"Kyosuke, you're here. Sit." Kinoshita pointed to an empty chair by her desk.
Kyosuke, head bowed like a scolded quail, shuffled to the desk, sat, and mumbled, voice barely audible, "Teacher… I was wrong… I shouldn't have played with the electronic pet in class… I shouldn't have disrupted the lesson…"
He braced for criticism, maybe even harsher punishment.
But, to his surprise, Kinoshita didn't scold or lecture as he'd feared.
She pulled the familiar red-and-white Poké Ball from her drawer, gently placing it on the desk and sliding it toward him.
"Pikachu's pretty cute, right?"
She looked at him calmly, a hint of a smile in her eyes, like warm sunlight easing his anxiety.
Kyosuke stared at the Poké Ball, then at her, dumbfounded. This wasn't the opening he'd expected.
Then, Kinoshita pulled something from her handbag.
It was another electronic pet!
Hers had shiny Meowth stickers, its round shape in pale yellow and tan.
Smiling, she lit the screen, saying, "Look, Teacher has one too."
On the screen, a pixelated cat appeared, smugly wagging its curled tail, its signature gold coin glinting as it rubbed it with both paws.
"It's Meowth!"
Kyosuke's eyes widened, mouth agape, big enough to fit an egg. He glanced from her Meowth to his Pikachu, mind reeling.
Teacher Kinoshita… had a Pokémon electronic pet? And it was Meowth!
It was unbelievable! Teachers were supposed to be stern and serious—how could she play with a kid's toy?
"I think they're adorable too. Couldn't resist getting one," Kinoshita said, her smile carrying a playful, childlike mischief, like sharing a little secret.
Seeing Kyosuke's speechless shock, her tone softened.
"I understand how exciting it is to get a favorite toy. When I got my Meowth, I couldn't stop looking at it, wanting to interact with it all the time."
"But, Kyosuke," she continued, her eyes turning serious but not harsh, "studying is like charging up our Pikachu or my Meowth."
"Only by learning enough and growing stronger can we understand the world better. Then we can take better care of them, make them stronger and livelier, right? If the trainer's all muddled, how can their Pokémon reach their full potential?"
She avoided grand lectures, guiding him in a way he could relate to, tied to his interests.
"Plus, staring at that tiny screen too long isn't good for our eyes. If Pikachu knew its trainer's eyesight was suffering because of it, it'd worry—maybe even cry quietly."
Kyosuke nodded, half-understanding, his awe of Kinoshita shifting to a newfound closeness and trust. His cheeks cooled, his heartbeat steadied.
This young teacher felt different from others he'd known. She wasn't lofty—she was like a big friend who got him.
Finally, Kinoshita extended her pinky, wiggling it with a playful grin.
"Let's make a three-part promise, like a pact between a trainer and their Pokémon."
Kyosuke hesitated, then extended his pinky, hooking it with hers.
"First, no electronic pets during school hours, including breaks. Let it 'rest' in your bag while we focus on 'charging'—listening attentively and thinking actively."
Kyosuke nodded firmly, meeting her eyes. "Yes! I promise!"
"Second," she continued, her tone lighter, "you can play with Pikachu only after finishing homework, checked by a parent or teacher. Like from after dinner to an hour before bed—time for feeding, interacting, or mini-games. That way, Pikachu gets attention, you get enough sleep, and you're ready for school, right?"
"Mm!" Kyosuke found this fair, even more reassuring than sneaking playtime.
"Third," Kinoshita tilted her head, eyes sparkling like a kid with a great idea, "since your Pikachu's so cute and my Meowth's fun, how about letting them 'meet' and 'bond' sometime? In a safe, non-disruptive way, we could try a 'friendly connection,' let them learn from each other. But…" She lowered her voice, feigning sternness, "if the pet causes you to slack on studies or disrupts school again, I might have to 'revoke' your trainer license, and Pikachu will 'retreat' at home until you prove you're a worthy trainer."
"Friendly connection?!" Kyosuke's eyes lit up, practically glowing with excitement. He nearly jumped from his chair. He'd read in the manual about Sega's communication port for the pet. Kinoshita knowing this and suggesting a Pikachu-Meowth meetup was mind-blowing! But her "revoke" warning snapped him back. He straightened like a soldier, nodding vigorously, voice loud: "Teacher, don't worry! I'll keep the promise! I won't mess up again! I'll work hard so Pikachu and Meowth can connect soon!" His mind raced with visions of their linked antics.
Kinoshita smiled warmly, like the gentlest spring sun. She slid the Poké Ball back to him. "Good. I'm giving it back now. Keep our promise—be a great Pokémon trainer and an excellent student."
Kyosuke took the Pikachu reverently, its familiar weight and cool shell grounding him. The joy of reunion mixed with gratitude and admiration filled his heart. He tucked it into his pocket, no longer empty, his chest warmed by a firm resolve. Kinoshita, once just a slightly intimidating teacher, now felt like a cool, understanding friend who shared his passions.
"Thank you, Teacher! I get it! I'll 'charge' hard and make Pikachu proud!" He bowed deeply, his face glowing with a radiant smile. Even playing Pokémon, Kinoshita was on another level—she was amazing!