Professor Oak led Yuuto through several winding corridors toward the rear of the research institute.
They arrived at a more isolated section.
A prominent lightning-bolt symbol was painted on the doorplate.
"This is the place," Professor Oak said, pushing the door open.
Yuuto followed him inside.
The room wasn't large, but it was unmistakably designed for one purpose: containment. Every surface—walls, floor, ceiling—was coated in thick, gray-black insulating material. A faint charred smell hung in the air, like the aftermath of a lightning strike.
"This little guy…" Professor Oak walked over to a reinforced safe, shaking his head with a wry smile as he punched in the combination. "…is our lab's resident tyrant."
*Click.*
The safe door swung open.
Inside sat a single red-and-white Poké Ball, looking almost lonely.
Professor Oak lifted it carefully and turned to Yuuto, his expression turning grave.
"Yuuto, I'll warn you one last time."
"This Pokémon is dangerous."
"It doesn't take orders well, and… its electricity is extremely powerful."
He paused for emphasis. "Several Trainers who tried to claim it before ended up in the hospital after being shocked senseless."
"It's not too late to change your mind."
Yuuto just smiled.
"I'll take this one, Professor."
Professor Oak studied him for a long moment.
Then he sighed.
"Alright… step back, then."
Yuuto retreated a few paces.
Only then did Professor Oak press the release button and toss the Poké Ball into the center of the open floor.
Red light flashed.
A small yellow figure materialized.
Round cheeks, long ears tipped with black, twin red electric sacs sparking faintly.
Pikachu.
The instant it appeared, its dark eyes darted around warily.
When they landed on Professor Oak—and then on Yuuto—its gaze turned hostile.
"Pi—ka—CHU!!!"
A sharp, piercing cry.
The next second—
Blinding golden electricity exploded from its tiny body.
*CRACKLE!*
Violent arcs of current whipped through the room like golden serpents, slamming into every surface. Sparks detonated against the insulating panels. The entire space lit up like a storm chamber.
Professor Oak had clearly anticipated this. The moment he released Pikachu he leaped backward into the reinforced safe zone by the door. Even so, his white hair stood on end from residual static.
"See?! I told you!" he shouted over the hissing discharge.
Yuuto, however, didn't budge.
He narrowed his eyes, calmly observing the small yellow figure at the heart of the electric storm.
The raw power was impressive.
And that temper… it had spirit.
Exactly what he'd expected from the future legend—the same Pikachu that would one day trade blows with Mewtwo on screen and casually zap countless Legendaries in the anime.
Compared to Charmander, Squirtle, or Bulbasaur, its ceiling was on another level entirely.
Far from intimidated, Yuuto felt a surge of excitement.
"Full of power," he said, voice steady and clear even through the crackling noise. "I like it."
Professor Oak blinked in disbelief.
Like it?
Had the kid's brain short-circuited?
Yuuto turned to the Professor with a small smile.
"I want this one."
"Ah—oh… okay! Okay!" Professor Oak stammered, then broke into a relieved grin. At least the rookie pickup ordeal was finally over.
He wiped sweat from his brow.
"I'll handle the registration right away."
He glanced nervously toward the center of the room.
The electric storm was finally subsiding.
Pikachu stood there, tiny hands on hips, head held high, cheeks still sparking with residual current. Its expression screamed *"This is my domain—don't test me."*
"…but you'll have to deal with the rest yourself," Professor Oak added sympathetically.
Yuuto nodded.
"Understood."
He turned and walked straight toward Pikachu.
Steady, unhurried steps. No hesitation.
"Hey! Yuuto! Be careful!" Professor Oak called in alarm.
Had the boy lost his mind?
Pikachu was equally stunned.
It blinked its big dark eyes, head tilting in confusion.
Normally, after a display like that, humans either paled and backed away or screamed and ran.
This one… was walking *toward* it?
Pikachu's gaze sharpened.
Fine.
If you're not scared, I'll show you something even stronger!
Yuuto crouched down so he was eye-level with the tiny Pokémon.
A deliberate show of respect.
"Hello, Pikachu."
He extended his right hand, palm up.
"From now on, we'll be partners. Traveling together."
His voice was gentle, calm.
Pikachu stared at the offered hand.
Then up at Yuuto's face.
This human's eyes were… different.
No fear. No disgust. No calculating greed that saw it as a tool or a trophy.
They were clean. Sincere.
For a split second, Pikachu's guard wavered.
But years of being confined, passed around, treated like a problem child—it all came rushing back.
Partners?
Sounds nice.
You just want to trap me in that ball again!
Pikachu's eyes narrowed.
It decided to teach this human a real lesson.
"Pi—KA—CHUUUU!!!"
Even brighter, thicker golden lightning erupted—this time a focused Thunder Shock aimed directly at Yuuto's chest.
The bolt struck hard.
"Yuuto!" Professor Oak shouted, starting forward instinctively.
But a heartbeat later the light faded.
Yuuto remained crouched exactly where he was.
His clothes had a few new scorch marks. His hair stood up in comical spikes.
But he hadn't even flinched.
The 100% physical enhancement didn't just boost strength and speed.
It granted near-superhuman durability and resistance.
Pikachu's full-power Thunder Shock might hospitalize a normal person.
To Yuuto, it felt like a strong, tingly massage.
"Pi… Pikachu?"
Pikachu's mouth fell open.
It stared in utter disbelief.
This human… took a direct hit from its strongest Thunder Shock—and was fine?
Didn't even stagger?
Impossible!
Pikachu looked down at its own paws in confusion.
Did my electricity… get weaker?
"Holy…" Professor Oak muttered from the doorway, eyes wide. "What is that boy made of?"
Yuuto ignored the Professor's shock.
He kept his hand extended, smiling softly at the stunned Pikachu.
Now was the moment.
He quietly activated his newly acquired Elementary Aura Power.
Invisible energy flowed outward from his core, gentle and warm.
Aura—the energy of the heart.
It could sense life, transmit emotion, even bridge the gap between species.
Yuuto carefully tuned the frequency to match Pikachu's.
Then, through Aura, he spoke directly into its mind.
A voice that bypassed ears entirely—soft, steady, and carrying undeniable conviction.
"Pikachu."
"I know you don't just shock people because you're angry."
Pikachu's ears twitched.
It stared at Yuuto in shock.
This human… was talking to it?
Not with sound.
Directly in its heart!
What kind of power…?
Yuuto's voice continued, calm and understanding:
"You're protesting."
"You don't want to be trapped in that tiny ball forever. You don't want to be treated like a tool. You don't want to lose your freedom."
"Right?"
Pikachu's tiny body trembled.
The hostility in its eyes wavered for the first time.
This human… understood?
Yuuto sensed the shift and pressed gently.
"I promise you this."
"From now on, as long as there's no emergency, you never have to go back inside a Poké Ball."
"You can stay outside with me the whole journey."
Pikachu's eyes widened, sparkling.
R-Really…?
Yuuto's mental voice carried a warm smile.
"Of course it's real."
He paused, then added lightly:
"Unless… you'd rather stay here."
He glanced toward Professor Oak—who was still frozen in shock by the door.
"Then you might still end up locked in a ball by that old man eventually~"
Pikachu whipped its head around to glare at Professor Oak.
The old man felt an inexplicable chill run down his spine.
Pikachu immediately turned back to Yuuto.
It studied his sincere eyes again.
Felt that gentle voice in its heart once more.
Remembered how this human had just tanked its full-power Thunder Shock without flinching…
Pikachu's expression softened.
After a few seconds of silence…
It gave a small, soft cry.
"Pika~"
Then it took two short steps forward on its stubby legs.
A tiny paw reached out and gently rested on Yuuto's open palm.
Yuuto carefully lifted Pikachu into his arms.
This time, no electricity came.
Instead, Pikachu climbed onto his shoulder and settled there comfortably.
It even nuzzled its soft cheek against Yuuto's face—ticklish and affectionate.
[Ding!]
The system chimed perfectly on time.
[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining your first Pokémon—Pikachu!]
[Mission Reward: Light Ball ×1 has been stored in the system space.]
The moment Pikachu's heart opened to him, its full data panel linked to Yuuto's system.
A translucent screen unfolded in his vision.
[Pokémon: Pikachu]
[Type: Electric]
[Level: Lv.12 (Novice)]
(Level tiers: Hatchling 1–5 | Novice 6–19 | Common 20–29 | Elite 30–39 | Sub-Gym 40–49 | Gym 50–59 | Sub-Elite Four 60–69 | Elite Four 70–79 | Champion 80–89 | Sub-God 90–99 | Secondary God 100–109 | Primary God 110–119 | Creation God 120+)
[Potential: Champion]
[Ability: Static — 30% chance to paralyze on contact moves]
[Hidden Ability: Movie Star — During battle, has a chance to activate and ignore level/type disadvantage, allowing it to compete with any opponent regardless of stats]
[Moves: Thunder Shock, Quick Attack, Volt Tackle]
[Held Item: None]
[Special Enhancements: None]
Yuuto scanned the panel and nodded to himself.
Movie Star.
No wonder Pikachu's performance in the anime was so wildly inconsistent—one moment clashing beams with Regigigas, the next getting bodied by a rookie Snivy.
Its ceiling was astronomical; its floor was dirt.
Everything depended on whether "Movie Star" triggered.
An interesting ability—high-risk, high-reward.
Balanced, in its own chaotic way.
And Champion-level potential from the start…
Most Trainers spent decades without ever owning a single Elite Four-potential Pokémon.
Yuuto was beginning with Champion potential.
The future looked very bright.
[Ding!]
Another familiar chime sounded while Yuuto was still envisioning the road ahead with his new partner.