The paper felt lighter than it should have.
Shunya held the patrol notice in one hand as he walked toward the edge of town, Pikachu perched comfortably on his shoulder. The words replayed in his mind again and again.
Route patrol assistance needed. Beginner trainers welcome.
It wasn't heroic.
It wasn't legendary.
But it was real.
"So this is how it starts," Shunya muttered.
Pikachu flicked its tail in agreement. "Pika."
At the town gate, a familiar figure waited.
Rowan—the ranger from the route—stood with his arms crossed, watching the road beyond the trees. When he noticed Shunya approaching, one corner of his mouth lifted.
"Didn't think you'd take that notice so soon," Rowan said.
Shunya straightened instinctively. "Is… is that bad?"
Rowan shook his head. "Means you're paying attention. That's rare."
He glanced at Pikachu, who returned the look without backing down.
"Simple job," Rowan continued. "Walk the eastern route. Report anything unusual. If a wild Pokémon gets aggressive, you disengage. No heroics."
Shunya nodded quickly. "Got it."
Rowan studied him for a moment longer, then stepped aside. "Good luck, trainer."
The word trainer hit differently this time.
---
The forest felt denser than before.
Morning light filtered through the canopy in broken beams, illuminating drifting dust and fluttering leaves. The usual background sounds were there—Pokémon calls, rustling grass—but something felt off.
Pikachu noticed it too.
Its ears stayed upright. Its tail was still.
Shunya slowed his pace.
"We're not alone," he whispered.
They rounded a bend—and saw it.
A small group of wild Pokémon huddled near the path. One was injured, limping badly, its movements jerky and uneven. The others circled it anxiously, clearly agitated.
Shunya's chest tightened.
"They're scared," he said softly.
Before he could move closer, the injured Pokémon cried out.
Something answered.
A low, hostile growl rolled through the trees.
The surrounding Pokémon scattered instantly.
Pikachu jumped down from Shunya's shoulder, electricity snapping faintly around its cheeks.
"Pikachu," Shunya said quietly. "Stay close."
The growl came again—closer.
A larger Pokémon emerged from the brush, eyes sharp, posture aggressive. It wasn't hunting out of hunger.
It was defending territory.
Shunya's pulse spiked.
This wasn't a tutorial battle.
This was a problem.
He took a step forward—then stopped.
No heroics.
Rowan's words echoed in his mind.
Shunya clenched his fists, forcing himself to think.
"We don't fight," he murmured. "We manage."
He slowly reached into his spatial bag and pulled out a berry, holding it out in plain sight. Pikachu stayed beside him, tense but controlled.
The aggressive Pokémon hesitated.
Shunya took another careful step, angling himself so he stood between it and the injured Pokémon—non-threatening, but present.
"I'm not taking anything," he said, voice steady despite the fear in his chest. "We'll leave. Just… let them go."
The forest held its breath.
Seconds passed.
Then the Pokémon snorted, turned sharply, and disappeared back into the trees.
Shunya's knees nearly gave out.
"…It worked," he whispered.
Pikachu looked up at him, eyes wide—then grinned.
"Pika!"
Shunya laughed shakily. "Yeah. I know."
---
He helped guide the injured Pokémon away from the path, careful not to touch it more than necessary. Once it was safe, the group vanished into the forest, leaving only rustling leaves behind.
Shunya stood there for a long moment, heart still racing.
"That counted, right?" he asked.
A soft chime answered him.
> Route Patrol Completed
Threat De-escalated
Trainer Judgment Recorded
No praise.
No rewards dropping from the sky.
Just acknowledgment.
When Shunya returned to town later, Rowan listened quietly as he reported what happened.
"You made the right call," the ranger said at last. "Most beginners would've thrown a Poké Ball or charged in."
Shunya scratched the back of his head. "I just… didn't want anyone getting hurt."
Rowan smiled faintly. "That mindset will take you far. Or get you killed. Depends on how well you keep it balanced."
He turned away, then added, "Rest up. Routes remember trainers like you."
Shunya watched him go, unsure whether that was encouragement or a warning.
---
As evening settled in, Shunya sat near the Pokémon Center steps, Pikachu leaning against his side.
"I didn't battle," Shunya said quietly. "Didn't catch anyone. Didn't level up."
Pikachu glanced up at him.
"…But today still mattered."
Pikachu nodded once.
Shunya smiled.
For the first time, he understood something important.
Being a trainer wasn't about how many Pokémon you had.
It was about what you chose to do when the world didn't force your hand.
And somewhere deep within Pokémon World, that choice had been noticed.