While Aaron was talking with Meowth, Lorelei’s speech also came to an end.
Thunderous applause erupted across the hall, expressing approval of her presentation.
But whether that approval was for her content—or simply for her beauty—Aaron couldn’t tell.
After all, most of the students at the Pokémon Research School were at the age where their hearts were easily stirred.
Aaron stood up and walked over with Meowth to meet Lorelei.
Beside her stood a kind-looking silver-haired elderly woman, who smiled warmly at him.
“So you’re Aaron, the one Lorelei often mentions,” she said.
“Yes,” Aaron replied, immediately recognizing her as Lorelei’s grandmother—Professor Utsu, a well-known academic in the field and a professor at the Pokémon Research School.
“Not bad at all.
This speech draft was very well written.
You might even become a new Professor one day,” Professor Utsu said approvingly.
“Grandma, I wrote that speech!” Lorelei quickly protested.
“Oh please.
Do you really think you can fool your grandmother?” Professor Utsu chuckled.
“If you had written it, at least sixty percent would have been about Ice-type Pokémon, thirty percent about Water-types, and the remaining ten percent about everything else.
But this speech—while Ice-types are still emphasized, only about forty percent—the rest includes Water, Fire, Dragon, and Flying types.
It also strongly emphasizes the bond between trainers and Pokémon.
There’s no way you wrote this.”
Exposed on the spot, Lorelei stuck her tongue out playfully.
Aaron was slightly stunned.
In front of others, Lorelei was composed and elegant.
Around him, she was a mischievous older-sister type.
But this kind of cute expression—this was the first time he had seen it.
Lorelei also noticed Aaron still watching and immediately flushed slightly in embarrassment.
She shot him a warning glare: Forget what you just saw, or I’ll freeze you to death.
Aaron played dumb.
If I had reacted faster, I would’ve taken a photo just now.
Professor Utsu laughed at their interaction.
“Aaron, Lorelei tells me you plan to become a Pokémon Professor first, then set out as a Trainer afterward.
Do you think you can adapt?
Research and battling are completely different fields.
So, what Pokémon do you currently have?”
“I currently have two Pokémon: this Meowth and an Alolan Ninetales.
I also have an unhatched Togepi egg,” Aaron replied.
“Alolan Ninetales?
“That Ninetales is a solid main partner.
Are you interested in joining the school’s Pokémon Competition?”
“A Pokémon Competition?
Isn’t that just internal to the school?
I can participate too?” Aaron asked.
“Of course.
An old woman like me still has some influence,” Professor Utsu said kindly.
“The competition is a one-on-one battle using only one Pokémon.
The winner gets five academic credits.
That won’t matter much to you, but there’s also a reward—a Pokémon egg.
Considering Lorelei’s recommendation, I’ll give you a hint: this Pokémon has great potential.
If raised properly, it will be very strong.”
“Then thank you very much, Professor,” Aaron said.
“Don’t thank me too early.
I only said you can participate—I never said you’ll win.
There are many excellent students here.
You may not be able to beat them,” Professor Utsu reminded him.
“Then I’ll treat it as experience.
But I’m confident,” Aaron replied.
“Young people having confidence is a good thing.
Registration is open now.
The competition starts in three days and, according to schedule, ends in about a week.
It won’t interfere with Lorelei’s Champion Challenge.
But you only have Ninetales right now.
Ice-types are easily countered by Fire-types, and there are quite a few students here who specialize in them.
You can go to the western river of the academy and try fishing for Water-types.
If you’re lucky, you might catch a Poliwag or even a Gyarados—both are good counters to Fire-types.”
“Can you really just fish for Water Pokémon?” Aaron asked.
“Yes, similar to the Safari Zone.
But you can only capture them naturally—no forceful methods,” Professor Utsu explained.
Aaron nodded, thinking to himself: If I really can’t catch one, I’ll just call Ash over.
Thirty Tauros—never failed before.
On one side, Professor Utsu, Lorelei, and Aaron were having a pleasant conversation.
On the other side, however, Jessie and James were in a completely different mood.
They had simply gathered together as fellow underachievers suffering the same fate.
Both were at the bottom of the class, struggling on the edge of expulsion.
They had originally attended the lecture just to earn some credits, but things had gone wrong—Jessie overslept, while James heard there was a Bellossom nearby and ran off excitedly to catch it, only to find it was just a Hoppip.
As a result, both of them arrived late.
Being late alone was one thing, but they even started arguing publicly, which made things worse.
The disciplinary teacher showed no mercy and scolded them for over half an hour, finally warning them: one more mistake and they would be expelled.
“What’s the big deal?
Just because he’s a teacher?” Jessie grumbled.
“But… he is a teacher.
We can’t beat him,” James said weakly.
“So what if he’s a teacher?
He’s old and only a teacher—no future.
I’ll definitely be stronger than him someday.
I’ll take all his Pokémon and leave him with nothing,” Jessie said fiercely.
“But right now, he’s still a teacher… we should think about how not to get expelled,” James replied.
“Fine.
What else can earn credits at the school?” Jessie asked.
“Not much.
It’s almost the end of the term.
The only way to avoid expulsion now is the Pokémon Competition.
If we get first place, we get five credits.
Second place is four, and even top four get three.
If we try hard, we might still stay,” James explained.
“Then we’ll enter it,” Jessie decided immediately.
“But the competition requires your own Pokémon.
You can’t use rental ones.
We don’t even have a single Pokémon,” James pointed out helplessly.
His original partner was a Growlithe, but he had left it at home when he ran away, and now he had nothing.
Normally, they only used school-rented Pokémon for training battles.
“Isn’t there a place where you can catch Pokémon for free at the western river?
Let’s go there,” Jessie said.
“But the Pokémon there aren’t easy to catch,” James said.
“Stop talking nonsense.
Are you coming or not?” Jessie demanded.
“…I’m coming,” James said reluctantly.