Lina brought Roy into the classroom and gave him a brief introduction.
She deliberately avoided mentioning that he was a Ghost-type Trainer before assigning him his seat.
It was the last desk by the window.
The legendary “protagonist’s seat.”
Like his dormitory, Roy’s desk was a single desk with no deskmate.
For exactly the same reason.
Picking up his newly issued textbook, Pokémon Care and Training Fundamentals, Roy flipped through its pages with interest.
Back at Mt.
Pyre, he had never really had the chance to read books like this.
The text covered the basics of raising and training Pokémon of every type, including the precautions Trainers should take.
Of course, it was only an introductory guide.
Nothing inside went into any real depth.
The truly valuable knowledge wasn’t something sold in ordinary bookstores.
Still…
After reading the entire book from cover to cover…
Roy realized something strange.
There wasn’t a single mention of Ghost-type Pokémon.
Even the Fairy type, which had only recently been officially recognized in the Galar region, had its own chapter.
Ghost types, however…
Didn’t exist anywhere in the book.
No wonder Professor Birch had been so excited after discovering I was a Ghost-type Trainer.
At the front of the classroom, Lina continued explaining the lesson enthusiastically.
Every so often she would tap a student’s desk and ask a question.
“Who can tell me…”
“Which two Pokémon aren’t good at flying, yet can both learn Fly?”
Roy silently thought to himself.
Well…
First, we can eliminate Groudon.
The chubby student who had been called on looked completely lost.
Unable to answer, he immediately glanced at his deskmate for help.
His classmate whispered quietly,
“Doduo…
and Dodrio.”
Seeing that…
Roy couldn’t help smiling.
This really feels like school again.
Watching Roy quietly reading instead of causing trouble…
Lina finally relaxed.
So far…
Roy hadn’t displayed any strange habits.
He seemed like a perfectly normal twelve-year-old boy.
She primarily taught Pokémon attributes and basic breeding knowledge while also serving as the homeroom teacher for the beginner class.
Ring!
Ring!
Ring!
The bell signaling the end of class echoed through the room.
There was still one class left before lunch.
Time really crawls when you’re waiting to eat.
While Roy wondered what the cafeteria might be serving…
A plump hand suddenly slapped down onto his desk.
Its owner clearly wanted to intimidate him.
Unfortunately…
He also happened to know Roy was a Ghost-type Trainer.
So his confidence only went halfway.
Ah…
Is this the classic school bullying scene?
“H-Hey!”
“You’re the new kid, right?”
“You’re…
you’re that Ghost-type Trainer everyone keeps talking about?”
Roy stood up.
At nearly 170 centimeters tall, he was already considered quite tall for a twelve-year-old.
Looking down…
He realized the chubby boy was almost half a head shorter than him.
For some reason…
The boy even resembled the vice principal Roy had met earlier.
The moment Roy stood…
The chubby student stumbled backward two full steps.
He looked genuinely afraid Roy might eat him.
Instead…
Roy simply stretched lazily before asking,
“Excuse me.”
“Do you know where the restroom is?” New chapters come out on g.com first.
“H-Huh?”
“Oh!”
“It’s…
it’s straight down that hallway…”
“Then turn left…”
“Thank you.”
Roy smiled politely before walking out of the classroom.
The chubby boy wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
A mocking voice immediately came from behind him.
“Oh wow.”
“You even called him sir.”
“What’s next?”
“Going to serve him tea?”
“The boss told you to give the new kid a proper warning.”
“But your legs were shaking so hard that you embarrassed yourself instead.”
“How’s Boss Roxanne supposed to look at you now?”
“You’re hopeless.”
The tall, skinny boy laughed openly.
The chubby student immediately shot back.
“Then why don’t you try?”
“W-Well…”
“That was Boss Roxanne’s assignment for you.”
“I mean…”
“For you.”
“Why should I go?”
His voice lacked conviction.
There was no way he wanted to provoke the academy’s only Ghost-type Trainer.
Much safer to let the fat guy test the waters first.
Ignoring him, the chubby student hurried toward another desk.
Sitting there was a girl with twin ponytails.
A pink hair clip decorated her hair.
She wore knee-high socks and carried herself with complete confidence.
Standing before her, he reported seriously.
“Boss.”
“I asked my uncle.”
“It’s confirmed.”
“He’s really the academy’s new Ghost-type Trainer.”
So it’s true…
The girl thought for a moment.
A Ghost-type Trainer as my subordinate…
That actually sounds incredibly cool.
She immediately made up her mind.
She was going to recruit him.
Just then…
Roy returned from the restroom.
Seeing the chubby boy again, he offered him a friendly smile.
At least…
Roy thought it was friendly.
The poor boy immediately hid behind the girl.
The girl stood up.
Unfortunately…
She was shorter than Roy and had to look up at him.
“Roy.”
“I challenge you.”
“If you lose…”
“You’ll become one of my followers.”
Roy blinked…
Then burst into laughter.
Roxanne.
The future Rustboro Gym Leader.
He remembered that she had also graduated from Rustboro Academy before eventually becoming both a teacher and the city’s Rock-type Gym Leader.
Compared to her future self…
The current Roxanne looked much younger.
She even carried a slight delinquent vibe.
So this is what she was like as a kid.
She’s actually kind of adorable.
Roy suddenly felt like teasing her.
“What if I win?”
Nobody had ever asked her that before.
She puffed out her chest proudly.
“I won’t lose.”
Roy shrugged.
“That’s unfair.”
“If I win, I get nothing.”
“If I lose, I have to become your underling.”
“I’m not interested.”
He lay back down on his desk.
After spending the entire morning cleaning out an abandoned warehouse…
He was genuinely tired.
Roxanne frowned thoughtfully.
He…
actually has a point.
After a moment, she nodded.
“Fine.”
“If you win…”
“I’ll do whatever you say.”
Roy grinned mischievously.
“If I win…”
“You have to write me a love letter.”
“At least five hundred words.”
“It has to be sincere.”
“No fake emotions.”
“And no poetry or prose.”
“…A love letter?!”
Roxanne’s cheeks instantly turned bright red.
She had never imagined Roy would make such a request.
She stood frozen.
People in the Pokémon world mature early…
But isn’t this moving a little too fast?!
Seeing her remain silent…
Roy shrugged.
“If you don’t want to…”
“Forget it.”
“I’m going to eat after class.”
As Roxanne’s most loyal lackey…
The chubby student finally gathered his courage.
“You’ve got some nerve!”
“How dare you…”
Before he could finish…
Roxanne interrupted him.
“Fine.”
“I accept.”
She had never once believed she could lose.
The chubby student stared at his boss in complete disbelief.
The skinny boy beside him sighed sympathetically and patted him on the shoulder.
“Brother…”
“Save your energy.”
“You’re cooked.”
Roxanne regained her composure.
“After school.”
“We’ll battle at the academy’s central battle arena.”
“They have official referees there.”
Roy smiled.
“You’re on.”
Roxanne turned around and hurried back to her seat, her face still bright red.
Why are you blushing?
The surrounding students slowly dispersed.
Truthfully…
None of them wanted to provoke a Ghost-type Trainer.
They had only gotten involved because Roxanne insisted on recruiting Roy.
But after meeting him…
They realized something.
Roy looked…
Perfectly normal.
One nose.
Two eyes.
Honestly…
He was even a little handsome.
Could all those urban legends about Ghost-type Trainers using dark magic…
Actually be completely fake?