Pokémon: Starting with a Bound Entry System

Chapter 62: The "Latias" of Water Capital

Water Capital.

The name didn't disappoint—its buildings sat gracefully on the vast lake, as though floating on water.

This week, the Bohai Province High School League would take place here, bringing with it an influx of participants, tourists, and excitement.

Tourists strolled along, cameras in hand, snapping photos with their Pokémon while the city buzzed with anticipation.

Even before the tournament had begun, the atmosphere was electric. One could only imagine how much livelier it would become once the battles were underway.

---

Hikaru strolled through the city streets with Riolu walking at his side.

Riolu, being the youngest of his Pokémon, needed to learn more about human cities, and Hikaru felt it was the perfect opportunity to teach it.

Feeling generous, he also let Frogadier out of its Poké Ball.

The moment Frogadier appeared, however, it immediately drew a crowd of onlookers.

True to form, Frogadier struck a dramatic pose, its usual aloofness replaced by a flair for the theatrical.

Hikaru sighed inwardly. Who would have thought his stoic Frogadier had such a flair for showing off?

Meanwhile, Riolu trained its Aura Sense, remaining vigilant to its surroundings like a disciplined monk. Its focus inspired Hikaru to keep honing his own Aura abilities, bringing him closer to mastering Aura Sphere.

---

Suddenly, Hikaru's Aura alerted him to something unusual.

Someone was drawing him.

By the riverside, amidst the bustling crowd, a vivid splash of red hair stood out.

---

As one of the guardians of the Water Capital, Latias loved nothing more than taking human form and exploring the city.

Lately, she had noticed an influx of people in her domain.

But why were so many of them gathered around a single Frogadier?

More curiously, the young human accompanying that Frogadier seemed to radiate a pleasant, intriguing aura that Latias couldn't resist.

Her instincts urged her to get closer and "bond" with him, but she hesitated, not wanting to be too forward.

Instead, she decided to sketch him, capturing this memorable encounter on her canvas.

---

Hikaru, sensing Latias's focus through his Aura, turned toward the source.

While others were captivated by Frogadier's showmanship, one red-haired girl sat by the riverbank, sketching something with clear delight.

From her occasional glances and the way she hid her giggles, it was obvious she was drawing him.

She was strikingly beautiful, with delicate features, almond-shaped eyes, and twin pigtails that swayed in the breeze. Despite being in plain sight, she seemed to blend into the background, unnoticed by anyone else.

If it weren't for his Aura abilities, Hikaru might not have noticed her either.

Leaving Frogadier to soak up the crowd's attention, Hikaru approached her with Riolu in tow.

"Hey there—"

Before he could say more, the red-haired girl let out a surprised gasp, packed up her belongings in a flash, and darted away into the crowd, vanishing as if she had never been there.

"Hey, wait! You forgot your drawing!" Hikaru called out.

She was already gone, so Hikaru turned his attention to the sketch she had left behind.

On the canvas was an image of himself, wearing an exasperated expression as he looked at Frogadier.

"Not bad," Hikaru chuckled. "She's really talented."

Deciding to hold onto the sketch, he resolved to return it to her if they ever crossed paths again.

---

As he strolled back into the city center, Hikaru overheard conversations buzzing around him.

"Did you hear? There's going to be a Champion watching the tournament this year!"

"No way, really? Which Champion?"

"Who else? It's Dragon Master Hayashi Takashi. They say he became a Champion-level Trainer at just 27! His future's limitless!"

"Wait, Hayashi Takashi? Isn't he always out exploring secret realms? Why would he bother with a provincial high school tournament? If anything, he'd watch the Nationals or the Youth Grand Tournament, right?"

"Maybe he's scouting for a disciple?"

"Man, that'd be amazing. Imagine becoming the apprentice of a Champion! You'd be guaranteed to become at least a Master-level Trainer someday..."

The streets were abuzz with speculation, but Hikaru didn't linger.

Frogadier had attracted enough attention for the day, and the mysterious red-haired girl hadn't returned. He decided to check out the competition venue instead.

---

The Water Capital Center Plaza would serve as the main battlefield for the tournament.

Spanning an area large enough to fit two or three football fields, the arena's primary feature was its floating platforms scattered across the lake.

Trainers would face an additional challenge of ensuring their Pokémon could stand or move effectively on water.

This clever setup gave Water and Flying-type Pokémon a significant advantage, while Fire and Rock-types faced a major disadvantage.

However, with Charmeleon's flight capability, Hikaru had little to worry about.

"This is going to be your stage, Frogadier," he said, ruffling its head. "Get ready to shine!"

"Froga!" Frogadier croaked, visibly pumped up. It had grown increasingly fond of the spotlight and couldn't wait to showcase its skills.

---

The tournament would feature 128 participants from across Bohai Province.

Some were winners of city-level tournaments, while others had earned their spots by challenging Gym Leaders.

Scanning the crowd, Hikaru spotted several trainers with their Pokémon already out.

Starmie, Fearow, Butterfree, and Golbat were among the Pokémon he observed—most of them in the mid-to-late Elite stage.

While their quality wasn't bad, Hikaru couldn't help but feel they wouldn't stand a chance against him.

---

High above the city, a Dragonite with a long scar across its face soared through the sky, carrying a determined-looking young man.

This was Hayashi Takashi, the Dragon-type Champion and a nationally renowned Gym Leader.

"Hikaru, is it..." he murmured, his sharp eyes fixed on the young man walking through the streets below with Frogadier and Riolu.

Years ago, a tragic accident had separated his five-year-old sister from the family, leaving her to grow up far from home.

Recently, Hayashi Takashi had learned that this boy had saved his sister and earned the praise of their family's Gengar.

As her elder brother, Hayashi Takashi intended to thoroughly test this young man to see if he was worthy of the attention he had received.

Below, Hikaru paused mid-step, feeling an inexplicable sense of being watched.

He glanced upward, but the sky revealed nothing unusual.

Confused, he scanned the area with his Aura, but no threats revealed themselves.

After giving Riolu some words of encouragement, he dismissed the strange feeling and walked on.

Only after Hikaru left did Hayashi Takashi guide Dragonite back to its original position.

"Aura abilities?" he mused, intrigued.

The boy had nearly detected him—a feat not easily accomplished, even by experienced Trainers.

---

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