Chapter 7
Hearing someone call his name, Mike looked up and saw a woman in a blue police uniform.
Her bright green hair stood out beneath her cap.
He recognized her at once.
"Officer Jenny? What are you doing out here?"
She was the Officer Jenny assigned to Twinleaf Town and one of the few people Mike knew well there.
Grandma had helped her a lot when she first started working in town, so Jenny often visited to check on her.
"I just finished my patrol. What are you doing all the way out—"
Her eyes moved to Gengar, who was sitting beside Mike and happily waving at her, then to Weedle, who was watching her with open curiosity.
Jenny blinked.
"Wait. Did you finally start your journey?"
Mike nodded and pointed toward the camera lying beside him.
"Grandma told me to travel around and take more pictures of Pokémon for her, so Gengar and I set off together."
"Gar—"
[That’s right!]
"I see." Jenny looked toward Weedle. "Then is this little guy a Pokémon you caught along the way?"
"Yep! What do you think? Cute, right?"
Mike picked Weedle up with both hands and proudly held him out for her to see.
Still sitting on her motorcycle, Jenny leaned closer and studied him for a moment.
"That is one seriously fat Weedle..."
Weedle: ???!!
Mike immediately pulled Weedle back to his chest.
"Jenny, come on. Words can hurt a bug’s feelings too."
Her full name was Jenny Rin, but since they were close, Mike normally just called her Jenny.
"Oh! Sorry, Weedle." Jenny quickly corrected herself. "I didn’t mean anything bad. You’re very cute... and very healthy-looking."
"Wee—"
[That’s a little better!]
Jenny parked her motorcycle, climbed off, and sat on the blanket Mike had spread over the ground.
She looked over the tent he and Gengar had put together, then asked, "Where are you planning to go first?"
"I heard Sandgem Town isn’t far from Twinleaf, so I’m going into town tomorrow and staying there for a day. The morning after that, we’ll head toward Sandgem. I’m hoping I can visit Professor Rowan and ask him a few things about Pokémon."
"Then why are you camping out here instead of staying in Twinleaf?"
Mike grinned.
"I’ve never spent a night outdoors with Pokémon before, so I wanted to try it. It sounded fun!"
He scratched the back of his head.
"Grandma gave Gengar and me some travel money, but neither of us knows how much is actually in the account. We figured we should save money whenever we can."
"Fair enough." Jenny looked around the campsite. "This place is pretty safe. You’re close to the main road, so dangerous wild Pokémon normally won’t come near here at night."
She raised a finger and gave him a serious look.
"But keep a fire burning near the tent while you sleep. It should stop most wild Pokémon from coming over to bother you."
"Yes, ma’am. Got it."
Mike nodded like an obedient student.
"So you really are traveling now..." Jenny looked at him with a soft smile. "When I first met you, I told Grandma you weren’t the kind of person who could stay in one place forever. I knew you’d leave sooner or later."
When Grandma had found Mike unconscious on the beach, Jenny had helped take him to the Pokémon Center.
Later, when Grandma became sick, she and Mike had taken turns looking after her.
Even back then, Jenny had noticed the way Mike stared toward the world beyond the courtyard.
"Grandma’s health wasn’t good, so I honestly wasn’t planning to leave," Mike said with a laugh. "She was the one who practically kicked me out."
"Don’t worry about her. I’ll visit whenever I have time." Jenny patted his shoulder. "Just do what she asked. Go out, enjoy yourself, and take plenty of Pokémon pictures for her."
"I will."
"And send some to me too."
"Sure."
They talked for a while longer before Jenny stood up to leave.
She had only taken a few steps toward her motorcycle when she suddenly stopped and turned around.
"Wait. Have you applied for your licenses yet?"
Mike stared at her.
"Huh? Licenses? What licenses?"
Jenny looked at him as though she had just discovered he had left home without shoes.
"Are you planning to challenge Gyms? Enter Pokémon Contests? Join any official events?"
"I probably will."
Mike did plan to challenge Gyms.
Now that he was traveling through the Pokémon world, he would eventually pass through cities with Gym Leaders, and skipping every Gym would feel like wasting part of the experience.
He had no real interest in entering the Pokémon League, though. His main goal was to enjoy the journey and meet more Pokémon.
Besides, every Gym Leader would be a complete stranger to him, yet somehow also feel like someone he had known for years.
Meeting them in person sounded fun.
"Do I really need a license for that?" Mike asked. "I had no idea."
Jenny gave him a look that clearly said, ’Of course you didn’t.’
"If you want to challenge Gyms, you need an official Trainer license. If someone shows up without one, the Gym staff will usually send them to the proper office first."
"The other licenses aren’t always necessary, but it’s better to have them ready. You never know when one might be useful."
"Can I apply for them in Twinleaf? Do I need to take tests or anything?"
Mike honestly had not known that Gym challenges needed official registration.
"Hmmmm. I’ll go back and move your application to the front of the line. I’ll get your Trainer license done and apply for any other useful certificates while I’m at it."
Jenny waved one hand, telling him not to worry.
"Really? Thanks, Jenny! You’re the best."
Mike immediately put on his sweetest smile.
"It’s nothing. Things move much faster when I handle them from inside the system." Jenny pulled out her phone. "I need an ID photo first. Look at the camera, and try to look serious for once. No stupid grin!"
Mike straightened his back and stared at the phone with the most serious face he could manage.
A split second before Jenny took the picture, Gengar shoved his face into the frame.
Click.
Jenny looked down at the photo.
Only half of Gengar’s huge face had made it into the picture, while Mike looked completely tired of life.
Jenny nodded in approval.
"This is good. We’ll use it."
Mike stared at her.
"You’re actually using that?"
"Yes."
"But Gengar’s face is covering half the picture!"
"It gives the photo personality."
"It’s an ID photo!"
Jenny ignored his complaint and put her phone away.
"I’m heading back now. Call me when you reach Twinleaf tomorrow, and I’ll bring the documents over. Don’t call too early. Try sometime in the afternoon—I’m busy in the morning."
"Okay."
"And one more thing." Jenny’s expression became serious again. "When you sleep outside, don’t sleep so deeply that you can’t hear trouble coming. Also, don’t trust strangers who suddenly walk over and act friendly for no reason. Always stay alert."
Like an older sister who could never stop worrying, Jenny continued giving Mike advice about camping, staying safe, and dealing with suspicious people.
Mike did not complain or interrupt her. He knew she was only saying all of it because she cared about him.
By the time Jenny finally stopped, the sky had already begun to darken.
She accepted the bottle of water Gengar offered her, twisted off the cap, and drank several large gulps.
Then she looked at Mike, Gengar, and Weedle.
"All right, I’m going back. Call me if anything happens."
"Okay. See you tomorrow, Jenny."
"Gar—"
[Bye, Jenny!]
"Wee—"
[See you tomorrow!]
Jenny nodded, walked back to her motorcycle, and placed the water bottle in the storage space behind the seat.
She climbed on, twisted the throttle, and sped away without wasting another second.
Quick, direct, and never one to drag things out.
She really was an Officer Jenny!