I Really Didn’t Want to Be a Trainer

Night was falling, and Lu Ye was getting ready to head home.

“See you next time, Teacher Lu!” Ash waved behind him and shouted.

Lu Ye patted the pouch of coins in his pocket with a sigh.

Winning battles to earn spare change from strangers—

in a way, Pokémon Trainers were no different from adventurers looting treasure chests…

Rather than letting Ash sink all his money into Angry Pidove, better to treat it like paying tuition.

Lu Ye exchanged a glance with the Gengar floating at his side, then both grinned mischievously.

He'd promised Professor Oak to take on a mission—sometime after New Year’s.

Before that, he could wander around campus, tease Sylveon, and play a few games with Cynthia.

Yes… such was the dull and uneventful life of Teacher Lu.

Outside the lab, the chill breeze met him head-on. The night sky was wide and clear. A blonde girl in a white hat walked quietly beside Cynthia, hands clasped behind her back.

“Chasing everything is the beginning of misfortune,” Caitlin said softly.

“Huh?”

“You said that to me once,” Caitlin said, watching Cynthia. “But you seem… much stronger now.”

“Because every encounter brings new bonds.”

Cynthia reached out her slender fingers and pinched Caitlin’s cheek with a smile.

“Smile more—your connection with your Pokémon will grow stronger too.”

Caitlin froze, then lowered her head with flushed cheeks.

On one side, the citrus vibes were sweet and strong. On the other, Shauntal walked with Lu Ye, nervously saying,

“Sorry for interrupting you two tonight, Teacher Lu…”

“I don’t mind…” Lu Ye rubbed his chin.

If Cynthia and Caitlin were like sisters… then by that logic—

Caitlin… is kind of my sister-in-law?

Lu Ye blinked, recalling the rumors about Caitlin, and his feelings got complicated.

This sister-in-law… could quite literally explode things with her mind. A humanoid Psychic-type, basically.

“I can’t let my guard down…” Lu Ye fell into deep thought.

The cold night wind swept past. Cynthia tucked her golden hair behind her ear and smiled.

“You two go ahead first… I’ll come visit you in Unova sometime.”

Caitlin and Shauntal froze.

Shauntal, a Ghost-type Elite Four, pushed up her round glasses and looked the two over, face reddening.

Their relationship… really is close.

She recalled certain… scenes in those romance novels.

Shauntal’s face turned even redder.

“Um…” Caitlin let out a soft, animal-like whimper, torn with conflict.

Clinging to Cynthia might annoy her, after all…

Not wanting to see Cynthia look sad, Caitlin made a difficult decision. She looked up and said,

“Th-then… it’s a promise.”

“It’s a promise,” Cynthia said, ruffling her hair with a smile.

Why do I feel like the bad guy here? Lu Ye thought to himself.

But then he realized—Cynthia’s gift was that gentle optimism she showed everyone.

And when on the battlefield, her heroic aura won over countless fans.

“My wife is just too cute,” Lu Ye thought gleefully.

At the station near Pallet Town, you could transfer to a Corviknight taxi.

Shauntal bowed and said, “Teacher Lu, thank you for hosting us tonight!”

Caitlin thought of the food earlier, licked her lips reflexively, then shook her head.

Tch. Whatever.

“Aren’t you coming with us?” Caitlin asked.

“Yeah…” Cynthia chuckled. “Still have some private business.”

P-Private business!!

Shauntal quickly covered her flushed face with her hardcover book and giggled.

Lu Ye’s mouth twitched.

This Elite Four… doesn’t seem very serious, huh?

Eventually, Caitlin rested her cheek against the window, reluctant to leave.

The two walked out of the station side by side. The streetlights stretched their shadows long.

Snowflakes fluttered gently down from the sky.

Lu Ye found himself wishing the road were just a little longer.

“I’ll probably head back to Sinnoh next,” Cynthia said softly.

“Mm.” Lu Ye nodded.

As Champion, she couldn’t slack off forever.

Still, it wasn’t a big deal. He could travel to Sinnoh next year—

and have Cynthia confess to him.

A vital milestone for establishing household status!

“But I’ll stay a few more days,” Cynthia smiled.

“I’ve already got the next few menus planned out!”

“For real?!” Lu Ye looked shocked.

“Of course,” Cynthia said proudly.

So that I don’t keep freezing up whenever you ask, I pulled an all-nighter last night figuring it out…

“We’re walking back?”

“Wanna fly?” Cynthia suggested.

“…Let’s take Arcanine.”

Lu Ye tossed out a Luxury Ball and cleared his throat.

“Warm and comfy. And seats two.”

“Awoo~~ (｀0´)”

Arcanine howled, grinning with gleaming teeth.

Cynthia reached out and stroked its fluffy fur. “Looks like it’s eating well.”

“Well yeah—look who raised him.”

Lu Ye climbed up and offered a hand, but Cynthia didn’t need the help.

She moved as gracefully as an Altaria.

“……”

Lu Ye’s hand hovered awkwardly in the air.

“Let’s go.”

Cynthia leaned in from behind. Her scent drifted close, brushing his ear.

Then she lightly slapped his palm.

Her hair tickled his neck, and warm breath whispered past his ear.

Cynthia smiled.

“Let’s go home.”

Lu Ye yawned lazily and stepped out of the bedroom.

“(*･ω-q)” Sylveon mimicked him, yawning adorably.

“…You’re really using Yawn as a morning greeting now?”

Lu Ye suddenly felt drowsy again. He glanced toward the balcony, where a leek was growing in a potted plant.

“Yo, lookin’ healthy!” he grinned.

In the living room, Lucario sat reading manga.

Books were spread around him. Togepi lay snoozing on his lap.

Lucario looked up with a slightly resentful gaze.

“Thanks for the hard work,” Lu Ye said, nodding seriously.

Might need you for babysitting in the future!

BOOM!

Garchomp and Squirtle were training in the yard.

Cynthia, used to the noise, still hadn’t gotten out of bed.

Lu Ye tied on an apron, waved at Gengar vacuuming the floor, and started preparing breakfast.

The morning sun was pleasant and warm.

Lu Ye casually picked a book to flip through—not for the content, just to wake up his brain.

Ding-a-ling——

The doorbell rang, breaking the peace.

Lu Ye checked the caller ID and blinked.

“Proton?”

Vines crawled along the walls, and a white umbrella shaded the table.

A woman with a bowl-cut hairstyle, oversized sunglasses, and a surgical mask sat warily scanning her surroundings.

“Proton?”

She jumped at the sound, pulled off her shades. “How’d you recognize me?! My disguise is perfect!”

Lu Ye: “……”

I’m not even gonna bother roasting how bad disguise techniques are in the Pokémon world.

James and Jessie count as top-tier masters at this rate.

If I were a cop, I could probably solve every case on sight!

“Just tell me why you called me.”

Lu Ye sighed long and hard.

“I’ve got kids—no, dinner—to get back to.”

“…One moment.”

Proton pulled out a wrapped parcel and handed it to him.

“Boss Giovanni asked me to give this to you.”

Lu Ye instinctively reached out, but paused. “What is it?”

“Take a guess.”

“…A TM?”

Proton shook her head.

Lu Ye relaxed and took the package—only to freeze mid-motion.

[Ding! Quest Progress Updated!]

[Badge Collection: (6/8)]

[You’re past the halfway mark—keep going, Host!]

Lu Ye: “???”

Did this package just stab me?!

“It’s like this,” Proton said, as if choosing her words carefully.

“This is… Boss Giovanni’s way of thanking you.”

“Th-Thanking me?” Lu Ye asked suspiciously.

“A Christmas gift, I guess?” Proton tilted her head.

Lu Ye had a weird look on his face.

His mind flashed back to that goofy group photo he’d sent Giovanni…

Just a photo, and you’re already sending me gifts?!

Boss Giovanni, you really don’t need to humble yourself like this!

“W-What’s in it exactly?” Lu Ye asked nervously.

“According to the Boss,” Proton said, “One of them is the Viridian Badge…”

Lu Ye looked up at the sky.

I’m such an idiot. Seriously.

I thought the Viridian Gym was guarded by Champion Green and that there was no way Gengar could grab a badge.

I forgot… the organization had a mole. Giovanni used to be a Gym Leader!

“I let my guard down…”

Proton looked at him and added, “Don’t be too moved—there’s more.”

“…Go on.”

Lu Ye took a deep breath. “I can handle it.”

Proton suddenly looked solemn.

“There’s also a manuscript of Boss Giovanni’s insights—”

“Secrets of the Earth!”

“……”

Lu Ye wiped his face and slumped over the table.

“Teacher Lu? Are you alright?” Proton patted his shoulder.

“I’m fine,” he said weakly, forcing a laugh.

“It’s just… this problem is really hard. I don’t know how to solve it…”

Secrets of the Earth—

Giovanni’s life’s work.

It was said that as long as Giovanni stood on solid ground, he could never lose.

(The one loss to Red? A sneak attack. By all accounts, Giovanni still won.)

Hence his title: The Earth-Shaking Giovanni.

In the original story, Green used this very manual to build a main team in under a year.

Clearly, this wasn’t just a guide to Ground-type moves—

It contained Giovanni’s, and even Team Rocket’s, years of breeding knowledge.

You couldn’t call this a legendary item…

This was a Golden Legend.

If Gengar got ahold of this…

He might just pull a Green and raise an entire main squad himself.

You think “Breeding Legend” refers to Green? Nah—it's Gengar now!

Proton watched the long-silent Teacher Lu and felt deeply moved.

Looks like this gift was even more precious than I realized. It left a man like him speechless…

“Would you… like to return the gift?” Proton asked.

Lu Ye blinked. “You think I’m not satisfied?!”

“……”

If I returned it…

Would Giovanni feel obligated to send me something even better?

The cold wind blew. Lu Ye tightened his coat.

Winter is coming.

He took out his fresh, new little notebook with trembling hands.

December 26th – Clear Skies

Giovanni gave me the Viridian Badge…

and included a copy of Secrets of the Earth.

Giovanni—(crossed out) Silver.

Silver—(crossed out) Gold.

This grudge… I, Teacher Lu, shall remember.