Nakano Saito
10 Years Ago; Sandgem Town, Sinnoh; June 19
Pokemon Team: Chu the Pichu, Fluffy the Eevee
"
Dear Ms. Nakano Saito,
Your tireless efforts to further our research have not gone unnoticed. You know so much about the world already due to your field research and stakeouts, yet I still see untapped potential in you. For this reason, I think you are ready to embark on a different kind of journey.
I have been corresponding with Professor Samuel Oak of the Kanto Region. Given your age, experience, and knowledge, I think you'd do well as a teacher under his tutelage. While there could be others that fit this position better, I feel like you could learn just as much as the up-and-coming trainers you'll be overseeing. Who those children are will be up to you and Oak to decide.
I have given you a one-trip ticket to fly to Kanto's Vermillion City, due for tonight at 9 sharp, with this letter. Go east to Route 11 and take Diglett's Cave to Route 2. Find the main path west and head south to Viridian City, then continue south on Route 1 and you should see his lab on the outskirts of Pallet Town. You shouldn't miss it. It has a silo next to it.
When you do arrive, say hello for me.
- Professor Rowan
P.S.: Don't forget to have fun!"
Nakano held the letter in her hands, her light grey eyes staring at the paper for longer than what it took to read it. Due to her outdoor studies, she hadn't had time to find Professor Rowan to ask to be sent somewhere else and now this? It felt like her prayers had been answered. Thanking Arceus up above, she turned around to see her parents, their heads slightly tilted in curiosity, their eyes scanning the face of their teenaged daughter for any sign of if the letter was something positive or if it was cause for worry.
Blonde hair all parted to one side with an undercut - sides of her head shaved - hid a part of her face as she tried to keep herself from crying from joy. She finally spoke breathlessly, her words coming out small despite the excitement bubbling in her chest. "I... I'm going to Kanto."
Finally, that of her parents' faces smiled wide as they rushed in to scoop their daughter in a hug. Nakano hugged her parents around their necks, the dam finally broke and she sobbed softly from happiness. Her father's deep, comforting voice spoke up, his voice even wavering. "I'm so proud of you..."
The three let go, only for her mother, wavy blonde hair bouncing, to stare at her daughter with her piercing blue eyes at an attempt to be stern despite her own emotion. "Make sure to call us every day, okay? While your smartphone doesn't have a Rotom, I want you to remember this time, okay?" Naka saw the tremble in her mother's chin and she came in for another hug, the poor mother trying to keep her composure, but failing spectacularly.
A hand on the mother's shoulder helped ease her into a sense of calm as she looked up to her tall husband, the man wider than two men. "Aria, I think you should make something for her, yeah? And get Mason. Her little brother would probably like to see her go."
"Okay, Bansyou." With a nod, Aria ruffled Naka's hair before disappearing down a corridor, only for a quiet knock to come from where she disappeared to.
Bansyou knelt to get on his daughter's level and looked at her with kind, grey eyes, his short, black hair unkempt. He patted Naka on the shoulder now, who set her own hand on his. His hand dwarfed her's. Naka wondered if that was an allegory for how much potential she had left, filling in the world as some put it. "You will be going to Kanto to work for Professor Oak, is that right?"
Nakano nodded.
"Don't worry about a thing. We are one phone call away."
Naka chuckled and smirked. "Says the guy who doesn't pick up, only for us to find you on TV the next day."
Ban chuckled and shook his head. "Oh, you only learn from the best. Though, I am glad you chose a more intellectual path. Sumo wrestling is fun, but I'd rather not lose my championship status to my daughter."
The two laughed at that, with Naka lightly punching her father in the shoulder. "Uh-huh, I don't know what I'd do if you suddenly spouted some obscure fact about a rare Pokemon."
Their reminiscing ended once Mason came in from the hallway, Aria in tow. Mason, with piercing blue eyes like his mother's, but jet black hair in a similar unkempt fashion like his father's, read the room and his eyes immediately teared up. "Y-... You're leaving?"
"Yup, I am. You're fifteen though, you're a big boy. You can handle your sis being off in another region."
"N-no, it always felt so much better knowing you were in the same region." Mason, being somewhat taller than Naka, didn't hold back in his emotions as he charged and gripped Nakano in a tight hug. "I won't be able to find you on random research tasks anymore, n-nor would I be able to get help."
"You can always call, big baby." Naka shook her head and chuckled, her voice strained as his grip was squeezing the air out of her lungs. After patting him on the back, Mason finally let go and sniffled. Though, his attempt to smile only made him look like an abused Lillipup using Baby-Doll Eyes.
"I know..." He said rather glumly, but tried smiling again and his smile looked less upset. "Still, good job on-... What, a promotion? Get to see the big world now and meet new people. Hopefully, you don't forget about us."
"How could I?" Naka looked rather offended, her hand to her chest in mock offense before she continued with a sweet smile. "It doesn't matter if dad's a sumo wrestling champion, or mom being a great surgeon, or you aspiring to be a gym leader and having half the badges in Sinnoh already. Your accomplishments aren't what make you memorable. Why would I forget my family?" She gave them all an affectionate glance before flicking her younger, yet taller brother on the forehead. "Dork. Come on, let's all eat together before I set out."
Nakano's last dinner with her family before her new adventure was spent reminiscing and joking around, despite the heavy hearts her family felt. Mason was right. It wasn't as fun without her around, and Sinnoh just didn't feel the same. Mason lamented how it would feel more lonely now that she wouldn't be here, but Naka was quick to reason that he could always call, preferably once a day so she didn't get overwhelmed. She was sure he'd stop worrying about her and focus on his own dreams, yet she knew that his aspirations had been driven because of her own workaholic nature regarding her own love for research and Pokemon.
That night, she broke the news to her two sleepy Pokemon. Her Pichu nearly electrocuted Naka out of excitement,
again, and Eevee seemed almost indifferent, but Naka knew that he would miss it here. With a reliable roof over his head, trustworthy Pokemon to spar against, and the company of her family, her Eevee became quite complacent.
On that night, Naka had packed everything she needed, which included varying PokeBalls, medical equipment for not only her Pokemon but for humans as well, several changes of clothes, a mess kit, and a notebook and pen. Stuffing a bit more in her backpack, she left her house, enjoying the sight of her home, the sand that led to the shore of Route 219, and the salty, sea breeze that came from the south. Shedding a tear, she set off to the airport in Jubilife City, got checked in, and waited for the several hour flight to land her in Vermilion City.
10 Years Ago; Vermilion City to Pallet Town, Kanto; June 20-21
Pokemon Team: Chu the Pichu, Fluffy the Eevee
As Nakano landed on the afternoon of June 20 in Vermilion City, she took her time, traversing east then ducking into the cave system. As she let her Pichu and Eevee rest atop her shoulders, her Pichu shedding light with her move Flash, she had taken a gander at all the Diglett and Dugtrio and was surprised there wasn't much else besides these two Ground-Types. She was nearly set upon by a sneaky Zubat, but the light shed from Chu and a small Thunderbolt had scared it off.
Once she exited the cave and arrived in Viridian City, she took a day to herself to rest her Pokemon and relax her nerves before meeting Professor Oak. On June 21, she finally made it to Professor Oak's lab in the morning. She was set upon by work, which was to go upstairs and look over some things. Mainly paperwork, as Oak tended to some Pokemon. Being in the cool AC in the heat of the season, it was lovely on her dying skin, which was more suited for the cooler temperatures of Sinnoh. Having worn a black tank top, black shorts with a black and white checkered belt, black combat boots and her black backpack...
Maybe it was a bad idea to wear black. Especially as the heat was making the scar down the side of her neck itch.
After a few hours, she heard odd sounds coming from downstairs. Thinking they had visitors, Nakano was about to go downstairs to greet them until smoke had risen from the staircase and blew her back. It stung at her eyes and made it difficult to breathe. She coughed up a storm as her Pichu was unluckily caught by the smoke and was coughing from it, as well.
Fortunately, Fluffy was far enough away to not be hit by the initial blast. Seeing some people clad in a funny uniform, he gave chase. Chasing them downstairs had proved painful for him as he couldn't see from the smoke and tripped down the stairs. Shaking his head from his tumble, he heard the sounds of a Charmander and a Bulbasaur tailing after the thieves, so Fluffy went after them, wanting to get back those guys who took their research.
Nakano, finally getting her wits about her, looked at the table to see the documents she was pouring over were gone. Growling, she picked up Chu and cradled her in one arm as she ran downstairs, hell bent on stopping whoever had taken the papers. Her intimidating voice carried as she roared at them through the door, her feet still running her through the ground floor of the lab.
"
HEY, GET BACK HERE WITH THAT!"