Chapter 4: Three Years Minimum...

Chapter 4: Three Years Minimum...

Shuimu No. 1 High School, one of Shuimu City's Pokémon-focused high schools.

It wasn't difficult to get into—anyone aspiring to be a Pokémon Trainer could enroll, though the tuition was a bit expensive.

The requirement to enter as a freshman was simple: register your first Pokémon with the Pokémon League during the summer break before starting high school.

This was the stage Hikaru Saito found himself in.

The reason for his delayed registration?

He was broke.

When Hikaru was five, his parents disappeared while exploring a Pokémon Mystery Dungeon. From then on, he became an orphan and was taken into the Marvelous Orphanage.

This year, he finally aged out and left the orphanage.

After paying his tuition fees, he was left with just 20,000 Huaxia credits—a paltry amount Hikaru had saved through scrimping and saving.

That money could only buy him a Rattata or a Caterpie.

Too pitiful.

Hikaru couldn't accept that. Worse, he didn't have the confidence to nurture such Pokémon effectively. It felt irresponsible.

It was only after acquiring the system that he gained the resolve to purchase a Bug or Grass-type Pokémon as his first partner.

But now, things were different.

With a Champion-level Charmander, why would he settle for a "baby version of Rayquaza"?

"Charmander, come here. Let's take a photo!"

Charmander, one of the most popular Pokémon, was naturally photogenic.

After posing with a peace sign alongside Charmander, Hikaru posted the photo in the class group chat.

The previously silent chat exploded.

Though most of the classmates didn't know Hikaru personally, that didn't stop them from expressing their awe.

"A Charmander? Wow, such a cool-looking Charmander! Whose partner is this? So majestic!"

"I'm so jealous. My Pokémon is just a Caterpie..."

"Did no one notice how handsome the trainer is? Pale skin, gentle features—a total puppy-boy vibe!"

"Not quite as dashing as me, the Fang of Shuimu."

The world was like this: some people dismissed Charmander, while others admired it fervently.

---

[Teacher Qin]: "Charmander? Not bad. You should head to the Pokémon League to register your trainer info!"

Hikaru replied: "Got it."

Checking the time, he realized he had enough to visit the Pokémon League and complete his trainer registration.

---

The registration process was straightforward.

Hand over your ID, provide your home address, and submit some basic personal information.

Once registered as a trainer, Hikaru hurried back home and used Insight Eye to check Charmander's stats:

[Pokémon: Charmander]

[Ability: Solar Power]

[Gender: Male]

[Potential: Champion]

[Level: 6]

[Moves: Scratch, Ember, Smokescreen, Growl]

In just a few days, Charmander had learned three new moves!

Hikaru was astonished, but remembering Charmander's Champion-level potential, it all made sense.

Realizing the premium energy cubes he'd bought were nearly gone, Hikaru opened the system's Entry Shop.

On the translucent interface, the store had refreshed with new items:

[Today's Entry Shop:]

Fire Punch TM: 50 Entry Coins

10 Premium Pokémon Foods: 5 Entry Coins

Dragonfire Berry: 15 Entry Coins

Fire Punch!

Hikaru was thrilled—this move would be perfect for Charmander.

But his excitement quickly turned to dismay.

Why was the system showing him such a tempting item when he didn't have enough Entry Coins?

Over the past few days, Hikaru had been studying the system.

White-tier entries weren't particularly useful but could be dismantled for 3–5 Entry Coins each.

He wasn't sure about Green-tier entries yet.

The shop's mechanics were simple: purchased items wouldn't refresh, but unpurchased ones would be replaced during the next reset.

The only way Hikaru could afford Fire Punch was by dismantling his [King of Slackers] entry.

That was a tough decision.

"Forget it! Charmander's natural talent means it'll learn Fire Punch on its own eventually. The [King of Slackers] entry will definitely be useful in the long run!"

After some internal struggle, Hikaru decided to keep the entry.

Just as disappointment set in, the system's voice chimed in:

[Congratulations! The host has unlocked the First Purchase Discount! Today's first purchase will cost only 1 Entry Coin.]

Hikaru's mood flipped instantly, and he bought the Fire Punch TM without hesitation.

Out of curiosity, he asked, "How does this discount work?"

[Randomly triggered. Valid for one day only.]

This dashed Hikaru's hopes of saving the discount for a future purchase. Still, it was a pleasant surprise.

Grinning, he placed the TM against Charmander's smooth forehead.

Within moments, Charmander raised its head in delight. It could feel the new skill integrated into its mind.

Eager to demonstrate its newfound power, faint flames flickered around its claws.

"Learned a new move already? Impressive, Charmander! We'll test it out tomorrow," Hikaru said, feigning surprise.

Building Charmander's confidence was crucial. Letting it think it had learned the skill on its own would foster pride and determination.

Sure enough, Charmander's enthusiasm soared. It was practically itching to go outside and showcase its new move.

Hikaru chuckled at its eagerness but understood its feelings—it was still just a month-old Pokémon.

---

Knock, knock.

A soft knock interrupted them. Hikaru instinctively called out, "Coming!"

He turned to Charmander. "Take a rest in the Poké Ball for now. You must be tired after training."

As Charmander entered its ball, Hikaru even swapped out [Hard Work Pays Off!] for [King of Slackers], aiming to maximize efficiency during its downtime.

When he opened the door, Hikaru's heart skipped a beat. He was stunned.

Standing before him was a girl, her beauty dazzling. Hikaru felt a mix of surprise and amusement.

How did she find him here?

Hikaru had rented a cheap, secluded apartment to save money.

"Leaving the orphanage without a word? Not even a goodbye?"

The girl in front of him stood around 1.6 meters tall, her youthful face delicate and refined, her fair skin like snow. Her eyes were clear as a mountain stream, her slender waist accentuating her ethereal aura.

Her sleek black hair was tied into a high ponytail with a light ribbon. She wore a light blue top paired with a white pleated skirt, radiating a fresh and cool summer vibe.

Her soft, melodious voice was like a breeze in the valley, tugging at Hikaru's heart.

She was a childhood friend from the orphanage, someone Hikaru had once found as an awkward, snot-nosed kid. Now, she had blossomed into a stunning young lady.

Even with the combined experiences of his past and present life, Hikaru's heart fluttered.

But no.

No! What are you thinking, Hikaru?

She's only 15...

Three years minimum... life sentence maximum...

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