Chapter Three
Leaf
I am all packed as I wait for Professor Oak to finish catching up with Juni, when my phone buzzes indicating that I had received an email. At first, I don't really care- I half expect it to be some boring events bulletin for the Thanksgiving Weekend. I was visiting Mum and was hitching a ride with Professor Oak since it was on the way to Pallet. But as my wait time increases, I decide to check the email after-all, pumpkin-carving be damned.
A few minutes later, I'm anxious as I stare at the email. How did this happen?
From: Human Resources, Advanced Research Centre, Unova
To: Green; Leaf
Cc: Juniper; Aurea ; Oak; Gary
Headquarters, Researcher Qualification Program
Subject: Researcher Qualification Program | Supervisor Allotment
Ms. Green:
I hope this email finds you well.
Your official application for certification has been processed by Headquarters. Please find final details as received:
Applicant: Green; Leaf
Hometown: Pallet Town
Certification Region(s): Kanto, Unova, Johto (consultation only)
Application Region: Unova
Project Name ( titles): Growlithe- Arcanine Evolution Theories
Class: Researcher Class I (A1)
Professor-in charge: Juniper; Aurea
Supervisor in charge: Oak; Gary
Project Type: Report/Thesis; Field Data; Theory.
Headquarters looks forward to receiving the final draft of your project on or before 30 June. Details of your defense will be provided closer to that date.
Good luck!
Best,
Camille Lutherford
Pokémon Researcher Certification Program | Advanced Research Centre, Unova
So, Gary is my supervisor. I blink as I glance at the e-mail for the hundredth time. Gary? He doesn't even study fire type Pokémon. Wait, does he? Actually, scratch that. He studies everything because he has such a brilliant brain. He re-constructed an Aerodactyl all on his own! I was so sure he was going to be allotted to Professor Kenzo.
My first and immediate thought is Gary's reaction to this. I know he just doesn't like studying about legendary Pokémon- he is really passionate about it. Sure, Professor Oak himself has done a good chunk of work on legendary Pokémon (brilliance, remember? Runs in the Oak family), but it's just not the same as with Professor Kenzo.
Gary is going to be crushed. I couldn't help but feel guilty; he was now stuck with me. It's not as if he hasn't informally been helping me with my research project all these years anyway. And there's something else that gnaws at me. A big unsettling knot in my stomach has evolved since I received that email over 30 minutes ago. That part of me that's hugely petrified of what Gary thinks of my project as a whole. Of me as a researcher.
Four years ago, I didn't care what Gary Oak thought or if he regarded me as smart enough or worthy enough of being a Pokémon Researcher. Then I started working with him and realized just how smart he was. He was so different from the racy porcupine hair Pokémon trainer whose stories I had grown up listening to. He was sarcastic and gruff but also incredibly kind and thoughtful. When I finally gathered the guts to ask him to review the first draft of my application, he literally ripped it apart. I remember staring at the printout covered in so much red, I honestly believed he had spewed blood on it. But he rooted for me, he went through every line. He pushed and questioned me so hard that there were times I doubted if I was really meant for this. Yet, I had an answer, I always had an answer.
I can't count the number of times I've had panic attacks in the last three years and I've called Gary asking him what to do. Honestly, when it comes to my professional life, I'm like a lost puppy that clings on to him for support; the slightest direction that he gives me, and I'm suddenly convinced it's the best way forward.
I think, above everything else, I'm scared of disappointing him.
"There you are!" Professor Juniper calls me from behind, shaking me off from the mental tornado spinning in my head. Her smile fades as she sees my face. "What's wrong?"
"Gary is my supervisor?" I ask, looking down at her shoes.
"Huh?" she looks at me surprised "Wasn't it sort of obvious? I thought that's why you kept going over the project with him!"
"No!" I shout, and then consciously lower my voice "He was doing that as a favor to me."
"Well" Professor Oak speaks up, and I realize he's standing behind Professor Juniper, "between you and me, supervisors aren't allotted based on their research interests or past experience." Juni nods.
"What?"
"Well, he really was the only choice for your project, Leaf. He's the only Researcher in Kanto who knows that much about fire-type evolutions as well as having trained a Growlithe and an Arcanine personally. Besides, only Kanto Researchers can certify other Kanto Researchers."
"So, he couldn't go to Sinnoh because of that technicality?"
"Who said anything about Sinnoh?" Professor Oak asks, "Silly girl, did you really think he was going to work for Kenzo again?"
"Maybe?"
Professor Oak shakes his head, "We should get a start on the way back though, Leaf. We've got to pick up your former babysitter and her husband."
"Daisy!" I wave excitedly, from the passenger seat of Gary's red sportscar, as I see a slender brunette emerge from a white picket house. Trailing behind her is an equally dashing man, whom I recognize as her husband. I was barely a teenager when Daisy had gotten married and moved to Unova. I knew Professor Oak missed her terribly.
Unlike the men in the Oak family, Daisy is a Pokémon doctor and to me, she's so perfect for the job. When my Growlithe had gotten a rash last year and I had rushed to her, she had taken care of him in no time. I think he's one of her favorite patients.
"Hi Leaf" Daisy says as she hugs Grandpa Oak, and then slides gracefully into the backseat as Hans, her husband, follows with two overnight bags. As Professor Oak fills Daisy with the latest, I stare at the road, as the trees go by.
"…and Gary's moving to Unova."
"Really?" Daisy asks, pushing her sunglasses up to reveal her surprised eyes "Why?"
Professor Oak look at me from the corner of his eye, as he continues to keep a watch on the road, "Leaf?"
"He's been allotted as my supervisor." I mumble
"Someone will think you hate Gary, Leaf" Professor Oak laughs, "You're so sad that he's your supervisor."
"I'm not!" I protest weakly, "It's just he knows everything that there is to know about my project, so I doubt he's going to enjoy his time here."
Professor Oak tuts, "There is nothing such as knowing everything that there is to know when it comes to research, Leaf."
"Well, that's a relief" Daisy says from behind me, "aren't there suspension rules in case a supervisor ends up dating his student?"
Well atleast I don't have to worry about that. What if I got a supervisor who was a reincarnation of Dr. Willow?
"Earlier, supervisors could get fired" Professor Oak says, taking a turn into the highway, "but now, you've got to go through some sort of approval process, although that impacts any applications the supervisor has made, say, for instance, Professorship."
"Wow" Daisy says, "I guess it's fair. But I can imagine how lonely these research projects get. You're lucky you have a lively Professor in charge and now a friend to supervise your research, Leaf."
I nod. That's true. Things can get lonely in the research world, and perhaps that's why so many of them end up single for the longest time. Professor Rowan. Juni. Gary.
I recall all the nights I spent going over my observations with Growlithe. She would woof and nuzzle, and despite her extraordinary patience, I did want to scream and throw something at the wall. She would be the perfect Pokémon and yet look at me sadly when I would go over data again and again frowning. I suddenly feel guilty; maybe I'll let her out at Mum's over the weekend. She needs some time off too.