Pokémon: My Parallel World Daughters Revealed

The living room of Asher’s estate.

Misty and Raina sat together, while Cynthia and Asher sat opposite them. A plate of sliced fruit and a dish of cookies had been placed on the table between them.

”Raina.”

Misty stroked Raina’s head.

”Mom wants to ask you a few questions. Is that okay?”

Raina nodded, picked up a cookie, and took a bite.

”First question.”

Misty cleared her throat.

”How many years in the future did you come from?”

After swallowing the cookie, Raina counted on her fingers.

”I’m not entirely sure about that either. But I’m ten years old now, and judging from the situation on your side of the timeline, it must be at least more than ten years from now.”

Misty nodded.

”Then how do we live in the future?”

”We all live together. But when I was little, I often traveled from place to place with my moms, so we spent some time living in all sorts of different locations.”

They had reached the important part.

Misty and Cynthia exchanged a glance before simultaneously turning toward Asher.

Asher’s expression remained perfectly composed, as though everything were still under his control.

Misty clenched her fist.

”Raina, how many moms do you have in the future?”

Raina thought for a moment and opened her mouth.

However, even though her lips moved, her voice disappeared as though someone had pressed a mute button.

She froze and tried again.

Her mouth merely opened and closed soundlessly. She couldn’t even form the correct shapes with her lips, much less produce a voice.

”...?”

Raina pointed toward her throat. Her expression shifted from confusion to shock before finally becoming one of resigned understanding.

Misty waited for quite some time, only to watch her daughter perform an impromptu pantomime.

”Raina, what’s wrong?”

Raina shrugged.

”It seems I can only talk about things directly related to all of you. I can’t say anything else.”

Misty puffed out her cheeks unhappily before turning toward Asher.

”Honey, why are you looking at me?”

Asher spread his hands.

”This has nothing to do with me.”

”Then why did Raina suddenly lose her voice the moment I reached the important question?”

”Probably because your question involved crucial information about the future timeline.”

Asher lifted his teacup.

”This livestream has always been like that. Its privacy protection is remarkably thorough.”

Cynthia nodded.

”Considering that revealing too much would spoil future broadcasts, that restriction is understandable.”

”But that leaves me with hardly anything I can ask.”

Misty rested her chin on one hand.

”Raina, let Mom ask you this instead. How does your father treat us in the future?”

Asher coughed from beside them.

”Couldn’t you ask me that directly?”

”I’m not asking you right now. I’m asking Raina.”

Misty didn’t even turn her head.

”Daddy treats all my moms very well.”

Raina answered without hesitation.

”Daddy makes breakfast every morning. Since all my moms have different tastes, he even prepares different dishes specifically for each of them.”

”So all my moms are very happy!”

Misty lowered her head slightly as her cheeks turned red.

”I-is that so...?”

”Are you reassured now, honey?”

Asher leaned closer.

”But my heart is feeling rather wounded at the moment.”

”All right, I understand!”

Misty grabbed a cookie and shoved it into Asher’s mouth.

”I’ll... I’ll make it up to you tonight! For now, eat your cookie!”

Cynthia put down her cup of ice cream and wiped the corner of her mouth.

”Raina, may I ask you a few questions?”

Raina nodded.

”Of course! What would you like to ask, Mama Cynthia?”

Cynthia took a deep breath before speaking.

”I want to know... When was Tiana born?”

Raina tilted her head and thought about it.

”Hmm... I don’t know the exact year, but Big Sis Tiana should only be a few months older than me.”

The tips of Cynthia’s ears began turning red again, but she forcibly maintained her composure.

”You... You said Tiana is your older sister?”

”That’s right.”

Raina nodded.

”Tiana is my big sister.”

”Hiss...”

The two were interrupted by a sudden hiss of pain and turned toward the sound.

Misty was leaning against Asher with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

Behind Asher’s back, where neither Cynthia nor Raina could see, Misty had grabbed the flesh at his waist and twisted it forcefully.

Asher still appeared perfectly calm, though the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

Raina scratched her head.

”Daddy, are you okay?”

Asher raised his teacup to his lips and answered in an exceptionally steady voice:

”I’m fine. The tea is a little hot.”

Misty smiled gently and blew across his tea for him.

”Drink more slowly if it’s hot. No one is going to steal it from you.”

”Raina.”

Cynthia tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear, her voice remaining composed.

”How is Tiana doing in the future?”

”Well...”

Raina began counting on her fingers.

”First of all, Big Sis Tiana is an incredible workaholic. She told me that being Champion involves dealing with an enormous amount of work.”

”But Big Sis Tiana is also extremely capable. She never complains about being tired, so those documents clearly aren’t difficult for her at all!”

The corner of Cynthia’s mouth twitched.

It seemed the future Tiana wasn’t particularly different from her parallel-world counterpart.

”All right, that’s enough questions for now.”

Misty rose to her feet.

”Raina can only stay for twenty-four hours. We can’t spend the entire time interrogating her. How about we have a barbecue in the courtyard?”

”A barbecue!”

Raina’s eyes instantly lit up.

”I want honey-glazed chicken wings! And grilled corn! Grilled shrimp! Steak!”

”No problem.”

Cynthia stood as well.

”I’ll prepare the marinade in the kitchen.”

”Then I’ll start the fire.”

Misty rolled up her sleeves.

”I’ll get the drinks from the cellar.”

Asher also rose.

Misty found an open space in the courtyard and started the fire.

At that moment, a small pink sports car performed an exceptionally arrogant drift before skidding to a stop outside the estate’s gates.

Daisy leaned out from the driver’s seat, her sunglasses reflecting the afternoon sunlight.

Violet jumped out from the passenger seat with a gift bag in her hand.

Lily climbed out of the back seat carrying a bouquet of flowers.

The three sisters lined up outside the gates.

Daisy removed her sunglasses and took a deep breath.

”Niece! We’re here!”

The door opened.

Asher was the one standing behind it.

Daisy, Violet, and Lily froze before speaking in unison:

”Brother-in-law, is Raina here?”

”Come inside. Raina is in the courtyard.”

Asher stepped aside to let them through.

The three sisters entered the estate.

The barbecue grill had already been set up in the courtyard. Misty was placing chicken wings onto the grill, Cynthia was arranging a fruit platter nearby, and Raina sat on a chair holding a glass of orange juice.

”NIECE!!!”

Daisy spread her arms and charged forward.

She pulled Raina into an enormous hug, burying the girl’s face against her chest.

”Mmph! Mmmph, mmmph, mmmph!”

”Daisy, loosen your grip! Raina is going to suffocate!”

Violet pulled Daisy away and immediately wrapped Raina in her own arms.

”Niece! I’m your Aunt Violet!”

Lily squeezed between the two of them and thrust the bouquet into Raina’s arms.

”And I’m your Aunt Lily! These flowers are my present for you!”

Holding the bouquet, Raina found herself surrounded by her three aunts.

She looked between them before greeting them:

”Hello, Aunt Daisy, Aunt Violet, and Aunt Lily.”

”So cute, so cute, so cute!”

Daisy buried her face in Raina’s hair and rubbed against it enthusiastically.

”This orange hair! Those adorable little cheeks! She looks exactly like Misty did when she was little!”

Misty approached from beside the barbecue grill.

”You three, come over here and help! Stop doing nothing but crowding around Raina!”

”We’re bonding with our niece!”

Daisy protested.

”You can bond with her while working! Come over here and help skewer the shrimp!”

Daisy, Violet, and Lily exchanged glances.

”All right, then.”

Daisy looked back toward Raina.

”Raina, we’ll help your mother first. We’ll come play with you again afterward!”

Raina waved to them before walking over and sitting beside Asher.

”Daddy, our family is going to become even livelier in the future, isn’t it?”

”Pfft—!!”

Asher immediately spat out his tea.

He wiped his mouth and looked at Raina.

”You little brat. Are you trying to put your father on the spot?”

”Hehe.”

Raina stuck out her tongue.

”I believe in you, Daddy. Do your best so I can have even more moms!”

”Cough, cough, cough!!”

Asher began coughing again, terrified that the others might overhear her.