Kanto Region.
Shinshin Town.
An old man with half-white hair, dressed in a white lab coat, was squatting on the ground.
He held a magnifying glass, observing a Tauros quietly grazing.
"Grandpa!"
Suddenly, a child with golden hair, somewhat like a shota, rushed over holding a notebook, his face a bit excited.
Hearing his grandson's shout, the old man smiled and raised his head, but accidentally bumped into the Tauros eating beside him.
Bang!
The Tauros, rolling its eyes, lifted its leg and kicked him hard.
He was sent flying, tracing a beautiful arc in the air.
But faintly visible, as the old man was kicked away, a soft blue light emanated from him, shielding him from harm.
Thud—
The old man landed on the ground but stood up as if nothing had happened, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment.
"Haha—so even eating just grass, a Tauros can maintain its nutritional needs and still have the strength to vent, hahaha—"
The laughter was hearty.
And the grandson running towards him was not worried that his grandfather was kicked away; he just changed direction with some resignation.
Being kicked by a Tauros?
Even he, the grandson, had long gotten used to seeing it.
A day without his grandfather getting bullied by the Pokémon he observed wouldn't suit his grandfather's identity.
And his grandfather was a renowned authority on Pokémon research, the famous Professor Oak!
Original name Oak Yukiaki.
As for his name, it's Oak Shigeru.
He stepped forward, holding a laptop, excitedly pointing to a paper open on a webpage.
"Grandpa, Mr. Sakuragi has published a new thesis and hypothesis again, isn't he about to become a Doctor?"
"Oh? Sakuragi, the doctoral application has been submitted, within a few months, he'll have his doctorate." Professor Oak smiled as he took the laptop from Shigeru's hand.
"Let me see what he's published this time."
"It's a new hypothesis about something called 'Affinity', but this time Mr. Sakuragi published it with someone else, and that person, I haven't heard of." Shigeru said.
Professor Oak ruffled Shigeru's head.
His grandson was very talented, and under the influence of him and Shigeru's father, he was very fond of Pokémon. Even at a young age, he'd been mingling on various league forums with his account.
"Let me see..." Professor Oak looked at the hypothesis paper and the signature.
Dodo?
Professor Oak had a vague impression of this 'Dodo', who last published a hypothesis about Eevee's evolution forms, which was quite innovative.
Then he continued to read.
As he read, his eyes gradually lit up.
"This hypothesis is very constructive, very constructive! If it can truly be confirmed, it might change some Pokémon's states and awkward situations to some extent."
Professor Oak praised it.
"But this 'Dodo'..."
Writing one widely recognized paper isn't too hard and might be luck, but if it's two, then it's different.
"Grandpa, is this paper feasible?" Shigeru asked curiously.
Professor Oak pondered slightly, "Hard to say, just from the theory, it's quite..."
Just then.
An elegant woman, still very charming and smiling, appeared.
With a naive, wide-eyed boy who looked a bit silly in tow.
"Professor Oak, lunch is ready. Don't eat instant noodles today, join us for a meal?"
"Oh, it's Hua Zi."
Professor Oak and Shigeru's conversation was interrupted, but he wasn't angry. Their neighbor Hua Zi, raising a child alone, had it tough.
Professor Oak never declined to help whenever he could.
So the two families were very close.
And his grandson Shigeru and Hua Zi's son Ash Ketchum were also on good terms.
"Shigeru, what are you looking at?" Ash ran excitedly to Shigeru's side.
Shigeru rolled his eyes at him, "You wouldn't understand."
"Nonsense!"
Ash refused to believe it.
But after peeking a few times, he found himself naive.
"By the way, is this 'Dodo' a bird? What a fun name."
Shigeru: "..."
...
...
The next day.
Withered Leaf Port.
Natsuhiko, slightly altered in appearance, wearing a trench coat and holding a curious Togepi, arrived at the most famous port in the Kanto region.
The economy and development of Withered Leaf City were quite good, second only to Goldenrod City.
A large part of this was due to the existence of this port.
The Withered Leaf Port was densely filled with a myriad of ships, the most famous being the 'Sainte-Anne', a world-renowned luxury cruise ship that docked at the Withered Leaf Port once a year.
However, besides the 'Sainte-Anne', Withered Leaf Port had many ships traveling between various regions and sectors of the world, for instance, the Current sails between Asakusa City in the Johto region and Withered Leaf Port.
Thus bringing enormous economic benefits to Withered Leaf City and increasing the fame of Withered Leaf Port.
Natsuhiko's luck was mediocre; this trip didn't coincide with the annual return of the 'Sainte-Anne'.
The hall of the 'Withered Leaf Port Ticketing Center' was quite spacious, with dozens of ticket counters lined up, but each window had dozens of diverse people queuing.
After a slight pause, Natsuhiko did not directly purchase a ticket but walked over to an electronic screen displaying information about various ships, including destinations, ports of call, docking positions and times, and ticket prices for different cabins.
While Natsuhiko was searching for the ship he needed to board, a woman in tight-fitting leather, carrying a suitcase and showcasing an attractive figure, approached him.
"Togepi?"
Togepi in Natsuhiko's arms wriggled uncomfortably.
And its reaction, Natsuhiko naturally noticed.
Natsuhiko furrowed his brows slightly.
"Tickets seem quite popular these days." The woman said softly, a hint of helplessness between her eyebrows.
Natsuhiko did not respond.
"Togepi, so cute, may I hold it?" The woman seemed to notice Natsuhiko next to her and the Togepi in his arms from the corner of her eye.
"Togepi!"
Togepi quickly shrank into Natsuhiko's embrace.
"It doesn't seem too willing." Natsuhiko said calmly.
"That's a pity." The woman looked regretful.
After glancing at a few more ship information, Natsuhiko silently moved to the end of a relatively shorter queue.
"Togepi—"
Togepi sighed long, as if the woman didn't exert insignificant pressure on it.
As a Pokémon that could sense happiness, Togepi naturally gravitate toward kind, friendly, or principled people, avoiding those who are the opposite unconsciously.
And its reaction said a lot.
Fortunately, after feeling someone else behind him, and it wasn't the woman, Natsuhiko relaxed his vigilance slightly.
He happened to glimpse a notice at the ticket window.
Special Announcement:
Recently, irregular tsunamis have frequently occurred in the Hui Na Ze Sea Area. All ships passing through the Hui Na Ze Sea Area will be rerouted. We apologize for the inconvenience caused. Please be informed, dear passengers.
"Hui Na Ze Sea Area, tsunamis?"
After the Goldenrod City incident, Natsuhiko understood one thing.
All seemingly grandiose statements were most likely false messages released by the League to conceal real information and avoid panic.
"However, since they're rerouting, it shouldn't matter. Surely they won't lead a shipload of people to their doom."