Mossdeep City, Hoenn Region.
Inside a modest villa, a sixteen-year-old boy adjusted his attire before a mirror.
He wore a black shirt as a base layer, covered by a grey plaid jacket.
The boy picked up a brooch from the table and pinned it to his left chest. Embedded within the brooch was a shimmering stone that caught the light.
Two photo frames also rested on the table.
One was a formal group photograph taken in the Champion's Hall.
The other was considerably more casual and playful.
He was the youngest Champion in the history of the Hoenn League.
Steven Stone.
"Metagross..."
Steven pushed open the window and gazed toward the backyard, but he didn't see any of his Pokémon.
"Where did they all go?"
Steven wore simple silver rings on his index and ring fingers.
Joseph had prepared these for Steven well in advance.
They were also something Steven had deeply desired.
Perhaps calling them storage rings would be most fitting.
However, their capacity was quite limited.
Only enough to accommodate a single backpack inside.
But that proved sufficient—Steven was quite skilled at efficient packing.
(No need to delve into the technical details, please.)
Steven left his room and descended to the living room on the first floor.
He found all seven of his Pokémon gathered in the living room, watching television intently.
"What's going on with you all?"
Steven looked puzzled. He had slept continuously from the moment he'd returned home yesterday until this morning.
On his way back, he'd called Cynthia and his father.
It was just that Wallace's phone had suddenly become unreachable.
But Steven didn't mind—Wallace also had numerous responsibilities to attend to.
Like going on a date with his beloved partner.
He just didn't understand why Cynthia had kept cackling with laughter during their conversation.
"Metagross!"
Metagross glanced at Steven, then used Psychic to pull him to the sofa spot they'd saved for him.
"Is there something you want to watch?" Steven blinked in confusion.
The word "Replay" was clearly displayed in the upper left corner of the television screen.
Then a woman entered the frame, holding a microphone and addressing the viewing audience.
"She looks so familiar..." Steven suddenly froze. Wasn't this the female reporter who'd interviewed him yesterday?
"Next, let's interview the youngest League Champion in history!"
The camera panned, revealing League President Charles Goodshow and Steven.
"Mr. Stone, you've won both the Ever Grande Conference Championship and the League Championship within half a year of your debut. What are your thoughts on this achievement?"
Steven observed the microphone extended toward him and replied calmly:
"I hope the Hoenn Region will continue producing exceptional Pokémon Trainers in the future who will stand on this very stage."
"The Elite Four's strength is truly formidable—I nearly lost."
Steven's lips curved into a slight smile, his confident eyes fixed on the camera lens.
"In the end, I was still the stronger one. Isn't that amazing?"
"Mr. Stone also said that exact phrase when he won the Conference Championship," the female reporter remarked with a chuckle.
She didn't find anything inappropriate about this statement coming from the young man before her.
After all, the young man standing there was the youngest Champion in the League's entire history.
"I'd like to ask, Mr. Stone—now that you've become the Hoenn League Champion, is there anything specific you particularly want to do?"
Steven hesitated momentarily, then adopted a serious expression.
"I want to do something very dangerous."
The female reporter startled and quickly asked, "Do you want to immediately participate in operations against poachers or criminal organizations?"
In the reporter's mind, Steven's image suddenly grew considerably more heroic.
She hadn't expected that this young man had challenged the Elite Four with such noble intentions.
And that, after ascending to the Champion position, he would immediately work to protect the people.
Truly...
A young yet reliable Champion!
Steven took a deep breath and stated solemnly:
"I want to play a game, and its name is 'Sleep Roulette.'"
"A game? Sleep Roulette?"
The female reporter and cameraman exchanged bewildered glances. What on earth was that?
Even League President Goodshow beside them looked utterly confused.
Steven nodded earnestly and continued:
"Without setting an alarm, I'm going to sleep. Will it be twenty minutes? Four hours? Or will I wake up tomorrow morning? Nobody will know. It's extremely dangerous, but I enjoy it."
"..."
Given Steven's incredibly serious expression, this statement easily left everyone speechless.
"Pfft—"
Once the reporter processed what he'd said, she burst into laughter.
"It seems our Champion, Mr. Stone, is quite a humorous person!"
Steven had indeed been exhausted at the time and genuinely wanted to go home and sleep.
And he hadn't known what else to say, so he'd decided to amuse the audience.
"After a full day of intense battles, Mr. Stone must be quite exhausted, so let's conclude our report here!"
The female reporter smiled warmly as she addressed the camera.
What she admired most were people who delivered jokes with completely straight faces.
And that person happened to be the newly appointed regional Champion.
Steven sat before the television, his face flushing slightly.
He really had been tired at the time and meant it as a joke.
But he hadn't expected that watching it again now would feel completely different.
Especially his serious expression...
It was truly somewhat difficult to endure.
No wonder Cynthia had kept laughing on the phone yesterday.
Listening to his Pokémon's amused reactions, Steven felt he should have come downstairs a bit later.
Steven stood up, and Honedge immediately floated into his arms.
"Everyone, today we're heading to the Kalos Region," Steven announced, looking around at his Pokémon.
"To find Mega Stones!"
The Mega Stones for Lucario and Scizor hadn't been found yet, so they needed to make a trip to the Kalos Region.
Excavating them himself wasn't impossible, but the Lily of the Valley Conference in the Sinnoh Region was about to begin.
Steven also wanted to locate a Garchompite to send to Cynthia.
As for the issue of Garchomp's Speed decreasing after Mega Evolution...
Steven believed Cynthia could find a solution to that problem herself.
First, a month-long vacation, then he'd pass the Champion duties onto Wallace!
Perfect plan!
Beep beep beep...
Steven's call went to a busy signal and automatically disconnected—Wallace didn't answer.
"That shouldn't be right. Could it be that Wallace saw through my plan?!"
"Never mind for now. I don't believe Wallace can hide indefinitely!"
The Pokémon all returned to their Poké Balls, leaving only Metagross and Honedge outside.
They simply stared at each other—big eyes meeting small eye, two eyes facing one eye.
"Let's go, Metagross!"
"Metagross!"
"Swoosh~~"
"And Honedge too!"
Steven held Honedge carefully and mounted atop Metagross.
They headed toward Mossdeep City's airport.
This was a Champion's journey!