Pokemon: I Transmigrated Twice

Rihua's eyelids trembled slightly as a warm glow spread across her face. Instinctively, she reached out to rub her eyes before slowly opening them.

A strange ceiling…

Rihua abruptly straightened her back, only to wince as a sharp pain shot through her left arm. Glancing down, she noticed her arm was wrapped in thick bandages. Then it hit her—it wasn't just the ceiling that was unfamiliar. The living room was unfamiliar. The sofa and the blanket covering her were unfamiliar. Everything was.

"Where… where is this?" she murmured.

Turning her head, she noticed Houndour sleeping soundly beside the sofa.

"Don't move, or the stitches will tear," a voice warned.

Startled, Rihua looked in the direction of the voice and saw a boy about her age, sitting at the dining table and casually eating breakfast.

"You are…?"

"Just a passing mas… doctor," Stephen said flatly, chewing on his fried egg with no discernible emotion.

"These dogs brought you to me. You've been asleep for two days. Honestly, it's a miracle that one patient managed to carry another so far."

Rihua blinked in confusion before noticing more Houndours clustered near Stephen—one lying at his feet, another resting on his lap, and yet another sprawled across his abdomen. They were undoubtedly the same species as her Houndour.

Her gaze softened as she instinctively reached out to stroke the fur of the Houndour curled at Stephen's feet.

"Your lives are saved, so get going now," Stephen said bluntly.

Rihua, just about to express her gratitude, froze at his lack of courtesy.

"How can you be so unfeeling?" she blurted.

"I… I…"

"I can't go back…"

Rihua muttered finally, biting her lip. If she returned, her father would surely kill Houndour.

Recalling Stephen's earlier words, a glimmer of hope lit up her face. "You… you just said you're a doctor, right? Can you…"

"This isn't a hospital, and I'm not running a daycare," Stephen interrupted, already guessing her intentions. His tone was resolute.

Although keeping the Houndour might have been the safest option, Stephen had no interest in harboring a creature he didn't like. He had dreams of building an elite team—one as close-knit as Luffy's crew, where every member shared a deep bond. Taking in a Pokémon he felt no connection with would go against everything he stood for. Otherwise, wouldn't he become the very type of person he despised in his past life? A shallow heartbreaker, leaving others hanging?

"But… but if you don't take it in, it'll be homeless!"

Rihua said anxiously.

"That's not my problem," Stephen replied coldly.

"Those others seem to be its kind. I don't plan to keep them, either. They'll be heading back to the wild. They should stick with their own."

Rihua fell silent. Perhaps he was right—perhaps it was better for her Houndour to stay with its kind than with her.

...

By noon, Rihua arrived at Route 47, west of Cianwood City. She knelt, gently stroking her Houndour's head.

"Although our time together was short, I was truly happy… Go on, find a new home with your companions," she said with a faint smile, releasing it.

"Woof..."

The Houndour whimpered softly as if trying to say something, but it didn't leave immediately.

"Are you worried about me? It's okay," Rihua said, forcing a bright smile.

"At most, my father will ground me for a few months. Goodbye."

Turning toward the city, Rihua walked away without looking back. She didn't dare to—she feared she might regret her decision.

But because she didn't look back, she didn't see her Houndour hesitate. It stared at her retreating figure, unmoving.

"Woof..."

The other three Houndouris barked, urging it to leave. But just as Rihua's figure was about to disappear, her Houndour shook its head, howled at its companions, and dashed back toward the city.

...

"What's with that boy? Acting all high and mighty. Taking in a Houndour wouldn't hurt," Rihua muttered as she walked through Cianwood City.

Though she had let it go, she missed her Houndour. If that doctor had agreed to take it in, she could visit anytime.

As she passed through the plaza, a news broadcast on the giant screen caught her eye. The anchor was reporting on an incident from two days ago—at her own home.

["Two days ago, Rocket Team members Joker and a suspected New recruit broke into the home of entrepreneur Mr. Ritsuki.

According to official statements, their target was a group of wild Pokémon Mr. Ritsuki had taken in to hand over to the Pokémon League. Rocket Team is notorious for illegally capturing and stealing Pokémon, so this was likely their motive.

Rest assured, investigators have deployed Lorelei and Lance of the Elite Four to the case."]

Rihua's gaze lingered on Joker's face on the screen.

"Two people—both annoying," she muttered under her breath.

When Rihua returned home, she found her house surrounded by Officer Jennys and international police.

"Miss Rihua is back!" a security guard exclaimed as soon as he spotted her.

A group of maids rushed toward her, speaking all at once,

"Oh, Miss, you're finally back!"

"The master has been waiting for you. Come quickly!"

Before Rihua could even take a sip of water, she was ushered into the main hall. The sight inside almost made her turn and run.

But the maids, as if anticipating this, quickly closed the door and formed a human wall behind her.

Contrary to her expectations of being grounded, the hall was filled with prominent figures: her father, the elder of the Dragon Tamer Clan, Elite Four member Lance, his cousin Claire, Johto League tycoon Mr. Caishen, Elite Four member Aldus, and… the President of the Pokémon League, Goodshow.

"Come, child, sit," Goodshow said with a warm smile, patting the seat next to him.

Rihua hesitated, sensing the tension in the room. There was no warmth in her father's gaze.

Under his piercing stare, she reluctantly sat down, choosing the seat closer to Goodshow in hopes her father wouldn't hit her in front of such an audience.

"Miss Rihua, according to my investigation, you were the first to encounter Joker among everyone here," Lance began.

Rihua's heart raced. This didn't seem like something that would end with a simple grounding.