The Autumn Outing (Part 2)

Hoenn Region, Lavaridge Town.

One by one, the buses parked in front of the Lavaridge Town Pokémon Center. Under the supervision of the teachers, the students slowly disembarked and began moving their luggage inside.

As per the school's arrangements, the students would stay at the Pokémon Center for the first night. Each room would house two students, and this applied to the teachers as well.

However, since there was an odd number of students in the first-year battling class, Steven made a request for Johan to share a room with him, instead of the original arrangement where Johan would have bunked with their homeroom teacher, Dolf.

Truth be told, Johan wasn't entirely thrilled about sharing a room with another man, but since it was the school's arrangement, and even the Devon Corporation heir Steven had no objections, Johan decided he should set a good example as a teacher.

Besides, compared to the muscled-up Dolf... it was much easier to accept sharing with Steven.

In addition, Johan was much closer in age to Steven than Dolf.

Once everyone settled into their rooms, Dolf announced that the afternoon and evening would be free time, much to the students' delight.

Of course, free time meant they could only explore Lavaridge Town itself. If anyone wanted to leave town, they needed the teachers' approval.

As noon approached, the students grouped up and left the Pokémon Center to find food. Johan, too, was invited by Steven, Roxanne, and Flannery.

"Mr. Johan, would you like to join us for lunch?" Roxanne asked, still holding a book in her arms, even during the autumn outing.

Before Johan could decline, she added, "Flannery knows a great restaurant—it's one of Lavaridge Town's specialties!"

Flannery was a native of Lavaridge Town, and her grandfather, a former member of the Hoenn Elite Four, was currently the town's Gym Leader.

"Ka-kah?"

Gastly, still shrunken down and not fully recovered from earlier, popped its head out, its eyes gleaming with interest.

In the end, faced with the expectant gazes of Steven, Roxanne, and Flannery, Johan agreed to join them.

It wasn't that he was particularly tight with his money... Okay, maybe he was a little stingy. After all, he'd already dropped enough hints to Steven once, and that was enough.

Even though these three students were likely wealthier than him, as a teacher, it didn't feel right to let the students pay for his meal.

Seeing Johan agree, Flannery exchanged a sly glance with Steven and Roxanne, satisfied with their little success.

Once they stepped out of the Pokémon Center, the heat hit them like a wave.

A few more steps, and they could see a towering mountain in the distance—none other than Mt. Chimney, one of Hoenn's iconic landmarks.

Mt. Chimney, a 1,500-meter-tall volcano located in the heart of Hoenn, hadn't erupted in many years, but it continued to emit high temperatures, remaining a dormant volcano.

From afar, dark volcanic ash could be seen drifting down like black snow.

As it fell to a certain altitude, the ash seemed to resemble large black feathers swirling in the wind. Carried by mountain breezes, it drifted toward the northeast.

It was easy to imagine how the thick volcanic ash could impact the surrounding environment.

However, despite being located at the base of Mt. Chimney, Lavaridge Town was on the southern side of the mountain. Thanks to the mountain winds, the ash rarely reached the town, causing minimal disturbance.

Instead, the high temperatures from the dormant volcano had given Lavaridge Town its famous "volcanic hot springs," attracting many visitors.

'Is that where the "non-flying one" sleeps?' Johan thought as he gazed at the towering, cloud-wreathed mountain.

If that beast ever awoke, it would be...

But he quickly dismissed the thought with a wry smile.

How unlucky would someone have to be to run into Groudon on a casual trip to Mt. Chimney?

Besides, Groudon was still slumbering. Without the "Red Orb," it wouldn't wake up, even if someone danced on its head.

"Mr. Johan?"

Steven, Roxanne, and Flannery had walked a bit ahead when they noticed Johan standing still, staring at Mt. Chimney, lost in thought.

Snapping back to reality, Johan adjusted his jacket and followed them at a leisurely pace.

He had to admit, Gastly was incredibly useful in this sweltering environment—thanks to Gastly, Johan's body temperature was at least five degrees cooler, making the heat far more bearable.

"Ka-kah—"

See how great I am now?

In a small, relatively secluded restaurant in Lavaridge Town, Gastly lay comfortably on a soft cushion, letting out a satisfied burp after the meal.

Johan, who had just returned from paying the bill, couldn't help but twitch at the sight.

Gastly had eaten the most out of anyone!

Second place went to Flannery, who had insisted they come to this restaurant, followed by Steven and Johan, with Roxanne eating the least.

But even Johan had to admit, the food here was quite good.

Especially the hot spring egg rice bowl, made with genuine volcanic hot spring eggs.

"Now that we're full, what should we do this afternoon?" Flannery leaned back in her chair, her gaze bouncing between Johan, Steven, and Roxanne, looking slightly bored.

It was pretty clear what Flannery wanted to suggest, especially with the not-so-subtle glances she kept throwing at Steven and Roxanne.

Steven sighed, while Roxanne turned her head away, pretending not to notice.

"How about we head up Mt. Chimney!" Flannery suddenly slapped the table, full of energy as she continued her act.

"Ka-kah!"

Before Johan could react, Gastly, who was feeling sleepy from the big meal, was startled out of its daze.

It glared at Flannery with a "suspicious" look.

This girl had been the one who fought the hardest over the food earlier!

"What do you think? I know a great spot on Mt. Chimney, and there are plenty of wild Pokémon there too!" Flannery pressed on, eager to show off her "local knowledge."

Seeing Flannery so enthusiastic, Steven and Roxanne felt bad about shooting her down, so they turned their hopeful gazes toward Johan.

Johan, however, remained unfazed. He calmly sipped his tea before replying, "The free activity zone is limited to Lavaridge Town. Mt. Chimney isn't included."

"As long as we get your approval, we're good to go. That's why I'm asking you, Mr. Johan," Flannery pleaded, still hopeful.

"No."

Johan's refusal was swift and firm.

"I promise it's not dangerous!"

"No."

"It's not far from Lavaridge Town. I used to go there all the time when I was younger."

"No."

"…"

No matter how much Flannery begged, Johan's answer remained a calm but unwavering "no."

Her stubbornness was clearly starting to wear thin.

"I'll introduce you to my best friend! She's super pretty!" Flannery finally resorted to her trump card.

"No—wait, what?"

Johan froze, and even Steven and Roxanne were taken aback.

"Ahem, still no," Johan coughed lightly, regaining his composure.

"You don't even know who my friend is! She's—" Flannery stomped her foot in frustration. "Fine! I challenge you to a battle! If I win, you let us go up the mountain!"

Then she quickly added, "You're not scared, are you?"

Johan chuckled. "That won't work on me."

Flannery scratched her head in frustration.

When she finally ran out of ideas, she pouted and muttered, "Fine, if you won't agree, we'll just sneak out later. No one would even notice."

That, however, did have an effect.

Johan turned to Steven. "Steven, do you want to go up the mountain too?"

Caught in Johan's gaze, Steven hesitated before sheepishly admitting, "I heard there's a rare type of volcanic stone up there…"

Johan sighed and turned back to Flannery, his tone calm. "Alright, I'll accept your challenge. If you win, you can go up the mountain. But if you lose, you'll have to listen to me."

"However, as you know, I'm just an ordinary Pokémon psychology teacher, and my Gastly was only recently caught. You wouldn't want to be accused of bullying the weak, would you?"

Hearing this, Roxanne and Steven exchanged a glance, both inwardly thinking, This won't end well.

Before they could warn her, Flannery confidently puffed out her chest and declared, "No problem! I also have a Pokémon I just caught recently!"

Smack!

Both Steven and Roxanne facepalmed at the same time.

Flannery hadn't fallen for Johan's reverse psychology, but she had walked right into his trap.

"Ka-kah?"

Of course, the most confused one was Gastly.

How did this conversation suddenly turn to involve me?