Aoi walked onto the stage with his head held high, pulling out an exquisite Poké Ball from his pocket. The ball even had a silver-plated rim.
"Let me show you the training methods of an Academy Faction elite."
He elegantly tossed the Poké Ball.
"Bellsprout, display the results of our special training."
White light flashed, and a Bellsprout appeared in the arena. Its leaves were glossy, its posture upright—clearly raised with meticulous care.
Yuuto simply waved his hand.
"Butterfree."
Butterfree fluttered lightly into the arena.
Aoi touched his ear—a habit he had developed during academy battles.
"Bellsprout, use Vine Whip!"
Two vines lashed out swiftly.
"Butterfree, Gust."
Butterfree flapped its wings, stirring up a powerful gust. The Vine Whips were blown apart before they could even connect, and Bellsprout staggered backward.
"Sleep Powder."
Pale yellow powder drifted down with the wind.
Before Bellsprout could recover, it inhaled the powder, closed its eyes, and collapsed.
"What?!"
Aoi froze.
From start to finish, the battle lasted less than ten seconds.
The crowd went silent for a moment—then exploded.
"That's it? Academy elite?"
"Didn't even last ten seconds!"
"Special training? The wild Bellsprout near my house is tougher!"
The independent Trainers finally vented their pent-up frustration.
Nagi's face turned ugly.
"Aoi, you… get down here!"
Aoi's face flushed red. He recalled Bellsprout and hurried back, completely losing his earlier composure.
"Next."
Yuuto's calm voice echoed.
The Study Tour Group fell silent.
"I-I'll go!"
The curly-haired girl stepped forward—the same one who mocked Yuuto earlier.
"I'm using Zubat! Flying-types aren't afraid of you!"
"Oh."
Yuuto didn't even switch Pokémon.
"Butterfree, continue."
"Zubat, Wing Attack!"
Zubat swooped down.
"Confusion."
A blue glow flashed—
Zubat froze midair, completely immobilized.
"Throw it out."
With a flick, Zubat slammed into the ground and fainted instantly.
Another one-shot.
The girl stood there speechless.
"Next."
Yuuto sounded like he was calling roll.
The group's morale began to crumble.
A glasses-wearing boy stepped up nervously with an Abra.
The moment Abra appeared—it fell asleep.
"Wake up! Use Confusion!" the boy panicked.
Too late.
"Poison Powder."
Purple dust settled. Abra was poisoned in its sleep, losing stamina rapidly.
"Return! Return!"
The boy recalled it and fled.
Four losses.
Five.
Six…
One after another, they were defeated—Rattata, Pidgey, Nidoran♀…
None lasted more than thirty seconds.
Butterfree even began to toy with them—
Sleep Powder.
Poison attrition.
Or simply tossing them out with Confusion.
No matter what—
Instant defeat.
The crowd grew louder.
"Now this is real battling!"
"Academy stuff is useless!"
"Memorizing textbooks won't save you in a fight!"
"Yuuto didn't crush us this easily yesterday—so we're stronger than them!"
That logic spread quickly.
Yesterday: "close fights."
Today: complete domination.
Conclusion?
The "uncivilized" Trainers > the "noble" Academy faction.
Nagi's face cycled through green, purple, and black.
The group lowered their heads in shame.
Then came the final few.
A spiky-haired boy sent out Spearow weakly.
"Spearow… charge…"
"Pidgeotto."
Yuuto switched.
The moment Pidgeotto appeared, Spearow trembled.
"Wing Attack."
One strike.
Spearow collapsed instantly.
The boy ran off in panic.
Now—
Only Nagi remained.
He stood trembling.
Not fear.
Rage.
He had brought this group to show superiority—
And got completely humiliated.
"Th-they… they just enrolled!" Nagi shouted.
"They lack real battle experience!"
The excuse sounded hollow.
Boos erupted.
Nagi snapped.
He leapt onto the stage and pointed at Yuuto.
"I'll go! I'll expose your fake record!"
He threw a Poké Ball.
"Come out, Growlithe!"
A powerful Growlithe appeared—glossy fur, strong muscles, sharp eyes.
Even the crowd quieted.
This one was different.
Nagi regained confidence.
"My Growlithe is a high-potential Pokémon carefully chosen by my family!"
Yuuto nodded.
"It is indeed good."
Then—
"Pikachu, your turn."
"Pika!"
Seeing Pikachu, Nagi relaxed slightly.
Electric vs Fire = even.
Growlithe = higher potential.
Better training.
Advanced moves.
I can win.
"Growlithe, Agility!"
Blur.
"Flamethrower!"
Fire blasted toward Pikachu.
"Quick Attack, dodge."
A flash of yellow—easily evaded.
"So fast?!"
"Continue Flamethrower—block escape!"
Three fire streams formed a trap.
A textbook tactic.
Nagi smiled.
"Thunderbolt."
Yuuto spoke calmly.
Pikachu stood still—
PIKA—CHUUU!!!
Lightning exploded outward.
The flames were obliterated instantly.
Growlithe was engulfed—
A cry.
Silence.
Growlithe collapsed, blackened.
Less than a minute.
Nagi froze.
His mind blank.
This… isn't what the textbook said…
Silence.
Then—
"WOOOAH!!!"
The crowd erupted.
"YUUTO! YUUTO! YUUTO!"
Nagi recalled Growlithe mechanically.
He couldn't accept it.
An elite.
With a premium Pokémon.
Defeated by a "common" Pikachu.
"Impossible…"
The group stood silent.
Some ashamed.
Some… staring at Yuuto.
The curly-haired girl whispered:
"…He's actually kind of handsome."
These academy students—
Admired strength above all.
And Yuuto had completely crushed them.
Yuuto ignored them and walked back.
Misty jumped excitedly.
"Yuuto! That was amazing!"
Delia smiled warmly and handed him medicine.
Yuuto checked his progress.
290 wins.
Only ten left.
"That's enough."
He began packing.
"No more battles?"
"Are you leaving?"
"The last ten will be on the road," Yuuto said.
"Want to challenge? Follow me."
Same rules.
Only ten matches left.
The crowd lit up.
Travel with him = chance to win.
Exactly as Yuuto planned.
He glanced once at the defeated group.
Nagi stood frozen.
Others showed mixed emotions.
Yuuto simply smiled faintly.
Then left with Misty and Delia.
---
On the road—
Misty laughed.
"Did you see Nagi's face?! That was priceless!"
Delia added gently:
"His Growlithe was strong… but his commands were flawed."
Yuuto nodded.
"Battles are dynamic. Textbooks are rigid."
"A Trainer who only memorizes will never become strong."
He checked his team.
Massive improvement.
Pikachu → refined control
Pidgeotto → better aerial combat
Butterfree → multi-powder mastery
Levels:
Pikachu: Lv23 → Lv26
Pidgeotto: Lv25 → Lv27
Butterfree: Lv16 → Lv20
All now Ordinary rank or higher.
But Yuuto didn't relax.
Next opponent:
A true one.
A Trainer with 99 consecutive wins—
Not like the academy students.
Someone dangerous.
Yuuto took out three Beginner Candies.
"Pidgeotto."
He fed them.
Energy surged.
Light enveloped it.
Its aura soared—
Pidgeotto Lv27 → Lv30