Pokémon: My Parallel World Daughters Revealed

The video continued playing.

Time had clearly advanced again.

Raina had grown noticeably taller, and much of the baby fat had faded from her face, though her large golden eyes remained as bright as ever.

The setting was no longer Cerulean Gym, but an unfamiliar beach.

Asher stood knee-deep in the ocean with an ordinary fishing rod in his hands, his posture so relaxed that he looked as though he were on vacation.

Raina crouched at the water’s edge, carefully studying the surface. Every so often, she turned to observe her father’s movements.

”Dad, will a Pokémon really bite bait like this?”

”It will.”

Asher yawned.

”But you need patience. Pokémon are like people—the smart ones won’t bite the moment they see bait.”

”What about the stupid ones?”

”They’ve already been caught.”

Raina gave a half-understanding ”Oh.”

Misty’s voice came from the distance.

”Honey! Raina! It’s time to eat!”

Asher reeled in his fishing line and beckoned to his daughter.

”Come on. Your mother’s calling us.”

Raina did not move. Her eyes remained fixed on the water.

”Just a little longer...”

”What are you waiting for?”

”I think something’s coming.”

Asher raised an eyebrow and glanced at his daughter. He then sat back down and handed her the fishing rod.

”Then you do it.”

Raina accepted the rod and gripped it tightly with both hands, holding her breath.

The surface of the ocean remained calm for several seconds.

Then the fishing line suddenly went taut.

”Ah!”

Raina was yanked forward and nearly stumbled into the water, but Asher reacted quickly and steadied her by the shoulder.

”Don’t panic. Hold yourself steady and feel how strongly it’s pulling first.”

Raina bit her lip. Her small face turned red from exertion as she tightly gripped the rod with both hands, beads of sweat forming across her forehead.

”It-It isn’t very heavy... but it’s really strong...”

”Then reel it in slowly. Don’t try to overpower it.”

Raina gradually turned the reel.

The water began to churn, and a red figure became faintly visible beneath the surface.

”It’s... It’s a Magikarp!”

Raina shouted excitedly.

The fishing rod bent into a deep arc. The Magikarp clearly had no intention of being dragged ashore and thrashed wildly beneath the water.

Raina was pulled from side to side, but she refused to release the rod.

”Come on! Come on!”

She cheered herself on.

Asher watched from beside her without offering any assistance.

At last, Magikarp was dragged into the shallows.

It slapped its tail against the water, sending a large splash directly into Raina’s face.

”Pfft—!”

Raina closed her eyes and shook the water from her head, but her hands still did not release the rod.

Magikarp seemed to have exhausted all its strength. It flopped twice on the surface before becoming still.

Raina carefully set down the fishing rod and crouched beside the red fish.

”What a huge Magikarp...”

Magikarp rolled its eyes. Its mouth repeatedly opened and closed as though expressing its displeasure.

”Um... I’m sorry.”

Raina reached out and stroked its scales.

”I didn’t mean to disturb your life.”

Magikarp flicked its tail again, splashing her face for a second time.

Raina giggled, not angry in the slightest.

”You’re so grumpy.”

”Raina!”

Misty called out again, much closer this time.

Asher looked over his shoulder and saw Misty walking briskly toward them with a lunch box in her hands.

”I called you two for lunch! Why didn’t you—huh?”

Misty noticed the Magikarp in front of Raina and froze.

”Mommy! I caught a Magikarp!”

Raina shouted excitedly.

Misty walked over and examined it before glancing at Asher.

”You let her reel it in by herself?”

Asher nodded.

”Mm-hmm.”

Misty remained silent for a moment before crouching to examine the Magikarp more closely.

Magikarp seemed to sense something. Its previously rolled-back eyes shifted toward Misty.

”This doesn’t look like an ordinary Magikarp,” Misty suddenly said.

Raina tilted her head.

”Huh?”

”Look at its scales. They’re a deeper shade than those of an ordinary Magikarp. And...”

Misty lightly touched its body.

”There’s a faint golden sheen.”

Asher leaned over to take a look.

”Oh? You’re right.”

”You didn’t notice earlier?”

”I never pay attention to what I catch while fishing,” Asher replied without the slightest embarrassment.

Misty glared at him before turning back to her daughter.

”Raina, do you want to catch it?”

Raina’s eyes lit up.

”Can I?”

”That depends on whether it wants to go with you.”

Misty paused.

”But Magikarp become extremely aggressive after evolving into Gyarados. Are you certain?”

”I’m sure!”

Raina answered without hesitation.

”What do you think, Wartortle?”

Wartortle patted its chest and cried out confidently, indicating that it had no objections.

Misty smiled.

”Then you can do it yourself.”

Raina removed an empty Poké Ball from her waist and took a deep breath. She crouched in front of Magikarp and looked directly at it.

”Magikarp, would you like to become my Pokémon?”

Magikarp repeatedly opened and closed its mouth, seemingly considering the offer.

Three seconds later, it flicked its tail and voluntarily bumped against the Poké Ball in Raina’s hand.

A flash of red light appeared.

The Poké Ball shook three times—

Click.

The catch was successful.

Raina hugged the Poké Ball against her chest, her eyes curving into crescents as she smiled.

”Mommy! Daddy! I caught Magikarp!”

[Regular-Seat Chat Group]

”What’s so exciting about catching a Magikarp...?”

”Shut up! What’s wrong with Magikarp? Magikarp are Pokémon too!”

”Exactly! Besides, didn’t you hear Misty? That isn’t an ordinary Magikarp!”

”Darker scales with a faint golden sheen... Could it be a Shiny Pokémon?”

”Not necessarily. It might simply be an individual with exceptional potential.”

”Either way, isn’t it already impressive that a child managed to fish up and catch a Pokémon by herself?”

”Wait, how old is Raina now? Time skipped forward so quickly that I lost track...”

”She should be around seven or eight. She’s noticeably taller than before.”

...

[VIP Chat Group]

[James]: A golden Magikarp... I feel like I’m remembering something unpleasant...

[Jessie]: Yours was bought from someone.

[James]: Didn’t my Magikarp eventually evolve into Gyarados too?

[Ash]: You have the nerve to mention that? That Gyarados refused to listen to you and nearly got all of us killed!

[Lorelei]: Raina’s Magikarp does appear to possess considerable potential. The color of its scales and fins can both serve as indicators of its overall quality. If trained properly, it should become remarkably powerful after evolving into Gyarados.

[Cynthia]: I noticed one detail. Asher did not help her at any point.

[Steven]: I noticed that as well. He only caught her shoulder to prevent her from falling, but Raina completed the entire process of reeling in Magikarp by herself.

[Wallace]: This method of raising a child... How should I put it? It seems like he is deliberately giving her room to grow independently.

[Professor Oak]: Many parents choose a similar approach. When something remains within a child’s capabilities, they allow the child to attempt it and gain experience independently. Even failure can serve as a valuable lesson.

[Bruno]: Well said! The truly strong rise again after every failure!

[Steven]: There is one other thing I would like to confirm—the fishing rod.

[Phoebe]: What about it?

[Steven]: Raina is still a child, so her physical strength is limited. The force of that struggling Magikarp could not have been insignificant to her. Yet the rod remained perfectly stable in her hands and never showed any sign of snapping or being torn from her grasp.

[Wallace]: Are you suggesting that it wasn’t an ordinary fishing rod either?

[Steven]: Or rather, it was a fishing rod that Asher specifically prepared for Raina.

[Cynthia]: ...Every detail surrounding that man suggests meticulous preparation.

[Lance]: It now seems beyond doubt that Asher is the true central figure of this series.

[Ash]: Huh? Isn’t it Raina? The title says ”Water-Type Pokémon Master,” doesn’t it?

[Gary]: ...Just be quiet.