Chapter 2: My, Oh My, a Misunderstood Pokémon

"Hey, little bro, why the gloomy face so early? Dad made us century egg and lean pork congee!"

As Mizuki enjoyed his custard bun in the spacious dining room, she also looked after Ralts, who was sipping moo moo milk. Observing Ryuji's somewhat numb expression at the table, Mizuki, busy gobbling down his breakfast, couldn't figure out what was going on.

"Psyduck!"

Psyduck: ???

Psyduck tilted its head, forming an odd smile.

Ryuji almost spewed out his drink.

His starter Pokémon…

Psyduck, really?!

Munching away at the sumptuous breakfast on the table, Psyduck grinned widely, alternating between stuffing its mouth with custard buns without the slightest pause.

Psyduck's belly, now visibly bulging, gleamed a golden hue.

On one side was the elegant eater Ralts, and on the other was the voracious Psyduck...

At this moment, Ryuji's inner world was like the scene where Ash first met Psyduckin the Pokémon anime.

Numb, completely numb!

"Aren't you worrying about the nationwide unified Pokémon battle preliminary test? It's just a preliminary test, after all. With our family's background, we have no need to fret! Besides, with big sis here, the two of us will take care of things together! You and Psyduck will focus on cheering, and I and Ralts will handle the fighting!"

"Psyduckk!"

Psyduck raised one of its hand in enthusiastic agreement with Ryuji's words.

As Ryuji observed Psyduck's raised hand, which still held a bun, his eyelids twitched uncontrollably.

How did he end up with a Psyduck!

Such a carefree manner...

His head was throbbing!

Why did his sister, get Ralts as her starter Pokémon without a hitch?

Could it be...

His sister, Mizuki, was the true transmigrator?

Thinking of his mother, Yukiko, a celebrity Pokémon breeder in this world, and his father, Akira Takashi, who commuted to work on a Charizard...

Even their house was more high-end and classy compared to his previous life...

What could he say?

It felt like this family had crossed over to a Pokémon-filled parallel world...

And Ryuji Takashi was just an added extra in the transmigration package.

A genuine unlucky soul.

But what could Ryuji say?

Oh, well!

Shake it off!

"Ryuji, I'm done eating with Psyduck. You eat slowly. You'll be washing the bowls today. Don't forget to report to the classroom before eight o'clock!"

"Let's go, Ralts!"

"Ralts!"

With her Ralts, Mizuki left the dining room with a twirling flourish, her departure quick and spirited. It was hard to believe this was Ryuji's elder sister.

They were all about happiness and joy...

Ryuji stared, his mouth agape.

His gaze fell on Psyduck, which was sitting next to him.

"duck?"

Psyduck noticed that Ryuji's mood was off, though it had no idea what was happening.

However, it knew Ryuji hadn't eaten much, so it promptly offered half a custard bun it held in its right claw.

Ryuji looked at the half-eaten bun in Psyduck's paw, feeling a mix of emotions.

Truth be told, if Ryuji had the chance to choose his starter Pokémon again, Psyduck would never have made it onto his list. Just like Misty's Psyduck in the anime, it was all for fun. But if he were to raise it for real, it would surely become a headache.

With Ryuji's family background, if his sister Mizuki could raise a Ralts, Ryuji himself might have been able to pick a Dratini...

So why did it end up with Psyduck?

But looking at the half-eaten custard bun in Psyduck's hand, Ryuji's mood did improve quite a bit.

Since he'd transmigrated...

Could he really go back again?

And about Psyduck...

In truth, it did look... somewhat simple and cute!

No way, Ryuji Takashi's Ralts was exceptional!

"Psyduck~ psyy!"

Seeing Ryuji take the half-eaten bun from its hand and eat it, Psyduck's face lit up with immense joy.

Though it seemed a bit slow and silly, it recognized who treated it well.

The world of Pokémon was incredibly pure, without the complexities of his previous world.

"Hey, Psyduck, can I ask you something? Can you... use Psychic?"

Since Ryuji had accepted Psyduck as his starter Pokémon, he naturally needed to prepare for the upcoming nationwide unified Pokémon battle preliminary test. Although his memories contained some knowledge about Psyduck's moves, Ryuji felt it was necessary to refresh his understanding.

"Psy... duck?"

Psyduck instinctively held its head.

Psychic?

What's that?

Can... can you eat it?

Psyduck pondered while cradling its head, a look that could easily be turned into a meme.

If paired with a giant question mark, the picture would be perfect!

Psyduck blinked its eyes.

Its gaze turned vacant.

Ryuji immediately gestured, his eyes filled with anticipation.

"It's a Psychic-type move. It can manipulate objects from a distance, and it can also attack opponents from afar. For example, this custard bun in my hand... You can eat it without using your hands. Wait, Psyduck, what are you doing?!"

Ryuji watched as Psyduck stood up on its chair, moved closer with its head, and directly opened its beak, swallowing the half-eaten custard bun from Ryuji's hand...

"Psyduck!"

Psyduck joyfully raised its two little webbed feet.

Psyduck: ヾ(≧ ω ≦*)ヾ

Look!

Psychic!

It managed to eat the bun from Ryuji's hand without using its hands!

Psychic? Is that all?

Is it really that simple?

Ryuji: ...

Oh my goodness!

Why does Psyduck have to be like this, such a goofball Pokémon!

And why me...

Why did I end up with this kind of starter Pokémon!

Ryuji felt a surge of inner exasperation.

"Psyduck, that's not Psychic... never mind, let me ask a different question."

Ryuji felt as though his low blood pressure, which he had developed after transmigrating, had suddenly been cured.

"Do you know any moves right now?"

Psyduck seemed slightly disappointed.

It turns out eating a bun like that... wasn't considered Psychic...

Clearly, it hadn't used its own hands.

Psyduck's fleeting disappointment returned as it once again grasped its head and plunged into profound contemplation!

What moves did it know?

What moves...

"Psyduck, use Tail Whip!"

Ryuji's clear voice echoed in the living room.

While Psyduck was still pondering at the dining table, it suddenly seemed to find a path illuminated with light!

Exactly!

It...

It knew Tail Whip!!

Ryuji stared in astonishment at the scene before him.

Psyduck actually turned around, its beak-shaped head revealing its confused expression, and it began wiggling its webbed feet in an amusing manner...

"Psyduck-sy-sy!"

As it wiggled, its eyes grew wide with confusion!

"Psy!"

Psyduck completed its move, its expression a mix of confusion and anticipation as it awaited Ryuji's response.

What could Ryuji say?

He could only hold back his tears and say through a chuckle...

"Psyduck, well done!"