The semifinals of the Piplup Cup are set to take pext Wednesday, with a week-long promotional buildup leading up to the event.

  tally, Natsume's final exams are also happening around the same time. Ohey're over, summer break will begin.

  Natsume doesn’t pn to return to his hometown for the summer, so he’s decided to visit his parents during the review week.

  "Css, this is our st session of the semester. Once I finish taking attendance, you’re free to go!"

  Professor Kenta, ever meticulous, stood by the podium, adjusting his gsses.

  As the css ehe room erupted in cheers.

  Although the review week is a grueling seven days of exam prep, it’s also a mini-vacation of sorts.

  Yuuichi, sitting in the front row, turned around eagerly. "Hey, you guys wanna hit up a game ter?"

  Kazuya looked like he’d aged several years. "I... I’ve got puter Sce, Criminal Law... and Advanced Math..."

  "Got it," Yuuichi swallowed hard. "What about you, Brother Natsume? You’ve got training, right?"

  "Actually, I’m free," Natsume shrugged. "I’ve already maxed out my credits. I could fail these two csses and still be fine."

  "You..."

  The news of a first-year student from Tokyo Metropolitan Uy making it to the semifinals—and from the Finance Department, no less—had spread like wildfire throughout the Eics faculty.

  Even students from the Southern Campus’ Pokémon Academy had e to catch a glimpse of this big shot.

  No fewer than three Battle Department students had already challenged Natsume to a battle.

  But sihey weren’t NPCs who’d drop cash wheed, Natsume naturally deed.

  With the day’s csses over, Natsume pulled out his phoo check the reception of his Night Kit series.

  Natsume-sensei was a tent creator known for his dirty strategies, a fact well-reized in the gaming unity.

  While these strategies could be applied in real life, without Natsume-sensei’s level of and, the results were often disastrous.

  This had led to a porized reputation for Natsume-sensei:

  "Natsume-sensei is dht dirty!"

  "How someone be as cool as Natsume-sensei when it es ty?"

  But this time, Natsume-sensei had surprised everyone by releasing a food video.

  Putting aside the te-night food cravings it induced... Natsume-sensei’s cooking skills had earned unanimous praise from his followers.

  bined with the uated narrative style aing, the Night Kit series had uedly stru emotional chord.

  Especially the smiling face of Gastly during its evolution—it truly veyed the message that humans and Pokémon could coexist harmoniously.

  In the ents se, o take caught Natsume’s attention.

  "Onix used Harden: Natsume-sensei’s Night Kit strips away the noise and gmour of the world, leaving only simple narration that resonates deeply. I thirying to vey the following points..."

  "Want to raise a Garp: Dude, your analysis is spot on!"

  "Art is Electrode: You’ve got the most words, so I’m following you!"

  Natsume’s expression riceless.

  "So that’s what it means... Wow, I hought of it that way!" Natsume’s eyes widened.

  With the overwhelming positive feedback from his followers, the video’s popurity tio rise.

  While it hadn’t yet reached the top post in the Lifestyle category, it was only a matter of time.

  Natsume nodded in satisfa.

  Haunter was more ied in the Piplup Cup semifinals than Natsume himself, so Natsume didn’t bother with training.

  For now, his main focus reparing for his final exams.

  "Alright, time to hit the books."

  In the library, Natsume pulled out his notebook and muttered to himself.

  His phone buzzed.

  A message from his one and only special tact—short, direct, and anding.

  "Let’s py."

  Natsume twitched.

  Why is it always you?!

  Why do you always show up when I’m trying to study?!

  Do you really think I’m some kind of pushover?

  Natsume’s response was just as firm.

  "On my way."

  "Give me ten minutes. I’ll be home soon!"

  thia allowed herself a small smile, her expression quickly turning serious.

  On her game s, a massive Tyrantrum loomed.

  thia had tried over a dozen times, each attempt ending in failure, which was why she’d reached out to her professional gaming partner.

  "This level is so hard," thia murmured, brushing a strand of golden hair from her forehead. "Is it too much to ask Master to py with me...?"

  But soon, she gripped her trhtly and clicked her tongue. "It’s fine. I’ll make it up to him ter!"

  As Natsume sprinted dowreet, only ohought filled his mind.

  Time is money!

  If this wealthy patron finds someone else to py with, I’m done for!

  Breathless, he arrived home.

  Haunter was nervously painting the wall with a bucket of paint when it suddenly froze.

  Turning its head stiffly, Haunter floated in front of the dented, punch-marked wall and gave Natsume a sheepish grin.

  "It’s fine. I’ve already braced myself," Natsume sighed.

  "Haunter?"

  "Keep painting. We’ll grab something good to eat ter."

  Haunter blihen grinned and nodded.

  "Haunter!"

  The gaming sole in this world roduced by Hoenn’s Devon Corporation. It was said that the cept of the sole was first proposed by Steven Stone.

  Though this rich kid seemed to be sg off, he was actually a business genius. If he couldn’t find rocks, he’d have no choice but to i his family’s vast fortune.

  Besides Devon Corporation, Kalion’s Lysandre Labs was still developing AR and 3D teology.

  Natsume muttered, "I wonder if we’ll ever be able to use virtual imaging teology for something like card games."

  But for now, Natsume quickly logged into the game.

  "What are we pying today?"

  "Monster Hunter."

  Natsume opehe game and used a rented at to head to the mission location, where a Garp was already waiting in the mission hall.

  "You’re still using Gengar?" A slightly husky yet captivating female voice came through the team chat.

  Her voice had a unique charm that was impossible to ignore.

  "You’re... using Garp too," Natsume replied, struggling.

  "Fair enough," thia nodded. "Anyway, how much would it cost to defeat a Tyrantrum?"

  "What do you think is fair?"

  "Hmm... I’m not familiar with Touran’s prices. Just send me week’s bill."

  Natsume couldn’t help but tear up.

  Is this a wealthy patron? No, this is an angel!

  "If we ’t clear it, it’s fine," thia mused. "This is a five-pyer mission, so I always find someone else."

  thia’s mind immediately went to Diantha, who was all the way in Kalos.

  That girl was a jack-of-all-trades, excelling in both gaming and ag.

  But Natsume, being a seasoned pyer, smirked. "You’re uimating me."

  Gengar, crag its knuckles, approached the r Tyrantrum with a sinister grin.

  Looking at the move list, Natsume’s lips curled into a smile as he prepared the plex "Destiny Bond" bo.

  "Die already!"

  thia watched in fusion as Gengar tangled with the Tyrantrum.

  Even in this game, Natsume-seuck to his SubProtect Toxic strategy.

  "It’s really..." thia paused, searg for the right words. "sistently you."

  In the end, both sides were heavily damaged, and the "Destiny Bond" bo was successfully unleashed. The t Tyrantrum colpsed with a thunderous crash.

  Boom!!

  The timer showed less than five minutes. thia’s delicate face showed a hint of surprise.

  "That was... way too fast!"

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