A bright, familiar voice came from the Pokédex speaker—the image sharpening on the screen as Professor Oak appeared, cheerful and animated.
"Logan! It's been a while!"
Logan propped the Pokédex up on a nearby rock while continuing to stir a pot of food over a wild campfire. He smiled as he chatted.
"Oh ho ho! Just looking at that stew of yours is making me hungry already!"
The professor leaned toward the camera as if trying to get a better look at the simmering pot.
"Now, now, don't mess around, Professor. This is just survival food—nothing like what you're eating back at the lab with Daisy cooking for you."
"Hahaha, well, that pot of yours still looks pretty fancy to me!"
"I hit a lucky break recently—figured I should treat my stomach for once."
"That's good to hear! You're at the perfect age for growth, Logan. Even out in the wild, you've got to eat well! I was worried you wouldn't be able to support yourself, but looks like I was worrying for nothing," Oak said with a hearty laugh.
Then he leaned in with a mischievous glint in his eyes, whispering, "...To be honest, Logan, I still miss your cooking. Daisy's good, sure, but her ramen's the only thing that really suits my taste. Next time you've got a break, you have to come back to Pallet Town!"
Logan smirked. "Careful, Professor—say that too loud and you'll hurt Daisy's feelings. If it weren't for her, you'd probably be stuck living off cup noodles."
He tasted a spoonful from the pot and nodded in satisfaction, then added mockingly, "You'd be a microwave chef without her."
"GRANDPA!! I heard that!" came a slightly annoyed but sweet voice from off-camera. Moments later, Daisy Oak appeared on-screen, her face flushed with embarrassment.
Even in the flickering light of the video call, her elegant beauty stood out. Good genes clearly ran in the Oak family—even if Professor Oak's own face was a bit square, his grandchildren were top-tier in the looks department.
"Ahh, no no, Daisy, don't say that! I was only joking!"
Professor Oak flailed in mock distress.
"Sorry about Grandpa, Logan. He says the most ridiculous things sometimes." Daisy smiled awkwardly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. Being exposed like that in front of someone—especially someone like Logan—clearly flustered her.
"Haha, I've taken care of the Professor for a month before—I know how much trouble he is." Logan reached down and lifted a Poké Ball. "Oh, right—Daisy, I caught a new Pokémon recently, a Mr. Mime. They're great at cleaning. I'll send it to the lab in the next city. It can help you keep the place tidy."
"Wha—seriously?! Thank you so much, Logan!" Her eyes sparkled. "The lab's pretty big, and it's hard to clean everything on my own…"
"Okay, okay, enough flirting with my granddaughter!" Professor Oak shoved his face closer into the screen like a jealous watchdog. "She may be older than you, but she's still innocent! Easy to trick!"
Logan nearly choked. Has my reputation gotten that bad?!
"Let me have a look at your Dragonair and Gabite," Professor Oak quickly added, changing the subject. "Hmm… Excellent! They're both in great condition."
He got excited instantly at the mention of Pokémon, practically sticking his head through the screen trying to get a better view of the two dragons as they ate near the campfire.
"We've been through a lot together," Logan said, glancing at the Pokémon beside him. "If I couldn't train them well after all that, I'd be a pretty terrible Trainer."
"Hahaha! That's the spirit. Sure, traveling is dangerous, but that's what builds the bond between Pokémon and Trainer. Out in the wild, when the only one you can trust is your Pokémon—that's the romance of youth!"
The professor's voice rang strong and passionate, completely belying his age.
"…Right. Professor, you didn't call me just to chat, did you?" Logan interrupted, seeing the conversation drifting too far off track.
Professor Oak's expression shifted—more serious now.
"Logan, where exactly are you right now?"
"I'm between Vermilion and Celadon. Probably getting close to Celadon."
Logan checked the map as he spoke.
"Perfect," Oak nodded. "I spoke to Red—he's still tied up with League interrogations over the S.S. Anne incident. He's been complaining nonstop about you ditching him and leaving him to deal with all the questions."
Logan let out a dry laugh. Yeah, he did run from that on purpose.
The League, just like the police, would be thorough in questioning anyone involved in a major incident. Logan and Red would've been grilled for hours, and even though the League didn't suspect them of wrongdoing, it would've been a huge hassle.
So Logan bailed, leaving Red to soak it all up.
"Let's not talk about that. What's up, Professor?"
Oak cleared his throat. "I want to ask a favor. Don't go to Celadon just yet—head to Lavender Town instead. We haven't heard from Blue in a week. He usually sends updates every few days, but this time, nothing. His last known location was Lavender Town."
"Please, Logan—my little brother's missing. I'm really worried," Daisy chimed in, pressing her hands together in a plea.
Logan's brow twitched. You wait this long to say something so serious?!
Professor Oak had spent the first half of the call goofing off, talking about food, Daisy, cleaning Pokémon… and only now brought up that his grandson was missing?
…Unless he was confident Blue wasn't in life-threatening danger—just stuck in trouble?
Either way, even without the request, Logan would've gone. Blue was one of his few genuine friends in this world.
"Of course. Leave it to me. I'll head to Lavender Town right away—no more wasting time in the wild."
He looked at Daisy and said gently, "Don't worry, Daisy. I'm sure Blue's alright."
"Haha! I feel better already with you on the case!" Professor Oak laughed, visibly relieved.
"Oh right, Professor—do you have an Everstone?" Logan suddenly remembered.
"A stone that prevents evolution? Yes, I've got a few…" Oak rubbed his chin. "Ah, so you don't want Dragonair to evolve. Makes sense. Dragonite's strong, but Dragonair has a lot more versatility. Smart call. Give me your coordinates—I'll have a Pidgeot deliver it to you."
"You're a lifesaver, Professor."
Logan grinned. When in doubt, ask Oak—he probably had a warehouse full of rare items just lying around.
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