Chapter 180
On Tuesday, September 22, the popularity of "Uchiage Hanabi" continued to soar. The song captured the essence of summer – a blend of excitement and anticipation. Music critics awarded it high praise, and record labels and agents came knocking.
Teacher Luke pondered his options – he knew that money wasn't the primary goal; it was all in good fun, especially when it came to teasing girls. Besides, he had a future plan in mind: setting up his music studio.
Despite various enticing offers, Teacher Luke chose to return to his laid-back routine of being a "salted fish." The season had transitioned into autumn, with the wind picking up and raindrops falling outside.
Luke swapped his T-shirt for a shirt and held Sylveon in his arms. He commented, "Autumn is the most annoying, especially when it rains."
Sylveon, with its ribbon, curled around Luke's arm, resembling a warm bundle of joy. Luke was surprised by this feature. Sylveon responded with a snort, indicating it wasn't in the mood to engage in conversation with Luke.
As the rain continued outside, Growlithe couldn't go for a walk, so he resorted to digging into the sofa, much to Luke's amusement. Luke was accustomed to Growlithe's peculiar behaviors and, with Sylveon in one hand, he playfully scolded Growlithe while rubbing the dog's head with the other.
Amid the rainy weather, it was a perfect time to lounge at home and listen to the soothing sound of the rain. Luke spent time playing games and discussing the upcoming scientific research summit with Cynthia.
"The summit primarily focuses on sharing academic achievements across various disciplines," Cynthia explained. "Scholars from different regions will attend, offering a valuable opportunity to learn from others."
Luke nodded, recognizing the importance of acquiring knowledge. Although subjects like Mega Evolution, Z-Moves, and Dynamaxing didn't pique his interest, he acknowledged the need to lead by example as his Pokémon continued to evolve.
"I hope I can adapt to this academic environment," Luke expressed, looking a bit apprehensive.
The Pokémon Studio, under Mina's guidance, had produced a multitude of Flying-type Pokémon designs. With technical support from Devon Corporation, the progress on the game was steadily advancing. Although Damien's involvement had diminished, Luke was content with the overall progress.
In the afternoon, the rain persisted. Luke sat in a wicker chair by the window, gently stroking the napping Sylveon in his arms.
"Jie jie~!"
Haunter brewed a cup of hot tea, handing it to Luke while pouring another for himself. They sat together, listening to the soothing rain outside, the raindrops dancing on the window pane, and the branches swaying gently. Low-flying Taillow and Pidgey added to the tranquil scene.
"This is the good life," Luke sighed contentedly, sipping his tea.
However, their moment of serenity was abruptly interrupted by a loud noise.
Hong long!
Luke's expression changed as he turned around. Squirtle, who had been doing push-ups in the living room, had left deep imprints on the floor beneath its feet. Its shell gleamed with a metallic sheen, and Squirtle scratched its head in embarrassment.
It had attempted to incorporate Iron Defense into its exercise routine, but the weight had suddenly increased, causing the floor to sink!
Luke couldn't help but chuckle. "You're quite something, Squirtle!"
Squirtle laughed foolishly, scratching its head. It wasn't really a difficult challenge to overcome – even Haunter and Sylveon could manage it with ease!
"AO WU!" Growlithe's eyes gleamed with newfound wisdom.
Everyone is so amazing...
I must continue to work hard and strive to be as outstanding as the seniors!
...
Once again, Teacher Luke added two emojis to the chat group.
One is Squirtle's "blushing foolishly" emoji.
The other is Growlithe's "angry dog head" emoji.
Here's how they can be used:
Gold: "Aunt Lorelei, could you teach me how to counter the Perish Song strategy?"
Lorelei, through gritted teeth: "I swear, if you call me 'Aunt' one more time, I'm kicking you out of the group!"
Gold: [blushing foolishly]
Or,
"I'm heading to the Faraway Isle. The Gym has been taken over by Pokémon. You won't be able to use Viridian Gym during this time," Blue informed Red.
Red: "Understood."
"Ferries are acting up in Johto lately. Please stay alert," added Lance.
Gold: [angrily rubs the dog's head upstairs]
The emoji portrays Growlithe getting its head rubbed and is a perfect fit for the scenario.
This emoji pack was created from animated pictures of Teacher Luke angrily rubbing Growlithe's head several times, selected carefully for this purpose.
Luke found it somewhat surprising that Gold could grasp the essence of these emojis so well!
Lance: ???
[Group member 'Gold' has been temporarily banned by admin 'Dragon Tamer Lance' for 24 hours]
Viridian Forest's Yellow: [Rubbing upstairs dog head]
Yellow: Oops, I made a mistake; I thought it was Gold upstairs.
Dragon Tamer Lance took a deep breath.
Since it was Yellow, he decided to forgive her!
Red added a '+1': [Angrily rubs the dog's head upstairs].
(Yellow blushing...)
In an instant, the group chat fell silent. Who dared to rub Red's head? Wasn't that asking for trouble?
Teacher Luke: [Angrily rubs the dog's head upstairs]!!!
This time, everyone gasped collectively.
The group leader acted on what everyone secretly wished to do but didn't dare. He sure had some major privileges.
With Gold banned, the group's tone gradually returned to normal. For the upcoming firework festival, Green, who had made good money selling fireworks, chimed in:
"It's almost the Mid-Autumn Festival, and now you can buy mooncakes at a discount!"
Blue: "You always have everything, don't you?"
Green: "Never underestimate a businessman's professionalism, you rascal!"
Brock interjected, "I'll take ten servings, can I get a discount?"
Green responded with a chuckle, "Of course! (Laughs)."
Teacher Luke chimed in, "I have a feeling it's better to make them yourself, @Brock."
Brock mused, "Hmm, you might be right. But I have no idea how to make mooncakes."
Teacher Luke then revealed his intentions, "Learn from me! Just pay a small tuition fee!!!"
Brock's eyes lit up, "Brilliant! If I learn from Teacher Luke, it's probably cheaper than buying them."
Green: ???
Why would someone who could afford to own a Growlithe want to steal my business?
"Teacher Luke, you're a monster!" Green protested playfully.
"Teacher Luke, you're a monster!" Erika, who loved black and pink themes, also chimed in.
Teacher Luke, ever the jokester, replied, "I'm not a monster, I'm a showoff!"
...
The Canalave City research summit was just a few days away.
On a particular night, Luke received a message from Dean Du, who suggested he visit a knowledgeable senior. The Dean mentioned, "He's an expert in Dark Type moves, and bringing your Haunter should help it learn a few new tricks."
Luke's face took on a cautious expression.
Dark Type moves...
Could it be that the senior could teach Haunter Dark Pulse, which it hadn't mastered yet?
While Squirtle couldn't learn Dark Pulse, this had the potential to create a serious power imbalance.
Luke asked carefully, "Is this about Dark Pulse?"
Dean Du responded with enthusiasm, "You've got it right! Dark Pulse is a challenging move to learn. Your Squirtle is lucky to have innate talent that others envy!"
Luke felt a mixture of emotions and let out a sigh. "Dean, you might not believe this, but my initial goal was just to pick up some lousy moves!"