at his sleeve. In her eyes, Fuyuki had grown up without parents and had only Pokemon to rely on. He was already pitiful enough, and Ash saying something like that felt wrong.
"It's okay, Serena," Fuyuki said softly, clearly understanding what she meant.
"Huh?" She froze for a moment.
Ash watched the two of them exchange looks, completely lost.
"Hey, what are you guys talking about?" he asked.
Serena glanced at Fuyuki, who was walking ahead with Raikou, and lowered her voice. "Fuyuki doesn't have a mom or dad. He's had to live in the mountains with Pokemon since he was little. It's so sad…"
That was when it clicked for Ash.
He stopped, thought hard for a moment, then ran after Fuyuki. "Fuyuki!"
"What's up?"
"Well, um… do you want to come live at my house with Raikou?" Ash blurted out. "My place is really big, with lots of rooms. It's just me and my mom there!"
Fuyuki hadn't expected that. He blinked, then laughed and shook his head. "Thanks, Ash, but it's okay. Father and the others already have our own home, so I won't trouble you."
"Oh… I see." Ash still looked worried. "But… are you sure it'll be okay?"
At that, Raikou shot Ash an unmistakably displeased glare.
With it around, what kind of problem could the Little One possibly have?
"Don't worry," Fuyuki said with a grin. "Who knows, maybe we'll meet again someday."
He knew perfectly well that when Ash turned ten, Ho-Oh would give him a Rainbow Feather.
And Ash would head to Mount Tensei with his companions to face the trial of the Rainbow Hero.
"What are you all talking about?"
Professor Oak's voice called out from nearby.
Legendary Pokemon as rare as Raikou didn't show up every day. If he missed this chance, who knew how long it would be before he ever saw one again?
So after briefly introducing a few nearby Pokemon to the rest of the children, Professor Oak hurried over to Ash and Fuyuki.
"We're inviting Fuyuki to live in Pallet Town!" Ash said eagerly. "He doesn't have parents and grew up in the mountains with Pokemon. It's so sad, Professor Oak!"
"So that's how it is," Professor Oak said, studying the boy in front of him.
Fuyuki was neatly dressed and spotless, hardly what he imagined for a child who'd supposedly lived deep in the wilderness all his life.
Did Raikou actually help him find human clothes?
He didn't dwell on it for long. Ash's concern wasn't unfounded.
Turning to Fuyuki and Raikou, he asked, "By the way, Fuyuki, you said you were found by Raikou in Viridian Forest, right?"
"Mm." Fuyuki didn't mention that it had actually been Entei.
"Do you know how old you are now?"
"I just turned seven."
"Then you're actually a few months younger than Ash," Professor Oak said with a smile, looking at him.
Ash puffed out his chest. "Professor Oak, I'll take good care of Fuyuki!"
Fuyuki fell silent.
"All right, all right," Professor Oak said, then turned back to Fuyuki. "Here's the thing. The Kanto League gives special consideration to children with circumstances like yours. If you want to live in the human world, I can help apply to the League. You and Raikou could move to Pallet Town and live with us."
"No need, Professor Oak." Fuyuki shook his head.
"Hm?" Oak was taken aback.
"Father isn't really used to human society," Fuyuki said, glancing at Raikou beside him. "And we're happy with how we live now."
"I see…" Professor Oak sighed, a little helpless. After thinking it over, he added, "If you ever need help in the future, you can come find me at my lab in Pallet Town."
Fuyuki's heart stirred. "Really?"
They'd been living out in the wild with no official identity in the human world. If they ever wanted to travel, some form of identification would be essential.
Just like the Pokedex Ash used to prove his identity to Nurse Joy.
This was something he could ask Professor Oak about someday.
Oak smiled and nodded. "Of course."
Then, as if something occurred to him, he added, "Oh, right. You should join us for this summer camp. When it's over, I'll take you to Pallet Town."
"And when you turn ten, you can come to my lab like Ash and the others, get a starter Pokemon and a Pokedex."
He considered it a small thank-you for being allowed to observe and study Raikou.
Ecological data on a Legendary Pokemon, along with its unique bond with Fuyuki, was priceless in the academic world of Pokemon.
"Yes!" Fuyuki cheered before quickly asking, "Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle, right?"
"Hm?" Professor Oak hadn't expected him to know. He chuckled and nodded. "That's right. Those three are easy to bond with and well suited for beginner Trainers, so the Kanto League distributes them as starter Pokemon."
"Though," he added with a wry smile, "not every child likes Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle. I once met a kid who asked if I had Meowth instead."
The mention of starter Pokemon had both Fuyuki and Ash buzzing with excitement.
"Oh yeah, Fuyuki, which one would you pick?" Ash asked eagerly. "As for me… I'd choose Charmander, one that can use fire attacks! Then we can have a Pokemon battle, okay?"
Fuyuki thought to himself that Ash wouldn't get any of them. Even if there were extras, Professor Oak wouldn't hand one over.
After all, Oak had already prepared a Pikachu just for him.
Back when Professor Oak had traveled through time as a child, he'd seen with his own eyes the partnership between Ash and Pikachu.
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You can read up to chapter 99 on patreon.com/NiaXD.