At Sea

Red and Leaf board the S.S. Anne Cruise Convention. Red immediately discovers that his recent psychic research has spawned a flood of garbage, algorithmically generated papers drawing meaningless correlations—such as linking psychic potential to nose size in drowzee. The two spend the day exploring tech exhibits, marveling at augmented reality visors that calculate live damage in battles via Tackle and Double-Edge, remote-controlled pokeballs utilizing Sleep Powder from an oddish, and lab-grown artificial meat. Leaf convinces Red to attempt vegetarianism once the cruise is over.

At lunch, Red happens to sit next to Kazue Silph, CEO of Silph Co. Hearing Red's frustration with the junk science papers, Silph advises him that incentives govern everything: academia demands publication above all else. He urges Red to simply ignore the noise, consider the algorithms a crude filter, and maintain ruthless discipline over his time. Red takes this to heart, finally resolving to formally accept Sabrina's offer to become her psychic pupil, knowing it will cost him his time as a researcher and trainer.

Later, while practicing his psychic senses in the dining hall, Red is stunned to detect over a dozen psychic minds meticulously and symmetrically arranged throughout the room. As he and Leaf map out their locations, the mental block Red had been using to suppress his feelings cracks. A profound realization hits him: he has developed a massive crush on Leaf, and the prospect of leaving her and Blue to study under Sabrina fills him with dread.