The Pokémon:Isekai

After Leo and Misty dropped us off in front of one of the apartments that Skyla had pointed out, she shut the car door behind her, luggage in hand. "So, this is Jenny's place," she said, glancing up at the building.

Leo gave an approving nod. "Very good... So, Alex, ı guess ı will see you later!" He extended his hand toward me, and I clasped it in a firm dap.

Misty and Skyla shared a brief hug before talking as leo added. "And hey, if you ever need any help, just call me, okay? I might look like this, but trust me, I can be useful!"

Misty chuckled and added with a proud smile, "I can confidently say that Leo is a better trainer than me! He's almost got all sixteen badges!"

I blinked in surprise, turning back to Leo with newfound respect. Before I could say anything, he tossed two small objects toward me. I caught them instinctively, and almost immediately, a digital red screen displayed their descriptions:

[Big Root: A Pokémon-held item that boosts the power of HP-stealing moves, allowing the holder to recover more HP.]

[Expert Belt: An item to be held by a Pokémon. It's a well-worn belt that slightly boosts the power of the holder's super-effective moves.]

Leo grinned. "Those were the items I used when I first started my journey. It's been a long time since then..."

For a moment, his expression turned somber. "My partners... they've gotten older. They're still strong, but they just don't have the energy to battle like they used to."

Misty looked at him, her face reflecting both pride and nostalgia. But Leo quickly shook off the sentimentality, flashing his usual confident smile.

"But that doesn't mean these items should just sit around gathering dust! That Big Root—your Gloom is gonna love it. And the Expert Belt? Perfect for any Pokémon."

I studied the items in my hands. Despite a few scratches from years of use, they still carried an air of quality—of experience.

I tightened my grip on his hand, meeting his gaze with a grin. "Thanks, Leo. I'll repay this kindness by giving your Pokémon one hell of a battle… of course, in the future!"

Skyla let out a teasing laugh. "Why not now? What, are you scared of the Pokémon that conquered both Kanto and Johto? Didn't you say you were going to be a champion? You need to be more brave than that you know."

I opened my mouth to argue but found no words. She had me there.

Misty, still half-smiling, opened the car door. "So, do you guys want to come to the show tomorrow? I can give you free tickets."

I turned to Skyla. "Wait… did you pay for the show?"

Her face instantly fell. "Fifteen thousand Pokédollars…those two are robbers"

I looked at the luxury car, then back at her. "That explains a lot…"

I scratched the back of my head, thinking. "If we can sell the tickets, we'll take them. But if not, we're heading to the Golden Nugget Bridge, then Route 24, and finally to Bill's house."

Misty nodded, her orange hair catching the soft glow of the moon. "Then I guess you two will be heading to Bill's tomorrow."

She climbed into the car as Leo started the engine. "Good luck to both of you. And be careful with those Pokémon since they are stronger than most of their kind!"

Misty waved from the passenger seat. "Good luck on your adventure and be careful!"

I watched as their car disappeared into the sea of lights that was Cerulean City, leaving Skyla and me standing in the quiet of the night.

After Misty and Leo drove off, Skyla and I made our way into the apartment building, opting for the elevator instead of climbing twenty floors of stairs. As the doors slid shut, I stretched my arms with a sigh.

"So, do you think I can take a shower at her place? It's been a week since my last one."

Skyla wrinkled her nose playfully. "Yeah, I'll ask her. Honestly, I think I need one too—we both stink right now."

I smirked. "Hey, you still have the Moon Stones, right?"

"Yeah, they're in my luggage. I'll ask Jenny to sell them for us."

That made me pause. "Wait, why are we asking her to sell them? Can't we do it ourselves?"

Skyla rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "Officers can sell things without taxes. If we sell them ourselves, let's say we're supposed to get 100,000 Pokédollars—after taxes, we'd only get 50,000. Get it now? Would you rather split with Jenny or let the government take half?" She lightly smacked the side of my head.

I rubbed the spot and chuckled. "Okay, okay! Let's go with that."

Just as our conversation ended, the elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. Stepping out, we found ourselves in a quiet corridor with two apartment doors facing each other.

Skyla pointed to the one labeled 20. "This one." She knocked on the door.

From inside, a voice called out. "Coming!"

We could hear the sound of footsteps before the door swung open, revealing Officer Jenny. She was dressed in a black tracksuit with a white T-shirt underneath, her usual twin tails replaced with a simple ponytail.

"Welcome, you two!" she greeted warmly, hugging Skyla before waving at me.

I gave her a polite wave in return, while Rotom—strangely quiet for once—hovered behind me.

"Come on in!" Jenny said, ushering Skyla inside before turning to me.

I took off my coat and hung it by the door as I stepped in, immediately taking in the apartment's interior. The place was as fancy as it could get. Almost all the outer walls were made of glass, providing a breathtaking view of Cerulean City's twinkling lights against the night sky. The living room, located at the heart of the apartment, featured a massive flat-screen TV mounted on the wall.

I let out a low whistle. "Damn… nice place."

Skyla, unfazed by the luxury, got straight to business. "Hey, Jenny, is it cool if we use your shower?"

Jenny gave a casual nod. "Of course! Go ahead."

Skyla turned to me. "You can go first. In the meantime, I'll talk with Jenny."

"Then I'll grab some of my dad's clothes for you to wear," Jenny added before disappearing into another room.

I wasn't about to decline the offer. "Thanks. I'll be quick."

Jenny tossed some folded clothes into my arms before showing me to the bathroom. I thanked her before shutting the door behind me and turning on the shower. As the steam filled the room, I let my thoughts wander, pulling up the red holographic screen of my Trainer Card.

[Alex Carter – Rookie Trainer]

[Kanto Badges: 2/8]

[Johto Badges: 0/8]

I stared at the numbers, the weight of my journey pressing down on me.

"Fourteen more… and it's over," I murmured to myself before closing the screen.

After finishing my shower, I slipped into the modest pink pajamas Jenny had provided—not exactly my style, but they were comfortable. Running a towel through my damp hair, I stepped out of the bathroom, feeling refreshed.

"Skyla, I'm out! You can go in now!" I called out before making my way toward the living room.

After settling onto the black L-shaped couch, I leaned back with a sigh. Rotom floated beside me, its usual energetic buzz replaced by an unusual silence. It had that quiet, contemplative demeanor, which made me wonder what was on its mind. But I decided not to pry—if it wanted to tell me something, it would in its own time.

A few moments later, Jenny entered the room, balancing a tray in her hands with a warm smile. I returned the gesture as she placed the tray on the table in front of us. On it sat a chilled soda bottle and three empty glasses—one for each of us, most likely.

She let out a small sigh as she sat down across from me. "Mind if I turn on the TV?" she asked, her gaze flicking toward the enormous screen mounted on the wall.

I shook my head. "Not at all."

With the press of a button, the screen flickered to life, displaying a variety of channels—Pokémon contests, battle tournaments, comedy sketches, and even historical documentaries. She flipped through a few more before stopping at a music channel featuring a live concert. The performer on the screen had striking white hair, despite looking like he was in his twenties.

Jenny's eyes lit up. "This is Wild! He's my favorite!" she said excitedly, pouring soda into each of our glasses.

I studied the guy on the screen. His nickname suited him. He had deep brown skin, a black leather jacket, and ripped jeans, his entire body covered in accessories—from earrings to bracelets to rings. His wild grin never faded as he hyped up the roaring crowd.

I had always been more of a pop music fan, so I never really understood the appeal of rock, but I could tell he had a massive following. The energy of the audience was contagious, and even though it wasn't my taste, I respected it.

Jenny turned to me, her gaze still fixated on the TV. "Don't you think he's so cool?" she asked eagerly.

I hesitated for a split second before nodding. "Y-Yeah, he is!"

To avoid further discussion, I took my glass and downed the soda in one go. The carbonation burned my throat slightly, but it was refreshing. As I set the glass down, exhaustion weighed on my body.

"Jenny, can you tell me where I can sleep? I really need a bed right now." My bones ached from the long day, and I could feel the fatigue pressing in.

She chuckled. "Yeah, yeah. You can sleep in the room right next to the bathroom. There are two guest beds in there. If you need anything, just call me, okay?"

I nodded in gratitude and stood up, grabbing Aria and Oddy's Pokéballs. As I made my way down the hall, Rotom followed silently.

On the way, I passed by Skyla, who had just finished her shower. Her damp blue hair was wrapped in a towel, and she wore a simple pair of pajamas.

"You heading to bed?" she asked, stretching her arms.

I nodded. "Yeah. Goodnight."

She returned the sentiment with a relaxed smile, clearly feeling the same exhaustion I did.

Then ıentered the room the walls were painted white, giving the space a clean and minimalistic feel. Two small beds sat on opposite sides of the room, each neatly made. Without thinking much, I placed Aria and Oddy's Pokéballs on the drawer beside my bed, then collapsed onto the mattress.

The softness pulled me in instantly, and my body melted into the comfort. The exhaustion was too strong—I didn't even have time to think before my eyelids grew heavy.

As sleep overtook me, I vaguely registered Rotom floating nearby, watching me with a puzzled expression.