On the Kanto continent, under the Indigo League, inside an old-style house in a place south of Pewter City called Three-Stone Village.
Outside the house, a bone-piercing cold wind was blowing, while inside the house, a black-haired, black-eyed youth dressed plainly was kneeling in front of the mourning hall.
The cold wind outside blew over him in gusts, yet the youth's face was expressionless, as if the wind was not blowing on his body at all, and he continued kneeling there.
"Nobunaga, Nobunaga." The repeated shouts brought the black-haired youth back to his senses, and then he slowly stood up and walked toward the door.
Outside the door stood a sturdy youth with thick eyebrows and big eyes and slightly dark skin, looking about sixteen or seventeen. This was Nobunaga's brother from the same village who had grown up with him since childhood, Stone.
Seeing Nobunaga come out, the youth Stone hurriedly said: "Grandma has passed away, and we're also very sad, but you have to pull yourself together. I believe that her spirit in heaven also doesn't want you to be like this!"
After hearing the sturdy youth's words, Nobunaga slowly raised his head and said: "Stone, I'm preparing to go to Pewter City the day after tomorrow to try my luck. Are you willing to go with me?"
The youth named Stone looked into Nobunaga's eyes and said: "There are a lot of Wild Pokémon out in the wilderness, and in our hands only I have a Geodude. I'm afraid I won't be able to protect the three of us on the road!"
"Yeah, yeah." At this time, a voice came from behind Stone. A youth wearing glasses and with long brown hair slowly walked in from outside the courtyard.
Nobunaga took a look and said: "Menyan, when did you get here?"
"I came with Stone. It's just that I saw him go in, so I stood outside the courtyard. Have you really decided, to go to Pewter City?"
"Mm, I've already decided. If I stay in the village, then I can only be a quarry worker for my whole life."
"The outside world is so big; I still want to go out and try my luck."
"Then have you thought through the path you'll take after going to Pewter City?" Menyan asked directly.
Nobunaga was not someone without preparations, so he told the two youths: "I want to go to Pewter City to join Team Rocket."
"I've already asked around. The Team Rocket branch in Pewter City will issue a starter Pokémon to every new recruit who joins."
"Team Rocket?" After Menyan and Stone exclaimed, they calmed down again. Right, after all, we are poor people who can't afford the League tax; Team Rocket can also be considered a way out.
"So I'm preparing to set out for Pewter City the day after tomorrow. Are you willing to go with me?" Nobunaga's eyes looked at the two youths opposite him.
"Since you've already decided, then we'll definitely go with you," Menyan and Stone said in unison.
Nobunaga looked at them deeply and then said: "Alright. I've already told Brother Lizhu. The day after tomorrow they're going to send the rocks our village mined this month to Pewter City, and we can follow them to Pewter City."
"Tomorrow everyone pack up what you should take. Early the day after tomorrow, meet at the village entrance. Try to get there earlier. Do you all understand?"
"Understood." After the two youths answered, they turned and walked out the main gate, heading to their own homes, and at the same time thinking about how to tell their families.
After the two left, the small courtyard that had just had a bit of human presence became quiet again. Only the howling cold wind, just like before, mercilessly slapped against Nobunaga's body.
Nobunaga turned his head to look toward the main hall, walked up to Grandma's memorial tablet: "Grandma, it's not that your grandson won't listen to you. It's really that in this world there is no such thing as stability; what village hasn't suffered attacks from Wild Pokémon?"
The youth knelt toward the memorial tablet and kowtowed three loud times. "Grandma, once your grandson leaves this time, I don't know when I'll be able to come back."
After a stretch of silence.
"But your grandson promises you: in all matters, life will be the priority. I won't be like Dad and Mom."
Then he stood up and walked toward the back room.
After washing up, Nobunaga lay on the bed and thought: it had been more than ten years since he transmigrated here. At the beginning he was still very excited, thinking that perhaps he was the chosen one.
But later he learned that in this world, poor people cannot become a Trainer.
No good starter Pokémon, no good training conditions, and no knowledge about Pokémon.
The little knowledge he knew came from Professor Oak's lectures on the television. Only by gambling and fighting with one's own life was it possible to become an outstanding Trainer.
Like Nobunaga's father, he was a commoner Trainer; maybe aside from finding a mother who was also a commoner Trainer, he accomplished nothing.
In the end, after the two had Nobunaga, they still couldn't settle down, and went to the Hoenn continent to struggle, and from then on there was no news.
That was why Nobunaga's grandma was so opposed to Nobunaga becoming a Trainer. After all, if Grandma agreed, then something like a Geodude was still something Nobunaga could obtain.
Thinking and thinking, he thought of the newcomer from Pallet Town, thought of the squint-eyed Gym Leader Brock of Pewter City, thought of Team Rocket's trio Jessie, James, and Meowth.
He didn't know what Pewter City was like, or what Team Rocket was like. After all, Team Rocket couldn't possibly be like the anime from his previous life.
Thinking and thinking, the youth slowly fell asleep.
A clear breeze passed by; perhaps the only things that did not change were the sound of the wind outside, and the crescent moon hanging high in the sky.