Six years since Sinnoh entered the Kanto Union, the region has moved on from feudalism to form democratic societies. The exception, of course, is Snowpoint City, or as the locals continue to call it, Kissaki City.

Known for its unusual climate and being the birthplace of some of history's greatest martial arts teachers, it's also home to a notorious cult called The Wrath of the Ice Blade, who worships the ancient deity Snowpoint, immortalised in the city's name. Iceblade was known for ruthless violence towards those who didn't meet their rigid backwards standards, causing the Kanto Union to designate it as a hate group.

The Kaneko family controls Iceblade, current head Seiji being one of the few remaining lords in Sinnoh. Seiji is known for his charity, such as when he funded reconstruction of Snowpoint after an attack by Team Rocket in 2001, though he's done nothing to advance human rights. The reason he wasn't ousted when Sinnoh left feudalism wasn't because he fought off the Kanto Union; no, he happily invited them and their free education and healthcare in. By the time they realised his motives, Seiji was already recognized as Snowpoint's lord.

That aside, this is a story.

On a mid-July afternoon, a woman picked up the ringing phone in the Kaneko household, and the caller immediately spoke up with a soft voice. "Hello... Uh... Is He here?"

The woman immediately put the phone on the table. "Seiji! There's a call for you!"

Seiji entered the room and took the phone, curious as to who was calling. "You can just ask for my name, you know. I'm not my father."

"Ah, Seiji, hello! I hope I haven't interrupted any urgent matters," the voice began. "I'm calling about something important regarding your daughter."

Seiji sighed. "What's she done now?"

"I promise nothing bad," the voice said.

"Is this about her grades?"

"No, they're outstanding, as usual."

"Alright, what is it, then?"

"We've enrolled our school in a student exchange program with Hulbury Academy in Galar, as I'm sure you know."

"I haven't paid much attention to what's been said, frankly."

This was not a surprise. "Well, I saw Akahana's name on the candidate list, so I'd like to talk to you regarding this opportunity."

"Hm? Go on," Seiji responded.

"It's being funded by the Kanto Union's multicultural program." The voice cleared their throat. "They would cover all of the costs and supply what your daughter needs to spend a year at Hulbury Academy, one of the top middle schools in Galar. Apparently this is important in the Union, so having your daughter take part in the program would definitely help with keeping up your influence. She seems to be eager to do so."

"This isn't legally binding or immediate, is it?" Seiji asked. "Akahana's in karate training, and that's not something we can postpone."

"Of course not," the voice said. "The Galarian office hasn't even had a chance to look at the form! They'll have more information early September, and if they're interested they'll come to you. For legal reasons, they won't know about you unless they want to talk. Does she know Galarian, by any chance?"

"Not a word," Seiji replied. "She hasn't exactly needed it up to now."

"Completely understandable. The Galarians may need to know that, since Hisuian and Kantonian aren't spoken in Galar," the voice said. "They'll contact you early September." The line died, give it a funeral everyone.

On a late afternoon in September, there was a knock on the door.

"Mitsue, can you get that?" Seiji asked.

Mitsue, known outside of Snowpoint by the name Craig, went and opened the door to a Galarian man.

"Is Seiji here?" the man asked.

"Who's asking?" Mitsue replied rather forcefully.

"I'm from the exchange program," the man continued, clearly unfazed. "I tried to call before coming here, but cell service is poor."

"It's alright, let him in!" Seiji called out.

The man entered the house and walked into the living room.

"You do realise you could just phone, right?" Seiji asked as they sat down.

"Not when I need Akahana directly," he replied.

Seiji was the type to get to the point immediately. "So did she get in?" was all he said.

"She did!" the Galarian replied. "She's exactly the sort we look for in these programs."

"I must point out, she doesn't know Galarian. Suppose this is as good a time as any to mention it," Seiji added out of the blue.

The Galarian waved his hand dismissively. "We have translators and teachers available. She doesn't need to know any Galarian yet."

At this point, Akahana entered the room. "Is something going on?" she asked in Hisuian, immediately noticing the strange man.

The Galarian had a confused expression. "I don't speak any Hisuian myself..."

"Do you remember when you applied for that exchange program?" Seiji asked Akahana in Hisuian.

"...Did I mention that?" Ahakana asked timidly.

"They phoned in July. You were in training then, so I didn't mention it. This man is from the program."

The timid expression gave way to excitement. "Was I accepted?"

"You got in," the Galarian said to Akahana, and then turned to Seiji again. "I apologise for the short notice, but the plane leaves from Jubilife tomorrow morning, so to not be late, we'll have to leave in... about fifteen minutes."

"You'll be back before long. Spend your time well there," Seiji said to his daughter while Craig went to go get her stuff as various goodbyes and signatures happened.

"Oh, one last thing!" the Galarian said at the door. "Do you mind boarding Jonathan for the year? I can't find any hotels here."

"Completely fine," Seiji replied.

"It's the least we can do," his wife added.

And that was that — Akahana was out the door and headed to Galar. Perhaps the outcome would have changed if they could have known how terribly managed Galar's end of the process would be.