Pokémon: Check-In System

"Phew~ Finally done! That was exhausting. Next time, I'll finish my homework before having fun—wait, no, there won't be any more homework next time!"

After filling in the last answer on his assignment, Nero put down his pen and stretched lazily.

As he absentmindedly scrolled through his phone for a while, a thought suddenly struck him—he still had something to discuss with Combusken. But when he turned around, he realized that Combusken was no longer in the room.

"Probably in the living room."

Nero got up, opened his door, and walked into the living room.

The room was empty, and the laptop on the table was already shut.

"Where did Combusken go?"

Just as Nero furrowed his brows in confusion, a loud noise echoed from downstairs.

Stepping onto the balcony, he caught sight of Combusken vigorously training with a soccer ball.

"Cha-mo!"

"Cha-mo!"

"Cha…mo!"

Combusken kicked the ball forward, bouncing it off the crooked tree before skillfully striking it back with impressive moves each time.

The ball returned once more, and Combusken executed a backflip, positioning itself midair with its head tilted downward and legs extended.

But perhaps due to eagerness, it miscalculated and swung too soon, missing the ball entirely.

"Wait… is that a bicycle kick?!"

Watching Combusken attempt the move, a smile formed on Nero's lips as memories from the past surfaced.

Back in middle school, Nero had been a core member of his school's soccer team. He had participated in numerous tournaments, with the best achievement being third place in the city-level competition.

The camaraderie he shared with his teammates, the thrill of victory, and the honor they brought to their school—those moments were unforgettable.

But as they advanced in grade levels, reality caught up. With high school entrance exams looming, one by one, they traded their jerseys for stacks of practice tests.

During the break after the exams, they still occasionally gathered for a game.

Yet, as the saying goes:

"We used to pitch in money to play soccer; now, we pitch in people just to have enough for a match."

Once they entered high school, everyone went their separate ways, and their soccer gatherings became rare. Nero himself had only played sporadically since then.

But watching Combusken so passionately honing its skills reminded him of his younger self, fumbling and learning the game.

Of course, Combusken was already showing remarkable talent.

If Nero remembered correctly, this was the first time Combusken had ever touched a soccer ball.

To be this skilled on the first try—there was no doubt about it. Combusken had a natural gift.

No wonder it was a Pokémon known for its powerful kicks.

After observing for a while, Nero noticed that Combusken seemed particularly fixated on mastering the bicycle kick, repeating the motion over and over.

A bicycle kick was an unconventional but highly effective shooting technique in soccer.

It wasn't something one would see often on the field, as it required both skill and precise timing.

However, in unpredictable match situations, a successful bicycle kick could turn the tide of the game, often leading to crucial goals.

Every executed bicycle kick was a fusion of instinct, inspiration, imagination, and explosive power—making it one of the most thrilling moves to witness.

No wonder Combusken was so captivated by it.

"Cha…mo…"

After another failed attempt, Combusken sat on the ground, panting heavily.

"You really love soccer, don't you?"

Hearing the familiar voice, Combusken turned around. Seeing Nero, it gave a small nod.

Though exhausted, its eyes still gleamed with enthusiasm for the sport.

The more it practiced, the more it grew to love the game.

Nero picked up the soccer ball, placed it on the ground, and skillfully lifted it with his right foot, starting a series of juggles to regain his feel for the ball.

After a few moments of reacquainting himself with the rhythm, he gave it a powerful kick!

The ball soared straight ahead, striking the crooked tree with precision.

With a grin, Nero turned to Combusken. "That move you were trying to learn—it's called a bicycle kick. But it's not easy to pull off, and to be honest, I've never mastered it myself."

"Still, you have an incredible natural talent for soccer. As long as you learn the right techniques, you'll pick it up in no time."

Nero wasn't just saying this to encourage Combusken—he truly believed it. The bicycle kick wasn't something that could be mastered overnight. It required years of training and even then, opportunities to use it in a real match were rare. Nero himself had never successfully landed one.

But Combusken was different. With such raw potential, it reminded him of a certain Pokémon from the Galar region…

A blazing ace on the soccer field.

"Cha-mo! Cha-mo~!"

Upon hearing that it could learn the move, Combusken's eyes lit up with excitement as it stared eagerly at Nero.

"Haha, no need to rush."

Nero hadn't expected Combusken to become so obsessed with soccer in such a short time.

Rubbing his chin, he tried to recall the key points he had learned when attempting the bicycle kick himself.

After a few minutes of recalling the details, Nero finally spoke. "First, you have to jump to the right height. Since we're going airborne, the second thing is to push off with your non-dominant foot. For example, Combusken, you're used to kicking with your right foot, so you should first take off using your left foot."

"But remember, when kicking mid-air, don't use excessive force. Otherwise, you'll lose balance and control."

Combusken nodded eagerly, like a chick pecking at rice.

"When you leap, try to lean back slightly. The most important part here is to strike the ball with the center of your instep. This is the optimal contact point, and ideally, you should hit the ball dead center to achieve maximum accuracy when shooting."

"Chaamo, chaamo~~"

After listening to Nero's explanation, Combusken excitedly picked up the ball.

But instead of immediately practicing alone, it kicked the ball toward Nero, signaling for him to kick it back.

"You want me to play with you?"

"Chaamo~"

Combusken nodded.

Nero smiled. "Alright, consider this a little fun after finishing our work. Get ready, Combusken! I'm pretty strong at this—here comes the ball!"

Under the moonlit sky, a serene and poetic scene unfolded—a perfect depiction of "the moon on the willow's tip." The quiet night was filled with the crisp sound of the ball being kicked back and forth, accompanied by the joyful cheers of a boy and his Pokémon.

At that moment, the silent night seemed especially vivid.

The eighth day of the Lunar New Year.

Today, Nero had to return to school.

Students in Vasciyna were known for their talent and ability to create miracles.

Just last night, young boys and girls had managed to accomplish something that left foreigners in shock—all with just a single pen.

Nero placed last night's "miracle" assignment book into his backpack. After putting on his school uniform, he grabbed a piece of bread and headed out.

Classes started at 7:30 AM, and Nero arrived ten minutes early.

Now in the final semester of his senior year, the national college entrance exam was only a few months away. Even the most mischievous students had set aside their playfulness to focus on their studies.

The classroom was significantly quieter than usual. The only sounds came from students reciting their lessons.

Even though the exam now included a Pokémon-related section—which carried a heavy weight in the overall score—the cultural subjects couldn't be neglected either.

Unless a student had an exceptional Pokémon-related score that earned them direct admission to a prestigious university, cultural subjects still played an important role.

Their homeroom teacher, a somewhat talkative woman, walked in and, seeing her students diligently studying, nodded in approval.

"Alright, I won't take up too much of your time. I have an important announcement to make."

She swept her gaze across the class and then spoke deliberately.

"This week, the school will hold its final selection for the varsity team. I believe you all understand the significance of being a part of the school team, so I won't go into details."

"The selection will be conducted through a fair, just, and open Varsity Selection Tournament!! Only those who achieve excellent rankings in the tournament will qualify for the team. Now, if anyone is interested in participating, please raise your hand."

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