Adaptability

Red shows Psychic Ayane his newly discovered "meticulously-reinforced-normal-state." She identifies it as a mental shield—a rare, advanced technique that makes his mind intangible to other psychics, preventing entanglement, though indiscriminate mental attacks and Ghost attacks can still reach him. While it blocks the abra's connection, Red is still drowning in grief over his father since his partition weakened. Ayane attempts to breach the shield to help him but finds it impenetrable. She notes a bizarre anomaly: Red can feel her mind slip off his shield, even though she feels nothing—a physical impossibility in conventional psychic theory. For now, she suggests Red either wait weeks without using his powers for his partition to rebuild, or confront his trauma naturally.

At the Cerulean Gym, Blue faces Misty's Second, Ariya, in an outdoor island arena. Ariya uses Water/Flying types to counter Grass pokemon, relying on mobility and distance. Blue's squirtle, Maturin, holds her own against a swanna by utilizing a newly learned Ice Beam and Bubblebeam, but is forced to withdraw against a pelipper. Blue sends out his shiftry, Kemuri, who lands a Feint Attack before nearly being dropped into the bay via Sky Drop. Facing Ariya's agile mantine, Blue resists the urge to use his shinx—refusing to show his Electric trump card to Misty—and relies on his pidgey, Zephyr. Engaging in a grueling dogfight, Zephyr's endurance and hit-and-run Wing Attacks eventually force the mantine down. Mid-applause, Zephyr evolves into a pidgeotto.

Red consults Dr. Seward over his resurfacing grief. She advises him to keep his cuddliest pokemon, pichu, close for physical comfort, and to channel his pain into an action that would make his dad proud.

Meeting Leaf and Blue for lunch, Leaf reveals her conversation with Giovanni, frustrated by her suspicion that he used a hidden psychic to read her mind. Blue pragmatically argues that such tactics are standard for Leaders managing societal stability. Leaf decides to seek Professor Oak's advice. Red, inspired by Dr. Seward, proposes a charitable plan: instead of selling their caught abra slowly for maximum profit, they should sell them wholesale to hospitals and Rangers at a steep discount, expanding teleportation access and saving lives. Leaf and Blue quickly agree, recognizing both the moral and optical benefits. As they finalize the sale, Red finds his grief easing, replaced by a bittersweet pride in honoring his father's legacy.