I Really Didn’t Want to Be a Trainer

February 20th, Saturday.

Clear skies, blue and cloudless.

A plane streaked across the sky, a long white contrail splitting the heavens in two.

“This flight is about to arrive at Jubilife Airport. We wish you a pleasant journey…” said the sweet voice of the announcer.

As the plane descended, it pierced through layers of cloud.

Looking out from the window, the sea-surrounded island below came into view—its outline slowly growing larger and clearer.

“Gengarrr!” Gengar’s giant face was pressed right up against the window, his distorted expression looking quite comical as he grinned, eyes crinkling in delight.

“Haa… we there yet?”

Lu Ye took off his sleep mask, stretched, and slowly woke from his nap.

“Gengarrr!” Gengar stood on the window seat, tugging excitedly at Lu Ye’s sleeve.

“Ah, that should be the Sinnoh island.”

Lu Ye leaned toward the window, curiosity showing on his face.

“Let me take a look!”

The Sinnoh region was a massive island, far removed from Kanto, surrounded on all sides by sea, with the long and narrow Mount Coronet range running north to south.

Around Sinnoh were many small islands, such as Iron Island and Fullmoon Island, making ferries a very common mode of travel.

Compared to the subtropical monsoon climate of Modu—distinct seasons, warm and humid—

Sinnoh was rainy, snowy, often foggy and cold year-round. But it also had the unique charm of a snowy homeland. “The land of myths and legends… that’s Sinnoh for you.”

Lu Ye recalled the highlights of the ‘Diamond and Pearl’ era, and a figure of a blonde Champion surfaced in his mind.

In the DP generation, she was almost universally regarded by fans as the strongest Champion.

Her powerful Garchomp, her cool appearance, and warm personality…

The Sinnoh Champion—Cynthia.

“Gengar.”

Lu Ye smiled. “Let’s enjoy this trip, yeah~!”

“Gengarrr~！（๑`▽´๑)۶”

Sinnoh Gym Leaders, here comes Gengar!!

…

Jubilife City – Airport Lobby

As the largest city west of Mount Coronet, Jubilife was highly modernized.

The Pokétch Company, Trainer School, Jubilife Radio Tower—

All were iconic institutions here.

The sun dipped low.

In Sinnoh’s cold climate, nightfall always came a bit earlier.

In the airport’s arrival hall—

Lucian, dressed in a burgundy suit, sat on the couch with legs crossed.

Casually, he closed his book, glanced at his Rolex, and muttered, “Teacher Lu’s not here yet?”

“I’m starving. Can I go eat first?”

Aaron’s green ahoge bobbed sadly as he pleaded.

“No.”

Lucian replied flatly, “Welcoming a powerful guest from afar is the duty of a Sinnoh Elite Four member.”

“You’re clearly just using this as an excuse to slack off!”

Flint, the red-afro’d one, scoffed with hands in his pockets.

“Um… s-slacking off and all that…”

Lucian adjusted his glasses with a shaky hand, then froze.

Wait a second—this was supposed to be Cynthia’s job. How is it my laziness!?

“…Forget it.” Lucian coughed.

It’s not that I can’t beat Cynthia—just gotta maintain gentlemanly grace!

That day,

The Sinnoh Pokémon League was abuzz.

Three of the Elite Four… went to the airport to welcome a single Trainer!?

Even more baffling—

The elusive Champion Cynthia… actually went too!?

“Who is this Trainer?” the Sinnoh Chairman asked his assistant, swallowing hard.

The assistant clutched a list of titles, sweating bullets:

“This Trainer is—”

“Honorary Professor of Yuhong University, Kanto League Champion, regional healthcare reformer, siege tactics pioneer…”

The assistant rattled off like a machine gun, then took a deep breath and shouted:

“Lu Ye, Teacher Lu!”

The Chairman was stunned speechless for a long moment.

He finally croaked, “You should… probably take a sip of water.”

With influence spanning so many fields, no wonder Cynthia and the others were paying close attention.

Folding his hands, the Chairman fell into thought.

Could it be… Cynthia intends to recruit this Trainer into Sinnoh?

After all, with a name like “Teacher Lu”—

If he were to participate in the Lily of the Valley Conference, it would greatly boost the event’s visibility…

“I see.”

The Chairman nodded to himself and instructed his assistant:

“If Teacher Lu wants to join the Lily of the Valley Conference, he doesn’t need to collect Gym Badges.”

“Other leagues have started using the invitation system too.”

The Chairman smiled. “Since Cynthia vouched for him, we don’t need to test his strength.”

The assistant’s eyes sparkled.

As a long-time fan of Teacher Lu, he knew how much the Gym Leaders had suffered at his hands.

If he did go through Gym challenges… that would be brutal for them!

The assistant shouted:

“Chairman, you are wise!”

…

Jubilife City – Terminal

News that the Champion and Elite Four were welcoming someone drew massive public interest.

Just who could deserve such VIP treatment?

Undoubtedly, this had to be a truly powerful Trainer.

But all people could do was imagine…

At this moment—

Cynthia stood in a fuzzy black coat and wide-legged pants, a luxurious scarf framing her exposed collarbones and swan-like neck.

Her golden hair draped down from both hairpieces, partially covering her face, revealing only one deep, shimmering gray eye.

Cynthia tucked her hair behind her ear, resting one hand on her chin in thought.

“M-Ma’am, have you decided yet?”

The airport dessert shop girl asked nervously, smiling stiffly.

“You’ve been… standing here for thirty minutes.”

“Hmm!”

Cynthia suddenly tapped her palm with a single finger raised, a lightbulb going off.

“I’ll have two triple-scoop ice cream cones, please~~”

“Uh, okay…”

The shop girl nodded blankly. As she scooped, her face turned red.

Oh no—

Champion Cynthia… is way too cute!!

“Ma’am, here are your two triple-scoop cones—wait, you tipped too much!”

“It’s fine. I made you wait for so long.”

“Th-thank you! Thank you so much!!”

With two cones in hand, Cynthia strolled leisurely back to the waiting area, all smiles.

Lucian blinked. “Two cones? You can eat that much?”

“They’re for me, right? Thanks so much!” Aaron’s eyes lit up, his green ahoge bouncing.

In an instant, a deadly sharp glare sliced through the air—it came from Cynthia’s Garchomp beside her.

Aaron: “Ugh… so scary… o(╥﹏╥)o”

Flint snorted with arms folded:

“What are you thinking? Like Cynthia would buy ice cream for someone else…”

Suddenly, Flint’s face froze like stone.

Aaron’s jaw dropped in shock—statue +2.

Lucian joined them—three Elite Four members now stood frozen like statues, as if the wind carried a faint ‘crack’ sound.

Flint & Aaron & Lucian: Σ(っ°Д°;)っ

“Ah, you got these for me? Thanks.”

A dashing young man with a tall frame stepped out from the terminal and naturally took the cone Cynthia offered.

“It didn’t melt,” Lu Ye noted with surprise.

“I timed it right,” Cynthia replied with a smile.

“How long did you take picking it?”

After thinking a moment, Cynthia said, “Not long.”

Thirty minutes was actually fast, she thought.

Lu Ye suddenly felt something.

Oh no… I’m being wooed!!

“Gengarrr~!” Gengar leapt from behind Lu Ye and grinned at Cynthia.

“Welcome to Sinnoh, Gengar,” Cynthia said warmly.

“Gengarrr~(/ω＼)”

As Lu Ye licked his ice cream, he looked around and froze.

Before him stood three weathered statues.

The world had turned upside down—he questioned reality itself.

“The Sinnoh… Elite Three?” Lu Ye corrected himself from ‘three idiots’ to ‘Elite Three’.

The trio glanced at each other in disbelief.

Was that really… Cynthia?

The war god-like Garchomp, ferocious to a brutal degree…

And Cynthia gave ice cream to someone else?!

Lu Ye even accepted it!?

Lucian recovered first, stepping forward to pat Lu Ye’s shoulder solemnly:

“Teacher Lu, welcome to Sinnoh!”

As he patted him, Lucian gave him the look of a fellow warrior.

Flint and Aaron shivered.

This wasn’t jealousy. This was fear.

Imagine Cynthia offering them ice cream—it’d mean a challenge.

So if you could escape from a meetup like this, you should. Otherwise, you were in for a beatdown.

Outside of the Champion League, if you had to…

Challenging Sinnoh Champion Cynthia was suicide.

“Half a bun says Teacher Lu’s about to get steamrolled,” Flint whispered.

“Emmm… Teacher Lu might not lose though,” Aaron’s ahoge twitched.

“You sure? That kind of intense battle signal? Cynthia’s definitely serious.”

Lu Ye looked curiously at the three, his eyes lingering on Lucian’s shiny hairline.

“You guys have some gathering after this?”

The three shook their heads.

“Then… I’ll head out first?”

All three nodded in unison.

“I’ll go with you,” Cynthia said casually, walking beside him, heels clicking.

The three flinched.

They knew—a Champion-level battle might be on the horizon.

They stood still, gazes deep, watching Lu Ye leave.

“Why are they looking at me like I’m already dead?” Lu Ye whispered.

“They probably think… I’m going to challenge you?”

Lu Ye blinked in realization.

Even though he’d told Cynthia about his true strength…

The three Sinnoh Elites were still in their own heads, imagining things!

He thought back to his last trip to Sinnoh, when he stayed over at Steven’s place.

Back then, Flint gave him a copy of Fire Blast Explosion, and nearly blew Steven’s house up…

That grudge—was still recorded in his little revenge notebook!

Lu Ye smirked.

Things are different now.

I, Teacher Lu, am firm and unyielding.

Some son-in-law title from Sinnoh? Forget it!

“Want me to drive you?” Cynthia asked.

“Lead the way.”

…