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November 10th, Monday.
The weekend had been especially fulfilling for Aiden.
Perhaps due to the growing fame of Sunlight Gym in Naranja Academy, these two days saw quite a few students in uniforms coming to challenge it.
This should have been a win-win result.
Students were enlightened by challenging the gym, gaining clarity on their future improvement directions;
Sunlight Gym gained popularity and started to generate some buzz locally in Paldea;
The gym's Pokémon also seized the opportunity to gain a wealth of combat experience.
Even Nemona's Pawmi evolved into Pawmo after one of the battles.
It was truly killing two birds with one stone – a total victory!
If this could continue, perhaps Sunlight Gym might really become an "internet-famous gym."
Of course, that was impossible.
Because come Monday, students would be locked back into the cage called school, only regaining freedom to leave on weekends.
Upon hearing this news, Aiden was utterly baffled.
In Pokémon Scarlet/Violet, it seemed that after the protagonist started school, they rarely returned to the academy...
"Even in the Pokémon world, why do we still have compulsory education!"
But because of this, he quickly recalled a student organization that played a significant role in the game's storyline—
Team Star!
This was a troublesome group of students acting as antagonists, one of the game's three main storylines.
Before the protagonist enrolled, Naranja Academy underwent a complete overhaul, with almost all management and teachers being replaced.
What exactly happened could only be pieced together from fragments found in Team Star-related plots.
One thing was certain: there had already been severe bullying issues at Naranja Academy, leading those bullied to form Team Star in resistance.
Based on the timeline, Team Star should form about a year later?
This situation made the academy administration accountable, and signs must have shown earlier.
Thinking of this, Aiden couldn't help but sigh.
Such incidents happening in the Pokémon world really spoiled the harmonious and beautiful atmosphere he aspired to.
If he ever got the chance, he should remind Geeta.
Though a time traveler, he was currently just a struggling gym leader trying to stay above relegation, without the ability to influence League decisions yet.
Do what you can...
In any case, the absence of students significantly affected the gym.
Originally somewhat popular, Sunlight Gym only welcomed two challengers throughout the entire day on Monday.
"The Cinccino with Skill Link is indeed well-suited for consecutive-hit moves like Double Slap, but in actual combat, fully executing the hits takes time."
"Rather than forcing Double Slap, try moves like Triple Axel; sometimes it yields better results."
"Also, during regular training, focus more on improving Cinccino's attack speed."
After seeing off another Trainer, Aiden sighed in relief.
It seemed there would be no more challengers today.
Three consecutive days of battles meant the gym's Pokémon must have accumulated considerable fatigue.
Given this, it'd be better to let them relax.
For Friday's assessment, they shouldn't be too tense.
...
Speaking of the most distinctive relaxation method in the Paldea region, picnics are undoubtedly the go-to.
Paldeans always exuded a peculiar sense of ease; laying out tablecloths and tents could instantly relax even in dangerous wilderness areas.
This unique atmosphere even influenced wild Pokémon, fostering a subtle mutual understanding between both sides.
During human picnics, both parties temporarily ceased hostilities.
So when Aiden and Nemona arrived at the outskirts of Cabo Poco, just as they prepared to spread out the tablecloth, a group of Fletchling, Lechonk, and Hoppip suddenly appeared from nowhere, staring hungrily at them.
"..."
You guys are so skilled at this!
Suppressing the urge to comment, Aiden broke off a few freshly baked Kalosian baguettes and fed them to these greedy little critters.
"Paldea is truly a wonderful place; here, the boundaries between humans and wild Pokémon are almost nonexistent."
Witnessing this scene, Nemona quickly expressed her admiration.
Due to family reasons, she had moved around various regions since childhood, and choosing to come to Cabo Poco was largely because of this unique harmony between humans and nature.
"Yeah..."
"But it'd be better if they had a bit more personal space awareness!"
Aiden sighed helplessly.
He realized he might have made a mistake.
Perhaps because they rarely tasted refined human cuisine, after feeding the first batch of wild Pokémon, these unscrupulous little guys actually doubled back, bringing their families to freeload again…
This is going too far; landlords don't have extra grain either!
To resist the pitiful gazes of these little critters, Aiden decisively turned his head aside.
On the vast grassland, Eevee was full of enthusiasm, setting up an easel with Nemona's help, gazing at the endless sunset, sky, and wilderness.
Is our little painter from Sunlight Gym about to create its debut work?
Developing hobbies alongside training is pretty good.
Aiden nodded satisfactorily,
As for Riolu and Pawmo, these two Fighting-types couldn't sit still, even during a picnic finding a spot to push each other, seemingly wrestling.
Of course, in front of the overpowered Riolu, even post-evolution Pawmo wasn't a match, losing swiftly.
After falling, Pawmo gave a silly laugh, stood up, and charged forward again.
After preparing the picnic food, Aiden stood still, calmly observing the scene before him.
At this moment, his life since arriving in the Pokémon world suddenly became tangible.
You think this day is just another ordinary day, but years later you realize it was the best day of your life. Such a day may never come again.
For some reason, Aiden suddenly remembered this phrase from his previous life.
Eevee and Riolu would eventually grow up, and Nemona and her Pawmo would sooner or later embark on a journey towards the Champion title.
If they pass the assessment smoothly, the gym will foreseeably get busier, possibly even changing his own state of mind in the future.
Such leisurely days may indeed be dwindling...
"Bui!"
Just as Aiden was reflecting, Eevee suddenly emitted a cute sound, drawing all the Pokémon's attention.
Its tail tip began to shine, changing colors with each stroke on the canvas.
Soon, a landscape painting appeared on the easel.
Aiden stepped forward, ready to praise his little painter, but upon glancing at the details of its picture, he froze momentarily.
The sunset glow illuminated the clouds, presenting a beautiful scene of pink and light blue interwoven.
However, between these two conflicting colors, inexplicably, there was an indissoluble blot of pitch black, clashing with the surroundings.
Did Eevee make a mistake in its plein-air painting?
With this thought, Aiden instinctively looked up at the sky.
Then, he froze in place.
Eevee hadn't made a mistake; it merely perfectly replicated the scene before its eyes.
And in the center of that barely observable darkness, a pair of noble and cold golden eyes stared unwaveringly at him.
In an instant, Aiden recognized the Pokémon concealed high in the sky.
Rayquaza...
And it was an extremely rare Shiny Rayquaza!
What the heck did I just encounter???
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