echoes of Coach Fredrin's final, booming words hung in the air long after he and his Haxorus had departed. "Expulsion." The word settled like a physical weight in the cavernous training hall, transforming the atmosphere from one of competitive excitement into something much heavier, much more serious. The holographic ranking board, still glowing with its forty names, no longer looked like a scoreboard. It looked like a list of survivors and potential victims.
Students began to break off into small, hushed groups. Jan could see the gears turning in their heads. They were re-evaluating their peers, their new friends, their rivals. A friendly spar was one thing; a battle that could affect your very future in this place was another entirely. He saw Belle trying to maintain her sunny disposition, but her smile didn't quite reach her eyes. He saw Xavier staring intently at the board, his dark eyes calculating, no doubt charting his path to the top.
And then there was Paula. As most students began to drift towards the exits, she remained where she stood, her gaze fixed on the board. She wasn't looking at her own name at the top; her eyes were scanning the entire list, from one to forty, a silent, methodical analysis of the competition. She was, Jan realized, already gathering data. When she finally turned to leave, she moved with the same unhurried, silent grace as before, a lone island of calm in a sea of newfound anxiety.
Jan's gaze inevitably fell upon the person at the heart of that anxiety.
Sai.
His roommate was still frozen in place, staring at the number forty next to his name. The vibrant red of his hair seemed dull under the artificial lights, and the proud, athletic posture he normally held had collapsed inward. He looked small. Defeated. Asher had tried to break through to him with his relentless optimism, but now, faced with the finality of that number and its dire implications, it seemed like a much deeper despair had taken root.
A part of Jan, the introverted part that hated awkward confrontations, screamed at him to just walk away. It wasn't his problem. But then he remembered the look on Sai's face when he'd first entered their room, the sheer, unadulterated excitement he'd had for this place. He remembered the fierce pride he had for his Elekid. That booming confidence might have been arrogant and annoying, but it was genuine. Seeing it so completely extinguished felt... wrong.
With a heavy sigh that seemed to draw the attention of Leo at his feet, Jan walked over, his sneakers squeaking softly on the polished floor.
"Hey," he said again, the word feeling just as inadequate as it had the first time.
Sai didn't respond. His eyes were locked on the number 40. "Last place," he whispered, his voice hoarse. "Expelled. I'm going to get kicked out."
"No, you're not," Jan said firmly.
"You don't know that!" Sai snapped, finally turning to face him. His eyes were red-rimmed, a furious, desperate glint in them. "You're thirteenth! You're safe! You don't know what it's like to have your dream dangled in front of you just so they can tell you you're not good enough to even stay!"
"What Asher told you was right," Jan pressed on, ignoring the outburst. "You're at the bottom. The only way you can go is up. You have the chance to make the biggest comeback story this year. Don't you see? That's way more memorable than just starting at the top."
"A 'comeback story' doesn't mean anything if I fail my classes and get kicked out before I even get the chance!"
"Then don't fail," Jan said simply. "You think the people at the top were just born there? Do you have any idea how many times my dad told me stories about Ash Ketchum? I watched all the documentaries. The guy who became the Pokémon Master, the strongest trainer in the world? He lost the Indigo League. He lost in Johto. He lost in Hoenn. For years, all he did was lose major tournaments. People probably thought he was a failure who'd never make it."
He took a step closer, his voice dropping slightly, becoming more intense. "He didn't become unbeatable overnight. He lost, and he got back up. He failed, and he trained harder. He started at the bottom, just like everyone else. Maybe you and I aren't natural prodigies like Paula. Maybe we're not geniuses. But we can work. We can train harder than anyone else. I fully believe that hard work can beat talent, Sai. Every single time. But you have to actually do the work. You can stand here feeling sorry for yourself because of a number on a board, or you can use it as fuel."
The words hung in the air between them. Jan had never spoken so passionately to anyone other than his own Pokémon. He had just laid out his own core belief, the very philosophy that had gotten him through the grueling entrance exam.
Sai stared at him, his mouth slightly agape. The fury in his eyes slowly subsided, replaced by a flickering, dawning comprehension. He took a long, shaky breath, then another. It was like watching a flame that had been smothered slowly, painstakingly, find oxygen again. A spark of his old fire returned to his eyes.
"Hard work... beats talent," he repeated, the words tasting strange in his own mouth. He looked at his hands, then at the Poké Ball containing Sparky. He looked back at Jan, and then over at Kento, who was talking quietly with Clara and his Mudkip.
A slow grin spread across Sai's face. It started small, then grew into his signature, full-blown, cocky smirk. He stood up straight, his posture reclaiming its former arrogance.
"You're right," he declared, his voice regaining its usual booming quality. "You're absolutely right! A number! I'm letting a stupid number dictate my future? No way! This isn't the end! This is the starting line! And the finish line is me, standing on top of all of you!"
He took a deep breath and bellowed across the training hall. "KENTO!"
Kento, who had been in the middle of a sentence, turned in surprise.
"You and your Mudkip!" Sai shouted, pointing a dramatic finger at him. "You're strong! You beat me! You outsmarted me! And for that, I'm officially declaring you my new number-one rival! You'd better watch your back every single day, because I'm going to be training nonstop! Me and Sparky are going to get so strong, and the next time we battle, we're going to wipe that calm look right off your face! That's a promise!"
Kento looked at the completely reinvigorated Sai, a slow, amused smirk spreading across his own face. He didn't seem intimidated in the slightest. "I'm looking forward to it," he replied, his calm voice carrying easily across the hall. He gave a respectful nod, accepting the challenge.
Sai was back. And he was louder than ever.
"Alright!" he clapped Jan on the back, nearly knocking the wind out of him. "Let's go! A champion needs his fuel! To the Grand Commons!"
Jan stumbled, a deep sense of regret warring with his relief. "Well, at least he's okay," he muttered to himself as Sai practically dragged him towards the exit.
The walk to the cafeteria was, as Jan expected, anything but uneventful. It was a ten-minute monologue delivered at high volume, with Jan as the captive audience.
"...and so, our new training regimen will be called 'Project Ascension!'" Sai declared, Sparky nodding enthusiastically from his shoulder. "We'll wake up an hour earlier for endurance runs! Then an hour of elemental resistance training! Then—"
"I am not waking up an hour earlier," Jan stated flatly.
"Then an hour of move-polishing and combo-crafting!" Sai continued, completely ignoring him. "We'll push ourselves to the absolute limit every single day! You and me, Jan! We'll be training partners! We'll make each other stronger!"
"Eh... no," Jan said.
"It's settled then!" Sai beamed. "Our first session is tomorrow at 5 in the morning! But Now, FOOD!"
Without another word, he broke into a full sprint, hurtling down the wide promenade towards the dining hall, his triumphant shouts of "CHAMPION'S FUEL!" echoing behind him. Jan just stood there, a bead of sweat tracing a path down his temple. The things he did for his roommates.
He continued on his way at a much more reasonable pace, enjoying the moment of peace. The promenade was bustling with students heading to lunch, a river of color-coded ties. He was so lost in his own thoughts, replaying his battle with Paula, that he didn't notice the trio of students walking towards him until it was too late.
One of them, the one in the middle, deliberately angled his shoulder, bumping into Jan with a solid, jarring impact that knocked him off balance.
"Oof—Hey!"
"Whoa, watch where you're going, pipsqueak," the boy said, his voice dripping with condescending mockery.
Jan looked up. The boy was tall and lean, with an aristocratic air about him. His most striking feature was his long, fiery red hair, tied back in a low ponytail, reminiscent of a powerful dragon's tail. His uniform was immaculate, and his red tie was knotted with a precision that spoke of a life of privilege. Two other boys, both looking like generic copies of the first, flanked him like a pair of Houndour.
Even though it clearly hadn't been his fault, Jan's first instinct was to de-escalate. "Sorry about that," he said, stepping back.
The boy just smirked. "You should be. Some people need to learn to stay out of the way of their betters." His lackeys snickered on cue.
Jan's brow furrowed. He didn't recognize him from Class 1-A. "I don't think we've met," he said, his tone neutral. The boy's attitude was already starting to grate on his nerves.
"And you probably never will," the redhead scoffed. "Now get out of my way. I've lost my appetite looking at you."
He shoved past Jan, his lackeys following in his wake. Jan stood there, completely bewildered. "What's up with him?" he muttered to Leo, who let out a low, unhappy growl.
"That's William."
Jan turned to see Corrin, the history buff from his class, standing there. He must have seen the whole exchange.
"Thanks for the assist," Jan said dryly.
Corrin pushed his glasses up his nose, looking slightly sheepish. "My apologies. Engaging with William directly is... rarely a productive endeavor. I'm Corrin, by the way. I know we were in class, but we haven't been formally introduced."
"Jan," he replied, shaking the offered hand. "So, who is this William, and why does he have such a high opinion of himself?"
"That would be because he is William blackhorn of the Dragon Clan," Corrin explained, his inner historian kicking in. "More commonly known as Lance's son..well his youngest son to be exact."
Jan's eyes went wide. Lance? The Champion of the Johto region? One of the most famous and powerful Dragon-type masters in the world? He vaguely remembered seeing the name on the ranking list, high up.
"Wait, I saw his name on the board," Jan recalled. "He was ranked number two."
"The very same," Corrin confirmed. "And since he isn't in our class, it stands to reason he is the top student of Class 1-B. The 'Prince of Dragons,' as he likes to be called."
"Prince of Headcases, more like," Jan muttered. "So what's his problem with me? He acted like I personally insulted his entire family tree."
Corrin adjusted his glasses again. "I can only speculate, of course. But the rumor is that William is exceptionally prideful. He came to this academy fully expecting to be the undisputed number one student. The fact that he was out-ranked, even by one spot, by a girl from Sinnoh Paula has likely wounded his ego immensely. I would hypothesize that he is taking out his frustration on any student from Class 1-A he encounters, as he sees us as
representatives of his 'rival' class."
"So he's just a bully," Jan concluded.
"A well-connected and powerful one," Corrin added grimly. "And speaking of powerful connections... Paula being number one isn't just a fluke of the entrance exam."
Jan looked at him, confused. "What do you mean?"
"Her full name," Corrin said, lowering his voice as if sharing a state secret. "Is Paula Shinji you know. She is the daughter of Paul Shinji, the current reigning Champion of the Sinnoh region."
The world seemed to tilt for a second. Paul? The notoriously ruthless and powerful trainer? The one who had been one of Ash Ketchum's most intense and bitter rivals? Jan's mind flashed back to his battle. The cold, analytical precision. The focus on pure, efficient power. The dismissal of any unnecessary emotion. It all snapped into place with a terrifying clarity. The similarities were undeniable. He hadn't just been battling a talented girl; he'd been battling the heiress to one of the most brutal battle philosophies in the world.
"No way," Jan breathed.
"It explains a lot, doesn't it?" Corrin said. "Honestly, I'm amazed you managed to win. Even if she was holding back, forcing a win condition against a trainer of that caliber is an incredible feat."
Jan scratched the back of his neck, feeling a blush creep up his cheeks. "Wel.., I just got lucky." He still felt the sting of his victory being devalued, but hearing it put that way by someone else... it did make him feel a little better. "Thanks, Corrin."
"Of course," he smiled. "Shall we proceed to the Grand Commons? All this talk of champions has made me hungry."
The two of them walked the rest of the way together, a comfortable and easy conversation flowing between them about their home regions and their first impressions of the academy. When they arrived, the Grand Commons was a roaring sea of noise and activity. Jan parted ways with Corrin, who went to join a table with some other Research students, and went to get his food.
He pulled out his Rotom Phone, checking his student account. AP: 1210. His win had netted him 10 points. It wasn't much, but it was a start. He navigated the bustling food lines, the menu a dazzling array of choices. He decided on a simple but satisfying Pecha Berry glazed ham sandwich, a bottle of Moomoo Milk, and a specially formulated bowl of high-protein kibble for Leo. The total cost flashed on his screen: 25 AP. He tapped his phone on the reader and the transaction was complete. It was a strange feeling, using battle points to buy lunch.
He scanned the crowded hall, looking for a place to sit, when he heard his name being called. "Jan! Over here!"
It was Kent, waving him over to a large circular table. Jan made his way through the crowd and saw his other two roommates, Allen and Sai, were already there. Sai was, predictably, in the middle of inhaling a mountain of pasta. There were also two other students Jan didn't recognize, both wearing the green tie of the Ranger Department.
"Jan, good to see you," Kent said with his usual calm smile. "This is Ellen and Harry. We're all in the same Wilderness Survival class. This is our roommate, Jan."
Ellen was a girl with a gentle face and kind, brown eyes, her hair tied back in a practical ponytail. A Budew was sitting contentedly on the table in front of her. "It's a pleasure to meet you," she said, her voice soft.
Harry was a chubby, cheerful-looking boy who was currently examining a Leppa Berry with the focus of a jeweler. "Hey there! Kent's told us a lot about you trainer-types. Sounds intense!"
"You have no idea," Jan said, taking a seat between Kent and Allen.
They fell into easy conversation about their morning classes. Ellen described learning how to identify toxic plants, while Harry recounted a fascinating lecture on Berry cultivation in different climates. It was a world away from the high-stakes battle theory and combat drills of the Trainer Department.
Their peaceful lunch was suddenly interrupted by a loud, indignant voice from a nearby table.
"Are you kidding me? A strategy that relies on Attract is a cheap gimmick, not a real tactic!"
Jan turned to see Asher arguing animatedly with another boy. This boy had bright orange hair and a fiery expression that reminded Jan of someone, though he couldn't place it. Judging by his red tie, he was another first-year trainer.
"It's not a gimmick if it works!" Asher shot back, grinning. "A real trainer uses everything at their disposal! Besides, my Pichu is just naturally charming!"
Kent sighed softly. "That's Claude," he explained to Jan. "He's in Class 1-B. The two of them have been going at it since the orientation."
"Claude?" Jan asked. "Wait, I know that name. He's ranked fourth."
"He's also Misty's nephew," Kent added. "The current Kanto Champion."
Jan's eyes widened. Lance's son, Paul's daughter, Misty's nephew... this academy was a collection of legacies. The pressure these kids must be under was immense, though Asher seemed to wear his own legacy as lightly as a feather.
Their banter continued, drawing the attention of several tables. Jan's gaze drifted past the two arguing boys to the rest of their table. One person in particular caught his eye. A girl sitting next to Asher, looking thoroughly unamused by Asher's antics. She looked almost exactly like him the same energetic facial structure, the same determined set to her jaw—but her hair was a rich, wavy brunette, and her eyes, which she was currently rolling, seemed a touch sharper, more focused. She was beautiful. He noticed her tie was a vibrant yellow. Coordinator Department.
He was so busy staring that he didn't realize Sai had stopped eating.
"Ooooooh," Sai said, a long, drawn-out, teasing sound. He followed Jan's gaze directly to the girl. "I see what's going on. Little Jan has a crush!"
Jan nearly choked on his Moomoo Milk. "What? No! I was just—"
"Staring at the pretty Coordinator girl?" Sai finished, a huge, infuriating grin on his face. "Don't worry, I get it. Her name's Lira Ketchum i think. Asher's twin sister. She's supposed to be some kind of prodigy, just like him."
"I was not staring!" Jan insisted, his face burning. "I was just observing the... social dynamics of the cafeteria."
"Right. 'Social dynamics,'" Sai chuckled, wiggling his eyebrows.
"Alright, that's enough," Kent said, his calm voice cutting through the teasing. "Let them have their argument in peace. We were talking about our afternoons. What electives did you all choose?"
Jan gratefully seized the change of subject. "Oh, uh, I picked Pokémon Care and Wellness, Advanced pokemon Type Theory, and Introduction to Pokémon Cooking."
Sai snorted. "'Pokémon Cooking'? What are you, a Breeder?" he scoffed. "I picked Advanced Strength Training, High-Intensity Battle Conditioning, and Aggressive Combat Tactics. If it doesn't make Sparky stronger, it's a waste of time!."
Of course he did. As Jan settled back, listening to his friends talk, he took one last, quick glance over at the other table. Lira Ketchum wasn't looking at her brother anymore. For a split second, her sharp eyes met his. He immediately looked away, his heart giving a stupid, embarrassing flutter.
This academy, he was beginning to realize, was going to be complicated.