"Is Asama-kun really a student like us?"
"At this level, he's probably the strongest in our class. I wonder who's stronger, him or Toyokawa-san from Class B."
"I really want to see that."
A clamor arose from the students. Satoru's victory sparked a certain idea in Chihaya Anon's mind.
Huh? If I can form a team with him, won't I get a ton of attention?
Lucky I'm so glad I talked to him earlier
The truth was, Chihaya Anon was quite the glory hound.
Right now, she desperately wanted to invite Satoru to join her team.
[Bwahaha~ This is my Host's power! Did you see that, you fools! ?(ˊ?ˋ*)]
"Stop being weird. This was the power of me and my partners."
With no intention of paying the system much mind, Satoru slowly walked up to the practical skills teacher and silently collected his points.
Submit before the sublime power of your practical skills teacher!
The teacher, recalling his earlier behavior, lowered his head in shame, his scalp tingling with embarrassment as he entered a state of social withdrawal.
After collecting the points, Satoru walked away, paying him no further mind.
Who isn't a chuunibyou sometimes... If he had lost, he would have been just as embarrassed.
It was best to be understanding in these moments.
"Asama-kun~~" Seeing the two had finished their business, Chihaya Anon, filled with joy, prepared to dash over to Satoru.
"...Um... Asama-kun."
However, just as she was about to reach him, Takamatsu Tomori scurried in front of Satoru.
"After school, can you be with me?"
After saying it, she shyly lowered her head like a bashful flower bud.
This statement sent both Satoru's and Anon's minds into chaos.
"...Huh?"
...
After school, Satoru, Anon, and Tomori were together. Satoru now had a general idea of what Tomori was thinking.
Simply put, Tomori realized she was too weak, yearned to become stronger, and hoped to achieve that goal through training.
While Satoru thought it was natural for Tomori to seek him out, he didn't understand why she specifically had to ask him.
"Because... you beat the teacher, and he's busy."
"Pocha pocha"
Tomori nervously hugged her Piplup, looking over with the eyes of a small animal.
And I'm not busy?
Oh~ I guess I'm not.
Although Tomori's words were timid, Satoru found it hard to argue.
He wanted another Pokémon battle to improve both their skills, but the thought of his opponent being a Piplup, and his Froakie having already battled twice, made him dismiss the idea.
He couldn't just have Raichu battle a Piplup.
Piplup: I'd lose!
An image of a former acquaintance flashed in his mind.
"...That's fine, but why is Anon so excited? Does she really want to battle me that badly?"
Satoru turned his gaze to Chihaya Anon, whose face was beaming with excitement.
Puzzlingly, after hearing Tomori's words, Anon seemed even more thrilled.
"A team!"
Chihaya Anon excitedly moved closer to the two, completely ignoring the personal space between them.
Her mind was filled with the sounds of future praise.
Satoru was incredibly strong... and Takamatsu Tomori was the especially cute type.
If she could form a team with these two, they could stand at the top of the class, becoming the most dazzling presence.
For the glory-seeking Chihaya Anon, this was an irresistible temptation.
"What about a team?"
"What if I, Satoru, and Tomo-chan form a team? Once we have enough members, we can challenge the High School League. We can do it!"
"I see."
Satoru nodded.
The conditions for participating in the High School League were strict, requiring either 5,000 points for a solo participant or 15,000 points for a team, plus a certain number of qualifying match wins.
Satoru currently had only 1,500 points, a long way from qualifying. However, if he joined a team, things would be very different.
A team could provide more opportunities and resources, making it easier for Satoru to get closer to qualifying for the High School League.
Gaining points required immense effort and investment. Joining a team not only offered more help and guidance but also the enjoyment of teamwork and cooperation.
For Satoru, the allure of a team was currently irresistible.
Most importantly, if there was a rich girl on the team, he could rent good training equipment. He had thoughts of becoming a freeloader.
[Host, have you forgotten about me? Am I not a rich girl? Hmph~ ╭(╯^╰)╮]
I think you're a crazy lady.
Satoru ignored Furiko and began to think quietly.
The benefit of a team was undoubtedly that members could hone their skills against each other.
On a team, every member could improve their techniques and strategies by battling their teammates.
Once they reached a certain number of points, they could go together to the Tera Dome and the Wild Area to catch Pokémon.
Of course, there was a drawback. If any member lost a certain number of matches, the entire team would lose their qualification for the High School League.
In recent years, the League had been heavily promoting teams in order to recruit them to fight against evil organizations like Team Rocket.
Lately, it seemed Team Rocket's influence had seeped into every city.
"Okay, I'm in. I'll join the team."
Satoru had no reason to refuse, which made Anon even happier. As a "normie," Anon easily closed the distance between them. She probably didn't realize she was likely the weakest one on this team.
Great, Satoru LOVE
Next, Chihaya Anon's gaze turned to Takamatsu Tomori.
She knew that if she could get this cute girl on board, their team would become more and more famous.
However, Tomori seemed melancholic, her head bowed as if she had lost some of her spirit.
"I'm not on a team anymore..."
"Really? Then how about joining ours?"
"I won't join..."
"Huh?"
"It will just end in failure again."
Under the sunlight, Tomori's face looked pale. She hung her head and spoke sadly, her words revealing her inner pain.
Satoru and Anon looked on with confusion, puzzled by her words.
But soon, a gentle smile appeared on Satoru's lips.
"I don't think it will end in failure. No one knows the result. I want to become a Pokémon Master. Even if it sounds like a joke to others, and even if I don't know the outcome, I want to see it through to the end."
"The most important thing is what you want, isn't it, Tomori?"
The boy's frank voice made Anon's and Tomori's hearts skip a beat.
Become a Pokémon Master...
That's basically a fantasy at this point.
But they couldn't help but believe him, because his words were so sincere.
"Piplup thinks so too, right?"
Satoru, still full of energy, patted Piplup's head, transmitting warmth and strength.
"Pocha?"
"Pocha, pocha!"
Piplup, who had been confused just a moment ago, gradually grew determined under Satoru's firm gaze and nodded.
"I..."
Just as Tomori was about to say something, she was interrupted by Chihaya Anon's lively voice.
"Honestly~ Satoru, let's go train together! And let's bring Tomo-chan with us." Anon forcefully grabbed Satoru's and Tomori's hands and started running, full of anticipation.
"Ah..."
"Pocha?"
"Anon, where are we going?"
Satoru asked, confused, as he was dragged along.
"To RING! They've recently opened a lot of training fields there, and as students, we can rent them cheaply. Plus, there's a Grass-type Gym nearby! We can go check it out."
A Grass-type Gym?!
Satoru's body trembled slightly, an uncontrollable excitement coursing through him.
If you wanted to talk about the essence of Pokémon, you couldn't leave out the Gyms.
Who's the Gym Leader? I really want to have a battle!
...
Niji-no-Hane Academy, Cultivation Department, Class 1-A.
"Mutsun, are you going to be the acting Gym Leader again today?" Nagasaki Soyo organized the books in her hands, gently closing the last one and placing it in her school bag.
Then, Soyo turned to her friend Wakaba Mutsumi, who was sitting not far away, a questioning look on her face.
"Yeah... Are you coming too, Soyo?" Wakaba Mutsumi nodded lightly, her gaze calm and deep.
Her mother was the Celadon City Gym Leader and also a famous actress, so Mutsumi often filled in as the acting Gym Leader when she had time.
"I have to follow my boyfriend today, so I'm busy," Nagasaki Soyo said, her tone calm but with an unshakeable resolve.
"Huh?"
Soyo, the boyfriend you're talking about... is he actually your boyfriend?
Wakaba Mutsumi's brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of doubt in her eyes.
Nagasaki Soyo wasn't surprised by Mutsumi's doubt, but her heart was gradually heating up.
Satoru apparently won his battle against the practical skills teacher today... It's such a shame I didn't get to see it.
Good thing I had someone secretly take a handsome photo of him for me.
A pleasant smile appeared on Nagasaki Soyo's face as she saved the photo she had just received.
-------
Enjoying the story? Support the author and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!
Find me at My : pat*eon*com/RuneA
I, Herta's Fiancé, the Universe's Number One Male Fist (114 Chapter (Simulpub-Full) )
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Succubus in Sixth Street (250 Chapter)
Reborn in Type-Moon, My Sister is Aoko Aozaki (225 Chapter)
MyGO!! A Story Voiced by Me (90 Chapter)
BLEACH: Blade of Purification (100 Chapter)
Konoha: Starting the Game as Yoriichi (270 Chapter)
My Real Job is Spying on Konoha, but I'm Also its Hokage (98 Chapter)
The Pinnacle of the Navy! Starting from Being Captured by Garp (120 Chapter)
Watching Yu-Gi-Oh! short videos is making the veteran players lose...(59 Chapter)
Uma Musume : The Trainer Who Just Wants to Live (160 Chapter)
Zenless Zone Zero The Random Kamen Rider (120 Chapter)
Genshin Impact: It All Began With Me Being Stepped On by Arlecchino (80 Chapter)
Naruto: I Can Synthesize Summoning Beasts (50 Chapter)
Demon Slayer: The Great Swordsman's System, Disciple of Yoriichi (80 Chapter)
My Wife is a General, but I'm an Emanator of Abundance! (90 Chapter)
Type-Moon: My Nine-Fold Path (80 Chapter)
Uma Musume: They're Peeking at My Diary, and All of Tracen is Panickin (65 Chapter)
The Wild History of Type-Moon world (50 Chapter)
Reborn in Conan, But I Refuse to Be the Bad Guy (60 Chapter)
Ruan Mei is begging me to go back? But there's no going back anymore (60 Chapter)
Just a Slacker at Tracen Academy (50 Chapter)
Survival in Blue Archive (30 Chapter)
Kimetsu no Yaiba: Doma Wasn't Hated Today, Either (30 Chapter)
The Vibe of This Chat Group is a Little Off (30 Chapter)
If there's a particular novel you're enjoying on Patron, please give it a 'like' so I know to focus on it.