"Ring, ring, ring~~~"
"Oh no, I'm going to be late!"
Ash suddenly snapped his sleepy eyes open and let out a long yawn.
He glanced at the clock—9:00 a.m.—then squinted as he shuffled to the bathroom to wash up.
Today was the day he would receive his Pokémon from Professor Oak.
The Ash of this world had originally been an ordinary person from Earth who had somehow transmigrated into the Pokémon world, taking the place of Ash Ketchum himself.
This time, he had decided to change the course of events.
There was no way he would act like the original "dummy Ash," releasing powerful Pokémon or making ridiculous decisions like that.
"Ash, wake up! You'll be late!"
Ash's mother, Delia, pushed open the bedroom door, only to find it empty.
"Huh? He's already up?"
"I'm up! Today's a really important day!"
Ash spat out a mouthful of toothpaste foam and replied vaguely while brushing.
"I definitely don't want to be late."
Wait a second…
Wasn't Ash late in the original story and that's how he ended up getting Pikachu?
If he wasn't late this time, wouldn't that mean Pikachu wouldn't end up with him?
After splashing some cold water on his face, Ash made up his mind.
Even if he arrived early, he'd still beg Professor Oak to give him Pikachu.
After all—
Who could refuse a yellow electric mouse whose combat power could rival even Legendary Pokémon?
"Don't rush, eat a little slower."
Delia watched Ash devour his breakfast and felt that something about him seemed different from usual, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
"Mm-hmm, I know. I've got to get to Professor Oak's lab."
Ash gulped down a glass of milk and glanced at the clock.
It was already past ten, but still early enough.
"Don't you want to eat more?"
Delia asked as Ash began packing up and put on his iconic cap.
"Mom, I'm heading out!"
With that, Ash rushed out the door.
"This kid has really grown up…"
Delia sighed when she noticed he hadn't forgotten anything, though the way he hurried out the door felt both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.
Running along the forest path, Ash took a deep breath of fresh air.
The air quality here was amazing—Grass-type Pokémon probably deserved most of the credit.
Flocks of Pidgey circled in the sky.
A Spinarak hung upside down from a tree branch.
Something wriggled along a tree trunk—some snake-like Pokémon.
Ash ran toward the southeast corner of Pallet Town, where Professor Oak's Laboratory stood just outside town. The Pokémon ecology there was even richer.
"I wonder what Pokémon are in Professor Oak's backyard… Maybe I can snag a few," Ash muttered mischievously.
Soon he arrived at the lab and saw a crowd gathered outside.
There were even a bunch of pretty girls cheering.
So Gary was already here?
Ash spotted the sports car belonging to his childhood rival. He thought he had come early, but apparently someone was even faster.
The four new trainers from Pallet Town had already begun their journeys—two of them had already taken their Pokémon.
Gary stood nearby with his hands in his pockets, scanning the crowd.
When he saw Ash, he sneered.
"You're still as slow as ever."
"This… is slow?" Ash asked.
"What do you think?"
Gary raised an eyebrow, his spiky hair making him look especially smug.
"As my rival, you've already lost at the starting line."
"I already chose my Pokémon."
He lifted the Poké Ball in his hand.
"It's inside this Poké Ball."
"Not necessarily," Ash replied calmly. "If you already got your Pokémon, why are you still here? Waiting for me?"
Ash's gaze seemed to see straight through him.
"W–What? As if I'd wait for you!"
Gary's eyes flickered before he quickly turned to his cheering squad.
"Thank you everyone! Thank you, my girlfriends and boyfriends!"
"I'm going to become a Pokémon Master!"
"I'll make the name of Pallet Town known all over the world!"
Gary raised both arms excitedly, then glanced toward Ash.
Huh?
Where did Ash go?
Gary suddenly realized Ash had disappeared without even listening to his speech.
That was strange.
Normally Ash would argue with him.
The more Gary thought about it, the more annoyed he became. He jumped into his sports car and drove off with his cheering squad.
"Professor Oak! I'm here!"
Ash pushed open the lab doors and walked inside.
At the center of the room was the machine that normally held three Poké Balls.
"Ash, you're late," Professor Oak said. "The three starter Pokémon have already been taken."
"Yeah, I know," Ash replied with a bright grin. "But Professor Oak, you must still have another Pokémon, right?"
"You wouldn't want me to go on a journey without one, would you?"
"Well… I do have one left," Oak said cautiously.
"But this Pokémon is a little… special."
Pikachu!
Ash could barely contain his excitement.
At that moment—
[ Mission triggered: Obtain Pikachu.]
[Reward: Light Ball — Pikachu's exclusive held item. Doubles Pikachu's Attack and Special Attack, greatly increasing its offensive power.]
The standard transmigrator system had finally issued its first quest.
Ash was extremely satisfied with the reward—it suited Pikachu perfectly.
"No problem," Ash said with a grin. "I like special Pokémon."
Professor Oak sighed and placed a Poké Ball into Ash's hands.
But the moment the Poké Ball touched his palm, it began shaking violently.
Pop!
The Poké Ball burst open as a brilliant golden light flashed.
A golden legend!
So this was Pikachu's entrance?
On the machine appeared a small yellow Pokémon—
Pikachu.
"There you go," Professor Oak said. "Your Pokémon—Pikachu."
"Thank you, Professor Oak."
Ash carefully put on a pair of insulated gloves.
He really didn't feel like experiencing Pikachu's Thunderbolt firsthand—that was Team Rocket's specialty.
Unlike the reckless Ash of the past, he was prepared this time.
Professor Oak nodded approvingly. It seemed Ash understood that unfamiliar Pokémon might attack out of caution.
Preparation was wise.
[ Congratulations to the host for obtaining Pikachu.]
[Pikachu's affinity toward the host has increased.]
[Mission reward stored in the system inventory.]
Affinity increased?
Does that mean it won't shock me?
Curious, Ash slowly removed the insulated gloves.
He cautiously reached out his hand toward Pikachu.
Even though Ash was known as the "Superhuman of Pallet Town," he still didn't want to taste Thunderbolt if he could avoid it.
Professor Oak crossed his arms, waiting for the inevitable zap.
Looks like Ash was still the same reckless kid.
He fully expected Pikachu to shock him and teach him a lesson.
But Pikachu simply stared at Ash.
For some reason, it felt a strange sense of familiarity with him.
Soft…
Ash gently rubbed Pikachu's cheek. It was smooth and squishy.
"Huh?"
"That's not scientific!"
Professor Oak's eyes widened.
Ash hadn't been shocked at all!
Did I grab the wrong Poké Ball?
Curious, Oak decided to test it himself and reached out to touch Pikachu.
Ash's eyes narrowed immediately.
Something felt wrong.
He quickly stepped back to a safe distance.
Crackle! Crackle!
"Pika—CHUUUU!"
A burst of electricity erupted.
Professor Oak was instantly blasted into a charred, blackened mess.
"Well… you can take Pikachu with you now," he said weakly.
With a blackened face and smoking hair, he handed Ash a Pokédex and five Poké Balls.
Watching Ash leave with Pikachu, Professor Oak finally sighed in relief.
At last, he had managed to send that troublesome Pokémon away.
But strangely enough, Pikachu seemed to get along with Ash right away.
They bonded the moment they met.
Pikachu hadn't even shocked him once.
That wasn't normal.
After all…
Professor Oak had raised Pikachu for so long.
Yet somehow—
It only shocked him.