Chapter 5: Samuel Oak

"I knew you wouldn't go and collect your starter Pokémon like a good lad... Refusing a Pokémon is one thing, but a Pokédex isn't exactly easy to come by!"

A grumbling voice drifted from the screen. N had just returned to his small apartment from Nichiyo Forest when he received an immediate call from the Kanto region.

Sitting on the other side of the screen was a white-haired old man, his lips pursed as he stared at N through narrowed eyes, looking for all the world like he’d seen right through him.

This was Samuel Oak, the world-renowned Pokémon Professor of the Kanto region, and the old geezer who had found and adopted N years ago.

His lab coat was a rumpled mess of wrinkles, the hem stained with patches of dusty gray from who-knows-where, and his shock of snow-white hair looked a bit wild, clearly having gone unmanaged for some time.

Though he looked like any other eccentric old man, he was a 'Professor' in the truest sense of the word.

In the world of Pokémon research, a Professor represents the absolute pinnacle. Those granted the title are distinguished researchers who have made monumental contributions to the field; each is an irreplaceable treasure to the scientific community.

The old man before him was a titan of the industry, a living legend whose expertise covered nearly every facet of Pokémon knowledge.

"I simply didn't need one. Besides, Professor, you can see that even without a gifted Pokémon, I've already found a partner."

N merely shook his head with a faint smile. His expression remained enigmatic, making it impossible to discern his true thoughts. Professor Oak glanced at the standard Poké Ball in N’s hand and let out a long, weary sigh.

"Are you quite sure you don't want me to sponsor you with some resources?"

"There's no need to worry about that, Professor. I’ve already made my own preparations."

Oak felt a pang of frustration. Even his simple wish to support his grandson was being rebuffed. With his status as a Pokémon Professor, securing one or two exceptionally gifted pseudo-legendary Pokémon would have been trivial.

Instead, not only did N refuse the help, but he had even given away the chance to receive a Starter Pokémon, an opportunity Oak had secretly arranged for him, to someone else!

Hearing N’s casual, almost dismissive tone, Oak felt his blood pressure spike.

Since childhood, N had exhibited a maturity far beyond his years. Whether in research or his interactions with Pokémon, he was monstrously calm and steady. He was so fiercely independent that Oak rarely found anything to actually "grandfather" him about.

By comparison, his biological grandson, Gary, was a completely different story...

"N, my boy, why don't you just come back to Kanto and be a researcher with me? With your talent, it would only take three years... no, maybe just two and a half, and you'd surpass even me!"

"Professor," N said, chuckling softly as he shook his head.

He was deeply grateful to Professor Oak for adopting him and raising him with the same care as his own flesh and blood, even going so far as wanting to pass down his entire professional legacy.

But N’s ambitions did not lie in the lab.

"Tch, fine! Have it your way then!"

"But since you didn't pick up your starter, I assume you left the opportunity for that girl, Hilda? Being so good to her... tell me, when are you two getting married?"

Seeing his persuasion fail yet again, Professor Oak took it in stride, having long since grown used to N’s stubbornness. He threw his hands up in a helpless gesture and pivoted the conversation.

He viewed N as his own grandson, which naturally meant he was very concerned about when the boy was going to give him a great-grandchild!

Hilda was a wonderful girl, well-behaved, kind-hearted, beautiful, and a talented Trainer to boot. Most importantly, she and N were true childhood friends. Oak had been looking forward to them getting together for years.

He had naively assumed that nature would take its course and they would eventually become a couple, so he hadn't meddled in N's romantic life.

But who would have thought that after all these years, Hilda hadn't made a single move to confess her feelings! The lack of progress over the years was enough to drive an old man to wit's end.

If this keeps up, I’ll have to start thinking of other ways. It’s not like the Pokémon League has a 'one-wife' policy anyway, he mused grumpily.

"...Well, I’ll just let nature take its course."

N was tempted to say something like, "I want to become the strongest Pokémon Trainer; women would only get in the way."

However, he knew that saying something like that would likely give the old man a heart attack, or worse, prompt him to fly from Kanto overnight just to give him a lecture. Following along with the Professor's line of thought was simply easier.

"How dismissive. Fine, whatever... let’s talk business. Since you’re the one who chose it, I’m sure your eye for talent hasn't failed you. What did you pick for your first Pokémon?"

"This little fellow."

A subtle curve appeared at the corner of N’s mouth. He lightly pressed the button on the Poké Ball. In a flash of brilliant white light, a bright green insect with vibrant red antennae appeared abruptly on his shoulder.

Finding itself suddenly summoned, the Caterpie tilted its head with a look of vacant, innocent confusion.

"…?"