Pokemon : I'm Just a Photographer!

Chapter 28: Chapter 28

Before long, the rest of the new Trainers began pouring into the laboratory.

One after another, they chose their favorite first-partner Pokémon and set off on their journeys to chase their dreams.

”Whew... It’s finally over.”

One of the assistants dropped into a chair and let out a long breath, looking completely exhausted.

”This is always the most tiring time of year,” another assistant said.

Mike walked over carrying several cold drinks and handed one to each of them.

One assistant immediately pulled open the tab and took several large gulps.

”Ahh... That feels amazing. Nothing beats a cold drink after you’ve worked yourself to exhaustion.”

Mike sat down and opened his own drink, taking small sips.

He had bought one at room temperature for himself.

He had talked too much today, so drinking something cold would not be good for his throat.

So many children had arrived at once that Mike had been forced to help introduce the Pokémon.

After that, he had spent the rest of the morning talking almost nonstop.

”How was it?” an assistant beside him asked. ”Are you getting used to working as the professor’s assistant?”

Mike nodded.

”Honestly, I never knew handing out first-partner Pokémon could be this exhausting. I thought the Trainers would arrive one at a time, but the moment the scheduled time came, they all rushed in together.”

Another assistant laughed.

”You did much better than I did the first time. I panicked so badly that I even mixed up the names of the Pokémon.”

”Usually, it’s only this busy for one or two days. Most of the Trainers who came today live in Sandgem Town or Twinleaf Town, so there were a lot of them.”

”Once the local Trainers have received their Pokémon, there won’t be nearly as many people coming from other places. Usually, we only get a few each day.”

”Oh? I thought those were all the new Trainers coming to receive first-partner Pokémon.”

”How could that be? Our laboratory is the only place in Sinnoh authorized to distribute the region’s first-partner Pokémon. New Trainers from other towns and cities also come here after receiving their postcards.”

”Of course, some people buy a Pokémon from a Day Care and start their journey that way, but they won’t receive one of our laboratory’s Pokédexes.”

”Pokédex...”

Mike suddenly remembered something.

”Do we have any extras? Could I borrow one for a moment? I’ve never used a Pokédex before.”

”You’ve never used one?” the assistant asked in surprise. ”Most Trainers have one.”

”I only started traveling recently, and I’m not actually a Trainer.”

”You’re not a Trainer? Then what are you?”

Mike thought for a moment.

”Hmm... Just a passing photographer?”

”What?”

”Hahaha, I’m joking.”

One of the assistants handed him a Pokédex.

The Sinnoh model looked like a folding phone. Mike opened it and pointed it at Gengar.

”Gengar, the Shadow Pokémon. It is the evolved form of Haunter...”

’Wow. That announcement is so familiar.’

Mike listened to the voice coming from the Pokédex and couldn’t help smiling.

It was almost exactly like the Pokédex he remembered, though it was nowhere near as detailed as his own system.

He handed it back.

”Besides identifying Pokémon, our laboratory’s Pokédex has another important function,” the assistant explained. ”Its data is directly connected to the Sinnoh League headquarters.”

”Whether a Trainer wants to challenge a Gym or enter a Pokémon Contest, they can use the Pokédex as identification and participate without completing extra procedures.”

’So that’s why Officer Jenny helped me prepare all those documents in advance.’

Professor Rowan had gone to handle something else, so Mike and the assistants remained seated and continued chatting.

At that moment, Mike noticed a boy in a wheelchair sitting beneath a tree outside, staring toward the laboratory.

Now that he thought about it, the boy had been there since early that morning.

Whenever Mike looked at him, the boy would immediately turn his head away.

After a while, he would turn back and continue watching the laboratory.

Mike stood and walked outside.

He approached the tree, crouched in front of the boy, and asked, ”I noticed you’ve been watching the laboratory. Is there something you need help with?”

The boy’s face turned red.

”I-I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to disturb your work. I only wanted to watch the others receive their first Pokémon.”

”That way... I can imagine that I’m the one receiving one.”

”I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to cause any trouble.”

Mike looked at the boy’s legs and the hands gripping them tightly.

”You don’t need to apologize.”

The boy looked at him in surprise.

Mike smiled.

”You must really like Pokémon.”

”Of course.”

The boy lowered his head.

”Ever since I was little, I wanted to become a great Trainer. But last year, the doctors found something wrong with my body, and I couldn’t stand anymore.”

”I can’t become a Trainer now... so I can only come here and watch other people receive their Pokémon. Then I can pretend I’m one of them.”

Mike looked at the boy’s legs without saying anything.

Even though this world had incredible technology, there were still some illnesses it could not cure.

”I know they’re still them, and I’m still me,” the boy continued. ”No matter how much I imagine it, I can’t leave on a journey like they can, and I can’t watch my own Pokémon evolve.”

”But maybe not traveling is good too.”

A sincere smile appeared on his face.

”My parents only have me. If I left, they’d be lonely. If I stay home with them, they won’t be lonely anymore.”

Mike smiled.

Children really could change the subject quickly.

”You want to watch Pokémon evolve?”

The boy nodded firmly.

”Yes. Evolution means Pokémon are growing up.”

”I want to grow through evolution too. Maybe my legs would get better, and I could stand again.”

”I see.”

Mike spoke gently.

”Could you wait here for a little while?”

”Huh? Why? Do you still have something to do?”

”You said you like watching Pokémon evolve, right?”

Mike pointed to the camera hanging from his neck.

”I’m actually a photographer. I’ve recorded quite a few videos of Pokémon evolving. If you’d like, I can bring them over and show you.”

”Really?”

The boy’s voice suddenly grew louder.

”Really.”

Mike nodded with a smile.

Not far away, a green figure watched everything beside someone dressed in a suit.

”Is that really okay?”

”Of course. You may have to wait a while, though. I didn’t bring my tablet today.”

”I can wait! I don’t care how long it takes!”

The boy nodded again and again.

Mike stood and patted his head.

”Then wait here for me.”

With that, Mike turned and ran.

Gengar followed behind while carrying Weedle.

Mike rushed back to his room, unplugged the tablet that was charging, then ran all the way back to the tree.

The camera also had the videos, but its screen was too small.

When Mike returned, he found Professor Rowan speaking with the boy while Snivy stood beside them.

Mike greeted Professor Rowan and Snivy, then handed the tablet to the boy.

With Mike’s help, the boy opened the first video.

There was no narration, only the natural sounds of Pokémon.

The Pokémon in the video was a Wurmple.

After finishing a meal of leaves, bright light suddenly burst from its body.

The boy held his breath.

When the light faded, Wurmple had become a cocoon and was hiding in the bushes.

Mike had not edited the video yet, so the middle part was extremely long.

Even so, the boy watched with complete focus.

Mike and Professor Rowan did not interrupt him. The only sounds nearby were Gengar and Weedle chewing on the Toxic Orb.

At last, white light burst from Silcoon’s body.

Inside the light, a pair of large wings grew from the cocoon, then spread and scattered the glow.

A Beautifly appeared on the screen.

Beautifly looked toward the camera before flapping its wings and flying away.

The video ended there as the boy reluctantly handed the tablet back to Mike.

”Mister, will you keep making videos like this?”

Mike did not answer directly.

”Do you like them?”

”Yes! I like them! I really like them! I love them!”

The boy said it three times.

”As long as you like them, I’ll keep making videos like this.”

”Thank you, mister!”

Mike smiled and patted his head.

”Remember to follow my account—Gengar Stole My Drumstick!”

”Gar?!”

Σ(゚∀゚ノ)ノ

”I’m not talking about you. That’s just the name of my account.”

Gengar relaxed and continued chewing.

”Would you like to take a picture with Gengar and the others? I can print it later and give it to you.”

The boy’s eyes lit up again.

”Can I?”

”Of course.”

Mike was about to call Gengar and Weedle over, but Gengar had already carried Weedle to the boy and placed him in his arms.

”Gar—”

[Here. You can hold him.]

The boy hugged Weedle and felt his smooth body.

A grin like Gengar’s appeared on his face.

Weedle was quite heavy, so the boy rested him on his legs.

”Is that all right?” Mike asked worriedly. ”Weedle is pressing against your legs.”

”It’s okay. I can’t feel them.”

Mike silently nodded.

Gengar pressed his large round face against the boy’s cheek and made a victory sign.

Feeling the cool touch against his face, the boy smiled with his eyes closed and copied the pose.

Snivy stood on his other side with a gentle smile while Professor Rowan stepped away.

”All right, look at the camera.”

Mike raised it.

”One, two, three—Gengaaaar~”

Click.

The moment was captured.

Mike showed the picture to the boy.

In the photo, Gengar was pressed closely against him, Weedle sat in his arms with a blank, adorable expression, and Snivy stood beside him with a gentle smile.

”Wow! Can I really have this photo?”

”Of course. Give me your address, and I’ll send it to you after I have it printed.”

”It won’t only be the photograph.” Professor Rowan spoke from behind them.

Mike looked at him in surprise and found that Professor Rowan was smiling.

”You’ll also receive a Pokémon Egg.”

The boy froze.

”Being unable to become a traveling Trainer doesn’t mean you can’t adopt and raise a Pokémon.”

Tears began gathering in the boy’s eyes.

”Th-Thank you...”

Then he suddenly burst into tears.

”Waaah!”

Snivy jumped onto the wheelchair and gently wiped his tears with Vine Whip.

Then she softly pressed his head down and touched her forehead against his.

”Sni~”

[Be happy~]

...

After the boy went home, Mike looked at Gengar and Weedle and praised them without holding back.

”You two did great.”

”Gar—”

[Hehe.]

”Wee—”

[Hehe.]

”Snivy was as gentle as ever. You did great too.”

”Sni~”

[Thank you~]

Mike walked beside Professor Rowan with his hands behind his head.

”A soul that longs to travel can’t truly be restrained...”

Professor Rowan and Snivy looked at him.

Mike grinned.

”That’s the meaning of being a photographer.”

Professor Rowan smiled as well.

’A photographer...’

’I see.’