Pokemon: My Strange Pokemons

Due to his taller stature, Ethan sat in the back row, with an empty seat next to him. Kai temporarily took the seat and waited for the teacher's further arrangements.

Outside of class, the school allowed Pokémon to roam freely in the classroom, so Kai released his relatively small Axew to let it stretch.

Although the feedback from Pokémon indicated that Luxury Balls were comfortable, they were still enclosed spaces. For lively Pokémon, being inside for too long could feel stifling. Eevee, in particular, hated it.

Axew seemed to be no different. The moment it was released, it became a bundle of energy, curiously observing its surroundings. However, when its eyes fell on Eevee, who was engrossed in playing on its phone, Axew's excitement morphed into irritation.

"Axew!"

Spotting an old foe reignited its fury.

For Axew, losing a chance to avenge its humiliation in battle was a bitter pill to swallow. It squirmed in Kai's arms, ready to leap toward Eevee and settle the score.

Kai quickly intervened, stroking Axew's head gently. "Don't make a scene here. If you want to settle things, do it in a proper battle, alright?"

There wasn't any noticeable glow or power, but Axew, whose eyes were ablaze, began to calm down, still glaring daggers at Eevee.

Ethan raised an eyebrow in surprise. Was this the renowned Draken family's ability to communicate telepathically with Dragon-type Pokémon? If so, it was practically a superpower.

Eevee, sensing the tension, looked up lazily and glanced at Axew. "Eevee?"

No one understood what Eevee said, but with just a few words, it set off Axew again, its anger boiling over.

Kai sighed, once again pacifying his Pokémon, while Ethan turned to scold Eevee. "Cut it out. Stop antagonizing others for no reason."

Eevee snorted indignantly. "How do you know it's no reason? Aren't grudges from alternate timelines still grudges?"

Though it grumbled, Eevee didn't provoke Axew further.

The minor dispute was nothing unusual in a classroom full of Pokémon, where even two Pidgey and a Spearow nearly came to blows. Compared to their noisy antics, Eevee and Axew's scuffle seemed downright civilized.

The commotion ceased instantly when Gerald, the teacher, entered the room. One stern look from the homeroom teacher had students quickly returning their Pokémon to their Poké Balls.

Gerald nodded in approval before addressing the class. "I know you're all excited after two months apart, but let's focus. As you know, this semester marks the start of your official training in Pokémon cultivation and battle practice."

"This year, academic courses will take a backseat. Many of you will be spending less time at school and more in the field. Prepare yourselves mentally for this change."

Though Gerald looked imposing, he was no different from other teachers when it came to lengthy explanations.

After 30 minutes of talking, his message boiled down to: It's time to compete. Push yourselves to the limit.

Even in the resource-rich Valoria Region, where survival pressures were low, competition among trainers was fierce. Tens of millions of trainers existed, but only a few thousand qualified for the annual Valoria Conference.

And that was just the start. Dozens of Gym Leaders, four Elite Four members, and a single Champion stood atop the hierarchy. Achieving such heights was akin to a Magikarp leaping over a waterfall.

Ethan had already come to terms with this reality since arriving in this world. Many of his peers, however, still clung to naive fantasies.

For instance, social media profiles were often filled with phrases like, "Conquering the world with my xxx." Compared to that, Rosa's goal of becoming Valoria Champion, while lofty, at least seemed grounded in determination and hard work.

Instead of eating lunch at the school cafeteria, Ethan returned home. The food at Ancient High's cafeteria wasn't bad, but it couldn't compare to his own cooking. Eevee, spoiled by Ethan's meals, had developed a mild dependency on them.

As usual, Rosa and her Snivy shamelessly tagged along.

After preparing lunch at home, Ethan fed the Feebas in its aquarium and left its portion inside. "Was it boring being in the Poké Ball all morning?"

The thought often crossed Ethan's mind. Didn't Pokémon get bored being cooped up in their balls all the time?

Feebas blinked at him blankly. "Morning's over already?"

Ethan sighed. "Did you sleep through the whole morning like a Snorlax?"

Feebas tilted its head, not quite understanding, and Ethan decided to let it slide. What he didn't realize was that while it appeared lazy, Feebas had been diligently absorbing energy from the pearls in its tank, growing stronger in its own way.

In the afternoon, Ethan attended a class titled Understanding and Choosing Pokéblocks.

Pokéblocks were essential for Pokémon nutrition, and trainers needed to know how to select and use them effectively. The class promised to teach the principles behind their creation.

Ethan, eager to improve his Pokéblock-making skills, was excited—until he realized the course material was painfully basic. Half the lesson was spent discussing the flavors of berries.

Seeing his classmates diligently taking notes, Ethan realized he wasn't just disappointed; he was ahead of the curve. Despite his laid-back ambitions of becoming a Gym Leader, his competitive streak ran deeper than he thought.

After class, Ethan approached the teacher for guidance. The instructor, flattered by his enthusiasm, admitted she didn't know much about advanced Pokéblock formation. "If I could answer that question, I'd be working at the Valoria Pokémon Research Institute."

Ethan left feeling dejected. Was his plan for creating beautiful Pokéblocks doomed to fail?

That night, after editing a video for his online channel, Ethan mulled over the issue. The evolution of Feebas into Milotic was tied to its beauty, and Ethan had promised to help it achieve that goal.

"Well, I'll figure it out tomorrow," he muttered, setting the problem aside. Soon, he drifted off to sleep.