Carrying a plump sea fish, a blue-haired girl with a bob cut and a breezy summer outfit stood by the shore. At her feet was a Pokémon resembling a sea lion: white-whiskered, with a pink, orb-shaped nose and a light-blue ring around its neck. Even its stubby forelimbs were gleefully slapping its belly in celebration.
But that sound was more grating than ever to one person.
Honestly, Lucas was feeling deeply hurt at this moment.
He felt his dignity had been challenged, his very professionalism as a fisherman called into question.
Maybe it was the relaxing environment making people overly emotional, he thought.
Unwilling to back down, Lucas looked at the girl and her partner, the belly-slapping Popplio, and retorted, "It's just the fishing spot that's no good. Give me a moment, I'll go rent a boat, and we'll fish out at sea! When I reel in the big one, don't act surprised."
"Really?"
The blue-haired girl eyed him skeptically. She'd been fishing beside her Popplio all along, and from her perspective, this big brother with his pile of Pokémon looked more like he was feeding the fish than fishing for them.
Still, a fishing competition sounded fun—and as the daughter of a fisherman, she couldn't back down from a contest like this.
She called out to Lucas, who was already turning to go rent a boat, reminding him:
"Fishing boats are best for large-scale catches, but the engine noise scares the fish away. We're better off renting Water-type ride Pokémon."
"A grown Lapras with the safety gear installed is spacious enough for solo fishing."
"And—ah, I'm Lana. My partner here is Popplio. What about you, big bro?"
Lucas paused in his tracks, a flicker of surprise in his eyes at Lana's self-introduction.
But the urge to win soon overshadowed his surprise, and he nodded stiffly, "Fine. I'm Lucas, here on vacation in the Alola region."
Renting a ride Pokémon Lapras proved simple enough.
As soon as their papers were sorted, Lucas and Lana were each assigned a Lapras.
Considering the Lapras had a limited carrying capacity, and not wanting to bore his Pokémon, Lucas left Luxray, who wasn't fond of water, onshore to watch over Ogerpon and the pair of Eevee sisters as their temporary guardian.
Meanwhile, Milotic accompanied Lucas onto the ocean.
The two soon set off on Lapras' backs to a fishing spot Lana recommended.
Expertly preparing bait, Lana explained, "My dad fishes a lot in this area. Shoals gather here often! And sometimes, besides fish, you'll even reel up useful items while fishing here!"
Items, really?
Lucas was doubtful, but his actions remained deft and practiced.
A beautifully fluid motion: Lucas gripped his fishing rod, mind and body coordinated as one.
Balancing himself on Lapras, he took a half-step back with his left foot, left shoulder angled, both hands gripping the rod at about a 45-degree angle to the water.
When ready, his left forefinger pressed the fishing line, weight on his right foot, then he swung the rod forward from the right.
As the sinker slashed overhead, Lucas let the line go—a perfect cast, hook and weight slipping smoothly into the sea.
Since floats aren't much use for ocean fishing, Lucas didn't bother with one.
His slant-casting was a treat to watch, even the Lapras beneath him let out a melodious, cheerful call.
"Wow, not bad!"
Lana applauded, then followed with her own confident cast.
Popplio dove in cheerfully, hovering by Lana's thicker sea-fishing line, ready to alert her the moment a fish bit.
Curious Milotic circled Lucas's bait underwater, but realizing her presence might scare off ordinary fish, she quickly surfaced and, like Popplio, floated quietly beside Lucas's line.
After this, all that remained was luck—and patience.
Securing his rod, Lucas took a moment to observe the sparkling ocean.
The seas in Alola were pristine, perhaps a result of the harmony between people and nature here.
You could tell at a glance: the water was almost untouched by pollution.
While Lucas daydreamed, Lana also secured her rod.
Though a quiet type by nature, she was curious about the fascinating Pokémon near Lucas—and shared his hobby, after all.
So Lana summoned the courage to ask, "Big brother, is your Milotic a Shiny Pokémon?"
Caught off guard, Lucas nodded, "Yes, normal Milotic have red head fins."
He recalled that Lana, as both a game Water-type trial captain and a major character in the Sun & Moon anime, loved ocean and aquatic Pokémon.
No wonder she'd been sneaking looks at Milotic just now.
Lana's eyes sparkled as she peppered Lucas with curious questions about Milotic.
As for Popplio, instead of getting jealous like some Pokémon, she listened intently, eyes sparkling; if she weren't minding the line, she'd be playing with Milotic already.
Lucas remembered that Lana's Popplio was a girl—and would later evolve into a rather striking Primarina.
Thank goodness she wasn't one of those so-called trap sea lions.
Shaking away the odd thoughts, Lucas continued chatting with Lana.
The only annoyance was every so often, Lana's line would dip, and Popplio would blow a huge bubble to call Lana over.
In no time, Lana would haul up a fine sea fish and stow it in the Lapras' on-board water tank.
Glancing at his still motionless line, Lucas's frustration only deepened.
Worse, as they grew more familiar in conversation, Lana casually asked about Luxray, the Eevee sisters, where Lucas was from, and what he did—all straightforward enough that Lucas answered directly.
But just as Lana landed another big fish—this time a hefty grouper—she chatted nonchalantly, "From Paldea? There's that famous old academy there!"
"One of my classmates runs a Miltank ranch on Akala Island. Their ice cream's amazing—you have to try it if you get the chance!"
Beyond fish, Lana even occasionally reeled up Pokémon: Magikarp, Tentacool, even an Alomomola.
But she didn't seem intent on catching them; after a short while, she simply released them back into the ocean.
When Lucas asked, Lana explained she was still a student at the Pokémon School on Melemele Island—she was still clumsy with Popplio and wasn't planning to catch new partners just yet.
By the time the sun was setting, their fishing competition was ending.
Compared to Lana's full tank, Lucas only managed to put a handful of fish in his own at the end.
He truly seemed cursed—catching no fish at all, but instead reeling in all kinds of valuable items swept in by the current. Among them were the Shell Bell and Deep Sea Scale.
In terms of sheer value, Lucas's earnings outstripped Lana's.
But he still returned Lapras looking as dejected as a defeated rooster.
Damn it, she's got the kind of fishing talent to reel in Kyogre someday…
After reuniting with Luxray, Ogerpon, and the Eevee sisters, Lucas carried the box of fish Lana shared with him and trudged wearily back to the villa.
Still, at least today wasn't a total wash!
Tomorrow will be better, he told himself.
As for seeing how surprised Oranguru was at Lucas's box of fish and his talk of prepping them for a barbecue—well, that's another story.
Later, exhaustion overcame him. Even in a new environment, Lucas dozed off on the soft bed.
And after a day of beach fun, the Eevee sisters and Ogerpon also slept deeply.
As night deepened—
A chill presence materialized, and Spectrier emerged from the shadows, hooves wreathed in eerie purple mist. From midair, it gazed into the distance.
From daytime onward, it had sensed something.
Somewhere on this island was a presence comparable to its own.
But if it were only this, it wouldn't matter to Lucas or Luxray.
Spectrier descended quietly.
King had instructed it to protect Lucas, but Luxray, Swampert, Dragonite—all usually stuck to Lucas's side. Lucas didn't need extra protection so much as a night watch.
So Spectrier resolved only to protect the villa overnight.
Ocean weather was always capricious. Though the villa stood a fair distance from the sea, rain fell from the sky, drumming drily on the roof and windows.
Lucas slept all the more soundly.
Not wanting its mane soaked, Spectrier hid in the shadows again, quietly watching over the house.
Until—
Spectrier picked up other noises apart from the rain: hurried footsteps splash through puddles outside.
Spectrier would not intervene if the stranger kept away from the villa.
But the owner of those footsteps stopped after spotting the villa.
Helpless, Spectrier peered outside.
A teenage boy with rain-soaked blond hair stood before the house—looking like a drenched puppy, lonely and bedraggled.
Maybe realizing staying in the rain would worsen his condition, he cautiously stepped onto the porch, crowded with potted plants and awnings, to shelter from the downpour.
Spectrier, finding the boy's pitiful look slightly familiar to the Pokémon it'd met at the farm, decided to look the other way as long as the boy didn't try to break in.
It didn't want unnecessary contact with humans.
Whether the boy would catch a cold or fall sick from his wet clothes—
Spectrier truly had no clue. Otherwise, it'd probably have woken Oranguru.
Meanwhile, the boy, clutching a Premier Ball, wondered whether he should regret his impulsive actions—or be angrier at the truth he'd uncovered.
Anger at himself probably won out.
If he'd been stronger, his sister wouldn't have been hurt.
But before he could think about growing stronger, more pressing concerns loomed.
He'd taken the Premier Ball and fled Aether Paradise without a plan, no cash in his pocket—so used to having the butler pay for everything, he couldn't even check in to a hotel, let alone risk exposing his identity.
Drifting through empty night streets, hunger gnawed at him—and then, it started to rain.
He barely registered stumbling to the villa's door.
He'd stayed here once before, back when his family vacationed together...
His thoughts faded as memories blurred.
At last, clutching the Poké Ball tight, he whispered, "Attribute: Null…"
Even Spectrier, unfamiliar with humans, knew something was wrong.
Being a Ghost-type, it was sensitive to all living auras.
The boy's life force flickered in the wind and rain, like a candle threatening to go out at any moment.
Recalling what its farm friends might do, Spectrier hesitated, then appeared in Oranguru's room and woke him up.
The night passed swiftly.
Lucas woke naturally, stretching in bed. Still in his pajamas, and half-drowsy, he made his way downstairs to wash up.
But when he headed for the couch, he jolted awake at the sight of the blond boy lying there.
Who the heck are you!?
…