“Poliwag!
Thank goodness!
I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”
Poliwag jumped into the girl’s arms.
“Did you help me find it?
Thank you so much!”
“Teacher!”
Four children about Max’s age came running over.
Three of them had a Magby, a Pidgey, and a Rattata, while the fourth had no Pokémon of his own.
The Poliwag was probably his partner.
“Did you find Poliwag?” the boy with the Magby asked.
“Great, Kenny!
Now you don’t have to worry anymore!” the girl with the Pidgey said as she walked over to the boy without a Pokémon.
“Don’t let it run away again, Kenny!” another boy complained harshly.
“Because of you, everyone’s lessons were interrupted!”
“S-sorry…”
Kenny lowered his head in shame.
“Why are you talking to him like that?” the girl immediately defended Kenny.
“You know Kenny is afraid of Pokémon and can’t even bring himself to touch them!”
“Enough!
You two, stop arguing.”
The young teacher immediately silenced them.
“Yes…”
“Then, Kenny, I’ll take Poliwag back now.”
The teacher gently patted Kenny on the head.
“You don’t need to cry.
I know you’ve already tried very hard.
All right, everyone.
Let’s go back to the Pokémon Trainer’s School!”
Ash and the others introduced themselves and learned that the Pokémon Trainer’s School taught all kinds of Pokémon-related knowledge.
“Awesome!
Sis, I want to visit too!
Can we?” (✧▽✧)
Max immediately became interested and began pleading with May.
“Um… You’re suddenly asking me… I…”
May awkwardly looked at Ash.
“No problem.
Let’s go take a look.
The Gym challenge isn’t urgent anyway.
Besides, I don’t think the Gym Leader has time right now.
Right, Gym Leader Roxanne?”
Ash looked at Roxanne.
“Oh my, you recognized me.
Are you here to challenge the Gym?” Roxanne asked with a smile.
“Yes.”
“What?!
Roxanne is a Gym Leader?!” everyone exclaimed.
“Yes, but I’m rather busy at the moment.
Before we go to the Gym, why don’t you visit our school?”
“Yay!
Awesome!” ヾ(≧▽≦)ノ
Max jumped happily.
The group followed Roxanne to the Pokémon Trainer’s School.
Roxanne returned to the classroom with the four children, while the principal personally welcomed Ash and his friends.
“I never expected you two to be the children of Petalburg Gym Leader Norman!” the principal said warmly.
He led them to a classroom and opened the door.
“Come and see the class I’m most proud of!
These students are training to become Pokémon Professors!”
“Ah!
I want to see the beginner class,” Max protested.
Protest +1.
They moved to another classroom.
“This is the class specializing in Pokémon Contests,” the principal introduced.
“Pokémon Contests!” (✧▽✧)
May immediately stopped walking.
“I want to see the beginner class,” Max protested again.
Protest +2.
Next came an advanced class, where students were demonstrating a battle between Typhlosion and Feraligatr.
“Ah!
I want to see Teacher Roxanne’s beginner Trainer class!”
Max finally could not endure it any longer.
“Oh dear, I completely forgot!
This way.”
The principal was not offended and simply smiled as he led Max along.
As soon as Ash and the others arrived, they heard a familiar voice coming from inside.
“That’s how it is.
Now you understand that Pokémon come in all different kinds, right?”
“Yes!”
Professor Oak was teaching the children through a video call.
“Hi, Professor Oak!
Long time no see!
I didn’t expect to meet you this way,” Ash and Brock greeted him.
“At the Pokémon Trainer’s School, we also invite Professor Oak to teach classes remotely,” Roxanne explained proudly.
“Ash and Brock!
Long time no see!
Ash, the matter you asked me to handle has been completed.
And that Pokémon you sent me—let me study it for a while first!”
Professor Oak then noticed Max, who was practically trembling with excitement.
“You must be Max.
Hello!”
“Really?
Thank you, Professor Oak,” Ash said.
“Uh… I…”
Max was too excited to speak properly.
“Haha!
Don’t be nervous!”
Professor Oak laughed.
“By the way, Ash, have you finished your Gym battle yet?
Who won?”
“No, Professor.
We haven’t had the Gym battle yet,” Roxanne answered.
Then she turned to Ash.
“Ash, I’ll be teaching here until tomorrow.
Would it be all right to have your Gym battle the day after tomorrow?”
“No problem.”
“Roxanne, make sure Ash has a battle without any regrets!”
Professor Oak then turned toward the children.
“Well then, goodbye, everyone.
And you should all go out and catch Pokémon too!”
Just as the call was about to end, Max finally gathered his courage.
“Professor Oak!
I’ve read all of your books, and I listen to your Pokémon lectures on the radio too.
So… I really, really respect you!”
Max looked at him with determination.
“It’s my honor.
Thank you, Max.”
Professor Oak smiled and nodded before ending the call.
Afterward, they took part in a Pokémon knowledge quiz with the children, and Ash and the others were given permission to audit classes for the day.
May went to the Pokémon Contest class, while Max attended the beginner class.
Ash first went to the advanced class to earn some points.
Later, in the beginner class, he helped Kenny overcome his fear of Pokémon and even drove off the Team Rocket members who had come to interfere.
A full and fulfilling day passed.
With all that experience, Ash’s Pokémon grew significantly stronger.
Taillow and Phanpy both advanced to the Mid-Elite Tier.
“Ash, I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s battle!
I’ll be using my full strength,” Roxanne said.
“Me too!”
That evening, Ash and the others were eating dinner when May made an announcement.
“Everyone, I’ve decided to give up challenging Gyms and focus on Pokémon Contests.”
Ash and Brock supported her, but Max had the hardest time accepting it.
“What?
You’re going to focus on Pokémon Contests, sis?
You finally became a Pokémon Trainer, and now you won’t challenge Gyms?
You could develop in both directions like Ash!”
“I don’t have the energy Ash does to pursue both.
And I prefer Pokémon Contests.”
May looked toward Ash.
“Ash, thank you.
When I first started traveling, I wasn’t very close to Pokémon, but now I love them!”
May’s eyes shone.
“Come on, Max.
Everyone has their own ambitions.
May has chosen her goal, and we should support her.”
Ash smiled.
“May, becoming a Pokémon Coordinator isn’t easy either.
You’ll have to work hard!”
“Yes!
I’ll work hard!
Thank you for supporting me.
Max, you have to cheer for me too!”
“Of course I will!”
Afterward, Ash exchanged some Pokémon at the Pokémon Center to prepare for his Gym battle the next day.
To be continued…
….