Somehow, after the day's training wraps up, I find myself pulled into the kitchen, roped into helping prepare dinner. I’m not sure how it happened, but here I am, surrounded by chaos and half-prepped ingredients.

  Luna’s here too, though she’s ““supervising”” rather than doing. Her minions, Bud and Zack, are peeling and slicing vegetables like their lives depend on it. Then there’s Burnice, taking care of the oven, which is surely a choice none of us will ever come to regret. She’s locked in a heated argument with some punk-looking guy in a heavy blue coat, both of them going back and forth over the music every two minutes.

  Apparently, since csses haven’t officially started, the regur kitchen staff isn’t here yet either. It makes sense, but it also leaves me wondering if Hilda seriously expects a bunch of teenagers to handle feeding themselves without a disaster happening. Is this world just that trusting of teens, or is she sitting back, waiting to see how long it takes before everything catches fire?

  Though I guess if you’re traveling constantly, cooking is a skill you’ve got to pick up sooner or ter. Which brings m

  e to the fact that... I am definitely not a chef. Sure, I can use a knife without losing a finger, and I’ve put things on the stove before, but that’s about the extent of my culinary expertise. Looking around at the half-finished chaos, I’ve got no idea what we’re even supposed to be making, and honestly, I’m not sure I want to ask.

  “How’s everything going in here?”

  Speak of the devil.

  “M-Miss Hilda!” Luna shoots up, practically jumping to her feet. “We’re almost done, of course!”

  Hilda gnces over the mess with a small, amused smile. “Good. Won’t be much trouble if I borrow a few hands for a bit, then. Word has it someone performed quote well during their first practice.”

  I sigh, putting the meat away and washing my hands. “Am I getting in trouble for taking advantage of the less abled or something? Bud was already like that when I found him, I promise.”

  The headmistress looks at me with a worried smile. “Let’s… take a walk.”

  Without much of a choice, I follow Hilda into the quiet hallway.

  Hilda isn’t exactly what I expected when I first arrived. She’s in her mid to te twenties, with a mane of chestnut hair that seems to move like a cloud behind her, each step sending it into graceful waves. There’s something powerful about her, a presence that suggests she’s seen more than her fair share of battles. And yet, with her id-back demeanor and a few piercings tracing the curve of her ear, she exudes a kind of rebellious charm. I’d say I lucked out ending up at this academy.

  Now where can I get myself one of these mil—

  “I heard you battled Sera,” Hilda says, snapping me out of my thoughts. “What do you think of her?”

  “I think whoever gave her that Lilligant should’ve at least taught her how to use it,” I reply bluntly. “If she even half-knew what she was doing, no one here would stand a chance. Honestly, I feel bad for the poor Pokémon.”

  “Huh…” She turns, giving me a curious look. “That’s… quite a bit of insight for someone who’s never battled before. Did you grow up around trainers?”

  “Everyone’s a trainer at some point,” I shrug. “Then… life happens.”

  Hilda ughs, a light, genuine sound. “Aren’t you a bit young to be sounding so world-weary? I can’t imagine ever being too old for this.”

  Not sure how to respond, I stay quiet, and we continue walking through the academy’s spotless halls. The pce has a grand, manor-like vibe, as if it was designed to feel timeless, even though every corner is so impeccably new.

  After a while, Hilda breaks the silence. “Sera is the daughter of an old friend,” she says, her voice softer. “A friend who passed away long ago, in a faraway nd. That Lilligant… it was his st gift to her. No, more than that—they’re all he left behind.”

  “I… I didn’t realize. I guess butting heads wasn’t the best way to make a first impression, huh.”

  “I wasn’t going to criticize,” she says with a small smile. “Actually, I was going to suggest you keep it up. You’re right—most of the students stay away from her Lilligant. I think today was the first time she’s lost since arriving here.”

  I blink. “So… you want me to keep beating up this orphan?”

  Hilda’s eyes widen, and she ughs despite herself. “That’s not what I meant!” She shakes her head, regaining her composure. “Glinda expined our mission here, didn’t she?”

  I try to remember. “Something about Mega Evolution?”

  She nods thoughtful. “In my travels through this region and others, I’ve encountered many extraordinary trainers. Some were born with talent, while others were shaped by their particur journeys. I want to create my own environment here, an academy that fosters the bond between humans and Pokémon on a deeper level. I believe that bond is the key to unlocking their true potential.”

  “You’re… trying to force Mega Evolution?” I ask, a bit skeptical.

  “That’s… a strong word. I don’t think Mega Evolution is something that can be forced. But I do believe that with the right guidance and environment, we can help students—and their Pokémon—find their way to it.”

  “But… why focus on Mega Evolution specifically? Wouldn’t it be better to explore all the different ways to empower Pokémon and just… let things sort themselves out?”

  She meets my gaze with confidence. “That was the choice I made after everything I’ve seen since becoming a champion. The way I see it—Mega Evolution is the future of Pokémon training.”

  “What about Gigantamax?”

  “I’m not saying Mega Evolution is inherently superior,” she replies, a little cocky. “But investing in Gigantamax feels short-sighted to me. Not only do we ck the means to consistently generate Gar Particles, despite rumors of Eternatus sightings in our region. But even if we did, I still believe the potential for long-term growth and mastery lies in perfecting Mega Evolution. Or in other words, whichever region manages to unravel the secrets for Mega Evolution first will become the haven of elite Pokémon training!”

  “Huh… So you’re saying getting the materials for Mega Evolution won’t be an issue?”

  Her lips curl into a devilish grin as she reaches into her pocket. “This is a Megadex—our own personal design.”

  She hands me a small, cold device. Embedded in the top is a Keystone, encased behind a transparent panel of gss. I hold it up, feeling the weight of the piece.

  “You can keep that one,” Hilda continues. “Every student will receive one. These updated Pokédex don’t just collect Pokémon data; they track the signals emitted by the Keystone. Right now, we have barely any solid data on Mega Evolution. But with these devices, we’ll be able to study its development in real time!”

  I stare at the Megadex, impressed. “That’s… actually pretty smart. But why… why are you telling me all this?” I ask, still trying to figure out where I fit into this.

  Hilda steps back, her expression shifting. “You can come out now. Right, Cheren?”

  A groan comes from the shadows of a side corridor, followed by slow, deliberate footsteps. Two figures emerge—one, a man in his te twenties with sharp, calcuting eyes, and the other, a floating Reuniclus, its green form pulsing with psychic energy.

  “So, what do you think?” Hilda asks, expectant.

  Cheren adjusts his gsses, studying me with intensity. “As far as we can tell, he doesn’t seem to have any prior knowledge of the Megadex. His reactions are consistent with those of someone hearing about it for the first time, and Reuniclus couldn’t detect any surface thoughts suggesting hidden motives.”

  I blink, trying to absorb what’s happening.

  Cheren grunts. “I’m sorry, this was my idea. We’ve been working on this project for a long time now, and let’s just say that your arrival was… a little too well timed for my liking.”

  “It was fine at first,” Hilda says, stepping to the front. “But then Elesa came back saying you won all your battles and this guy went craaaaazy.”

  “So… I’m in?”

  Hilda gives me a reassuring smile. “Go get dinner with everyone else. There’re still a few things I need to discuss with Brains here.”

  ?

  By the time I make it back to the main hall, dinner is already being served. Some ptes are passed around, and students are either sitting down or standing up in small groups. Despite the busy atmosphere, I notice a few faces missing from the ones I saw at practice. And as Burnice walks past, her hips swaying from side to side, I tap her lightly on the shoulder.

  “Any idea where Sera is? I… may have been kind of an asshole.”

  Burnice looks at me with a curious gleam in her eyes, one brow arched. “Oh, I get it! Don’t worry, I’ve got you!”

  And without another word, she runs back into the kitchen, leaving me more confused than before.

  “You can’t be that vague with her,” a voice says from behind.

  I turn to see an older girl with dark blue hair, pale skin, and cold, observant eyes. She’s seated at the far end of the table, idly picking at her food while watching the others with a look of boredom.

  “If you don’t fill in the gaps, Burnice’s mind will do it for you,” she continues. “I’d say you should go, but at this point, it’s probably too te to stop her.”

  Not two seconds after she says that, I can hear a loud bang coming from the kitchen, followed by the sound of screams.

  “What… is she doing?”

  “Whatever she thinks you asked her to do,” the girl replies, her voice deadpan. “Take a seat. Your girlfriend will still be here tomorrow.”

  I shrug off the tease and slide into a seat beside her at the mostly empty table, still waiting for everyone to finish finding their own pce.

  "Name's Riva." She points across the room at the guy in the big jacket I'd seen earlier. "That idiot over there is my brother, Roan. Heard you washed up the canal like a rotten log."

  “Yep, heard that one too. Who knows? Maybe I am a fucking mermaid. Should give it a try sometime.”

  For a second, she looks caught off guard, but then a grin spreads across her face. "Thank god, you're an asshole. I thought I'd be stuck at the nice kids table all year."

  "And what about you?" I ask, returning the smile. "Baddest bitch in town?"

  Riva just rolls her eyes. “So… it’s true? No memo? Nada? First day on the big city?”

  "Pretty much." I stretch back in my chair. "Honestly, it's not as bad as you'd think. Feels like a free ride to this fancy academy. What about you? How did the rest of you end up here?"

  "For us? Some shitty regional tournament for younger trainers in Mistralton. Not much of a challenge, lots of kids."

  "Mistralton..." I murmur, vaguely recalling the pce. "Is that the city with the huge pnes?"

  Her jaw clenches just a little, and I can practically hear her grinding her teeth. "Yeah. And if I had to wake up to the roar of another cargo jet at four in the morning, I probably would have jumped into a river too.”

  Before I can respond, a loud voice interrupts. "Heeeey! What's this? Did my baby sister finally make a friend? Don’t tell me you like the new guy!" Roan walks over, putting an arm around each of us before Riva shoves him away.

  "Agh, give me a break!" She growls at him. "Why don't you go check if Burnice is stuck in the oven or something? She still hasn't given me back my lighter."

  Roan visibly pales. “You… gave Burnice your lighter?”

  “Well, what I was supposed to do? You spend so much time behind that bitch’s fat ass she might as well be my sister!”

  “God, you’re unbelievable!” Her brother just disappears, rushing out of the hall as fast as he can.

  Before I can make a joke, I feel Riva’s hand lightly rest on my shoulder. “Hey... wanna take a walk?”

  “Right now?”

  "Yeah, why not?" Her voice softens a little. "You seem cool, and if you’ve really never been to Nimbasa, I could show you around. Beats sitting here waiting for him and his bimbo." Her tough-girl facade slips for a moment as her eyes drift away from my gaze, a flicker of embarrassment painting her face. "“J-Just if you wanna. Like, I don’t care, but this pce’s really boring.”

  “You know what?” I push myself away from the table. “Sure, sounds like fun.”

  ?

  After stopping by her room to grab her bag, we jump out of the nearest window and step into the cool night air. The streets are bathed in silvery moonlight, casting everything in shades of grey that make the city seem empty and peaceful. Even though we catch glimpses of people walking in the distance, the world feels quieter, like it’s holding its breath.

  Maybe it's the memory loss, but Nimbasa feels immense, like I’m seeing something completely new. No matter how far we walk, the skyline is dominated by towering skyscrapers and vibrant buildings, their colors muted in the night. But it doesn’t really bother me. Patches of greenery, trees and small fields fill the open gaps between the buildings. And the canals that run under the tiled steps reflect the starry sky, making the whole pce feel like it belongs, as if Nimbasa was born with the nd itself. It feels… natural. Like it’s always been this way.

  “Lot better than some shithole in the mountains, right?” Riva gives me a light push, breaking my thoughts. “But if you keep dragging your feet and looking at everything, we’re never gonna make it in time.”

  “Huh?” I try to act clueless. “Wasn’t this supposed to be a romantic walk through the moonlit streets?”

  “Agh, don’t turn into my brother.” She rolls her eyes. “He pulls that shit every time I so much as gnce at anyone because he knows it drives me insane.”

  “Well, you haven’t exactly told me where we’re going yet, so…”

  “Yeah, yeah. Just shut up and walk.”

  To be completely honest, if this wasn’t the Pokémon world, this would be a terrible idea. And even in this world, I can't help but notice how fewer and fewer people seem to cross our path the deeper we go into the city. The lively atmosphere of the pza fades as we walk away from the main path, into the treeline, and by the time we stop in front of a set of rusted stairs, there’s not a soul in sight.

  “C’mon, the party’s already started,” Riva says with casual confidence.

  I can’t shake the feeling that my organs might be in danger here. A sudden awareness hits me—I don’t have a knife, or any weapon for that matter. I instinctively position myself just behind her as we descend, the creaking stairs making every step feel like a countdown.

  “Are we… sure this is the pce?”

  “Hundo. Found this spot my first week here,” she says over her shoulder. “Thought there might be some interesting Pokémon lurking down here.”

  Eh, sounds about right.

  We reach the bottom of the stairs, and the scene feels like it’s straight out of an old ghost story. A dimly lit, abandoned subway tunnel stretches out in front of us, with a wooden barricade pstered in faded “Do Not Pass” signs. The air is heavy, damp, but faintly—just faintly—I catch the soft sound of music somewhere ahead.

  “Riva, chica!” A voice calls out from the shadows, and a man steps forward. He’s tanned, with braids falling to his shoulders, a wide grin splitting his face. “Thought you were gonna miss the big night!”

  “Big night?” Riva repeats, her eyes narrowing. “I’m just showing the new guy around. What’d I miss?”

  “Oh, you don’t know?” He ughs, stepping aside to reveal a battered, metallic door. “Lucky you. Just don’t forget to pay the door fee.”

  She steps ahead, groaning. “Not falling for that again, Anton.”

  When the door swings open, it’s like stepping into another world.

  The underground space is massive, packed with what looks like dozens if not hundreds of people, all crammed into what feels like an old boiler room. The heat is palpable, rising from the crowd gathered at the center, where heads bob in sync, moving like a single wave.

  Rusty hanging steps and elevated ptforms, probably from when this pce was still under maintenance, hang from the walls like makeshift balconies. People stand on them, overlooking the chaos below, all the way over to the poorly crafted stage where figures I don’t recognize are giving the show.

  I whistle, impressed. “You know, when people talk about underground parties, I don’t think they mean it this literally.”

  “Keep going! There’s something I want to show you!”

  Well, following a random girl into dark, sketchy spaces has worked out so far, so why stop now?

  We weave through the crowd, slipping behind the stage and past the main party. There is a quieter space there, almost a room of its own. Gacha machines of every shape and size line the walls—crane games, cw machines, lucky bags, even ball toss games.

  Huh, so we are getting robbed after all.

  “Uh… I don’t know if I mentioned, but I don’t really have any money.”

  She punches me on the shoulder. “Shut up, I’ll pay if it means I get to beat your ass.”

  I should’ve gotten myself a girl like this the first time.

  Riva pays for a few coins, six for each of us, and we step into the gaming area, joining a couple dozen other gamblers already focused on their losing streaks.

  “I don’t want to scare you, but I’m pretty good at this!” For a girl who tries to keep up a tough exterior, she heads straight for the cutest, pastel-colored crane machine in the room. “This one’s not rigged. All you have to do is press the button at the right time.”

  She gives the machine a light tap, watching as the hammer spins and knocks one of the small bags off the carousel below. Her prize immediately drops into the chute. With a smug grin, Riva pulls out a small Munna plushie from the bag.

  “Eh, you want this thing? I’m hunting for Gengar,” she says, unimpressed, before quickly hitting the button again. This time, she knocks down an even bigger bag, and wins a Beldum. “Huh… that’s actually kinda cute.”

  “Is it?” I ask, staring into the flying rock’s giant eye.

  “What, you think you can do better than me?” she challenges me with a small pout.

  “How hard can it be?”

  Pretty damn fucking hard, as it turns out. The bags spin zily on the small carousel, but the real fun is in the hammer—it takes a few seconds to wind up after you press the button, making it about as precise as trying to catch a fish with my ass cheeks and carry it to the shore.

  After my second failed attempt, Riva bursts out ughing. “Dude! We’re supposed to at least break even, not fund the pce! Move.” She slides in front of me, pushing me aside with her hips. “Three, two, one…”

  Bang. Another bag drops. This time, it's a Purrloin, though this one looks like it's seen better days. Its oversized, dark, bottomless eyes look almost haunted.

  “Little better,” she mutters.

  I turn, walking away. “Nah, that one’s rigged.”

  “Rigged how?!”

  “Literally rigged. A scam. I’ve never felt so robbed—Team Rocket wouldn’t dare.” I can hear her boots stomping behind me as I scan the room. “C’mon, we’re pying a real game now.”

  And what’s a real game? Anything where my perks give me an unfair advantage, of course. I stop in front of a long table where the goal is to toss a ball into one of several holes, each worth different prizes.

  Riva grumbles behind me. “Ugh, now this is rigged. They barely leave enough space for the ball to fit. Any smaller and Officer Jenny would have to shut this pce down.”

  “Yeah, that’s what people who don’t know how to py sound like.”

  Hearing us argue, the massive, burly guy sitting beside the machine lets out a hearty ugh. “Hey, as long as the ball can go in, the rest is on you, kid.”

  I eye the prizes: a Poké Ball, a Great Ball, an Ultra Ball, 2000 Poké, and a mystery bag.

  “If you’re really gonna do this,” she mutters, “go for the Poké Balls. The odds aren’t terrible. You can make a profit if you’re decent.”

  “How bad is it?”

  “A Poké Ball’s worth two coins, so even if you miss half your shots, you’ll break even. I’ve seen people win Supers once or twice, but the rest?” She shrugs. “Forget about it.”

  “Let’s test that theory.”

  I drop a coin into the slot, and a small ball rolls out. It’s just a little smaller than a real Poké Ball, so I’m hoping the size difference won’t throw me off too much.

  Starting shy, I go for the small prize. Plink—ball in the hole, and a Poké Ball drops down.

  “Hell, yeah!”

  “First try? Not bad, kiddo,” the rge man comments, puffing on his pipe. “Tell you what. Since missy over here seems less than thrilled with my game, I’ll take a gamble too. If you hit one of the bigger prizes, I’ll throw in something extra—on the house.”

  I chuckle, turning to her with a grin. “See? I told you these guys are decent, but you just kept losing and whining.”

  Her gre could melt steel. I can only be thankful nobody in this world carries weapons, because if she had anything harder than a plushie in her hand, there’s a good chance I’d end up with my skull caved in.

  I go in for my second throw, a little cocky this time. Plink—ball in the hole, Great Ball drops down.

  At this point, I’m locked in.

  Third coin, third ball, third hole. I go for another shot… and it bounces off the edge, rolling off the table.

  “I told you,” Riva sings with a shit-eating grin.

  “Alright, alright. I earned that one.”

  With the st coin, I take a moment, focusing on the final shot. The hole is just a vertical pipe, making it hard to hit from here. I wipe my palms on my pants and throw the ball high, hoping for a clean drop—but again, it bounces off the rim at the st possible moment.

  Riva sighs. “Let’s go win something else. A Great Ball’s still profit.”

  “Nah, wait a second.”

  I walk over to grab the ball that had rolled off, and as I lean down, the guy running the game immediately stands up, shifting nervously. “Well, some people got it, and some people don’t.”

  Ignoring him, I return to the table, lean over, and physically push the ball into the hole. And of course, it bounces off anyway. There seems to be some sort of fishing line or metallic string inside the pipe. I almost can’t even see it, but when I reach inside with my hand it’s completely obvious.

  I stare at him, my patience wearing thin. “Really, man? At this point, it’s not even about the scam. I’m more mad that you thought I wouldn’t notice.”

  His face tightens, and I see him take a slow step back, his hand creeping towards a Poké Ball. “Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do.”

  “I agree,” Riva says, stepping up with a cold expression. “Winner takes it all?”

  “Ha! You cocky piece of shit. Let’s see what you’ve got, then!”

  With a flick of his wrist, the man sends out his Pokémon, and the battle begins.

  You're nice, have a chapter.