A military bus rolled slowly along the road. Aaron sat quietly by the window, gazing at the scenery passing outside.
On the bus were Grace, Ethan, Simon, Victor, and the others. Principal Sterling and several school administrators were there as well, personally escorting Aaron and the students back as a precaution against another enemy attack.
That terrorist incident had shaken them badly.
A once-in-a-generation prodigy had finally appeared—and he had nearly been taken out before anyone could even protect him properly.
Even now, Sterling still felt lingering fear.
The way he looked at Aaron was filled to the brim with admiration.
An Advanced Trainer who had defeated a Gym Leader-level powerhouse with a single move—how could anyone not be shocked!?
Sterling had never seen anyone so outrageous in his entire life, not even the current Champion of the Hualis Region—Drake!!
...
"Aaron… was that golden figure Frog Boss!?"
"That was insanely strong—and so cool!!"
"He actually killed someone that powerful in one hit!"
"That was incredible…"
Ethan, sitting beside Aaron, had completely turned into his die-hard fan. His eyes burned with excitement as he spoke nonstop.
Simon and Victor, seated behind them, also wore expressions of deep respect.
They had been right next to Aaron at the time. When they saw that colossal Shadow Ball descending like a black hole, they had nearly wet themselves in fear.
Terror filled their minds.
Their bodies refused to move.
Forget running—they could barely even breathe!!
But then, they saw Aaron summon Greninja, transforming it into that golden figure.
With a single strike, it split that massive Shadow Ball cleanly in half—and erased the enemy completely!!
In that moment, the two of them felt as though they had witnessed a god… a dazzling, blinding light.
Any jealousy or resentment they once felt toward Aaron vanished entirely. All that remained was pure admiration.
Some people are simply destined to be looked up to.
Thinking back on how they had treated Aaron before, Simon and Victor couldn't help but smile bitterly at themselves.
When faced with death, those childish rivalries and petty jealousy felt laughable beyond words.
Grace kept her eyes fixed on Aaron's profile, an unreadable glint flickering in her gaze. She said nothing, simply watching him quietly, lost in her own thoughts.
Hearing Ethan's excitement, Aaron snapped out of his daze. A pale smile appeared on his face as he replied,
"It wasn't much… just luck, really."
At that moment, Sterling shot Ethan a glare and cut him off.
"You brat… all you know how to do is flatter people. Can't you see Aaron is exhausted right now!?"
"Let him rest properly!"
Then his expression softened as he turned back to Aaron.
"Aaron, get some rest. Don't worry—I'm here. There's nothing to be afraid of."
Aaron smiled faintly.
"Principal… I'm fine. I'll recover after some rest."
Sterling nodded, then addressed everyone on the bus.
"This terrorist attack was sudden and extremely dangerous. You were all nearly…"
His voice dropped, heavy with guilt at having failed to protect his students.
"Fortunately, Aaron stayed calm in the face of danger, turned the situation around, and saved dozens of lives."
"On behalf of those students, I want to say…"
"Thank you."
Sterling's eyes grew moist as he bowed slightly to Aaron.
Startled, Aaron immediately stood up and helped him straighten.
"Principal… please don't do that. You're making me embarrassed. I was really just saving myself."
"So please, don't take it too seriously…"
The admiration in Sterling's eyes deepened. He patted Aaron's shoulder.
"Good… you did well."
Some things didn't need to be said aloud—it was enough to carry them in one's heart.
"Because of this unexpected incident, the awards ceremony has been canceled. The rewards will be sent to the school and distributed later."
"And… Major Grant told me something as well. For stopping this terrorist attack, Aaron's contribution was enormous. He will apply to the state to award Aaron a personal Pokémon Trainer Second-Class Merit."
"That is an extraordinary honor!"
"I hope all of you can learn from Aaron."
"Come on… let's give him a round of applause."
At last, a smile appeared on Sterling's face.
Warm, sincere applause filled the bus.
The group chatted and laughed as the bus drove farther and farther away.
The sun dipped low, slowly slipping into the clouds, instantly dyeing the western sky a deep crimson.
Golden evening light reflected off the crystal-clear river, shimmering with rippling brilliance.
And their journey—had only just begun.
...