Children's emotions come and go like the wind.
Naoki had worried that Elara might dwell on the funeral, but it turned out he was overthinking it.
After a few nights' rest, the memory faded from her mind. With her Pokémon companions always by her side, she quickly returned to her bright and lively self.
Time passed in peace, and soon the year 207 of the League Calendar came and went.
In the blink of an eye, it was now 208.
Naoki had turned thirty.
Life on the ranch carried on as usual.
Iono continued her duties at Levincia Gym, while Naoki stayed home to care for their youngest, Sorin.
Unlike Elara, who had crawled everywhere as a baby, Sorin was unusually calm. At just a year old, he was content to lie quietly in his cradle, playing by himself.
He hardly fussed, always seeming gentle and well-behaved.
Iono's parents often visited to see their grandchildren. Whenever they looked at little Sorin, they would always sigh and remark,
"Elara clearly inherited her mother's personality. But this boy, his temperament is exactly like Naoki's!"
Their son-in-law had always been known for his steady, dependable nature.
Naoki blinked in surprise. "Like me? I can't even remember what I was like as a kid."
"Mom!" Iono protested, puffing out her cheeks. "That's an exaggeration. I was very well-behaved, you know?"
Her mother chuckled. "Oh really? Then who was it climbing onto rooftops all the time?" She turned to Naoki, laughing as she shared all sorts of mischievous childhood stories about her daughter.
Naoki listened with great amusement, sneaking glances at Iono, who grew increasingly flustered the longer it went on.
Finally, her mother sighed warmly, looking at both children. "As long as you're happy together, that's all we need. Your father and I can be at peace."
With that, the grandparents departed, leaving the ranch quiet once more.
But in the household, something important was about to begin.
With spring's arrival, Elara turned six, meaning it was time for her to start kindergarten.
As a father, Naoki immediately began asking around town, searching for the best school.
He eventually chose a preschool called Greedent's Garden Academy. There, Elara would learn her letters, basic Pokémon knowledge, and everyday skills to prepare her for the wider world.
When Elara heard she could finally go to school, she was ecstatic.
"Really? I can go to school?!" she cried, practically bouncing in place.
Naoki raised an eyebrow. "Is it really that exciting?"
He'd always heard that most kids dreaded their first day, some even cried and refused to leave home. But his daughter's face shone with joy, without a trace of fear.
"Of course it is!" Elara said firmly. "There'll be so many other Trainers there. I'm going to challenge them all and beat them all!"
Naoki: "…"
The first step to becoming World Champion, in her mind, apparently started with conquering kindergarten.
"Hold on, hold on!" Naoki quickly tried to ground her expectations. "Elara, it's just kindergarten. The kids there aren't Trainers yet. Most don't even have their first Pokémon. And you're not an official Trainer either."
He reminded her gently: in this world, children could only become registered Trainers and receive their starter Pokémon once they turned ten.
"But Dad," Elara argued, puffing up her cheeks, "some Trainers became amazing even before they were ten!"
Naoki tilted his head. "Oh? And who might that be?"
Elara thought for a moment, then said proudly, "I heard it's a big sister named Poppy!"
Naoki blinked, caught off guard. "Poppy? Who told you that?"
"Auntie Geeta told me!" Elara answered matter-of-factly, as if that explained everything.
Naoki: "…"
Of course. He should've guessed Geeta was already trying to pull his daughter into the Paldea League.
"Elara, listen carefully." Naoki crouched down to her level, speaking seriously. "If you want to be a great Trainer, you can't aim too high too fast. And remember, kindergarten isn't about Pokémon battles. It's about learning basic knowledge and how to read."
"Not about battling Pokémon?" Elara tilted her head in confusion.
"That's right," Naoki explained gently. "Think about it. When you're traveling, you need to read signs, maps, and letters. You'll need to know the rules for Gym Battles and League Conferences. If you can't even read the messages your parents send you, how can you call yourself a proper Trainer?"
He added with a faint smile, "Tell me, have you ever heard of a strong Trainer who couldn't read?"
Elara blinked. That made sense. "That's true… Then I'll definitely study hard!" she declared with sudden resolve.
"That's my girl!" Naoki grinned, standing up. "Tomorrow morning, I'll take you to kindergarten and show you the school."
"Yay!" Elara cheered, practically bouncing with excitement.
That night, she huddled under her blanket with Larvesta, Dratini, and a few Terapagos, whispering like it was some top-secret plan.
"When we go to school tomorrow, you guys have to stay in your Poké Balls, okay? Don't run around!" she warned them.
"Huh?" Dratini whined, flicking its tail. What if a battle broke out?
"Dad said probably not…" Elara paused, then puffed out her chest. "But if there is one, I'll just call you out! Then everyone will see the results of our special training!"
Dratini, Larvesta, and the Terapagos all brightened at once, their eyes glittering with determination.
...
The next morning, after dropping Iono off at the Gym, Naoki returned to the ranch to get Elara ready. He set her little yellow cap on her head, slung her tiny backpack over her shoulders, and took her hand. Together, they set off for her first day.
Behind them, Entei, Raikou, and Suicune padded along silently.
Naoki: "?"
He stopped and turned. Elara glanced back and waved cheerfully. "Entei, Raikou, Suicune, Elara's going to school now! Don't worry, I'll be back by noon! I can take care of myself!"
Hearing her words, the three Legendary Beasts relaxed a little, though their golden eyes still glowed with worry.
To them, Naoki was sending the child into unknown territory, a place filled with potential dangers. Even if it was only kindergarten, how could they not feel protective?
Soon they arrived at Greedent Garden Academy.
The yard outside the kindergarten was already bustling. Parents clutched their children's hands tightly, some children weeping and clinging desperately, others hiding behind their mothers' legs.
Naoki glanced down at Elara. "Are you scared?"
Elara looked up at him in honest confusion. "Why are they crying?"
Naoki: "…"
He knew his daughter was different.
"They're crying because it's their first time away from their parents," he explained gently. "They're afraid of not seeing them again, so they cry."
"Oh, but Daddy said he'd pick me up at noon!" Elara tilted her head, still puzzled.
"That's right," Naoki confirmed with a smile.
After filling out the admission forms in the principal's office, a friendly teacher accompanied by her stout little Terrier Pokémon led Elara into the classroom.
"Bye-bye, Daddy!" Elara waved cheerfully.
"Alright, then. Daddy and Koraidon will be back to pick you up at noon," Naoki said warmly.
Even after she disappeared into the classroom, Naoki didn't leave right away. Instead, he lingered outside, hiding by the window to secretly watch his daughter. From his angle, he could only see her back.
Elara sat at her desk clutching her bag tightly, looking small and nervous in the unfamiliar classroom. His heart ached, so her confidence earlier was just an act, meant to ease his worries.
Inside, the Terapagos peeking out of her schoolbag whispered softly, "Pago?"
"That's right!" Elara whispered back, her eyes shining. "This is kindergarten!"
She was buzzing with excitement. Her father had insisted the kids here weren't Trainers yet, but… already she spotted evidence that he was wrong.
At the desk in front of her, a boy with short brown hair had a tiny bird perched proudly. Its black-and-yellow feathers crackled faintly with static.
Elara's eyes lit up, she recognized it immediately from the Rotom Pokédex.
It was Wattrel, the Electric- and Flying-type Pokémon!
So this boy had a partner Pokémon too?
Her heart thumped. She thought back to the "Trainer's Code" written in her notebook. When two Trainers met and locked eyes…
A Pokémon battle was bound to begin!
Coincidentally, the boy, whose name was Nick, was glancing nervously around the room. He had just turned six, and Wattrel had been a special birthday gift from his parents.
Clutching his partner, Nick anxiously surveyed the classroom where he'd be spending the next three years.
And then, he felt it.
Someone's gaze.
He turned, only to find a girl in a bright yellow cap staring straight at him with fiery determination. Their eyes locked.
Nick froze.
Then, before he could even react, she leaned forward and said with pure excitement, "Are you a Trainer too? Let's have a Pokémon battle!"
Nick's jaw dropped. He almost blurted out, 'But we're not even ten yet!' They weren't officially recognized Trainers.
Yet something about the fire in her eyes struck him.
After all, what child didn't dream of standing tall as a Trainer, commanding their Pokémon in battle, and proving their strength?
Nick's parents had given him a partner, his Wattrel, just a month ago.
For weeks, he'd been training with it the only way he knew how: copying the moves he'd seen Trainers use on TV.
Now, with the girl's fiery challenge burning in his chest, his fighting spirit surged.
"Okay!" Nick agreed without hesitation.
Elara's eyes lit up at once.
From the window, Naoki's jaw dropped as he watched his daughter suddenly stand and dash outside with the boy and his Wattrel.
"…?" Naoki blinked, then hurried after them.
Moments later, Elara and Nick had staked out an open patch of yard. Like proper Trainers, they tossed out their Poké Balls with dramatic flair, ready for a battle.
Nick sent out his Wattrel. Elara, full of excitement, released one of her Terapagos.
Naoki twitched at the sight, rubbing his forehead. 'Out of all her Pokémon, she chose Terapagos for this…?'
The battle began.
"Wattrel, use Peck!" Nick cried.
The bird darted forward, beak glowing faintly with electricity. But the little Terapagos shimmered, its body morphing into its Terastal Form. The attack bounced harmlessly off its crystalline shell.
Elara pumped her fist. "Terapagos, use Tackle!"
The turtle lunged forward with surprising force. Wham! Wattrel tumbled to the ground in a daze, knocked out instantly.
Nick froze. Then his face crumpled, and he rushed forward to cradle his fainted Pokémon. "Wattrel! Nooo!" Tears welled in his eyes.
The teacher came running at the sound of his cries, kneeling to comfort him.
Meanwhile, Elara stood frozen in place, stunned. She hadn't expected her little turtle, usually so playful and clumsy, to hit that hard.
Naoki buried his face in his palm, sighing heavily. "Come on, Koraidon," he muttered. "Let's go home before this gets worse."
"Agas…" Koraidon rumbled in agreement.
Naoki realized, belatedly, that it wasn't his daughter he needed to worry about, it was the other children in this kindergarten. With three Terapagos at her side, plus Larvesta and Dratini, Elara could single-handedly rule the playground.
And just as he feared, his prediction came true.
By noon, after picking Elara up and settling her back at the ranch, his Rotom phone buzzed. The screen lit up with the kindergarten teacher's number.
"Elara, go wash your hands first and get ready for lunch," Naoki said quickly.
"Okay, Dad!" she chimed, clearly overjoyed after her first morning of "school."
He answered the call. "Hello, this is Elara's father."
"Yes, hello. I'm calling about Elara."
Naoki's eyebrow twitched. A bad feeling crept into his chest. "Go on."
The teacher cleared her throat. "This morning, Elara… well… she challenged every single child in the kindergarten who had a Pokémon. And she defeated them all. Even some of the nine-year-olds couldn't stand against her…"
Naoki felt his stomach drop.
The teacher continued, sounding almost dazed: "Now she's become the undisputed 'queen' of the kindergarten. The other children are already calling her 'big sister.'"
Naoki pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a long sigh.
The teacher quickly added, "Ah, but please don't misunderstand! I'm not calling to complain. On the contrary, her performance was so remarkable that even the headmaster is impressed. We've never seen a child this young battle with such skill and confidence."
...
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