The Existence Called Shirona  

It was a naked woman. The one who descended onto the ground exposed her skin shamelessly. However, with a few exceptions, she was not something to arouse desire. Most of her body was dyed red, suggesting she had slaughtered countless lives. A dreadful appearance. Her right hand was particularly stained. Blood was still dripping from it.

"Well, you were an interesting one among them."

Shirona felt like she was looking down on herself. She gazed at herself, screaming, as if it were someone else's affair.

The upper half of Oka's body, gripped in his opponent's right hand, was silent. He did not contort his expression in agony or fear before death. Perhaps he never gave up until the end. Or maybe he was reaped without a chance to react.

"You'll give points, right? Let me do it too. This guy is worth twenty points."

The voice that came from the woman's mouth sounded like an old person's. Oka's head was smashed. Shirona's body moved backward. She was trying to escape, but could not take her eyes off her opponent. The moment she did, she would be killed instantly. With that premonition, all she could do was back away.

"You... can't earn any points."

The woman's arm moved. After that, Shirona blacked out completely, failing to comprehend what was going on.

…

Shirona threw four Monster Balls. Fortunately, there were no cars parked in the apartment's parking lot. There seemed to be few residents originally, but the current situation was unlikely without some coincidences aligning. She didn't mind being seen. She had more important things to do than causing a stir with her Pokémon.

Shirona sat down, keeping her distance from them. Though uneasy, her Pokémon obediently waited for their master, who remained silent for a while. Lucario, Garchomp, and Milotic in particular looked apologetic, as if thinking it was their fault.

She tried to smile but failed. She could not escape reality or simply go about her usual routine as if nothing had happened. She was not that simple.

Anzu's son, Sho clung to Togekiss first. Then, with some hesitation, he approached Lucario and Garchomp he was likely seeing for the first time.

"Anzu."

When Shirona called out, her sister seemed about to say something but stopped halfway, grabbing Sho's hand.

"Let's go home. From now on, Sis and these creatures need to have an important talk. Let's leave them alone."

While thanking her inwardly, Shirona looked ahead. After waiting for Anzu and the others to enter, she covered her mouth. In the end, she had no idea what to talk about. Yet, contrary to her intentions, the words flowed smoothly.

"You may have been deceived."

Lucario perked up his ears, as if unable to understand what was just said. The other Pokémon were the same.

"How do I look? Do I seem alright? Do you think I'm Shirona?"

They all immediately nodded. Gastrodon tried to slither closer, but Shirona stopped it with her hand. If she interacted with them and caused ambiguity now, she would surely regret it later. Shirona thought she might not be able to forgive herself.

It could be a lie. Perhaps a prank by Gantz. But that was definitely her grandmother's voice. And she could not have misheard her own voice either.

The discrepancy in her memories further affirmed the facts. Some had said it: Gantz gathers the dead and makes them fight.

What if there was an exception? What if Gantz took special measures to bring Shirona, a being from the world she lived in, here? In other words, it did not call the real Shirona but created a fake one.

But there were strange points too. The Shirona over there had said these Pokémon did not exist there. Even Gantz could not replicate them, so it directly summoned only the Pokémon.

But why? She could not understand the reason. If only it had properly summoned the real her too. Or perhaps there was no clear meaning, and it was just to torment her. Or rather, Shirona felt that this side was correct. Gantz was not the culprit. She was.

She had some purpose and forcibly brought the Pokémon along as well. She had considered using them as tools. It did not seem like a farfetched delusion, for there was a clue in Gantz's rules.

The first option of the hundred-point menu: Release. It did not simply mean escaping the battles. Your memories during that time would also be erased. Normally, this might be a downside – while you could completely forget the suffering, you would also lose your connections to those you met after getting involved with Gantz. However, there was a way to purposefully use it.

Shirona furthered her thoughts. She had once done the same thing somewhere else. She had fought in Gantz's game and, after clearing it, chose Release. But it did not satisfy her, for her real family, her Pokémon, were not there.

Perhaps she had repeated this process many times. Shirona tried to confirm. For her, most memories in this world were related to Gantz. If she chose the first option, the memories associated with Gantz would be erased. In other words, all her experiences in this world would disappear.

Then, the previous week, she had finally succeeded in finding a way to summon the Pokémon. She did not know the specifics, but perhaps she had made some deal with Gantz. Considering their technological capabilities, it was plausible.

If so, what was this time about? What was her other self, unknown to her, plotting? What kind of unsavory scheme was she trying to use the Pokémon for?

Unconsciously, she might have been following that plan. The worst scenario could still unfold.

Only when the Pokémon reacted did Shirona realize she was making quite a frightening expression. Or perhaps...

Her head twisted further. The human named Shirona might not have existed at all. Perhaps she was an idol created by Gantz, a being using aliens to defeat aliens. If even her knowledge was fabricated, then the very existence of Pokémon was a lie too.

She thought it was a ridiculous notion but did not know how long that feeling would last. The nightmares continued as usual. The ruinous future was approaching.

When she looked up, Garchomp was right in front of her. Seeing its vivid red belly reminded her of the dream. It looked like blood. When the alien was before her, her thoughts went astray.

"Stop!"

A moment later, Shirona stared blankly at her own hand. She understood what she had done.

"Baauuu..."

Garchomp, struck in the belly, cried sadly. It took a step away from Shirona.

She could not even say "I'm sorry," despite regretting her actions. She loathed herself for gradually coming to assume her assumption was the truth, as if it were real, despite the remorse seeping in.

She could no longer bear the gazes of the other Pokémon either. She had never done such a thing before, not even suspecting or fearing her own family.

"I don't have... the right."

Shirona stood up and moved further away from them.

"Please, leave me alone. Go somewhere."

Her words indicated the opposite of her true feelings. While it was true that being with them had become painful, she should have stayed by her family's side, especially when cornered like this. Whenever something unpleasant happened before, Shirona had received solace from them.

But now, she did not know if she was Shirona or if she even existed at all. Her former title as Champion had faded as well. She had concluded that she did not have the right to use these Pokémon.

Everyone was at a loss for a while. But as Shirona kept her eyes lowered, they gradually began to move. Flapping their wings. Swaying their petals. Slithering their long bodies. Sliming away. Their anchors floated up. Lowering their ears, they walked on two feet.

The last one remaining, Garchomp, continued staring at Shirona. When she froze like a bronze statue, it slowly turned its back on her.

She had wanted to chase after them, to embrace their retreating forms and savor their touch. But her distrust in herself stopped her. If she stayed with them, she did not know what hardships they might face. She was terrified of what she might do or intend to do.

After spacing out for a while, Shirona too began walking. She did not feel like returning to the apartment.

The cityscape she had become accustomed to came into view. She felt that Osaka, including its diversity, had its charm. People came and went, without any Pokémon present. Observing this sight made the existence of the world she had been in seem uncertain.

As she continued walking aimlessly, she noticed a crowd had formed. From there, Garchomp emerged. A man in a suit chased after her, running.

"Even by force is fine. Come with me. Your power can be used. Let me confirm a few things."

Garchomp seemed quite bothered. Exposed to the stares of people amazed by her appearance, she tried to distance herself from the man. And then, she noticed Shirona.

Before Shirona could feel awkward, another emotion welled up inside her.

"You. Perfect timing. Persuade her too."

As Oka tried to continue, he showed a rare look of bewilderment.

Shirona could no longer hold back. In front of everyone's eyes, she broke down in tears.