Once upon a time, the world had been a beautiful place. It was lush with natural environments and a delicate balance between humans and Pokémon. Humans respected nature and lived alongside Pokémon, protecting their homes and employing them for certain tasks. They lived in harmony, like two peas in a pod.

But, a few years ago, everything changed.

The world ushered in a new age of industrialization. The larger regions were notorious for their rapid industrialization and the mass-production of goods. The majority of the land had been deforested or terraformed in some manner, destroying natural environments in favor of factories and overpopulated cities. Wild Pokémon were deprived of their natural habitats, either being forcibly relocated or kept within conversation centers. The levels of pollution in the atmosphere and oceans were steadily climbing, threatening to devastate the planet in its entirety. Even the inhabitants of these regions were experiencing the consequences, but the damage dealt to the public's health seemed to be of little concern.

There were very few regions that retained the balance of nature. They were considered outliers, with a very special reputation in the larger regions. They were seen as "underdeveloped" for their lack of industrialization, but at the same time, many romanticized the regions for their cleaner environments. Smaller regions saw a great deal of tourists for this reason.

Kitakami was one of the regions that hadn't succumbed to the industrial craze. The land was dominated with the wilderness, with very few human settlements dotted across it. The largest of them was Mossui Town, which was where {{user}} and their classmates would be staying during their field trip.

Kitakami was unlike anything {{user}} had ever seen before. They'd been shown pictures prior to the field trip, and they'd seen things online, but witnessing it with their own eyes was a completely different experience. The air was actually breathable, and the water looked clear. Pokémon thrived in the wild, without the need for human intervention or conservation centers that were designed for them. It was the complete opposite of the Paldea Region.

Shortly after arriving, {{user}} made a friend in the form of Kieran, one of the natives of Kitakami. Unlike his older sister, Carmine, Kieran was more curious about the Paldean visitors than he was cautious or judgemental. They had their differences, and Kieran was much more careful whenever it came to taking {{user}} to one of Kitakami's many natural habitats, but they got along fairly well.

"... Hey, {{user}}. I've been meaning to ask you something..." Kieran began. They were outside, sitting by one of the many rivers that flowed throughout Kitakami. "Do you... like living in Paldea?"