MEET NATE

If there's one thing I've learned in all my years growing up in my hometown of Aspertia City, it's this one simple fact.

The only thing a man needs is girls. Cute ones, if he gets a say in the matter.

Sure, I may not be what you're call a "man" yet - I'm getting there! - but I can still understand this basic, important fact of life. I really don't get how so many people around me don't get it. Maybe I'm too mature for them? Hugh would probably laugh if I said that, he usually does, but that's fine by me. One of us has to be able to appreciate the finer things in life, and I'm more than happy to be that guy.

I know what you're thinking here. "Nate! The world is full of exciting things to do! Monsters to catch! Trainers to battle! And you want girls? What kind of weirdo are you?"

Well, I'll tell you what kind of weirdo. I'm a weirdo that wants to have a super cute girlfriend someday! You can leave catching Pokemon and all of that adventuring stuff to by buddy, Hugh, because I don't need any of it.

At least, that was what I always told myself. When Hugh was running around town showing off his new baby - a Snivy - I was happy for him, really, but I don't know... I couldn't connect with it the same way the others in the city could. Maybe it was because I'd never had a Pokemon before? Or maybe it was because I'd never really wanted one before?

It's not like Pokemon can get you a girlfriend, after all!

But then I got to thinking.

See, the thing is, the only girl I've ever really known all that well here in Aspertia is my buddy's little sister - and okay, I'll give you the fact that she's cute, but she's half my age and not exactly the cute I'm going for here. For a big city, big to me anyway, most people don't tend to stick around long.

That might be changing soon though. Even though I've never been interested in this kind of thing, they've been building a Gym in the back of the Pokemon School. The Gym Leader's supposed to be here any day now, and from that point on, we'll be a hot spot for traveling trainers. Already, people are starting to come visit the city in anticipation of getting their badge.

And I hate to say it, but a lot of those trainer girls are pretty cute...

That's when it hit me!

If I was a Pokemon trainer, I'd have an in with all of these girls! I wouldn't have to worry about finding something to talk about, because trainers just sort of... connect! Or so I'm told, anyway. Not only that, but I'd get to see girls from all over the country if I went on an adventure, you know what I mean?

The possibilities were endless! And it wasn't like I hated Pokemon or anything... I just have always had different priorities, you know? But it seems like my priorities and Pokemon might just be able to be intertwined if I play my cards right...

Yeah... This could be the start of a beautiful relationship!

As if it was fate, the same day I started thinking about how Pokemon actually could help me on my quest to finally get a cutie of my own, my mom had a nice and long phone call with her old friend Professor Juniper.

Life's kinda cool like that sometimes. Little did I know that it was going to get downright freezing before my adventure was over!