When Logan stepped out of his bedroom early in the morning and into the research institute's courtyard for a walk, he noticed a young girl standing by the fence, staring blankly at the Pokémon inside as if lost in thought.
Inside the enclosure was a Ponyta that had only just been born. Still far too young to survive in the wild, it was temporarily kept there to prevent it from wandering off.
"What are you doing, Platinum?"
Logan's footsteps made no sound on the grass. Only when he reached her side did he suddenly slap her shoulder hard.
"Yah——!"
Platinum let out a startled cry. The composed, intellectual beauty she usually wore vanished instantly from her face. It was only after she realized the culprit was Logan that she finally relaxed.
"Good morning, Champion."
Her expression returned to calm composure as she bowed deeply and formally to him, her greeting stiff and meticulous.
"I honestly don't know what to say about your etiquette anymore," Logan said with a chuckle.
"Being this serious all day—don't you get tired?"
Platinum was dressed in a pale pink long dress. The hem spread outward like a blooming flower, supported from within by a skirt frame, resembling a pure white lily in full bloom.
Her deep blue hair was neatly tied up high, giving her an air of maturity far beyond her age. The same pale pink boots wrapped around her slender legs, which were further accentuated by white silk stockings, making her posture elegant—like a princess secluded in some ancient kingdom.
"These are manners that the heir of the Berlitz family must learn," Platinum replied calmly.
Judging solely from her rigid tone, it would have been difficult to imagine her as a lively girl of her age.
"Alright, as you wish, lady," Logan said lightly.
"So—you're studying Ponyta?"
"Yes. I'm researching Ponyta's ecological habits."
She spoke seriously, but Logan clearly caught the flicker of longing and hope hidden deep within her eyes.
"Do you want to become a researcher in the future, Platinum?"
"Yes. Every generation of the Berlitz family's heir becomes a researcher."
"That's not what I'm asking," Logan interrupted.
"I'm asking whether you want to become a researcher."
"I like Pokémon. I also like knowledge. Becoming a researcher is my goal."
"Then…" Logan smiled faintly, bending down to look at her serious face.
"Have you ever thought about becoming a Trainer as well?"
Her skin glowed softly, fair and smooth like white jade. A faint, delicate fragrance lingered around her.
"My father would never allow that. Being a Trainer is too dangerous."
Platinum avoided his gaze and took a step back—Logan was standing far too close.
"Stop making excuses," Logan said sharply.
"I'm asking what you want. Do you want to become a Trainer?"
Platinum was startled. Her expression twisted with conflict, lips pressed together, before she finally nodded with difficulty.
A year and a half ago, when she had watched the Indigo Plateau Conference on television—heard the roar of two hundred thousand spectators cheering wildly—something had stirred in her heart.
And not long ago, at Rainbow University, when she personally witnessed Logan battle the Champion of Unova and the dragon-wielding girl, that longing had only grown stronger.
But she was the young lady of the Berlitz conglomerate. She was not meant to walk such a dangerous path. She was supposed to become a researcher, inherit the family business someday, and live her life amid laboratories and boardrooms.
"You're still young, Platinum," Logan said gently.
"You should have your own goals and fight for them—not let others force a future onto you. If you don't struggle while you're young, you'll regret it someday."
He took her hand. Her fingers were long and delicate, her skin soft, nails neatly trimmed and painted. Compared to his palm, her hand felt impossibly small.
Platinum's face flushed instantly. Panic flickered across her expression—none of the books she'd studied had ever taught her how to handle a moment like this.
"Because they didn't want you walking a dangerous road, even though your family owns many Pokémon, not one of them truly belongs to you," Logan said softly.
"In that sense… you're actually quite pitiful."
He placed a red-and-white Poké Ball into her hand and pointed toward the Ponyta.
"Normally, you need to defeat a Pokémon or gain its consent to capture it. But this Ponyta was just born—it's different. As long as you place it into the Poké Ball, the capture will succeed."
"…Go on. Try it, Platinum. Use your own hands to capture your very first Pokémon."
"Is… is that really okay?"
She hesitated, staring at the Poké Ball in her hand.
It was an ordinary Poké Ball—cheap, mass-produced. For someone of her status, she could have thousands of them. The Berlitz conglomerate even owned industries that manufactured Poké Balls, including high-grade models.
Yet this simple Poké Ball felt unimaginably precious.
Not because it was given by the Champion of Kanto—but because it was given by Logan.
As if within this small sphere lay Platinum's future.
"Go ahead," Logan encouraged, giving her a light push.
"If your father objects, just tell him the Berlitz plan to build a Battle Tower in Johto was rejected—and that the Kanto Champion has decided to cooperate with Devon Corporation of Hoenn instead."
A spark of rebellion flared in Platinum's heart.
She knew Logan was using this as leverage against her father—but instead of anger, she felt oddly happy.
The thought startled her.
Am I… betraying my father and family?
The Berlitz conglomerate's ambition to build a Battle Tower wasn't solely about competing with Devon Corporation. In Sinnoh, the Berlitz family didn't stand unchallenged—the Videlas Consortium had already established the Battle Frontier Zone near Sinnoh's borders, achieving enormous success.
Forced out of Sinnoh, blocked in Hoenn by Devon and in Kanto by Silph Co., Johto became Berlitz's compromise.
And Kanto and Johto had always been closely linked.
Just last night, Logan had already discussed this Battle Tower plan with Mr. and Mrs. Berlitz—Logan would clear the path politically, Berlitz would provide funding and manpower, profits split evenly.
As for the Videlas family and the Battle Frontier—Logan knew them well. That entire project had originally been built just for Caitlin, a noble girl unable to battle personally. Caitlin herself owned the Battle Frontier Zone.
What started as a "playground" for a noble lady had become a paradise for Trainers worldwide—earning her family staggering wealth.
These noble ladies really are living princesses…
While Logan's thoughts drifted, Platinum cautiously approached Ponyta. The little Pokémon showed no fear at all. Raised in Pallet Town, it curiously trotted toward her instead.
Platinum clenched her teeth and threw the Poké Ball.
The capture was effortless.
"I caught it!"
She cried out in delight, leaping into the air with the Poké Ball in hand. For the first time, she truly looked like a girl her age—not the stiff, restrained young lady she'd always been.
But quickly, she regained her composure, straightening her expression.
"Um… isn't this Ponyta Professor Oak's Pokémon? Is it really okay for me to take it?"
Logan laughed and turned around.
"Come on, Professor Oak isn't that petty. He wouldn't get angry over one Ponyta, right?"
As he spoke, Professor Oak stepped out through the open lab doors.
"It's already caught—what, you expect me to confiscate it now?" Oak grumbled.
"Don't be stingy, Professor," Logan said lightly.
"You give Pokémon to kids in Pallet Town all the time. What's one more?"
"Easy for you to say—it's not your Pokémon," Oak snapped.
"You,Red, and Blue all hate catching Pokémon. My Pokédex was completely wasted on you!"
"Hey now, Professor," Logan shrugged.
"You've already researched Kanto Pokémon thoroughly. Do you really need us catching more?"
"Even Pokémon of the same species differ!" Oak retorted.
"Even slight pattern variations are valuable data! Hmph—you wouldn't understand!"
"Pfft—"
Platinum couldn't help but laugh.
"Hm? Miss Platinum, smiling again?" Logan teased.
"No, you must be mistaken," she said stiffly, covering her mouth and turning away.
"What a classic tsundere."
"I am not tsundere!"
Platinum huffed, puffing out her cheeks—yet the smile on her face shone as warmly as sunlight.
--------------------
T/N:
Check out my Patreon
[email protected]/FictionalRealms784 - (Replace '@' with 'a')
for 5 Advanced Chapters absolutely FREE—or unlock 35 Advanced Chapters
--------------------