The excitement of attending school again had already worn off by the second day.
Roy sat at his desk, absentmindedly listening to Lena’s lecture from the podium.
Whenever she covered Pokémon type matchups, he at least pretended to take notes.
But the moment the lesson shifted to Pokémon breeding…
He completely checked out.
Today’s lecture focused almost entirely on raising Rock-type Pokémon, since most of the students owned either Rock-types or Ground-types.
The topic?
How to properly groom a Rock-type’s body.
Should you use a kitchen knife…
Or a rock drill?
The answer was obvious.
A rock drill.
Lena then patiently explained how to carefully shave away excess mineral deposits from a Rock-type’s body to reduce unnecessary wear and tear.
As for the expensive ores mentioned in the textbook…
Armor Ore.
Obsidian Iron Ore.
And other rare minerals…
Those were simply things to read about.
Very few ordinary students could ever afford them.
Most could only spend their free time searching nearby hills for common minerals to supplement their Pokémon’s nutritional needs.
Or buy inexpensive ores from the Devon Corporation.
As for specialized Energy Cubes designed for Rock- and Ground-type Pokémon…
Those often cost even more than rare ores.
Seeing Roy asleep on his desk, Lena chose not to wake him.
After all…
She had never raised a Ghost-type Pokémon herself.
The little she knew about Ghost-types was probably less than what Roy already knew.
Besides…
Both of Roy’s Pokémon were nearly Level 30.
And after yesterday’s battle…
“Disgusting” as his tactics were…
Passing the Beginner Trainer Certification shouldn’t be a problem.
Soon…
The morning classes finally came to an end.
The instant Lena left the classroom…
Roy opened his eyes.
They were perfectly clear.
He stretched lazily.
“So even beautiful teachers become sleeping pills when the lecture is boring…”
His mind had already shifted toward his after-school plans.
The dismissal bell rang.
Just as Roy stood to leave…
A slender arm blocked his path.
He looked up.
“Dewford?”
No.
It was Roxanne.
Yesterday’s defeated opponent.
Her face was completely red.
Without saying a word…
She shoved a folded letter into Roy’s hands.
Then covered her face and sprinted out of the classroom.
“…Huh?”
Roy blinked.
Then remembered.
Right.
That was the wager from yesterday.
“Heh…”
“So little Roxanne actually wrote me a love letter.”
Trainer Title Achievement Unlocked: Received a Love Letter from Future Gym Leader +1
Nearby…
One of Roxanne’s followers, the chubby boy, stared after her fleeing figure.
He muttered to the tall, skinny student beside him,
“If I beat Boss Roxanne too…”
“Do you think she’d write me a love letter?”
The skinny boy looked at him like he was an idiot.
“You wish.”
“First.”
“Your Geodude can’t even beat Boss Roxanne’s Onix.”
“Second…”
“This kind of thing depends on your character model.”
He glanced at the chubby boy’s acne-covered face.
“…”
“Actually…”
“Forget I said anything.”
The chubby boy exploded.
“My model isn’t bad!”
“Isn’t this face way manlier than that pretty boy’s?!”
The two immediately started chasing each other around the classroom.
Just as the chubby boy was about to catch him…
Roy stepped in front of him.
The boy froze.
Roy smiled kindly.
“Come outside.”
“I need to talk to you.”
It was an extremely…
“Nuclear-level kind” smile.
“I was wrong!”
The chubby boy surrendered instantly.
“Bro!”
“I shouldn’t have called you a pretty boy!”
Roy shook his head.
“That’s not why.”
“…Not that?”
The boy swallowed.
Then another memory surfaced.
Yesterday…
To hype up Roxanne before the battle…
He had run around telling everyone in every classroom that the new Ghost-type Trainer was about to get completely destroyed.
“I…”
“I shouldn’t have spread rumors yesterday…”
“I told everyone you were going to get beaten up by Boss Roxanne…”
Roy nodded.
“Yes.”
“And no.”
The boy’s face immediately turned pale.
Roy really had come because of that.
Well…
Technically…
Yes.
But not because he was angry.
On the contrary…
Without the chubby boy’s enthusiastic advertising…
There never would have been such a huge crowd yesterday.
Without that crowd…
Roy wouldn’t have earned nearly so many Popularity Points.
In Roy’s eyes…
This kid was a natural-born promoter.
And talented people…
Were hard to find.
After suffering yesterday’s triple defeat…
In strength.
In presence.
And even in eating.
The poor boy had gone home and only allowed himself ten steamed buns for dinner as his “diet meal.”
He still hadn’t recovered.
Which explained why the skinny kid had escaped earlier.
“So…”
“What…
what do you want?”
Roy glanced around the classroom.
Too many people.
This conversation required privacy.
“Let’s talk outside.”
Without waiting for an answer…
Roy casually wrapped an arm around the boy’s shoulders and walked toward the door.
The boy desperately dug his heels into the floor.
He clearly had no desire whatsoever to be alone with Roy.
Unfortunately…
His 160-pound body was effortlessly dragged outside.
As he was pulled away…
He silently mouthed two words to the rest of the class.
Help me…
Everyone stared.
Roy’s strength was ridiculous.
Wasn’t he supposed to be a Ghost-type Trainer?
Why did he look more like a Fighting-type specialist?
Since Roxanne wasn’t around…
Nobody dared stop him. This story is hosted at g.com.
Only the skinny boy grinned happily as he watched his unfortunate friend being dragged away like a dead Magikarp.
Outside the classroom…
Under a large tree…
Roy gently pinned the chubby boy against the trunk.
The poor boy nearly burst into tears.
“Big Brother!”
“I was wrong!”
“Please don’t use black magic on me!”
“I shouldn’t have gone against you!”
“My uncle is the academy’s dean!”
“If you need anything, just ask him!”
“Please don’t kill me!”
Roy blinked.
“…Black magic?”
“Who said anything about killing you?”
He shook his head.
This was a society governed by League law.
Who casually murdered people?
The boy cautiously opened one eye.
“…You’re…
not going to kill me?”
Roy sighed.
“No.”
“Then…”
“Why did you bring me out here?”
“I already told you.”
“I need your help.”
“…Me?”
The chubby boy pointed at himself in disbelief.
“Yes.”
“You.”
Roy leaned closer and whispered his plan into the boy’s ear.
The boy’s expression changed so many times…
It looked like a master of face-changing opera.
“…Big Brother…”
“Are…”
“Are we really doing this?”
“Won’t you get beaten to death?”
Roy shrugged.
“I’m the one getting beaten.”
“Why are you scared?”
The boy thought about it.
“…That’s actually true.”
Looking at it that way…
Roy really didn’t seem to have any bad intentions.
After a long pause…
The trouble-loving chubby boy finally nodded heavily.
“I’ll help you.”
Mostly…
Because Litwick had suddenly appeared on Roy’s shoulder.
Its tiny blue flame stared directly at him.
The boy had a strong feeling…
If he refused…
Litwick would burn him on the spot.
“That’s more like it.”
Roy smiled with satisfaction.
He even reached out and straightened the collar of the boy’s oversized XXXL academy uniform.
…
When Roxanne finally returned to the classroom…
Roy was already gone.
One of her close friends spoke up.
“I think Roy went toward the battle arena.”
“He left with your little brother.”
“…Together?”
Roxanne blinked.
Since when had those two become friends?
She hesitated.
“…Did…”
“Did he leave any message for me?”
Her friend looked confused.
“A message?”
“What message?”
Roxanne quickly shook her head.
“N…
nothing.”