"Pokémon are the aspirations of humanity, the true hope of mankind."
Standing on the podium of the grand conference hall in the newly built headquarters of the Jujutsu Union, a venue reserved for the highest-level meetings, Akira presented this bold statement.
Above him, rows of spotlights shone down, and in front of him, countless eyes watched intently. The chairman of the Union, executive directors, representatives from various major families—familiar and unfamiliar faces alike—all focused their gazes on him. Even though Akira had experience as a corporate drone, facing such a grand scene so suddenly was still overwhelming.
But now was not the time to panic or show weakness.
He had to hold his ground, to carve out a future for Pokémon.
Sensing Akira's inner turmoil, Gardevoir gently embraced him from behind, careful not to add any more pressure. Even the usually tsundere Serperior extended a vine, lightly hooking Akira's palm, as if a child cheering on an adult.
It was in this moment that Akira's heart regained its clarity.
Taking a deep breath, he repeated to himself three times:
"Don't run away, don't run away, don't—ugh!"
No, for the sake of the Union... no, for the sake of Pokémon, for Pokémon, for Pokémon!
Akira stepped out from the backstage and into the spotlight.
Instantly, he channeled the aura of Professor Oak, and his demeanor shifted.
"Good morning, esteemed seniors, fellow jujutsu sorcerers."
"Some of you may have already met me, while others have not. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Akira, a Special Grade jujutsu sorcerer who was promoted just a month ago. I am a first-year student and a special assistant teacher at Tokyo Metropolitan Jujutsu Technical College. I am the wielder of the 'Pokémon Manipulation' technique and the foremost researcher in the field of Pokémon."
Raising a finger, the young man at the center of the stage exuded confidence, his commanding presence and borderline arrogance causing a stir.
Even from the distant podium, Akira could hear the displeased snorts and the murmurs of disdain.
This was to be expected. Influenced by Chinese culture, Japan places great emphasis on seniority and hierarchy, even surpassing China in modern times.
Even though Akira was a Special Grade sorcerer, his age of sixteen was a glaring weakness. Failing to remain humble and respectful was seen as deviant, even heretical.
Akira had anticipated all of this. Deliberately rubbing the microphone to create an unbearable noise, he watched as Gardevoir, dressed in white, floated out. Her powerful psychic energy swept through the room, instantly silencing everyone.
Only when the room fell completely silent did Akira return the microphone to its place and continue:
"I know some seniors may think I'm being presumptuous and disrespectful, but whether my words are boastful or truly defy convention must be supported by facts. And what I am saying is an indisputable fact."
"A month ago, I had an in-depth discussion on this topic with Yuki Tsukumo, the foremost expert in this field. Some may consider her unworthy as a jujutsu sorcerer, but I must say that she has dedicated her time to researching cursed spirits and cursed energy, aiming to solve problems at their root. I doubt anyone would question her expertise."
Of course, no one would question it. After all, Akira was clearly forming alliances, effectively pitting all Special Grade sorcerers against each other. (Gojo and Yuta were already aligned, Suguru had defected, and now Akira was teaming up with Yuki Tsukumo to form a scientific front.)
But Akira wasn't done. He added fuel to the fire:
"If anyone still thinks I'm unqualified, please answer a few basic questions for me: What are Pokémon? Where do they come from? Why are my Pokémon different from traditional ones? What impact will their emergence have on the world?"
"Whoever can answer these questions, I will retract my words, sincerely apologize to everyone, and invite them to join me on stage to complete today's presentation."
"No one? Not even one?"
Of course, no one could answer. Even Yuki Tsukumo, the "Urahara Kisuke of the jujutsu world," would struggle to answer these questions on the spot, let alone these stagnant conservatives.
"Even if not all, just one or two? Let's discuss and research together?"
Finally, someone stood up—a man in his forties dressed casually.
"Regarding the origin of the definition of Pokémon, there has never been a definitive answer throughout history. After Akira's Pokémon were officially revealed, I collected some legends and anecdotes about them. Excluding the artistically embellished images from entertainment works and the clearly impossible definitions like humanoid long-lived species, there are generally three origins:
Symbols of Nature—Primarily from European myths, where nature itself has a consciousness or subconsciousness, and Pokémon are extensions of it.
Manifestations of Non-Human Life Forms—Mainly from East Asian cultures, such as the Chinese belief that all things have spirits, or Japan's concept of Tsukumogami.
Products of Faith, Similar to Cursed Spirits—Originating from the Americas and Christian belief systems, where Pokémon are thought to have a special connection to angels."
"This senior has provided a very comprehensive answer. You must have put in a lot of effort. Thank you."
Akira immediately changed his tone, clapping and bowing sincerely.
First, the man's collection was indeed thorough. Second, Akira noticed the man's nameplate—Inuyama. If he remembered correctly, the Inuyama family was a long-time ally of the Zenin family. Akira had to show respect.
Returning the favor, Inuyama said, "It's just some trivial data collection. I'm curious, what definition will Akira provide? Is it one of these, or a completely new one?"
"It's what you mentioned, but not just one. It's a convergence of all three origins. They may seem conflicting, but they are inherently connected.
The unity of nature, or the Gaia theory, and the concept of spirits in all things are both external to humanity. Faith, on the other hand, is a human construct based on certain perceptions, creating images accepted by the masses. In a broad sense, both Gaia and the spirits in all things are forms of faith, definitions given by us humans."
"So, the root is still faith, something similar to cursed spirits?" someone interjected.
Though the person didn't stand up and thought they were well-hidden, they couldn't escape the perception of Pokémon. Gardevoir immediately glared at them, and Serperior even extended a vine, ready to bind them.
But Akira stopped them, taking the hit from the vine himself.
"I didn't say that. If that were the case, why would they have intelligence? Why would they feel anger at your words? Do cursed spirits express such emotions? All they think about is destruction, destruction, destruction."
"The three origins—human faith or perception—give Pokémon their form, which is why they have familiar features. But the unity of nature or the spirits in all things is their core. They are the children of both humanity and nature. If gods truly exist, you could say they are divine gifts."