“Brandon.”
Professor Uzuki also spoke in displeasure, thinking to himself that something was clearly off about Brandon today.
Why did it feel like he was deliberately targeting Aaron?
“Professor, I’m just questioning his ability.
Someone who hasn’t even attended an academy has no qualifications to be an assistant instructor for us,” Brandon insisted without backing down.
“Aaron hasn’t attended an academy, but the knowledge he possesses far exceeds most of the teachers here—and even more than yours,” Lorelei said unhappily, clearly defending him.
Brandon froze for a moment, then a shadow flickered in his eyes.
“Senior Lorelei, it’s been years since we last met.
How do you know he knows more than me now?
How can you be so sure I’m not stronger than him?”
“Because you’re fifteen and still not a Pokémon Professor, while he will definitely become one within three years,” Lorelei replied.
“That’s only in academic research.
My goal is to become a Pokémon Master,” Brandon said.
“Yet your best result in official tournaments is only the Top 16,” Lorelei shot back sharply.
Brandon clenched his teeth.
“Then I must still be stronger than him.
Tomorrow, I will defeat him and prove it to you, Senior Lorelei.”
He glared fiercely at Aaron before turning away in anger.
“Brandon…” Professor Uzuki frowned deeply.
He apologized to Aaron briefly before leaving in embarrassment as well.
“Lorelei, who exactly is this Brandon?” Aaron asked curiously.
“He’s my grandmother’s student.
He’s almost graduated.
When he was a child, he even stayed at my house for a few days.
Back then he was quite cute, about as well-behaved as you.
I didn’t expect him to become so unpleasant.
Don’t learn from him in the future,” Lorelei said.
“About as well-behaved as me?” Aaron tilted his head.
“Sister Lorelei, is he treating me as a rival in love?”
“What are you talking about?” Lorelei asked in confusion.
“He said he’ll defeat me to prove himself to you.
In general, when a man defeats another man to prove something to a woman, it usually means he has feelings for her.
It’s like in the animal world—two male lions fight over a female lion’s favor,” Aaron said very seriously.
“Is that so?” Lorelei replied.
Her impression of Brandon was already quite faint; they hadn’t been in contact for years, and he was only slightly more familiar than a stranger.
“Absolutely.
A man’s intuition,” Aaron said confidently.
Wait a second… I transmigrated into a Pokémon world, right?
Why does this “rival male villain competing for the heroine” trope exist here too?
No, actually… in the original story there were similar cases.
In Sinnoh, Dawn’s childhood friend Kenny once challenged Ash in the end just to prove himself and get Dawn to travel with him.
So Brandon’s behavior isn’t that strange.
After all, this is a real world.
Men, once grown up, tend to feel differently toward beautiful older sisters.
Like Brock.
Like Aaron.
Aren’t they the same?
“You’re still a little kid.
When did you become a man?” Lorelei laughed.
“I’m an adult already,” Aaron protested.
“Then do you also like older sisters?” Lorelei asked.
“That’s a very meaningful question.
Let me think carefully before answering,” Aaron nodded solemnly.
“You little brat, you’re actually considering it,” Lorelei said helplessly, flicking his forehead.
“Focus on your match.
Your opponent in tomorrow’s final is Brandon.
Even though his best result is only Top 16, his main Pokémon is Charizard, and his commanding ability isn’t much weaker than yours.”
“Charizard, huh?” Aaron frowned.
Damn it… why did it have to be Charizard?
While not purely Fire-type like Blaziken, it had wings.
It could fly.
In real battles, aerial advantage was extremely troublesome.
The joy from defeating Kenji instantly faded.
For Aaron, anything other than first place meant nothing.
Troubled by tactical thinking, he even lost interest in running the stall with Meowth and James that afternoon and spent the entire time pondering strategies alone.
The next day, Aaron appeared at the battlefield full of energy.
After thinking for a long time, he still couldn’t come up with an effective strategy.
Flying opponents were simply too broken.
He could only adapt on the fly.
“Final match: Brandon versus Aaron!”
The referee announced as usual, signaling the start of the final showdown.
“Finally, I’ve been waiting for you,” Brandon said proudly.
“Ever since I heard you defeated Kenji yesterday, I was glad.
I was afraid you wouldn’t make it to the final and I wouldn’t get to fight you.
Now I finally have the chance to show Senior Lorelei who the strongest really is.”
“Sigh… why does the academy even accept someone like you?
Is it out of care for the mentally challenged?” Aaron sighed.
Even regional champions don’t dare say that.
The stronger someone is, the more humble they become.
The weaker someone is, the more arrogant they act—you’re a perfect example.”
“Stop talking nonsense.
Look at the crowd cheering for me,” Brandon said confidently, gesturing around.
Indeed, banners reading “Brandon for the win!” filled the stands, with waves of cheers erupting from the audience.
Aaron rolled his eyes.
It’s your home turf of course they’re cheering for you.
If we were in my hometown of Pallet Town, I could gather a whole row of villagers to cheer for me too, you believe that?
“Aaron for the win!
Defeat Brandon!”
Suddenly, two voices rang out from the audience.
Brandon’s smug expression froze.
Aaron also turned around in confusion—and saw James holding a banner while Meowth waved a small flag, shouting at the top of their lungs.
Of course, it was just those two.
Aaron didn’t really know anyone else here, and Lorelei definitely wouldn’t shout so openly.
“Both competitors, please release your Pokémon immediately,” the referee said, unable to bear their argument any longer.
You’re here to battle Pokémon, not argue!
“Fine,” Brandon said, throwing his Poké Ball.
“Come out, mighty dragon soaring the skies—Charizard!”
A powerful Charizard appeared, flapping its wings and releasing an overwhelming aura that drew gasps from the crowd.
“Can you at least be educated?
Charizard may be called a ‘dragon,’ but it’s Fire/Flying type, not Dragon-type,” Aaron muttered, which only made Brandon even angrier.
He then released his own Ninetales.
Compared to previous matches, there were fewer cheers this time.
Since this was the final, many students didn’t want an outsider to take the championship.
Only a few unconcerned spectators were completely captivated by Ninetales’ beauty.
“You know nothing!
Charizard is the strongest Pokémon—far stronger than your Ninetales!
Just watch me defeat you and prove it to Senior Lorelei!” Brandon declared.
“Sigh… teenagers,” Aaron shook his head.
“Fifteen years old and still this childish.”
Then, suddenly, a thought flashed in his mind.
He smirked.
“By the way… there’s something I forgot to tell you,” Aaron said.
“Actually, I once slept in the same room as Sister Lorelei!”
If I can’t attack your Pokémon… I’ll attack you instead.