The seven-day summer camp came to an end in the blink of an eye.
After handing the children back to their parents, Professor Oak took Fuyuki and Ash to his lab in Pallet Town.
"We're here. This is my laboratory," Professor Oak said with a smile as he introduced the place.
Fuyuki looked around with curiosity. It seemed almost exactly the same as what he remembered from the anime.
"Want to stay and play here for a couple of days?" Professor Oak asked.
Fuyuki had enjoyed this trip so much that he was reluctant to leave. He was just about to agree when Raikou spoke to him through telepathy.
"Little One, it's time to go back. Entei has returned to Mount Tensei."
The words on Fuyuki's lips were swallowed back down. He shook his head regretfully.
"No, Professor Oak. We've been out for a long time already. It's time for us to head back."
Seeing that he had made up his mind, Professor Oak could only nod. "All right."
Then an awkward smile crept onto his face as he made a request.
"Well… Fuyuki, there's a small favor I'd like to ask."
"Huh?" Fuyuki blinked.
Professor Oak's eyes lit up. "Could I take a photo with Raikou?"
Raikou frowned slightly at that.
It exchanged a look with the child, then let out a helpless sigh.
Fuyuki grinned. "Father agreed!"
Professor Oak's face immediately brightened. He hurriedly told his stunned assistant to fetch a camera and take a picture of him and Raikou together.
Click!
The moment was captured.
Professor Oak stared at the photo, joy filling his heart.
"Thank you, Fuyuki. Thank you, Raikou."
"Then we're heading off!" Fuyuki swung himself onto Raikou's back and waved goodbye to Ash and Professor Oak.
"Mm, remember to come see me when you turn ten," Professor Oak said. "If you ever have time, you're welcome to visit the lab anytime."
"Fuyuki, we'll definitely meet again!" Ash shouted. "By then, I'll be a Pokemon Trainer!"
"Yeah, for sure!" Fuyuki waved back.
Riding on Raikou's back, he quickly vanished from their sight.
Ash went home, leaving Professor Oak alone in the lab.
Professor Oak turned on his computer, found a friend who worked at the police department, and sent an email.
[Seven years ago, were there any cases of a missing child in Viridian Forest?]
While waiting for a reply, he looked down at the photo of himself with Raikou, a smile he couldn't suppress spreading across his face.
Enjoying something alone wasn't nearly as fun as sharing it. This kind of thing had to be shown off.
With that thought, he opened his mailbox again and sent the photo to Professor Elm in Johto, Professor Ivy in the Orange Islands, Professor Birch in Hoenn, and Professor Rowan in Sinnoh.
Not long after the emails were sent, his inbox began chiming nonstop.
[Professor Elm: Raikou?! Where did you find this Pokemon? Don't tell me a Trainer near you caught Raikou and left it at your lab. How did you pull that off?! Wait for me, I'm coming over right now!]
[Professor Ivy: ?]
[Professor Birch: This is… the Legendary Pokemon Raikou? That's incredible! I checked, and this might be the first time such a clear photo of Raikou has ever surfaced. Professor Oak, I'm really jealous!]
[Professor Rowan: As expected of Professor Oak. With this, academic records on Raikou will become much more complete. Professor Oak, may I research Raikou together with you? I'm very interested in whether Legendary Pokemon can evolve. I'll come visit another day!]
Professor Oak sipped his hot tea leisurely as he read through the replies from his friends and colleagues. There was only one feeling in his heart.
Pure satisfaction.
Let those guys be jealous.
Just then, another email popped up.
[League Investigator 007: Seven years ago? There was indeed a serious infant disappearance case in Viridian Forest.]
Attached was a news report from seven years ago.
Professor Oak quickly set down his tea and opened it.
[Outrageous! Despicable Pokemon Hunters Murder Innocent Civilians!
Early yesterday morning, a car crash was discovered on a road in Viridian Forest. After investigation by Officer Jenny, the vehicle belonged to a family of three from Viridian City, Mr. Matsuda, his wife Yumiko, and their child Fuyuki.
The family had been happily heading out for a camping trip when they encountered deranged Pokemon Hunters. Mr. Matsuda was brutally killed on the spot. Mrs. Yumiko attempted to flee with her child by car, but was ultimately murdered as well. Their child, Fuyuki, remains missing.
Kanto League investigators and Officer Jenny have apprehended the two evil Pokemon Hunters. In light of their heinous crimes, the Kanto League has decided to sentence them to death.
If anyone finds the child Fuyuki, son of Mr. Matsuda and Mrs. Yumiko, in Viridian Forest, please contact Officer Jenny immediately. Phone number: 39158328!]
Professor Oak froze.
Fuyuki's young, smiling face surfaced in his mind.
Seven years ago.
The timing matched. The location matched.
Could the Fuyuki he met today be the child who vanished in that incident?
A surge of sorrow, pity, and compassion welled up in his chest.
Then he thought of how Raikou had always been wary of humans.
At that moment, a scene from seven years ago formed in his mind.
Mr. Matsuda, passing by, had discovered Pokemon Hunters illegally capturing wild Pokemon. Having grown up with Pokemon and received a good education, he bravely got out of the car to stop them, only to be violently attacked.
After seeing her husband killed, Yumiko panicked and tried to escape with her young child.
In the end, the Pokemon Hunters attacked again, the car crashed, and Yumiko died on the spot.
Raikou might have just happened to pass by then.
It witnessed humans dying to protect Pokemon, and unable to bear it, decided to take in the child named Fuyuki and raise him.
All the way to today.
Professor Oak's heart was filled with mixed emotions.
He mourned Fuyuki's past, yet felt genuine happiness that the boy had been taken in by Raikou.
[Professor Oak: What happened to the bodies of that couple?]
[League Investigator 007: We recovered them and buried them in the cemetery in Viridian City. Why do you ask, Professor?]
[Professor Oak: Send me the address.]
If one day Fuyuki wished to learn about his origins, Professor Oak would tell him everything and let him go pay his respects to his human parents.