Chapter 18: Uncle Brock
The video continued playing.
Raina had already arrived in Pewter City. Carrying several large bags and packages, she stood outside a traditional Japanese-style house and pressed the doorbell.
"Coming!"
The door slid open, revealing a sharply defined face with eyes narrowed into thin lines.
Brock stood there wearing an apron, a spatula still in one hand. A faint aroma of curry drifted from him.
"Hello, this is... Huh?"
Brock froze. His narrow eyes almost seemed to open slightly wider.
"Are you... Raina?"
Raina straightened her back and bowed politely.
"Hello, Uncle Brock! I’m Raina! My mom and dad asked me to send you their regards!"
[VIP Chat Group]
[Brock]: ??????????
[Ash]: Calm down, Brock. That’s the version of you from the parallel world.
[Gary]: Raina is Misty’s daughter. Isn’t it perfectly normal for her to call you Uncle Brock? There’s no need to react so dramatically.
[Brock]: That isn’t what bothers me. It’s just... I thought the parallel-world version of me might be living with a beautiful older woman by now...
[Ash]: ...
[Misty]: ...
[May]: ...
[Max]: ...
[Dawn]: ...
[Brock]: Wait! What are those reactions supposed to mean?!
The video continued.
"Um... Raina," Brock said, scratching his head. "Did your parents tell you to come here?"
Raina nodded. After placing the gifts she had brought on the ground, she took a letter from her pocket and presented it to him with both hands.
"This is a letter from Mom!"
Brock set down his spatula, accepted the letter, and opened it.
After reading several lines, his expression shifted from confusion to helplessness, then from helplessness to not knowing whether he should laugh or sigh.
"That Misty..."
He sighed, folded the letter, and slipped it into his pocket.
"All right. Since she put it that way..."
He slid the door fully open and stepped aside.
"Come inside. I was just making lunch. Have you eaten yet?"
Raina shook her head.
Her stomach immediately betrayed her with a loud growl.
"Eevee, Eevee!"
Eevee cried out twice and rubbed its head against Raina’s leg.
Raina’s face instantly turned red.
Brock smiled.
"Then come inside and eat with us."
[VIP Chat Group]
[Erika]: How heartwarming...
[Nurse Joy of Pewter City]: Mr. Brock truly is a kind person.
[Brock]: Ahem! Not only am I an excellent family man, but I would also make a devoted husband. So, to all the beautiful older ladies here—Ah! Croagunk, why did you—?!
[Brock]: ’Collapses’
[Brock]: Numb... My whole body is numb...
[May]: It looks like Brock still hasn’t changed...
[Dawn]: Seriously...
[Misty]: Sigh. We’re used to it by now...
The video continued.
Inside the living room of Brock’s home, several steaming dishes covered the dining table—curry stew, rolled omelets, vegetable salad, and a large pot of white rice.
Raina sat in a chair, while Eevee rested on the chair beside her. A small plate containing several pieces of Pokémon food had been placed in front of it.
Brock emerged carrying the final bowl of soup and set it on the table.
"Don’t be shy. Eat as much as you like. Your mother said in her letter that this is your first time traveling so far from home and asked me to look after you."
Raina picked up her chopsticks, placed a piece of rolled omelet in her mouth, and immediately brightened.
"It’s delicious!"
Brock smiled.
"I’m glad you like it. You’re still growing, so eat plenty."
"Are your parents... doing well?"
Brock sat opposite her with his hands clasped over his knees.
"Mm-hmm! Mom is as busy as ever. More and more challengers have been coming to the Gym. As for Dad..."
Raina thought for a moment.
"He’s still the same. He drinks tea, goes fishing, takes pictures, and occasionally helps me with my training."
Brock smiled.
"Your father may appear lazy and carefree, but he understands everything going on around him."
Raina’s eyes lit up.
"You think so too, Uncle Brock? Mom always says Dad is a genius at pretending to be clueless."
"A genius at pretending to be clueless..."
Brock repeated the description before laughing.
"That is remarkably accurate."
After they finished eating, Brock brought two cups of hot cocoa from the kitchen and placed them on the table. He also gave Eevee a small plate of Pokémon biscuits.
"Thank you, Uncle Brock!"
Raina held the cup in both hands and gently blew across the steaming surface.
Brock stood, removed his apron, and hung it on the wall.
"By the way, did you come to Pewter City because you intend to challenge the Gym?"
Raina put down her cup and nodded vigorously.
"Mm-hmm! This is the first destination on my journey!"
"Then let’s go."
Brock picked up his jacket.
"I’ll take you there."
"Huh? You’re coming too, Uncle Brock?"
Brock turned and smiled at her.
"The current Leader of the Pewter Gym is my younger brother, Forrest. I normally don’t interfere much with the Gym’s affairs, but..."
"Since Misty’s daughter has come to challenge us, I should at least offer you some personal guidance."
Raina’s eyes became even brighter.
"Really? Thank you, Uncle Brock!"
[VIP Chat Group]
[Brock]: Oh? Is the parallel-world version of me going to personally take part?
[Ash]: Aren’t you the Pewter Gym Leader?
[Brock]: I’m still the Pewter Gym Leader in our world. But judging by this video, the parallel-world version of me has already entrusted the Gym to Forrest. With Forrest taking care of it, I can continue pursuing my dream of becoming a Pokémon Breeder.
[Forrest]: Brock, I’ll do my best!
The video continued.
Pewter Gym.
The outside of the Gym resembled a gigantic boulder, with the words PEWTER GYM carved across its surface.
Raina followed behind Brock, carefully examining the building. Its design was completely different from that of Cerulean Gym.
When they pushed open the doors, an enormous rocky battlefield appeared before them.
Several stone pillars stood on both sides, while rocks of various sizes covered the ground. It was a standard battlefield designed for a Rock-type Gym.
At the center of the field, a young man was directing an Onix through its training.
He appeared several years younger than Brock. His facial features resembled his older brother’s, though he looked somewhat more energetic.
"Forrest," Brock called.
The young man turned around. When he saw Brock and then noticed Raina beside him, he paused.
"Brock? Who is she?"
"Misty’s daughter, Raina," Brock explained simply. "She’s here to challenge the Gym."
Forrest’s eyes widened.
"Misty’s daughter?"
Raina bowed politely.
"Hello, Uncle Forrest! I’m Raina!"
Forrest: "...Uncle?"
[VIP Chat Group]
[Brock]: Hahahahahahaha!
[Ash]: Brock, what are you laughing at?
[Brock]: She called him ’uncle’ too! I’m not alone anymore!
[Ash]: ...So that really was what bothered you.
[Gary]: ...That is an impressive level of pettiness.
[Forrest]: Even the parallel-world version of me has become an uncle...
[Dawn]: Now that I think about it, Brock’s younger brother is named Forrest. What are the names of his other brothers and sisters?
[Brock]: Salvadore, Yolanda, Tommy, Cindy, Suzie, Timmy, Billy, and Tilly.
[Gary]: ...Did your parents name all of you according to some kind of pattern?
[Brock]: More or less. My father is rather... casual about these things.
[Gary]: Then why are you named Brock?
[Brock]: Because I’m the eldest.
[Gary]: ...He really was casual.