Unova region, Lacunosa Town.

To welcome the World Juniors, Lacunosa Town built brand-new venues and grounds.

A circular arena-style stadium stood at the center of the grounds, balloons drifting under the sealed dome.

Freshly laid brick paths stretched in all directions, leading to the players’ village, the main stadium, retail areas, and other zones.

“What’s our objective, meow?”

From the rustling grass, a hoarse voice asked.

“To safeguard world peace, and to uphold love and truth.” James answered seriously.

Meowth rolled up a newspaper and slapped it down on James’s head with a crack.

“Funding, funding — the goal is the officials’ funding, meow!”

“Sora~ nashi!”

**

Ash walked beside the fountain in Central Square, glancing left and right. “There’s an Audino!”

Nurse Joy stood next to the temporary Pokémon Center that had been set up, and beside her was an Audino wearing a nurse’s cap.

“Nurse Joy in Unova form usually pairs with an Audino,” Lu Ye said, removing his sunglasses and tucking them into his shirt pocket. “By the way, the Unova renovation team partners with Timburr, and the Kanto renovation crew partners with Machamp.”

“Beep beep… Hoenn renovation team partners with Primeape, Rotom~” the Rotom Pokédex flashed its signal light.

Even though the Hoenn form hadn’t been unlocked yet, Lu Ye said:

“Congratulations — you’ve learned to buzz in!”

Cynthia, wearing a blue shirt that showcased her smooth fair arms, let her golden hair fall to the side of her face and smiled lightly.

“Ash, Alice, Teacher Lu and I will go see the organizing committee first.”

In public, Cynthia called Lu Ye “Teacher Lu”;

in private she used his personal name. Similarly, in public Lu Ye sometimes called his Sylveon “Cynthia,” while when they shared a bed he would call her “Bamboo Lan.”

“No problem.” Alice swung her arm confidently. “I will win the World Juniors!”

“You’re my rival!” Ash shouted.

“All right…let’s register first.” Lu Ye said. “We might run into someone we know.”

The World Championships carry immense prestige. Alder had once taken the Castelia World title;

Dan Emperor had won the Gongmen World title.

Even the World Juniors featured formidable competitors.

“By the way, where’s Meloetta? She’s not sitting on Teacher Lu’s shoulder today.” Alice asked.

“When there are crowds, Meloetta likes to go invisible…same with little V.” Lu Ye replied.

Both mythical Pokémon were nowhere to be seen — probably invisibly playing around the area.

Only Darkrai was dutifully hiding in the shadows, silently eating.

As the group headed toward the main venue to say their goodbyes, an elderly man with red hair in worn clothing, a string of Poké Balls slung over his shoulder, walked up: Alder.

“Grandpa Alder!” Alice exclaimed in surprise.

“Oh, Alice, long time no see!” Alder laughed heartily. “I heard about your performance in Twinleaf City — Drayden couldn’t stop praising you for almost a whole week!”

“Hehe…thanks to Miss Bamboo Lan and Teacher Lu,” Alice scratched her head.

“Mister Alder.” Ash’s eyes blazed. “Please battle me!”

“Haha, of course — provided you first win the World Juniors. Only then will you qualify to battle me.” Alder chuckled.

Lu Ye remembered Alder as the eldest of the champions, already with a grandson named Bansekirou.

Choosing a successor through the World Juniors seemed like part of Alder’s retirement planning.

Alder turned back, his expression softening.

“Teacher Lu, Cynthia…please allow me to express my gratitude again for your help to the Unova Alliance!”

In front of Ash and Alice, Alder bowed, and Cynthia accepted the gesture with grace.

“It was nothing.” Cynthia glanced at Lu Ye with a teasing smile. “Right, Teacher Lu~”

“Indeed…ahem, I mean, Team Plasma was definitely troublesome!” Lu Ye looked up at the sky.

He couldn’t very well say he’d soloed the Black &

White Dragon raid with no damage, right?

Was Professor Acerola and Ghetsis really only at one-punch level?

No choice — Alder worked with Interpol;

Teacher Lu had power to mobilize security and even get Giovanni to help…

“Who do I need to face in the opening performance?” Lu Ye asked.

Alder rubbed his chin. “The original exhibition match was set for Champion Cynthia versus Caitlin.”

“Teacher Lu, if you don’t mind, you could take part in an exhibition match with me.” Alder’s gaze fixed on Lu Ye, serious.

“Because… I want to learn from you about the path of being a teacher.”

Alder was also a champion who emphasized educating the next generation and often taught at the Trainers’ Academy.

After losing a partner Pokémon, Alder had struggled with champion duties and sought to fill the emptiness through teaching.

But Alder lacked confidence in his role as mentor.

If he had the charismatic presence of Teacher Lu or Dan Emperor… Team Plasma might never have become so rampant in Unova.

Alder wants to battle me?

Lu Ye was slightly taken aback;

he had expected a performance match against the top-tier Caitlin.

If it’s an exhibition match against a champion—

“That’s fine.” Lu Ye said, “But I’ll need an appearance fee.”

Alder paused, then laughed. “Of course, no problem!”

“All right, I’ll go prepare for the upcoming exhibition match.”

Alder nodded, folded his arms, and grinned as he turned: “Ash, Alice, I’m looking forward to your match~”

“Don’t let Teacher Lu beat you to tears, Grandpa Alder!” Alice sneered.

Alder clutched his chest, making an ‘arrow-hit’ injured face. “…What? You’re already cheering for someone else!”

Alice pulled a face and stormed off to the venue. “I’m going to register now~”

“Wait for me!” Ash ran after her.

“You two, the venue isn’t over there!”

With the three comedic lights gone, Lu Ye glanced at Cynthia next to him.

“Hm?” Cynthia folded her arms and looked into the distance.

“I’ll buy you an ice cream.” Lu Ye said earnestly.

“All right, let’s go.”

Cynthia slipped her arm through his.

Trainers passing by stared blankly at the radiant blonde woman smiling so brightly.

Then, seeing Cynthia arm-in-arm with Teacher Lu, the trainers felt their hearts ache.

When Iron Man removed his mask, he cried…

Left hand linked with Bamboo Lan, right hand bound by Sylveon’s ribbon in a pouty twist.

Lu Ye felt Meloetta sitting on his right shoulder, Victini perched on his head plucking his hair —

Teacher Lu bore a sweet burden and sighed inwardly.

His physiology was gradually becoming less human…

Super newbie? (×) Super Metropolis local? (√)

**

“Welcome! One trio-colored ice cream, meow~”

“Because you’re our lucky customer today, this treat is on the house!”

Cynthia winked, leaning on Lu Ye’s arm, took the ice cream, and smiled gently.

“Thank you~”

She narrowed her eyes and tested the ice cream with her delicate tongue, then said:

“Aren’t those three vendors a little familiar?”

Even Cynthia couldn’t see through the Trio’s disguises…

Lu Ye replied casually, “Because these are a global ice cream chain…maybe the vendors all look the same.”

Cynthia nodded thoughtfully and offered the ice cream to Lu Ye. “Do you want to try some?”

“No thanks, I’ll get fat easily.”

“You must try a bite today!”

Cynthia squinted and forced the ice cream toward Lu Ye;

he struggled to turn his head away. “Ugh ugh…”

Around the corner, Caitlin silently licked a cone, eyes lowered in thought.

She looked up and froze when she saw the intimately close champion couple.

Plop!

The ice cream cone fell.

Caitlin stood before Teacher Lu and Bamboo Lan, hesitant to speak.

I should be under the car, not inside it!

…