The celebration of the tournament had finally quieted. The golden trophy stood proudly on Ray's desk, gleaming under the light of his room. His family was already asleep after the long day, but Ray lay awake, his mind still buzzing with everything that had happened.
The silence was broken by the sharp ring of his PokéGear. The name on the screen made him sit up immediately.
Professor Oak.
He answered quickly. "Professor?"
The old Champion's calm, steady voice flowed through the receiver."Ray, congratulations. You've made me proud—and you've made history. But I'll cut straight to the point. The summer is coming, and I need you here at the Institute. The project we've been developing—our classification system and the enhanced aptitude machine—it's at a critical stage. We can't afford delays. You'll be spending your vacation here with me and the research team. That's not negotiable."
Ray blinked, sitting upright on his bed. "So soon? I thought—"
Oak's tone grew firmer. "Ray, the League is watching. Silph Co. is waiting. This is bigger than a tournament trophy. This will reshape how the world sees Pokémon. I know you understand. So—will you come?"
For a brief moment, Ray thought about his parents, about his sister's excited smile, about Kira. But then he remembered the battles, the strategy, the fire that burned in him not just to fight but to discover. He exhaled slowly.
"I'll come," Ray said firmly. "I'll be there, Professor."
"Good." Oak's tone softened. "I expected nothing less from you. Prepare yourself, Ray. The real work is just beginning." The line went dead.
Ray lowered the device, staring at his reflection in the dark screen. So… no rest after all.
The next night, Ray found himself walking the quiet streets of Celadon with Kira. The tournament had ended, but the city was still alive with laughter and music from trainers celebrating their victories. They had slipped away from the crowds, finding a quieter path under the glow of paper lanterns.
Kira walked beside him, her arms behind her back, eyes flicking up to the stars. "You know," she said softly, "I learned so much during this tournament. About myself. About Riolu. About what I want to become. And there's still so much I want to do this summer. I was thinking maybe we could—"
Ray hesitated, then cut her off gently. "Kira… Professor Oak called me last night."
Her steps slowed. "Oh?"
"He said I have to spend the summer at his institute. The project is reaching its final stages, and he said it wasn't negotiable. I… already agreed."
For a moment, there was silence. Kira's lips pursed, and she gave him a sideways glance, puffing her cheeks ever so slightly. "So you're just going to run off to the Professor and leave me here? Some champion you are."
Ray scratched his cheek awkwardly, but a small smile crept onto his lips. "I didn't have much of a choice."
Kira crossed her arms, looking away, pretending to pout. But her voice betrayed the warmth behind the act. "Then at least give me one day before you go. Just us. No training, no tournaments, no research. A day for me."
Ray stopped walking, turning to her. Her eyes flickered, meeting his with surprising intensity. For once, she wasn't joking.
He chuckled softly and nodded. "Of course. One day, just for you. I promise."
Kira smirked faintly, hiding her satisfaction as she started walking again. "Good. Don't you dare forget."
They continued down the lantern-lit street, side by side, the sounds of distant fireworks echoing behind them. For Ray, the weight of Oak's words still lingered, but in that moment, with Kira beside him, the future didn't feel like a burden.