Chapter 16: The School Champion?

Chapter 16: The School Champion?

"Excuse me, are you a first-year student?"

The question came from a senior student with a confident yet slightly curious tone. It wasn't hard to guess the identity of the girl standing before him. Rumors had been spreading about a first-year possessing a Dratini, a Pokémon as rare as it was beautiful.

Kei Hoshino, a second-year with an ambitious streak, had his doubts about these claims. Dratini was an elusive Pokémon, typically found only on the fabled Dragon Island. How could one appear here?

It was said that only select families in Kyoto, with exclusive ties to Dragon Island, had the privilege of forming bonds with such Pokémon.

Kei Hoshino glanced down at his own Growlithe with a hint of disdain.

Growlithe wagged its tail cheerfully, oblivious to its trainer's dissatisfaction.

Kei Hoshino came from a well-off family; his father was a professional Pokémon trainer officially certified by the league. That was how he'd managed to secure this Growlithe after much pleading.

But deep down, he wasn't content. First with his Charmander, and now with Growlithe, he always felt he deserved better.

If he could somehow form a connection with this girl, would he have a shot at obtaining a Dratini?

"..."

Sakura Hayashi gave him a brief, uninterested glance before nodding dismissively and looking around the area.

"Strange... where is he?"

She excused herself before Kei Hoshino could continue the conversation, jogging off toward another student. Kei Hoshino gritted his teeth, watching her leave.

"Brother, you were amazing!"

Sakura's clear, cheerful voice snapped Hikaru back to reality. After two days of trekking through the wilderness, her bubbly energy was almost overwhelming.

"Don't be cheeky," Hikaru said, reflexively tapping her on the nose, making her scrunch it up in playful annoyance.

"This is your Charmander, right? It looks amazing!"

Sakura's eyes sparkled as she inspected Charmander, its toned body and vibrant scales a testament to its rigorous training. She had suspected something special about Hikaru's Charmander when his points skyrocketed during the training event. Now, seeing it up close, her expectations were exceeded.

"Nothing compared to your Dratini," Hikaru replied with a wry smile, glancing at the serpentine Pokémon coiled gracefully on her shoulder.

As he used his Appraisal Eye, he couldn't help but let out a soft sigh of admiration.

[Pokémon: Dratini]

Ability: Marvel Scale

Gender: Female

Talent: Champion

Level: 25

Skills: Dragon Rage, Dragon Dance, Glare, Bind, Thunder Wave, Twister, Agility...

The introduction was short but clear: A Dratini with exceptional potential.

"Level 25?!" Hikaru thought, astonished.

Most of the school's third-year Pokémon were at the peak of the Ordinary Tier, around level 19, with few reaching the Elite Tier.

This Dratini was already far beyond that.

If she participated in battles, she could decimate the school's entire team.

Her background must be extraordinary.

"Whoever ends up with her in the future will be incredibly lucky," Hikaru mused.

He felt a twinge of melancholy at the thought of Sakura one day becoming someone else's partner.

Before he could dwell on it, a loudspeaker announcement interrupted his thoughts, instructing all students to regroup by class for the rankings and awards ceremony.

"Let's go, brother," Sakura said, tugging his hand with a smile.

The once-overbearing girl now felt lighthearted and carefree, a contrast that both amused and baffled Hikaru.

He moved to tap her nose again but hesitated, awkwardly scratching his head instead as she pulled him along.

Despite being in his thirties mentally, Hikaru felt a warm flush rise to his cheeks. He had spent his entire past and present life as a solo bachelor.

Before, they'd been kids sharing a cramped space in the orphanage. Now, holding hands with the matured Sakura felt completely different.

"How did she grow up so fast?" he thought, avoiding her teasing gaze.

---

Kei Hoshino's eyes darkened as he watched Sakura walk off with another boy—a boy accompanied by a familiar Charmander.

"That must be the one from the leaderboard," he muttered, narrowing his eyes.

He didn't recognize the trainer, but seeing Sakura gravitate toward him stirred a deep sense of jealousy.

"That girl... must've just been lucky to get a Dratini," Kei Hoshino thought bitterly. He had no idea the Charmander he was dismissing was the same one he had discarded.

He kicked his Growlithe in frustration.

"Damn it, how did I not get first place this time? You're useless!"

Growlithe whimpered in confusion, lowering its tail and trying to comfort its trainer. Kei Hoshino shoved it away, barking more insults.

"Back home, I'm going to work you to the bone, you pathetic thing!"

Unfortunately for Kei Hoshino, his actions didn't go unnoticed. A teacher patrolling the area stepped forward, reprimanding him harshly and demanding a formal apology to Growlithe, along with a 5,000-word written reflection.

---

On the bus ride back, Hikaru wasn't surprised by the occasional curious glance or whispered comment from his classmates.

What did surprise him was when Miss Qin approached with a beaming smile.

"Hikaru, you were incredible! Not only did you take first place among the first-years, but you're the top scorer in the entire school! The school's still deciding what reward to give you for this achievement."

"What?" Hikaru blinked, stunned.

The leaderboard wasn't limited to first-years? He had outscored even the second and third-year students?

Miss Qin nodded, her expression sincere.

"The school is preparing a special reward: a second Pokémon contract slot, your choice of a fire-type C-tier treasure, and ten Dragonfire Fruits."

Hikaru's eyes widened. The rewards were generous, far exceeding his expectations.

"However, there's a condition," Miss Qin added. "You'll need to join the school team starting next year and represent us in competitions."

Though momentarily hesitant, Hikaru found the offer fair.

"Alright," he agreed.

Miss Qin smiled warmly. "Good. In that case, you'll have plenty of freedom. As long as you keep your academic grades above passing, you can request time off whenever needed."

Hikaru leaned back, his mind already spinning with plans for the future.

This was just the beginning.

---