Wednesday, Tokyo Metropolitan University.
The charming English teacher with a sweet voice was lecturing at the podium.
Outside the window, the scorching sun blazed, while the lukewarm air conditioning inside made everyone drowsy.
Kazuya nudged Natsume and whispered, "Natsume, you don't look so good."
"Couldn't sleep well last night. The house almost caught fire."
"Huh? Did your neighbor have a Fire-type Pokémon?"
Natsume rested his chin on his hand, a look of helplessness on his face.
How could he explain that it was a Ghost-type Gastly that nearly set the house on fire?
Although the ignition point of phosphorous fire is only 40°C, Gastly's Will-O-Wisp also comes with area-of-effect explosive damage!
It's even more ferocious than some Fire-type Pokémon's Ember!
"Natsume, Kazuya, pay attention, please," the English teacher said softly.
"Learning English is the foundation of becoming a Trainer, you know!"
Kazuya vowed confidently, "Don't worry, teacher. I'll keep Natsume in check!"
The English teacher tilted her head sweetly.
Natsume glanced at the "JAVA Programming" book on Kazuya's desk and smiled without saying a word.
Bringing a programming book to an English class? Kazuya, you sure have some nerve!
"By the way, why haven't I seen Yuuichi today?"
"Yuuichi went to compete," Kazuya whispered. "The preliminary rounds of the 'Piplup Cup.'"
"He actually went to compete?" Natsume exclaimed in surprise. "I heard there are over 3,000 participants this year, and even some from Yokohama National University's Battle Department joined?"
"Yeah, the competition is fierce! But there's a 50,000 Pokémon Coins prize. Desperate times call for desperate measures!"
Natsume, who was on the verge of debt, sighed, "That's great. I wonder who this year's champion will be!"
Outside the 'Mercedes' Arena in Minato Ward, the place was packed with contestants participating in the preliminaries.
Most were seniors or freshmen from Pokémon Academies, aiming to secure a spot to take the [Junior Trainer License] exam.
As an officially recognized event by the Association, freshmen from the Battle Departments of prestigious schools like Tokyo Metropolitan University, Kyoto Institute of Technology, and Yokohama National University were all participating.
Yuuichi, dressed in branded training gear with a custom ball holder at his waist, took a deep breath. "Don't be nervous, don't be nervous!"
Yuuichi had always dreamed of becoming a Trainer. Although he narrowly missed getting into Tokyo Metropolitan University's Battle Department, he believed that even as a latecomer, he could still become a promising Trainer!
Looking around, he saw sharp-eyed Pidgeottos, muscular Machops, and beautifully patterned Beautiflys...
Groups of Battle Department students chatted and laughed, making the non-major Yuuichi feel out of place.
Yuuichi took another deep breath.
"Contestants with the following IDs and names, please proceed to your designated battle arenas!"
"ID: 2527, Hiroki, please proceed to Arena 7!"
"ID: 3534, Natsume, please proceed to Arena 7!"
Yuuichi initially felt relieved when his name wasn't called.
But upon hearing the familiar name, his eyes widened in shock.
Wait, Natsume wasn't supposed to compete, right?!
Rushing to the entrance of Arena 7, Yuuichi wanted to cheer for Natsume and tease him a bit.
But what he saw next left a lasting impression.
A sinister-looking Gastly, wearing a contestant badge, grinned eerily at the staff member.
The staff member, a young woman, looked puzzled and bent down. "Little one, where's your Trainer?"
"Did you get separated? But without a Trainer, a Pokémon can't compete alone..."
The staff member thought to herself, isn't this basically a forfeit?
Gastly widened its bloodshot, bulging white eyes, trying to look cute.
The staff member shuddered, forcing an awkward, pale smile.
"Why hasn't the contestant for Arena 7 entered yet?"
A man in a suit hurried over, and the staff member immediately perked up.
"Manager, here's the situation..." She explained, then turned to Gastly regretfully.
"Without a Trainer, you can't compete alone, okay?"
"Gastly..." Gastly's face turned pale.
After hearing the explanation, the Manager pondered for a moment.
With a keen sense of opportunity, he realized this could be a great marketing strategy.
If this Gastly could actually win without a Trainer, it would be an excellent promotional opportunity for the event.
This was a risk-free, high-reward experiment!
The Manager opened the gate to the arena and smiled. "Little one, welcome to the competition!"
Gastly's eyes gleamed as it floated into the arena, proudly wearing Natsume's contestant badge.
"Manager, what are you..."
"Notify the media reporters," the Manager said thoughtfully.
"This will be a perfect promotional opportunity!"
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the battle at Arena 7!"
"In the blue corner, we have Hiroki from Kyoto Institute of Technology's Battle Department. His competing Pokémon is..."
"Wow, it's the evolved form of the starter Pokémon Cyndaquil—Quilava, with flames reaching up to 150°C!"
"And in the red corner, we have Natsume from Tokyo Metropolitan University's Finance Department, with his competing Pokémon, Gastly!"
"Uh... it seems Natsume isn't present?"
In the audience, Yuuichi stared blankly at the eager Gastly.
What is Natsume planning?
He actually let Gastly compete alone!
Even if he wanted to forfeit, there was no need to bring Gastly all the way here!
Hiroki was equally confused.
Is the first match already a free win?
This is too good to be true!
Seeing that the Manager didn't object, the referee blew the whistle. "Begin!"
Hiroki commanded, "Quilava, use..."
The word "Quilava" takes 0.3 seconds, and "use" takes 0.2 seconds.
Given that Gastly's speed stat is 80, the same as Dragonite's.
Considering Dragonite can circle the Earth in about 16 hours,
How long would it take Gastly to circle a standard 10x10 battle arena?
Before Hiroki could finish, Gastly had already closed in on Quilava with a sinister grin, engulfing it in a dark mist!
The flames on Quilava's back dimmed instantly as it fell to the ground, crying out in pain.
The sudden turn of events drew gasps from the audience.
"Is it over already? That was so fast!"
The commentator exclaimed, "Without any commands, Gastly struck first!"
At that moment, Quilava curled into a wheel, its flames surging as it broke through the dark mist with 'Flame Wheel'!
Hiroki sighed in relief. "Ember!"
But Hiroki's command didn't take effect.
With a thud, Quilava crashed into the arena wall, dazed and seeing stars!
Gastly retracted its blinding 'Confuse Ray' and chuckled, slowly approaching the confused Quilava.
"Get up, Quilava!" Hiroki shouted desperately. "Use Ember!"
It's not like Quilava can just get up because you said so!
No matter how strong your bond is, you still have to follow the basic rules of battle!
However, in front of everyone, Quilava let out a piercing scream, and the flames on its back suddenly surged!
Under the 'Blaze' ability, seeing its opponent about to go berserk, Gastly quickly licked Quilava.
One 'Lick' caused paralysis, and two 'Licks' took it down.
In the silent arena, the sound of Gastly's slurping was unmistakable.
"The winner is... Gastly... no, the winner is Natsume?" The referee's voice was uncertain.
Glancing at the Manager, who was excitedly discussing something with reporters.
"Who is this Natsume?"
"Isn't he from the Finance Department? How did he beat the Battle Department?"
"Winning without a Trainer even being present?"
"Adding insult to injury!"
Yuuichi looked at the bewildered Hiroki, then at the grinning Gastly.
A strange sense of confusion rose in his heart.
Is this really the same Gastly that Natsume raised?
It's already trained to this level...
Natsume, you still say you don't want to be a Trainer!?