The screen goes black.
Then it lights up.
Uncle Ranch stands with a pitchfork, suddenly blowing a whistle, 'Beep——'
Numerous Pokémon on the plains look over simultaneously, and three Pokémon emerge, slowly approaching him.
Baimu takes a closer look and discovers it's Tauros, Rapidash, and Ampharos, classic ranch-type Pokémon, likely Uncle Ranch's partners.
[You learned from a neighbor who came with a child to apologize that your daughter was teased at school yesterday because you never participated in the league. You thought about it all day and discussed it with your wife for a long time, before heading to the ranch to gather your former partners.]
[You decided to start from scratch and challenge both Gyms and the league.]
A pixelated figure steps out of the house, holding a bag and looking worried, the bubble above her head erratic: 'Dear...'
Uncle Ranch gathers the Pokémon like Tauros into Pokeballs, gives some words of comfort to his wife, and then faces his daughter hiding in the house.
[You want to say goodbye to your daughter, but it seems she's still mad at you and doesn't want to come out and see you.]
[Regrettably, you take your old partners on towards the nearby Asakusa City.]
Uncle Ranch drives away from the house, and the modern transportation makes Baimu feel nostalgic; someone with a clear purpose is indeed different.
But the scene doesn't pan out.
Just as the car moves away and is about to disappear, the Ranch Girl bursts out from the house, crying and shouting something.
Uncle Ranch's car quickly reverses.
The narrator explains that the Ranch Girl is apologizing to her father, urging him not to leave, saying it doesn't matter what people at school say.
But Uncle Ranch has made up his mind.
[You tell your daughter that this decision is not only to help her hold her head high among her classmates but also because you still have the energy to participate in the league. Take advantage of the time to accomplish your youthful dreams, telling her if you have a dream, you should chase it.]
[Once more, you bid farewell to your wife and daughter, as they look on with tearful eyes, you head towards Asakusa City.]
The beginning is slightly long.
Baimu only feels that the simulation background is extremely complex this time.
Driving, Terry was initially talking about something with great interest, but seeing Baimu focused on 'reading', he gradually quiets down and asks: "Mind if I play some music?"
"If it's not too loud, sure."
The car stereo turns on.
Unexpectedly, Terry listens to soothing music, contrary to the typical rocker or rap-playing driver stereotype.
Seeing Baimu's surprised look, Terry smiles, "It's a personal preference. Most people would get sleepy listening to this while driving, but not me. It actually keeps me more alert."
That's indeed different.
Baimu gives him a thumbs up and continues watching the simulation.
As a 37-year-old "veteran" entering the league, Uncle Ranch's courage is commendable, although it's not particularly late.
Not to mention in the anime, even in the games, there are many Trainers older than him.
Of course, they've usually been raising Pokémon since childhood, nurturing them into middle or old age, with battle experience that Uncle Ranch can't compare to.
Yet Uncle Ranch doesn't lack advantages; as a Breeder, aside from classic ranch-type Pokémon, he's raised hundreds, even thousands over the years.
The narrator states that with his solid skills, the Pokémon he bred have good physical foundations, many times participating in the Most Beautiful Miltank, Fastest Rapidash, and Strongest Tauros competitions, securing multiple victories.
In other words, Uncle Ranch can be competitive as long as he gains battle experience.
Participating in the league shouldn't be an issue.
Having blue talent, he shouldn't miss the league.
In the scene.
Uncle Ranch arrives in Asakusa City, without hesitation challenges Ami, the Azure Gym Leader.
But they seem familiar, immediately chatting upon meeting.
The narrator lets Baimu know the Asakusa Gym has been purchasing MooMoo Fresh Milk from Uncle Ranch's home, a long-standing customer.
Learning Uncle Ranch's intent, Ami fully supports it.
Thus.
The tense and thrilling Gym challenge unfolds grandly.
At Uncle Ranch's strong request, Ami reveals the strength reserved for challengers aiming for the eighth badge, and then...
There's nothing more.
Uncle Ranch clearly overestimated his and his Pokémon's strength, almost being completely crushed by Ami's Pokémon, unable to even use the Three-word Truth.
[You regret your skill has regressed so much; you remember being a strong Trainer with seven badges, just a step from the league.]
The narrator tells Baimu that young Uncle Ranch almost obtained the eighth badge, but family upheaval forced him to give up training and inherit the ranch, becoming a Breeder.
Years later, the Gym participation records expired, the badges remain but without records, he must re-challenge, yet he hopes to start with the strength of seven badges.
He didn't expect Ami's strength to far exceed his estimates, leaving him stunned.
The dignity of a middle-aged man lost in an instant.
Uncle Ranch drives home dejectedly, pretending everything's fine in front of his daughter, while exposing his weakness to his wife.
Tsk.
Even simulations can make one feel lovesick?
Baimu frowns in dissatisfaction, but thankfully the simulator doesn't linger, keeping the focus on Gym challenges.
The next day, Uncle Ranch returns to the Asakusa Gym.
[Following Ami's suggestion, you lower the challenge difficulty to novice level. Despite the shame, you know you should start anew.]
Returning to novice level, Uncle Ranch becomes considerably more adept, with his ace Rapidash defeating Ami's Magnemite and Forretress with attribute advantage.
[You defeated the Asakusa Gym Leader Ami, earning the Steel Badge.]
Victorious, Uncle Ranch is thrilled, finding the passion from his youth, the joy from winning battles, immediately setting sail towards the Azure City on the opposite shore.
To Baimu's surprise, Azure Gym Leader Asi appears to be quite familiar with him.
The narrator mentions Uncle Ranch's proficiency in Aikido, and he acquainted Asi at an Aikido tournament, where Asi, a Trainer who loves sweets, couldn't resist MooMoo Fresh Milk.
The two got to know each other over time.
The connections of middle-aged men are truly daunting...
Baimu can't help but make a quip.
Upon hearing Uncle Ranch's plans to pursue his league dream, Asi, deeply moved, offers not only verbal but also actionable support, insisting on training Uncle Ranch personally.
Uncle Ranch thinks it over and agrees, seeing an opportunity to regain his former strength as a good thing.
The two middle-aged men start training.
This includes classic exercises like single-arm push-ups with stones on their backs and standing under waterfalls to train their mind. Rapidash, unable to take this training, usually just watches from the sidelines.
[Physically Strong] talent gradually manifests——
A normal person couldn't withstand such high-intensity training, yet Uncle Ranch doesn't feel fatigued, instead finding it fulfilling.
As if to prove his point.
The simulator continuously flashes images of Uncle Ranch shouldering big logs, carrying numerous sealed milk cans that weigh at least fifty pounds each.
And even a scene where he grapples with a raging Tauros, first stopping it, then flipping it over with a big battle move.
Oh my!
What's this majestic strength?