Pokémon: My Parallel World Daughters Revealed

[VIP Chat Group]

[Steven]: Magnificent! Absolutely magnificent! Not only are the titles incredible, but the introduction is unbelievably imposing too! My parallel-world counterpart is a genius!

[Wallace]: Steven, explain something to me. What exactly is the ”Flowing Waters of Sootopolis”?

[Steven]: Doesn’t it sound elegant? I think it suits you perfectly.

[Wallace]: It suits me like hell. That name sounds like a product line from some second-rate bottled-water company.

[Steven]: What’s wrong with bottled water? It’s healthy! Besides, ”Sootopolis” sounds wonderful!

[Wallace]: Then why don’t you call yourself ”Devon Mineral Water”?

[Steven]: Mineral water sounds too hard. It doesn’t suit my temperament.

[Wallace]: So now you remember to consider someone’s temperament? Do you genuinely believe that title suits mine?

[Steven]: Come now, Wallace. Don’t be so inflexible. Your parallel-world counterpart cooperated perfectly well.

[Wallace]: That’s because you forced me into it! Your finger was practically poking me in the face. What else was I supposed to do?

[Steven]: Fine. If you aren’t satisfied, why don’t you come up with one yourself?

[Wallace]: I refuse.

[Steven]: See? When I ask you to choose one, you refuse. Therefore, my naming ability must be the best among the three of us.

[Asher]: ??? Steven, are you serious?

[Steven]: Of course I am, Kricketune Man.

[Asher]: ...

[Steven]: Brother Rehsa? Why have you suddenly stopped talking? You were awfully talkative a moment ago.

[Wallace]: Steven, that was a super-effective critical hit.

[Diantha]: Asher’s naming sense is admittedly difficult to describe, but Steven’s isn’t much better.

At that moment, the image on the screen suddenly froze.

[Ding! It’s question time!]

[Generating a random question...]

[Question: What is the true identity of N, the mysterious young man Miori encountered at the bus shelter?]

[A. The current leader of Team Plasma]

[B. An ordinary Trainer]

[C. A member of the International Police]

[D. All of the above]

[The quick-answer round will begin in thirty seconds!]

[VIP Chat Group]

[Ash]: It’s here! It’s finally question time! Pikachu, wake up!

[Pikachu]: Pika... (Rolls over and continues sleeping.)

[Ash]: PIKACHU!!!!

[Pikachu]: Pika!! (Uses Thunderbolt.)

[Ash]: I’m numb! Completely numb...

[Gary]: You deserved that.

[Volkner]: The question is asking about N’s ”true identity”... D is obviously there as a joke. How could one person simultaneously be Team Plasma’s leader and a member of the International Police?

[Flint]: Volkner, don’t forget that you eliminated the correct answer using exactly that reasoning in the previous question.

[Volkner]: This time is different!

[Lance]: Logically speaking, the question asks about his ”true identity.” If N operates within different organizations under multiple identities, then option D is theoretically possible.

[Brock]: But did everyone notice that the pendant around N’s neck closely resembles Organization Z’s emblem? Based on the clues we currently possess, Organization Z is most likely Team Plasma.

[Skyla]: So the answer is A? N is Team Plasma’s current leader?

[Volkner]: Then why does option D exist? The livestream never includes an absurd option without a reason. Perhaps that is the trap.

[Wallace]: Asher previously mentioned that Team Plasma was reorganized by a young man. N’s age matches that information perfectly, and his philosophy about Pokémon freedom is identical to Team Plasma’s central ideology. Option A should be correct.

[Dawn]: Aah! The more everyone analyzes it, the more complicated it becomes! I think it’s A! N is Team Plasma’s current leader!

[Leon]: My instincts also point toward A, but the presence of option D makes me hesitant to decide too quickly.

[Countdown: 3, 2, 1—]

[Ding! Quick-answer round begins!]

An enormous red button appeared at the center of the screen.

[Ding! Congratulations to Misty for answering first!]

[VIP Chat Group]

[Misty]: I got it?! I actually got it?!

[Daisy]: Oh my! Misty got it! Since when were your reflexes that fast, little sister?

[Misty]: I don’t know! I just pressed it casually! I genuinely only touched it without thinking!

[Lily]: Misty, you’re representing Cerulean Gym now. Don’t embarrass us.

[Misty]: Could the three of you be quiet?! I need to concentrate on answering!

Kanto region, Porta Vista—Asher’s estate.

Misty sat cross-legged on the living-room sofa. The screen floated in front of her, with the enormous ”ANSWERED FIRST” notification still flashing across it.

Cynthia leaned over from beside her, holding a cup of ice cream. A small trace of cream remained at the corner of her mouth.

”Misty, do you know the answer?”

”How would I know?!”

Misty clutched her head with both hands.

”I only pressed the button randomly! Who could have known I would actually get it?!”

”Which option are you planning to choose?”

”I don’t know!”

Misty frowned.

”What happens if I’m wrong? I don’t want to breakdance in front of a crowd like Steven!”

”Breakdancing wouldn’t be too terrible.”

Cynthia scooped up some ice cream and placed it in her mouth, speaking indistinctly as she ate.

”I’m more worried that the system might have an even worse punishment.”

”Then what am I supposed to do?!”

Misty grabbed Cynthia by the shoulders.

”My dear sister! You need to help me think of something!”

Cynthia was shaken so violently that her ice cream nearly went flying. She hurriedly pulled the spoon from her mouth.

”Calm down. Why don’t we ask our husband?”

Both women simultaneously turned toward the other side of the sofa.

Asher leaned against it with a cup of hot tea in his hand and a half-read magazine spread across his lap.

”Honey~”

Misty’s voice abruptly became extraordinarily gentle.

Asher’s hand paused while raising his teacup.

”Honey~”

Cynthia placed her ice cream on the coffee table, her voice becoming equally sweet.

Asher slowly lowered his cup and looked from Misty to Cynthia.

”Since when have the two of you been on the same side?”

”We’re sisters who’ve faced the same gun together!”

Misty wrapped an arm around Cynthia’s shoulders, her expression filled with righteous conviction.

”What gun?”

Asher raised an eyebrow.

”Yours.”

Misty answered without the slightest change in expression.

Asher nearly dropped his teacup.

The tips of Cynthia’s ears turned visibly red, but she didn’t object. She merely hid half an inch farther behind Misty’s shoulder.

”All right, all right.”

Asher raised his hands in surrender.

”The answer is A—the current leader of Team Plasma.”

Cynthia nodded thoughtfully.

”N being Team Plasma’s current leader is indeed a reasonable conclusion.”

”What about option D?”

Misty still wasn’t reassured.

”What if the system is deliberately setting a trap?”

”Option D says ’all of the above,’ which would mean he’s working undercover.”

Asher picked up his teacup again.

”But since he’s already Team Plasma’s leader, the only place he could be infiltrating would be the International Police. His fundamental identity would still be Team Plasma’s leader.”

”Once D is eliminated that way, A is the only answer left.”

Misty nodded thoughtfully.

”Mm. Don’t worry.”

Asher placed his teacup back on the coffee table and picked up his magazine again.

”If you’re wrong, I’ll accept the punishment alongside you.”

”Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey! Don’t say something so unlucky!”

Misty closed her eyes and selected an answer on the screen.

The screen flashed.

A golden notification appeared.

[Correct answer!]

[VIP Chat Group]

[Iris]: She got it right! She got it right!

[Daisy]: Misty’s luck is incredible!

[Ash]: What about the reward?! What’s the reward?!

[Pikachu]: Pika, pika! (Rubs its paws together expectantly.)

[Bianca]: Exactly! She answered correctly! Where’s the reward?

[System Notification]

[Congratulations to Misty for receiving the following reward—Future Raina will visit the real world for twenty-four hours!]

[Note: Raina’s worldline has already merged with this world. Therefore, this manifestation constitutes a ”visit from the future.” Raina herself is aware of the circumstances. Everyone is requested to treat her normally.]

...

TL: Wuwuwu, I’m so jealous—it should have been my gun. Also, Raina!! RAAAH, she’s visiting?