Pokémon: Helping Pokémon Pays Off

The highly anticipated Galar World Championship has finally concluded. Red, from the Kanto region, defeated the reigning champion Leon to claim the title of the strongest Trainer! Let's give it up for...

In a dimly lit room, the only source of light and sound was the flickering television.

Onscreen, a Charizard was knocked out by another Charizard, and the crowd's cheers nearly burst through the speakers as the host announced the results.

Hoshino sat expressionless in front of the TV, lazily pressing the remote to switch channels.

In other news, Miss Cynthia from Sinnoh reportedly spent several hours at an ice cream shop in Sunyshore City during the finals. She liked it so much that she bought the entire store...

"What the heck? Is this really news?"

Bored, Hoshino kept flipping through channels, still in disbelief.

Half an hour ago, he had woken up in this unfamiliar room, feeling sore and disoriented.

The last thing he remembered was buying a copy of Shellbreaking Scarlet & Violet and getting hit by a speeding car on his way home.

Not only did he miss out on playing the game, but he also seemed to have de-aged by about ten years, now stuck in this strange place.

At first, he thought it was a prank or a dream. But seeing familiar faces on the screen—Red, Leon, Cynthia...

There was no doubt about it. He had transmigrated. As a die-hard Pokémon fan who claimed to know more than Game Freak itself, landing in his favorite world should have been a dream come true.

But...

Just as Hoshino was lost in thought, the door creaked open.

A tall woman with sun-kissed skin, wearing a gray tank top, stepped in and turned on the lights.

Noticing Hoshino on the couch, she smiled and approached. "Alola~ I heard the TV, so I came up. Looks like you're awake. How are you feeling?"

"..."

Hoshino immediately recognized her—Professor Burnet, Kukui's wife. And with that Alolan greeting, it was clear where he was: Alola.

He could understand the language perfectly, and the writing on the TV had been clear as well. No issues with communication, at least.

After a brief pause, he feigned confusion. "I think I'm okay... but where am I?"

"You don't remember?"

Hoshino nodded slowly, deciding to play along since he wasn't sure of the situation.

Professor Burnet sighed. "You fainted by the seaside this morning, nearly swept away by the tide. Luckily, the young miss staying at my place found you on her way to school and brought you back."

"Young miss?"

Hoshino was about to ask more when a sudden flash of light caught his attention.

This is the Rotom Phone Plus, designed to help everyone become friends! Sorry for waking up late. My deepest apologies, Roto~

A red smartphone floated in front of him, speaking with an animated smile on its screen.

"A transmigration perk?"

Realization hit Hoshino. So he did get something! Excited, he asked, "What can you do? Can you give me a Groudon to get started?"

He glanced at Burnet, noticing she didn't seem to see or hear the Rotom Phone.

The phone shook its digital finger. That's too difficult, Roto~

"...Then what's the point of you?"

I come with a detailed map of the entire region. Just connect to the local network to access it. You can check your current location anytime.

"That's... not very impressive. Anything else?"

I have tons of useful apps! You can order food, shop, even play games and use social media. Isn't that amazing, Roto~?

"Wow, completely useless..."

Hoshino was about to dismiss it when the Rotom Phone added something surprising.

*I also have a special friendship app that helps you make lots of Pokémon friends!

"Wait, Pokémon friends?"

Yes! Not human friends, Pokémon friends! The goal is to build bonds with Pokémon, not... indescribable friendships. Keep your thoughts pure, okay~?

"Purity is overrated. What else?"

Gaining Pokémon friendships unlocks Friendship Talents. Some are exclusive to specific Pokémon, others to Trainers. Lots of features to explore after you earn them, Roto~

"??"

Go find Pokémon in need of help! That's the best way to earn their friendship. It works with wild Pokémon and even those with Trainers. Help them, and they'll become your friends. Let your friendships span the world~

Hoshino stared as the phone screen displayed game-like notifications.

Friendship Perk: Added Help System and Friendship System to Map App (Use them well. Rotom out~)

Help System: Highlights nearby Pokémon that might need help (Not all will accept your aid. Use common sense. If you struggle... just get better, Roto~)

Friendship System: After earning friendship, you can scan Pokémon to check their status (Health is important too, you know~)

Note: Friendships can break. If they do, you lose the talent. But you can rebuild the bond. Don't be a heartbreaker—this applies to girls, too~

The Rotom Phone landed in Hoshino's hand, displaying two final features:

*Anti-Loss Mode: No matter where it is, just think about it, and it will return to your hand.

Panel Mode: When it's inconvenient to use as a phone, it can turn into a panel only you can see. Some functions might be limited in this mode.

Hoshino muttered, "Seems pretty convenient..." and quickly switched his Rotom Phone to Panel Mode, eager to explore its features later.

But before he could dive deeper, he noticed a hand waving in front of his face—it was Professor Burnet, her expression filled with concern.

"Are you sure you're okay? You've been switching between excited and goofy expressions. Do you need to see a doctor?"

"...I'm fine, thank you," Hoshino replied, standing up. Despite mysteriously reverting to the body of a 15-year-old, he had mostly adjusted to the change.

His memory remained intact, and his knowledge of Pokémon was sharp as ever. Now, it was time to explore this world and decide his next move.

Seeing that Hoshino seemed genuinely fine, Professor Burnet relaxed a little. "By the way, where do you live? Do you need me to take you home? You don't have a Pokémon with you, and if you run into any aggressive wild Pokémon, it could be dangerous."

"Uh..." Hoshino finally realized—he didn't have a Pokémon. That was the real problem.

In this world, kids typically received their first Pokémon between the ages of 10 and 12 and then set out on their journeys. But here he was, 15 years old and Pokémon-less. It felt like showing up to a party after everyone had already gone home and the dishes were washed.

"Crap, I skipped the newbie phase!" Hoshino panicked. Right now, Professor Burnet probably thought he was just another island resident, but in reality, he was an unknown outsider. In a small place like Alola, where everyone knew everyone, a mysterious stranger could attract unwanted attention.

"I need to leave. Now."

His priority was clear: secure his safety first, then gather information about this world. If he kept talking to Professor Burnet, he risked exposure. Not that she seemed like a bad person, but unfamiliar faces often meant unpredictable outcomes—like being handed over to the police, only for them to discover he had no identity on record. That would be even worse.

With that thought, he made a swift decision.

"Sorry!" he blurted out, dashing toward the open door. Grabbing the stair railing, he slid smoothly down to the first floor, leaving Professor Burnet stunned.

"What's wrong with that kid...?"

Hoshino burst outside, and a warm, salty breeze from the south brushed against his face. The breathtaking sight of the sunset over the ocean made him pause.

Waves crashed gently on the shore, sweeping Pyukumuku onto the sand. Sandygast, with little shovels on their heads, struggled to resist the pull of the tide. Wingull glided gracefully above the water, their cries blending with the sound of the sea. Suddenly, the surface rippled as Wailmer and Wailord surfaced, sending sprays of water into the air.

The scene was so stunning that Hoshino forgot his worries. He stood still, gazing out at the golden horizon, feeling an unprecedented sense of peace. It was as if everything he had ever dreamed of had materialized before him.

"So... this is the Pokémon world."

Additional chapters on patreon.com/Phaeron