Anthony spent the whole day absorbing all information and insights of the assistants of Prof. Oak that wasn't able to come back until he end of the tour, especially the Analytical Chemistry's most basic measurement techniques, titration and gravimetry, as this is the one of the many aspects of the Feild Researcher job that he's not familiar with. The easiest is the conversion of units of any kind, as that's one of the most basic foundations of high school level math, but more specialized things like Chemistry, Genetics, and Anatomy are something that would certainly cause Anthony most trouble.
In retrospect, even though the assistants assigned to replace Prof. Oak in touring and testing him were tired as he asked mountains of seemingly endless questions, seeing a child who seemed to be genuinely want to become one of their colleagues made them able to endure such a grueling task. One should remember that some of these assistants are like the Pokémon Professor that have dabbled for some time in the path of a trainer.
Of course, none of them was able to rival an elite 4 level of talent like Oak.
Anthony is smiling alongside his partner Pokémon, Zubat, and both are satisfied with all the sightseeing they were able to do. The former Anthony will always opt out of the visits Hana, his mother, will do to renew her license, and is always being entertained by Glen and Glen's mom every time she's away.
"Did you have fun?"
Hana asked, smiling as she jumped down from Gyarado's head. Anthony traced the arc his mother made as he nodded.
"I did, Mom, I think I'll become a Field Researcher after all."
Hana patted the head of Anthony and Zubat, on her face, plastered a smile.
"Well, you'd better prepare for the 2 exams you will have to take when you're 10 years old, while also making Zubat the strongest that it can become in 3 years of training. Good luck."
Hana said, while Anthony, who was genuinely satisfied with how his knowledge had been broadened about the intricacies of research and training Pokémon, even had second guesses if he really wanted to become a trainer or just become a full-time Field Researcher, nodded. In the end, however, he still wanted to become the very best that no one ever was, plus knowing all of those training methods and food formulas for the specific needs of Pokemons will just go to waste if he just gave up something that he finds interesting just because he finds something new.
_Maybe after I become a champion, I will divert my attention to researching Pokémon aspects paragon-style. After all, being a champion here will give me a good amount of resources and privileges to research subjects. Cynthia can even freely frolic and go to hell, and throw hands with Antimatter Satan._
Of course, such things are easier said than done. After all, in Anthony's previous life, all he had to do to be a strong trainer was to defeat wild pokemons, catch the regional birds and level them up, and go find counters for their weaknesses. In this world, there's no Sp. Atk or any of the sort, and only the non-numerical 'Swampert has good defense and only has one weakness' descriptions of how a Pokémon is supposed to be built around exist.
His only advantage is that he can use multiple 4-move setups for his future Pokemons because the 4 moves limit does not exist, which is something that just makes sense in the real world of Pokémon.
_But the average talented trainer will be able to figure out move synergy, so that's not really what I can call an advantage... maybe just the fact that I'm an adult and I have a very good control over my desires and can do what is necessary without being dragged around..._
As Anthony thought of his loose future plans, Hana asked him if he still wanted to stay before going at the back to Charizard and saying goodbye to Prof. Oak before flying off. After going home, the trio went and had dinner before Anthony immediately slumped into his room, the phone of his mother still in his hands as he pulled out the training manuals for all types of Pokemons in their respective sections and scribbled all the insights of the Pokémon Professor himself into the pages.
This made Zubat, who still wanted to play and spend its residual energy to be bored and sleep early in its bed inside the room of Anthony, however, its owner braved through sleepiness just so that he can perfect his notes that he would use for the exams in the future, it has gotten so late at night that the usually hands-off Hana made it a point to remind him to sleep or else he would bust his eyes.
Anthony of course, in his engrossment in his task didn't budged until he finished his scribblings and in the end, the next day, he found himself lying down above multitudes of books about breeding and training, sweat and droll smeared all over his face, some of them even slightly smudging the prints of a book in front of him.
_I went too far..._
Anthony sighed, slowly getting up before using his palms to wipe out his droll and the sweat seeping out of his forehead which is caused by him being too engrossed in his studies that he wasn't able to even make a point to open the electric fan in his room, actually, he even opted to not turn it on at all as it might become a hinderance in his studies.
In his past life, even though he was a student who couldn't be considered lazy, he had also never neglected rest just because of a subject or a test. Surely, this is what happens when you dump real, logical study materials about the Pokémon world on an average Pokémon games enthusiast. Anthony can't help but smirk a little at this before shaking his head and starting to tidy up his room.
After about 5 minutes of making his bed as tidy as possible while also thanking his luck that his mother is yet to check on him, Anthony looked at Zubat's small bed, and in great shock, Zubat, who was quite tired for a little while last night despite its dopamine levels making it eager for more rounds of play, is nowhere to be found.
Just when Anthony is about to look for Zubat outside, he heard the voice of Hana, his mother, who has Zubat on her shoulder. The Pokémon made a waving motion using its wings while crying "Zuu! Zuu!".
"Good morning, you're quite late, the training ground has been finished already since last night, unfortunately, you're too engrossed in studying that I just let it be an event for the next day."
Anthony's eyes widened at this; however, on the other hand, he realized that pokemons are stronger than humans and are most likely more efficient. Plus, the fact that Hana and Ben, Anthony's parents, can reliably give tasks made it common sense that the Pokemons of this couple are efficient builders even without human intervention.
The confusion is only because the original Anthony has never seen the Pokemons build things. As Anthony was thinking of such, Hana suddenly tossed a small vest-like harness towards Anthony, the latter caught it deftly and realized it had 4 compartments, two at the left and right chest area, while the other two were at the back.
While Anthony is scrutinizing the vest, Hana pulls out 4 slabs of heavy, chiseled black stones and walks towards Anthony and gave them to her son.
"These are the weights for the flight endurance training you planned for Zubat. Unfortunately, the Zubat evolution line is not known for its size, so you can only give it so much foundational strength; any more way above what it can punch will be detrimental to Zubat's growth."
Anthony accepted the stone while looking at his mother, who was smiling at him with a little bit of pride, while Zubat, now knowing the purpose of the vest, looked resolute yet nervous, which made Anthony marvel at how expressive it is despite it not having any eyes at all. Soon, however, Anthony was able to scan the trainer's belt in her mother's waist alongside a more flexible and durable trousers than what she normally wears. In the trainer's belt are six Poké Balls, seemingly of her whole team inside the mini-farm of theirs, plus Gyarados.
"... Are you having a comeback as a trainer, mom?"
Of course, Anthony knew that such was not the case; it's just a running joke every time Prof. Oak asked her for a favor. In truth, a six-pokemon team and a complete training gear is the standard uniform of sorts for any active Field Researcher or those that are retired but are occasionally given tasks by the Pokemon League or the Pokemon Professor of the region, of course, only very capable ones like Hana can procure requests from time to time.
"Ha! No, I'm just asking for signatures for the petition from the Pokémon Professors to decongest their Pokémon trade and gifting notarial duties, as well as the lifting of the ban on selling Pokémon eggs, and I'm actually giving this equipments to you early as I'll be away for the whole day."
Anthony nodded at this while bidding Hana goodbye and asking her to take care, Hana gave him a kiss in the cheek before going out, which made the 20 something soul inside Hana's son to feel some things that shouldn't be felt in a non-smut fanfiction, however, besides that, Anthony was also able to remember something from when he was a little bit younger, yet is already capable of being aware of his surroundings.
_Isn't Dad just waiting for the lifting of the ban on public sale of Pokémon eggs before retiring?_
Anthony became quite excited at the prospect of two veteran trainers being near him, as this means he will be able to ask questions, especially for his father, who is a little bit more doting than his mother, who's more into hands-off type of parenting as evident of all that what transpired for him to catch his first pokemon.
Zubat, upon being coaxed by Hana to go to its trainer, landed on the right hand of Anthony and started making 'Zuu... zuuu..' sound around the vest to scrutinize it even though Anthony is so sure that it already did such a thing. Anthony didn't disturb Zubat at his scrutiny; instead, pity washed over his heart for a second.
_I wonder if Zubat will be curious about what I'll give it the moment I start giving it the training I plan it to have..._
Anthony smirked a little at this thought before coaxing Zubat to go to the kitchen to prepare the protein-rich food for Zubat. The food he plans to give Zubat is a simple combination of berries, starch, and simple powdered protein. Berries are for, of course, flavor as well as the heightening of other things besides muscles, like Pomeg Berries for good resistance in illnesses and attacks, Kelpsy berries for an increase in physical attacks, especially so that the Zubat evolution line is notorious for priority physical attacks, Gwalot berry for defense, and Tamato for speed.
The method that was taught by Hana to Anthony is the human grade one, meaning Anthony and Zubat can snack on the food he is doing right now. Anthony, however, opted to just make the right amount for the next week for Zubat, as giving himself portions too would be too wasteful. They might not be what one can consider poor, but wasting resources that's not as vast as Steven Stone (who doesn't waste resources) will be him begging for an ass whooping from his mother.
As Anthony was thinking of such, the blending of the paste that would be baked was finally over. It was thick and needed a heavy-duty food mixer to be blended properly. Zubat immediately flew towards the cookie mold rack, used its mouth to bite a star-shaped mold, and flew towards Anthony. And as it did, Zubat's trainer saw how Zubat was really not that much suited for heavy lifting yet.
"ZHHH! ZHH!"
Anthony sighed, looking at Zubat, who seemed to want star-shaped protein biscuits. He promised himself to make this Pokémon strong without depriving it of its playful nature.
"You're really just a child."
After Anthony patted Zubat's head, Anthony started to mold the cookies according to his Pokemon's desire, though he didn't promised Zubat that it would look like a star as it was his two lives' first time using a mold, even when he helps daily in feeding the huge pokemons, it's just a simple rolling of hands.
Thankfully, when the baking is over, they have turned a proper star shape.
"Alright, you'll eat 2 of these before and after one training session."
Zubat's training has finally started.