The town felt different that night.
Not quieter—just… tighter.
Shunya noticed it while sitting on the low stone wall outside the Pokémon Center, Pikachu curled beside him, half-awake. Trainers passed by as usual, but their voices were lower, their steps quicker. A few glanced toward the route gates more often than necessary.
Something had spread.
Not panic.
Information.
"You feel it too, don't you?" Shunya murmured.
Pikachu's ears twitched. "Pika."
Shunya leaned back, staring at the darkening sky. After the patrol, after Rowan's words, his thoughts wouldn't slow down. He hadn't battled. He hadn't gained anything flashy.
Yet his chest felt… full.
Like he'd done something that mattered.
A shadow crossed the street.
Shunya straightened.
A boy stood a short distance away, hands in his pockets. He looked around Shunya's age, maybe a little older. His posture was relaxed—too relaxed. Like someone who already knew the outcome of things.
His Pokémon stood behind him.
Not aggressive.
Just watching.
"You're Shunya, right?" the boy asked casually.
Shunya blinked. "Do I… know you?"
The boy smirked. "Not yet. Name's Ren."
Pikachu shifted, eyes narrowing slightly.
Ren noticed and chuckled. "Relax. I'm not here to fight."
"Then why are you here?" Shunya asked.
Ren tilted his head, studying him openly now. "Because people are talking. Ranger Rowan doesn't talk about beginners unless they're interesting."
Shunya stiffened. "I just helped on patrol."
"Exactly," Ren said. "Most people don't."
Silence stretched between them.
Ren's gaze drifted to Pikachu. "Didn't catch anything else today?"
Shunya shook his head. "No."
"Huh." Ren looked genuinely surprised. "You had the chance."
Shunya met his eyes. "So?"
Ren laughed softly. "So nothing. Just… different priorities."
For a moment, Shunya thought Ren might challenge him right there. Instead, Ren turned away.
"Be careful," he said over his shoulder. "This world doesn't reward kindness as much as you think."
Then he walked off, disappearing into the dim streets.
Shunya sat there, heart beating a little faster than before.
"…I didn't like him," he muttered.
Pikachu nodded firmly.
---
Later, after returning to his room at the Pokémon Center, Shunya lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. The events of the day replayed in his mind—the injured Pokémon, the retreat, Ren's words.
Was he doing this wrong?
A faint shimmer appeared at the edge of his vision.
Not a warning.
Not a reminder.
Just a single line of text, subtle enough that he almost missed it.
> Behavior Pattern Logged
Shunya frowned. "What does that even—"
The message vanished.
Pikachu shifted beside him, pressing closer.
Shunya exhaled slowly.
"Guess I'll find out."
---
When he logged out that night, sleep didn't come as easily.
Dreams blurred together—routes twisting into unfamiliar shapes, trainers standing just out of reach, glowing eyes watching from the dark.
Somewhere in Pokémon World, long after Shunya went offline, the route he'd patrolled earlier fell silent.
Then—
Movement.
A presence stepped into the moonlight, stopping exactly where Shunya had stood that morning.
The figure looked down at the ground, then smiled faintly.
"So that's him," the voice said.
And far above the systems Shunya knew, something ancient adjusted its attention.
Not toward the strongest.
Not toward the loudest.
But toward the boy who chose not to fight.
To be continued.[1]
[1] Since its new year today, so I was lazing around my bed then I thought myself to take break today, but Ended up writing 500+ words worth of chapter instead of 800+ words, also there will not be any extra chapter as I still want to laze on my bed.