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The Twinleaf Cemetery rarely received many visitors, given the village’s small population, but on that day, Kouki felt there were more people than usual. The fifty or so gravestones dotting the land were unchanged, but he had come to pay respects to his old friend and mentor, Professor Nanakamado. He would never dream of missing this visit, especially not on his birthday.
“I brought some sweets from Kalos, Professor,” he smiled at the yellowed photograph that adorned the gravestone. “They’re from Augustine… I hope you like them. I remember how much you loved sweets.”
He placed the package beside a freshly replaced bouquet of flowers, gave a final smile, and then headed toward Twinleaf.
It had been ten years since the professor’s passing and the start of his own career, yet when Kouki thought back, he still felt like that young assistant pretending to know the world. He could picture Nanakamado by the fireplace, handing him a cup of hot chocolate and sharing stories of his past as though he were a beloved grandson. Kouki had loved listening, imagining himself in the shoes of such a wise and mysterious man. The thought that his mentor’s strong presence no longer awaited him at the lab squeezed his heart.
Still, he wasn’t alone. His sister helped out now and then, and his parents, when not away for work, were there to keep him company. His relationship with his grandfather had always been strained—he couldn’t even bring himself to call the man that. Nanakamado had been the real figure in his life, and Kouki was glad to have distanced himself from his toxic past in Sandgem Town.
Pulling his cream-colored coat tighter, Kouki knocked on the door of one of the few homes that filled the little village of Twinleaf. Among his many blessings, he was most thankful for the presence of Jun and Hikari in his life. Kouki had never been the kind to make many friends—if any—but meeting those two, now famously known as Sinnoh’s “twin leaves,” had elevated his life in ways he couldn’t have imagined.
“Mr. Kouki is here, Mom!” he heard a bright, excited voice from inside, which made him smile immediately. The door opened moments later, revealing a woman in her thirties, with a little blonde girl clinging to her leg. The woman rushed to embrace him, while the child ran back inside, calling for someone else.
“Look at you,” Kouki smiled as they separated from the hug.
“And look at you!” Hikari laughed, shaking her head through happy tears. “We’ve missed you so much…”
Kouki studied his best friend, marveling at how much she had changed over the years. Having given up her Champion title to focus on her family, Hikari now ran a small Pokémon daycare in Twinleaf. Her beautiful ebony hair was pulled into a messy bun, and her sky-blue eyes still shone with the same brightness as when they were kids.
“Where’s your man?” Kouki asked with a raised eyebrow. Hikari laughed, gesturing for him to come in before closing the door.
The house had changed since his last visit, almost five years earlier. The atmosphere was warmer, more inviting—family photos and mementos adorned the walls, and the floors were scattered with toys and paper cutouts. It felt like a home that had experienced years of joy and peace. The little girl who had greeted him earlier was now playing with a Chatot plush, her curious eyes watching the newcomer.
“I hope you remember my daughter,” Hikari smiled. “Come on, Futaba, say hello to Uncle Kouki!”
“Hi…” the girl mumbled, hiding behind her toy. Kouki chuckled, ruffling her hair.
“Of course! How could I forget? She was just two when I left.”
Hikari was about to respond when a loud thump drew their attention to the stairs. There, sprawled on the floor, was a disheveled blond man, rubbing his head in pain.
“Haha, Dad fell down the stairs again!” Futaba giggled, running over to her father and playfully whacking him with the Chatot plush.
“H-Hey, little troublemaker, get off me,” Jun said, smiling as he gently lifted his daughter before darting toward Kouki. “KOUKI!”
Strong arms wrapped around him in a tight embrace, and Kouki couldn’t help but wonder how his energetic friend had grown so powerful. But those amber eyes, filled with joy, quickly distracted him, making him smile.
“How was Kalos? Everything good?” Jun asked. “I still can’t believe you’re back… We can be the trio we always were!”
“Sure, sure,” Kouki laughed, returning the hug. “Kalos was great. I’ve learned a lot in these five years, and I’m ready to put it all into practice.”
“How about we catch up over some tea?” Hikari suggested, taking both men by the arm and smiling at her daughter, who watched them eagerly.
“Ohhh, absolutely,” Jun grinned, planting a kiss on his wife’s cheek.
Kouki looked at them, enchanted, overjoyed to see them so deeply in love. He had always rooted for them and their dreams, and seeing them together and happy filled his heart in a way he hadn’t known before. He took a seat next to Jun at the table, lacing his fingers together as they waited for the tea to brew. For some reason, Kouki felt nervous.
“Hey,” Jun noticed his friend’s unease and tried to lighten the mood. “Did you meet anyone special in Kalos?”
Kouki nearly choked on his own breath, caught completely off guard by the question. After all, Jun wasn’t asking about just anyone.
“I want to focus on my research,” he replied, lowering his gaze. “I don’t have time for that.”
Kouki wasn’t indifferent to love. He had once felt something for someone, but that had been long ago, when he was just a boy. The girl had vanished after he confessed his feelings, and even now, years later, the pain lingered.
“You can’t stay alone forever,” Jun said, concerned.
“Not everyone’s lucky enough to find their soulmate in their childhood best friend,” Kouki shot back, his tone teasing.
Jun laughed, his eyes filled with affection as he glanced at Hikari. “Yeah, I guess I am really lucky…” He stood up to help her with the snacks, still smiling.
Kouki sighed, his attention drifting to Futaba, who was focused on drawing something. Her wavy, golden hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her amber eyes, just like her father’s, were intent on her work. She was a gift, Kouki thought, remembering the first time he had held her, that warm April morning when her bright eyes had met his gray ones. They had named her Futaba, “sprout,” and Kouki couldn’t think of a more fitting name. He had been there for her first two years before leaving for Kalos, missing much of her childhood.
“Uncle Kouki!” Futaba’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. “Look!”
She proudly held up her drawing—a simple depiction of her family: her parents, herself, and Kouki, all holding hands.
“We had to draw our family at school!” she beamed. “Do you like it?”
Kouki was at a loss for words, touched by the unexpected gesture. He smiled, wiping his hand over his face to hide the tears welling up in his eyes.
“Of course,” he finally said, pulling the girl into his arms and making her giggle. Her laughter drew the attention of Jun and Hikari, who couldn’t help but smile and join the fun.
Amidst the laughter and hugs, Kouki’s gaze fell on an old photo of Professor Nanakamado on a nearby shelf. He lingered on the professor’s familiar face, those serious eyes and the lab coat he had always insisted on wearing. It felt like a final farewell, a silent thank you for everything the man had done for him.
And as he turned away, Kouki could have sworn he saw Nanakamado smiling.