Ren returned to Onigashima the next evening, his presence once again hidden beneath a veil of illusion. The wind carried the scent of salt and iron, and the massive skull fortress loomed in silence. He didn't need Observation Haki to know she was already waiting.
Yamato sat in the same spot near the edge of the island, legs swinging impatiently over the stone ledge. The moment she sensed movement, she turned.
Her eyes lit up instantly.
"Hey! What took you so long?" she demanded, jumping to her feet. "Start the show already. I wanna see what happens next!"
Ren laughed softly as he approached. "No greeting? No 'I missed you, Ren'?"
Yamato crossed her arms, though her grin betrayed her. "Just start it!"
"Bossy," he muttered playfully.
He snapped his fingers.
The familiar Pokémon intro theme echoed through the illusionary theater he created. Yamato immediately began humming along, swaying her head dramatically.
"I wanna be the very best—" she sang loudly and off-key.
Ren winced. "You're going to scare the Sea Kings."
"I don't care!" she shouted back, laughing.
Episode 11 began.
---
When Ash found Charmander abandoned in the rain, Yamato's expression shifted from excitement to anger.
"What kind of idiot trainer leaves their Pokémon like that?" she growled. "If you make a promise, you keep it!"
Ren glanced at her carefully. "You value promises a lot?"
She didn't answer immediately. Instead, she leaned forward as Ash wrapped Charmander in his jacket.
When Charmander's flame flickered weakly, Yamato clenched her fists. "If that flame goes out… he dies, right?"
"Yes," Ren replied quietly.
Yamato's jaw tightened. "I would've punched that trainer."
When Charmander finally chose to follow Ash, her eyes sparkled. "See? He chose him. That's loyalty!"
Ren smiled faintly. "Or maybe it's hope."
---
Episode 12 began.
When Squirtle and his gang appeared causing chaos, Yamato burst out laughing.
"They're like pirates!" she said excitedly. "I like them already!"
As Ash gained Squirtle's trust and Squirtle joined the team, Yamato pumped her fist. "He keeps adding strong allies! That's how you build a crew!"
Ren raised a brow. "You're analyzing it like a battle strategist."
She smirked. "Of course. If I ever leave this island, I'm gathering my own crew."
Ren chuckled. "Ambitious."
"I'm serious," she replied, eyes burning with determination.
---
Episode 14 arrived—the battle against Lt. Surge.
When Pikachu was overwhelmed by Raichu's power, Yamato leaned forward intensely.
"Don't give up!" she shouted at the illusion. "You can't win by running away!"
When Pikachu refused to evolve and chose to fight on his own terms, Yamato's expression softened.
"He chose his own path," she whispered. "Even if it's harder."
Ren studied her profile. "Sometimes strength isn't about becoming something else. It's about mastering who you already are."
When Ash finally won the Thunder Badge, Yamato jumped up with excitement.
"Yes! First major win!"
She pointed at Ren. "See? Hard work pays off!"
Ren laughed. "You sound like a motivational poster."
"Shut up."
---
Episode 21.
Butterfree's departure.
Yamato didn't speak for most of it.
When Butterfree left with the pink Butterfree, her lips trembled slightly.
"He let him go…" she said quietly.
Ren nodded. "Because holding on would've been selfish."
Yamato looked down. "Even if it hurts?"
"Yes."
A tear slid down her cheek, though she quickly wiped it away.
"That's stupid," she muttered. "Why does it feel worse when you do the right thing?"
Ren didn't answer immediately. "Because caring always has a price."
She glanced at him briefly but said nothing.
---
Episode 24.
When Ash captured Haunter to face Sabrina, Yamato burst into laughter at Haunter's antics.
"That ghost is insane!" she said, clutching her stomach.
Ren grinned. "He wins through chaos."
"Best strategy ever."
As they continued watching, Ren used telekinesis casually to bring more food from the kitchens. Plates floated gently beside them.
Yamato didn't question it anymore. She had accepted that Ren could do ridiculous things.
They continued episode after episode.
By the time they reached Episode 48, the night sky was dark.
Yamato's eyes were slightly moist again.
"Even as Bulbasaur, he can become powerful…" she said softly. "You don't have to evolve to matter."
She looked at Ren hopefully. "Come on, Ren. I wanna watch more. Please."
Ren shook his head gently. "Sorry, girl. It's already night. I gotta go. There's a girl named Toki waiting for me. We have a battle to fight."
Yamato's eyes widened instantly. "Wait—you're gonna fight someone?"
Her voice carried real worry. "Is she strong? You gonna be fine?"
Ren's eyebrow twitched. For a second, guilt pricked at him.
"Ahem," he coughed lightly. "Yes. It will be a battle where I'll have to fight her all night. Though every time, I win. Even after she teams up with her sister. Tonight she's alone, so of course I'm gonna win."
Yamato stared at him for a moment.
Then she sighed in relief. "Oh. So I can keep watching Pokémon. That's good then."
Ren burst into laughter. "You only care about the show."
"Obviously."
He stood slowly. "Well, I won't be coming tomorrow. I have somewhere to be."
Yamato's face fell immediately. "What? How can you do that? What am I supposed to do here?"
Ren's tone shifted, becoming serious. "Tomorrow is the execution of a man. I have to be there."
Yamato frowned. "Is he someone you know?"
Ren thought for a moment before answering. "Yes."
He sat back down, looking out at the dark sea.
"I met him years ago. Kozuki Oden. Loud, reckless, stubborn. But he carried a dream bigger than himself."
Yamato's eyes widened slightly at the name.
Ren continued. "I promised Whitebeard I wouldn't interfere with Wano for ten years. That promise ends tomorrow."
He explained how he met Oden, how he warned him about the future, how Oden returned too late to stop Kaido and Orochi's grip tightening around Wano.
"I gave him time," Ren said quietly. "Time to prepare. Time to change things."
Yamato swallowed. "And he couldn't?"
Ren shook his head slowly. "Wano's rivers are poisoned. Its people starve. Orochi's men rule through fear."
He looked directly at her. "Oden wasn't able to protect Wano."
Yamato's hands trembled slightly.
She looked between the sea and Ren, trying to process everything.
"So after the execution…" she whispered slowly, realization dawning.
Her eyes widened fully.
"You're gonna fight my dad for Wano?"
The question hung in the air like a blade.
Her face fell.
She had finally found someone who told her stories of the outside world, someone who laughed with her and shared strange moving pictures.
And now—
He and her father were going to fight.
Tears welled up in her eyes.