Chapter 48: A Deal with Oak

I slipped into the Cerulean City Pokémon Center, my gaze scanning the bustling crowd. Trainers clustered in groups, chattering loudly about battles and strategies. The hum of the place irritated me, but I was here for one thing—a conversation with Professor Oak. I pushed through the noise, heading straight for the video call area. All the seats were taken, so I leaned against the wall, folding my arms, letting the minutes tick by.

Finally, a spot opened up. Without a word, I slid into the chair, initiating the call. The screen flickered to life, casting an odd glow on my face. After what felt like an eternity, Professor Oak's familiar face appeared.

"Punit, nice to see you again," Oak greeted with that usual calm authority. His eyes, sharp but kind, locked onto mine. The guy never lost his touch.

"Good afternoon, Professor." My tone was measured—polite, sure, but confident. I didn't like unnecessary pleasantries. "I found something in Mount Moon that might interest you."

Oak's eyebrows lifted slightly, intrigued. "Oh?"

"A broken Master Ball." I watched as his face tightened ever so slightly. "The release button doesn't work, but I don't know if there's a Pokémon inside."

A beat passed before Oak spoke, his voice steady but edged with concern. "A Master Ball? Those are beyond rare. I could count the number that exist on one hand. If this one's malfunctioning... it could be dangerous."

I met his gaze, my voice unwavering. "I don't think there's anything inside it."

"And why do you think that?" Oak leaned closer, studying me.

I shrugged, keeping my expression neutral. "It's just a feeling. I could be wrong."

Oak nodded slowly, though his face betrayed nothing. "Send the Master Ball to me. I'll have a look. If I can't fix it, we'll figure out the next steps together."

I gave a small nod. "Understood, Professor."

But then Oak's eyes shifted, as if some deeper thought was swimming beneath the surface. "Actually, Punit... I could use your help with something else."

I frowned slightly, curious. "What do you need?"

"I have a granddaughter," Oak began, his voice taking on a more personal tone. "Not Daisy. Her name is Erin Oak."

I blinked. "Erin? I've never heard of her."

Oak sighed softly, his expression darkening. "She's... not like other trainers. Calm to a fault. No matter the situation—battle, danger, chaos—she barely reacts."

"Sounds like a useful trait," I replied, though something about the way he spoke told me there was more.

Oak nodded, but his face grew more serious. "It can be. But she has her flaws. Erin lacks common sense. She's blunt—painfully so. It often leads to... awkward situations."

I frowned, already feeling the weight of this conversation. "And?"

"Her biggest flaw," Oak continued, his voice quiet now, "is her fear of Pokémon. A childhood incident left her scarred. She loves them in theory, but up close… she freezes. She can't handle it."

My mind whirled. A trainer afraid of Pokémon? How was that even possible?

"And you want me to help her." It wasn't a question.

Oak nodded, his eyes searching mine. "I want her to travel with you. If she can see the world through your eyes, face her fears... maybe she'll overcome them."

I hesitated, the weight of his request settling like a stone in my chest. "Professor, that might be problematic for me. I'm focused on becoming the strongest. Babysitting a scared kid isn't exactly in my plans."

Oak's gaze softened, but there was a flicker of determination there. "I know it's asking a lot, Punit. Just try. If it doesn't work, I won't hold it against you."

I let out a slow breath, feeling the tension coil in my gut. This wasn't just a simple favor. It was a gamble—one that could complicate my journey in ways I didn't need. But Oak had been good to me. I owed him.

"Alright," I said finally. "I'll give it a shot."

Oak's expression brightened slightly, though he remained composed. "She's at the Pokémon Technical Institute. You'll find her there."

I nodded, slipping the Master Ball into the teleportation slot. A second later, it disappeared, transported to Oak's lab.

"I've got it," Oak confirmed. "Take care of Erin."

With a short nod, I ended the call and stood up. The weight of Oak's words settled over me as I stretched my arms, cracking the tension out of my shoulders. Erin Oak, a girl scared of Pokémon, was going to travel with me. What a mess.

Stepping outside the Pokémon Center, the sun hit my face, and I squinted against the brightness. The noise of the city rushed back in—the chatter of trainers, the screeches of flying Pokémon overhead, the faint hum of battles in the distance. My mind was already spinning with possibilities, strategies, plans.

Erin Oak, huh? This was going to be interesting. Or disastrous. Either way, I'd deal with it the only way I knew how—head-on, no backing down.