Pokémon: Starting with a Bound Entry System

Chapter 105: The Girl and the Gengar

End of May.

Kyoto.

The city was abuzz with news of the National High School League.

Everywhere you turned, there were posters, advertisements, and discussions. Even the Rattata scurrying through the sewers probably knew about the upcoming competition.

The streets were flooded with people, and Pokémon of all shapes and sizes accompanied their trainers.

"Wow, everyone's Pokémon look so strong!" Misty exclaimed, her eyes sparkling as she glanced around.

Kyoto's strict safety regulations ensured the city was one of the safest places in the country. With so many talented trainers gathering for the league, the city had temporarily relaxed its rules, allowing Pokémon up to the Lord-tier to roam freely—so long as they weren't too large.

This meant Pokémon like Steelix, which could block an entire street, still had to stay in their Poké Balls.

But others like Blaziken, Serperior, Pidgeot, and Cinderace were out in full force.

"They're all third-stage evolutions... amazing," Misty murmured in awe. "Good thing my Gyarados and Lapras aren't too shabby either!"

Her confidence soared, bolstered by the progress her Pokémon had made under Hikaru's guidance.

"Just watch, I'm going to crush the qualifiers!" she declared, her fists clenched in determination.

Hikaru, however, was preoccupied with a more immediate problem—finding a place to stay.

With the league drawing massive crowds, all the hotels in the city were fully booked.

"Don't tell me we'll have to ask her..."

"Why not? Let's find Dira! She's in Kyoto, isn't she?" Misty suggested brightly.

Hikaru's expression froze.

"She's... not an option," he replied, his voice firm.

"Huh?" Misty blinked in confusion. "But if we can't stay with her and the hotels are full, where will we sleep?"

"On the streets, I guess..." Hikaru muttered helplessly.

Truthfully, he had other options. His teacher, Ayame, was in the city and could likely help. But asking for favors wasn't his style.

"Still, maybe we should—" Hikaru began, only to stop abruptly.

Using his Aura, he had sensed a familiar presence amidst the bustling crowd.

A soft, melodic laugh reached his ears, followed by the unmistakable chuckle of a Gengar:

"Keh keh keh..."

---

The Hayashi family was one of the key organizers of the National High School League. Known for their expertise in breeding and training Dragonite, they were also one of the few families to possess a Metagross.

Metagross had a unique reproductive method—it didn't mate but instead split itself to produce Beldum, ensuring the continuation of its species.

However, only the strongest Metagross could achieve this, requiring immense energy accumulation.

This meant that any Beldum spawned from a Champion-tier Metagross would naturally inherit elite genes, often ranging from Elite to Champion potential.

Metagross was indispensable in competitive leagues, serving as an advanced analytical tool for calculating battle stats, monitoring energy shields, and simulating Pokémon behaviors.

When Hikaru registered for the qualifiers, Sakura Hayashi had been notified almost immediately.

---

"What are you staring at?" Misty asked, noticing Hikaru had frozen mid-step.

She followed his gaze and spotted a girl walking toward them.

The girl was stunning, her light steps giving her an ethereal quality.

"Brother!"

Sakura jogged up to Hikaru, a shy smile playing on her lips.

At sixteen, she was still youthful and innocent, with no trace of makeup or artificial enhancements.

Yet her natural beauty—her sparkling eyes, flawless skin, and flowing black hair—was breathtaking. Even her simple white shirt seemed to elevate her elegance.

"Hey, Sakura. How did you find me?" Hikaru asked, his tone tinged with surprise.

"Hehe, the Hayashi family is one of the league's organizers. Of course, I'd know you were coming!"

Hikaru sighed, raising his thumb in acknowledgment. "Alright, you win."

"Keh keh keh..."

A mischievous Gengar floated nearby, clearly enjoying itself.

---

Hikaru introduced Misty as his traveling companion, but Misty seemed distracted.

After thanking Hikaru for his help during their journey, she abruptly excused herself.

"Thanks for everything, Hikaru. But I think I'll go stay with my relatives here in Kyoto. Don't worry about me!" she said cheerfully, giving him a reassuring wave.

"You sure? You don't have any money, and finding a place might be hard..." Hikaru trailed off, concerned.

Misty's smile wavered, but she quickly recovered. "I'll be fine! You've done so much for me already. I'll pay you back once I pass the qualifiers!"

Before Hikaru could reply, she disappeared into the crowd.

Sakura watched Misty's retreating figure and then turned to Hikaru.

"Your travel companion?" she asked, her tone casual but curious.

"Yeah," Hikaru replied. "She's aiming for the Water-type Master title, but she's got a long way to go."

---

Later that evening, Misty found herself knocking on a door.

"Coming, coming!" a voice called out from inside.

The door opened to reveal Ayame, Hikaru's teacher.

"You must be Misty. Come in," Ayame said warmly, stepping aside to let her in.

To be continued...

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