Pokémon: Trainers Returning from Monster Hunter

"Sinnoh League Champion..."

After muttering to himself, Qi Shu's eyes suddenly brightened.

"Miss Zhulan?!"

Grand nodded. "That's right."

Hearing the commotion, Daigo also cast a curious glance.

The name "Bamboo Orchid" has become incredibly popular online in the past year.

He became the Sinnoh Champion by speedrunning the League's championship path in an extremely short time.

This is exactly what Daigo wanted to emulate, and you could say he was his role model.

Does Oreki-sensei actually know her?

Ah this...

Faced with the questioning looks from the three men, Oreki finally understood the pressure Daigo had been under that morning under his and Dr. Solans's "sincere" gazes.

He forced a smile and replied, "Let's just say we know each other."

"Let's say... we know each other..."

Grand looked strange.

"Then why did she come directly to our door?"

"what?"

...

...

In an empty classroom in the teaching building of Kanaz Academy, the dashing Zhu Lan smiled as she looked at the handsome young man in front of her.

A sense of familiarity arose spontaneously.

The Garchomp behind him did the same, though its eyes held a hint of scrutiny.

I have a feeling that this familiar yet unfamiliar guy is a bit dangerous?

Garchomp was startled by its own thoughts.

It's worth noting that ever since it helped Cynthia become the champion, it has rarely felt any danger from ordinary Pokémon.

Not to mention that the other party is a human...

It must be your imagination!

How could this guy who used to drag me swimming all the time when I was a kid possibly make me feel dangerous!

Garchomp's eyes unconsciously turned a little more ferocious.

"Meow...huh...?"

Sensing the strange atmosphere, Shin-chan, held in Oreki's arms, made a hesitant sound.

That shouldn't be the case...

We were video chatting yesterday, so why is this beautiful older sister's Pokémon acting like she's met an enemy today?

Wow...it's even fiercer now, meow!

Shin-chan snuggled quietly into Oreki's arms.

"Garuda, I've said it many times, be gentle when you're not battling."

Zhu Lan whispered a reminder.

"roar…"

Garchomp looked slightly aggrieved.

I haven't even done anything yet!

"cough!"

Since they had to attend class later, Oreki broke the slightly awkward atmosphere first.

"Zhu Lan, you've come all this way, you couldn't have just come here to see me smile, could you?"

"I thought you would wait for me to speak."

Zhu Lan's tone was light and cheerful.

"Didn't I say I'd give you a Pokémon? So here I am."

? ?

Is it really necessary to send a Pokémon all the way across the ocean?

And even if it's a gift, the speed of action is just too impressive.

I just said it last night, and it arrived this afternoon?

The distance between Hoenn and Sinnoh is not like that between Kanto and Johto.

"No need for that face. The little guy I'm giving you is a bit special. If you can't handle it, I'll have to take it back to the research institute."

Zhu Lan blinked her beautiful eyes playfully.

"But then again, as childhood friends, can't I come all this way just to see you?"

？ ！！

The sudden provocation caught Oreki off guard.

But at least he's someone who's seen a lot.

Oreki shrugged indifferently. "You can look at it however you want after I finish class."

"You've really changed a lot."

Cynthia waved and beckoned Garchomp to walk outside.

"It's getting late. After you finish teaching us, you can go and tame the little guy I brought."

She only found out after arriving at the teaching building that Oreki had another class later.

Since that's the case, we naturally can't let his regular work be neglected.

"Wait a minute! You just said 'we'?"

Oreki had another bad feeling.

"Yes."

Zhu Lan revealed a sly smile.

"It must be great to have the league champion as your student!"

"Hey, hey, hey, at least get my permission first."

"I wonder who said they would be mentoring me in research from now on?"

"You clearly said it was after I became a Pokémon Professor!" Oreki Yoshino corrected him sternly.

"So I'll start by being Oreki-sensei's student, and I'll wait until you become a doctor before I become an assistant."

Zhu Lan didn't care about any of that; the opportunity was too good to pass up.

"..."

What kind of twisted logic is this!

That being said, Oreki did not show any obvious resistance. First of all, the business of being a kept man was a long and arduous one, and it was better to use a combination of persuasion and manipulation.

Secondly, he really does know how!

Putting aside other things, in the field of mythology and history, with his original knowledge and the foresight of a time traveler, who else could understand it as well as him?

Nobody knows Pokémon better than me!

—The King's accent

During their conversation, Shin-chan lay obediently in Oreki's arms.

Seeing that the trainer was about to start class, it wisely leaped out.

"Meow~"

See you later~

The fluffy tail tapped the Poké Ball, and Newleafy shrank and crawled inside.

"Okay, see you later."

Oreki smiled with satisfaction and followed Rokuran.

The classroom door was pushed open.

"Splash!"

In an instant, the few people gathered outside quickly dispersed in twos and threes.

"Ah, Du Juan, the wind is quite noisy today."

"Mmm, this sunset is truly a beautiful sunset!"

The two girls reacted the fastest, and Kiki, who got the meaning, immediately pointed the camera at Daigo.

"Hey~ Mr. Daigo, can I ask you about the secret to your becoming stronger?"

"I can answer that question for him."

Director Grand quickly turned the camera around, leaving Daigo standing alone at the classroom door.

Daigo:......

Oreki:......

Could your acting skills be any worse?

Yasha and Dujuan, can you two coordinate your stories?

And Qi Shu, you didn't even take the camera cover with you!

Seeing the slightly chaotic scene before her, Zhu Lan was taken aback at first, then glanced back at Zhe Mu with a smile in her eyes.

It's as if it's asking, "What should we do now?"

Having no other choice but to ignore these troublesome fellows, Oreki decided to turn a blind eye.

"Go back now, everyone, it's time for class!"

Then he looked at the pretentious director.

Grand understood, nodded slightly with a straight face, "I have some things to take care of, so I won't disturb Oreki-sensei's class any longer. Please entertain Miss Takeran as well."

After saying that, he slipped away and made a hasty retreat.

If we don't leave now, when will we?

Let's get to know each other for now?

You're kidding me!

I didn't see the smile on Miss Zhulan's face when she left!

Something fishy is going on!

After seeing the director off, Oreki pinched the bridge of his nose and led everyone back to the original classroom.

The noisy students in the classroom fell into an eerie silence the moment they saw Daigo, Kiju, and Ran behind the new teacher.

Then--

boom!!

"Who did I just see? It's none other than the elusive senior, Daigo!"

"Ah! It really is Mother Miracle Tree, I'm dead!"

"Is that Cynthia, the Sinnoh League Champion, at the very back?"

"Ye Mei said there's a very special guest today!"

"Are they all here specifically to listen to the new teacher's lectures?"

"Blind student, you've spotted the key point. It seems this new teacher has some talent."

"Stop standing there! Why are you calling for reinforcements?!"

"..."

The noise in the classroom lasted for more than two minutes before gradually subsiding.

However, students continued to gather outside the classroom, clearly well-informed.

Before this, Oreki really didn't expect that an ordinary, easy lesson would turn out like this.

Having completely given up struggling, he arranged the positions for Zhu Lan and the others, and prepared to begin his first class at Kanaz Academy.

The theme is—the love-hate relationship between the three Hoenn idiots!

……