Catch Feelings, Not Just Pokemon

Lillie spun around abruptly—sure enough, the figure she had been muttering about was standing not far off, by the torii gate, quietly watching her.

Her dear Professor Haru had clearly been observing her from the shadows for quite some time.

"Professor Haru!"

The lovestruck girl paid no attention to the still-stunned and kneeling Arven. Overcome with emotion, she threw herself excitedly into Haru's arms.

See? Her Professor Haru still loved her! Otherwise, why would he come back for her after supposedly running off?

Hmph. That only confirmed it—he must have left earlier because of those foolish, meddling women.

But the one Haru truly loved had always been her!

Haru gently placed a hand atop her oversized hat and ruffled it. "Out here, remember to call me 'Professor.'"

"Alright, Professor Haru. It's getting late now—shall we head back?"

Just as she said this, she suddenly changed her mind as if something had struck her.

"Actually, no—let's go for a stroll, just the two of us."

There were always too many random women popping up around Haru. She hardly ever got a proper chance to be alone with him.

She was his real girlfriend. Those other women? Just a bunch of strays nobody wanted.

And right now, Carmine was off locked in some weird rivalry drama with Haru's new "apprentice." If there was ever a time to act, this was it.

Tonight, she—Lillie—would win Haru's heart, once and for all!

Unfortunately, Haru only smiled and shook his head.

"Before that, why don't we hear what young Arven's ambitions are?"

Lillie, who had already started fantasizing about what would come next, froze. Her smile faltered.

Seriously? Again? Every time she tried to take things further, some random weirdo had to get in the way.

At least before, it was other women. But now even the guys were getting involved? This was getting ridiculous!

No, no—it was just a coincidence. Once Haru dealt with whatever this was, it'd go back to being just the two of them.

Surely Haru was looking forward to it as much as she was.

But Haru didn't seem to pick up on her thoughts. Instead, he reached out to help Arven to his feet and continued:

"Don't underestimate him. He's the son of the Pokémon professors from Paldea."

"His parents—Professor Sada and Professor Turo—developed what appears to be a time machine deep in Area Zero."

"Thanks to that machine, Pokémon like Roaring Moon and Iron Valiant began appearing in this world."

"What can I say? Except for a few that ended up weaker, both ancient and future Pokémon tend to be incredibly powerful."

"They also differ in personality, appearance, and behavior from present-day Pokémon, which is why they're referred to as 'Paradox Pokémon.'"

"It's just a shame Kricketune didn't get a Paradox form. Otherwise, we could've called it... 'Kricketune-Man.'"

Haru shrugged, still smiling.

"'Appears to be'?"

"A time machine?!"

Arven, who'd been about to say something else, was caught off guard by Haru's use of the word "appears," while Lillie practically shouted in surprise.

The idea of time machines had long been part of popular fantasy in their world, appearing in all kinds of fiction.

Like... "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west." Or "After fifty years as a Bug Catcher, I go back in time and encounter the Legendary and Starter Pokémon I missed—back to the top!"

Stuff like that.

To Lillie, time machines were just legends—there was no way such a thing could really exist.

But now? Was fantasy bleeding into reality?

"Yes. A suspected time machine—buried deep within the heart of Area Zero."

"The entire area is covered in multicolored crystals, close to the very core of the Terastal phenomenon."

"Even now, it continues to transfer Pokémon from the future—or the past—into our present."

"Although whether those Pokémon are truly from the future or past… well, that's still up for debate."

"In fact… whether those Pokémon should even exist is an open question."

"Wouldn't you agree, Arven?"

"…"

Arven, who had been quite animated a moment ago, suddenly went quiet. He dusted off his knees and calmly asked Haru:

"How do you know all of this?"

"Haven't you heard? I've been in Area Zero for as long as I can remember."

"That's right—you may call me Professor Haru, returned from the depths of Area Zero."

"I spent quite a bit of time there. Aside from your parents, no one knows that place better than I do."

"…Then… have you seen them?"

Arven's voice trembled slightly, without him realizing it.

It had been so long… so very long since he'd last seen his parents.

They were always busy with research, but at least he used to catch a glimpse of them now and then.

But somewhere along the line… they just stopped contacting him altogether.

He'd been left all alone on the surface of Paldea—taking care of himself, living alongside Pokémon.

Despite their frequent appearances in the news, it felt like he, their son, had been completely forgotten.

Even when he tried reaching out to them… nothing.

Arven harbored deep resentment toward his parents. But even so, when he had a chance to ask about them, he couldn't help himself.

"…I'm sorry. I haven't."

"Though I know a fair bit, I never met either of them in person."

Because… they were already gone.

Haru said nothing, but in his heart, he acknowledged the truth he couldn't bring himself to say aloud.

Both Sada and Turo had died in a tragic accident—sacrificing themselves to save a group of Pokémon.

What remained in Area Zero, maintaining the "time machine," was just AI.

Paldea's own Batman… really was just Batman.

Arven had lost his parents long ago—he just didn't know it.

Still, it's worth noting: Arven also carried a Poké Ball containing a legendary Pokémon.

Unlike Lillie or Iiko, though, he wasn't that creature's partner. In fact, he kind of hated it.

In the game's story, he ends up tossing the ball to the player character.

"Alright, story time's over. Let's get to the point."

"Why don't you go ahead and tell us—what exactly is your ambition? If it interests me, I just might help you out."

"Really?!"

Arven's eyes lit up, the gloom lifting instantly. He pulled out two books from who-knows-where. "These are the Scarlet Book and the Violet Book."

"According to these, Paldea is home to massive Pokémon called 'Titan Pokémon.' They guard something called Herba Mystica."

"Cooking with Herba Mystica produces meals with incredible health benefits! They restore the body—and some even supposedly enhance… stamina?"

"…Wait, what exactly is stamina enhancement supposed to mean?"

"Eh, whatever. My goal is to collect all the Herba Mystica and make the ultimate sandwich!"

"…The problem is, everyone thinks these books are nonsense. No one really believes me."

"Even so… would you be willing to help me?"

"Of course."

Haru nodded calmly, as if he'd expected this all along.

He knew Arven's goals weren't as simple as he claimed—and truthfully, he was intrigued by the Herba Mystica himself.

What would happen if a human consumed a substance that could affect gods?

It was a tempting mystery.

As for Lillie, she could only twitch the corner of her mouth upon hearing Arven's "ambition."

"That's… a pretty plain and simple dream, huh?"

She had half-expected him to be some megalomaniac like Lusamine, with some wild plan up his sleeve.

But this guy?

He's just a cook?! Making sandwiches is your ambition?!

———

While Haru and the others were discussing the great Sandwich Quest on the mountain, two sneaky figures pushed open the door of a room in the Civic Hall…

Short-haired Iiko and long-haired Carmine (or…?) slipped inside without anyone noticing.

They each took out a tiny vial from their pockets—its contents suspicious and clearly up to no good.

"…Are you sure this will work? What if it doesn't take effect and we get caught?"

Liko looked nervous, eyeing the vial in her hand.

After a heated "debate," she and Carmine had come to some sort of agreement.

Still, she wasn't quite comfortable with Carmine's methods.

"Trust me, Liko. You've gotta believe in my professional skills."

Carmine wagged her finger.

"Or are you just going to sit back and watch something indecent happen? This isn't their house—what if they get caught?"

"Hmph. Lillie insisted on staying in Haru's room—what do you think she's trying to pull?"

"So, really, knocking her out for a bit is doing everyone a favor. At least the rest of us will get a good night's sleep."

"But didn't Lillie say she was Professor Haru's official girlfriend? Them sharing a room seems… understandable, no?"

Liko still had her doubts.

"That was just something Haru said because she pressured him into it. I was the first one here."

"Anyway, let's move. If we don't act now, they'll be back soon."

Clearly, Carmine already had a plan for the night.

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