After a two-day weekend, Luke was back on campus. But the world had shifted and so had Metro City University along with it. Walking across the quad now meant dodging students with Poké Balls clipped to their belts, some with Pokémon trotting along beside them—mostly small ones, Pidgey, Growlithe, Skitty, though a few students went zipping past on Linoone.
"Pokémon aren't allowed on display on campus!"
"Relax, Supervisor—those are combat majors. They're training today."
According to the school's website, the South Campus now had an entire Trainer Academy, with Pokémon Battling and Pokémon Breeding as its two flagship majors.
None of it touched Luke directly. He was a finance major, and while a few Pokémon-related electives had been added to his schedule, his core coursework hadn't changed much.
"Good thing I still have time to study, or my scholarship's toast," Luke muttered.
Because on top of streaming, Luke was also, genuinely, a top student—consistently ranked in the top three of his department, with a real shot at a national scholarship by year's end.
Freshman or not, his looks and his grades had made him something of a fixture across every class year.
His first elective that morning was Sinnoh Pokémon History.
The lecture hall was already packed by the time he got there.
"Luke! Over here!"
His roommate Daniel—a double major in law and computer science—waved him over.
Despite the buzz cut, Daniel's hairline had already given up on him, which usually earned him a sympathetic sigh from anyone who noticed.
Now there's a man who's suffered for his degree.
Luke slid into the seat Daniel had saved and leaned over.
"Why's it this full? It's not even an attendance class."
Daniel grinned.
"Didn't you check the group chat? Guest lecturer today—a Pokémon Professor, no less."
"Which one?"
"Sinnoh's own—Professor Rowan!"
The lecture hall, already at capacity, broke into applause.
A handful of reporters with cameras squeezed in through the back rows.
An elderly man with a mustache and an unmistakably dignified bearing walked in carrying a briefcase. His gray hair was neatly combed back, and he wore a gray overcoat over a blue velvet vest and tie.
He cleared his throat once before addressing the room in fluent English.
"I'm Rowan, of the Sinnoh region. I'll be your lecturer today."
A murmur of astonishment spread through the hall.
Daniel leaned closer, barely containing himself.
"He's the leading authority on Pokémon evolution—basically the foremost Sinnoh scholar alive."
"I know him," Luke replied calmly.
"You know him?"
Of course I do.
He's the Professor who gives out starter Pokémon to new trainers back home in Sinnoh.
The room quickly settled and leaned in to listen.
Even while lecturing entirely in English, Rowan made the material easy to understand—deep without becoming overwhelming.
"Sinnoh's Pokémon history begins in the mythological age," he began, "and in many ways, it's a microcosm of Pokémon history everywhere."
He traced the story back to the singularity born after the Big Bang and the oldest of the creator gods, Arceus, who then brought forth the deities of time, space, and antimatter before granting living beings emotion, will, and knowledge.
Just as the room settled into a comfortable rhythm, Rowan tapped the blackboard once.
His tone suddenly became serious.
"Many of you will go your whole lives without ever touching this history again."
He paused.
"But it's part of humanity's inheritance all the same—and it's worth something to you, whether or not you ever use it."
Metro City University's greatest strength had always been the humanities, which was probably why the school had invited Rowan in the first place.
Luke was still thinking about that when Daniel nudged him with his elbow, visibly excited.
"Would any of you happen to know the names of the Pokémon from these myths?" Rowan asked.
The room instantly became tense.
Almost no one bothered memorizing legends that obscure anymore.
It would be like asking someone to recite every hero from Homer without preparation.
Even the die-hard Fate/Grand Order players in the room wouldn't have been confident answering perfectly.
When nobody spoke, Rowan stroked his mustache.
"It's fine if you can't."
"Even sharing your thoughts on the historical picture would be enough."
His eyes swept across the room before stopping near the front.
"You there—yes, you, handsome."
"Come discuss it with me."
The word "handsome" alone was enough to make every head in the lecture hall turn toward Luke.
Daniel elbowed him again, grinning so hard his face practically hurt.
If it weren't for this hairline, I'd be the one getting called up.
"Professor, may I answer the first question?"
"Please."
Rowan raised an eyebrow.
"The three deities who granted living things emotion, will, and knowledge are—"
"Mesprit, Azelf, and Uxie," Luke answered without hesitation.
"According to legend, they reside in Lake Verity, Lake Valor, and Lake Acuity."
Silence filled the room.
Daniel glanced behind him and noticed a girl staring at Luke with obvious admiration.
Rowan himself blinked in surprise.
Luke's answer had come far too quickly and accurately to be a lucky guess.
"…Yes."
"That's exactly right."
Rowan nodded, visibly pleased, and began applauding first.
The entire lecture hall immediately erupted into applause.
Camera shutters clicked rapidly from the back rows.
Luke, meanwhile, remained expressionless.
That's it?
Knowing the names of a legendary trio is that impressive?
Now I'm almost tempted to mention Ultra Necrozma just to see everyone's reaction.
"Of course it was Luke."
"He's already top three in the department."
"What did you expect?"
"When did he even learn Sinnoh mythology that thoroughly…?"
"Aww, are you starting to like him?"
"Shut up!"
Daniel listened to the teasing behind him with a completely blank expression.
Without saying a word, he quietly pulled a copy of The Java Programming Language from his backpack.
The only way to become stronger… is through studying.
After class, students filed past Rowan one after another, respectfully thanking him for the lecture.
He returned each greeting with a solemn nod.
By the time Luke quietly tried to leave, Rowan had already been surrounded by several faculty members.
Then the professor suddenly called out.
"Luke—a moment, if you don't mind."
"Do you have any plans this afternoon?"
He had addressed Luke by name.
Startled—and acutely aware of all the envious stares around him—Luke allowed Daniel to shove him forward.
"Hello, Professor."
"I'm free this afternoon."
Rowan's expression softened.
"I have several lectures scheduled today."
"I'd like you to serve as my translator."
A wave of envy swept through the crowd.
Anyone bearing the official title of Pokémon Professor was a world-leading authority in their field.
The opportunity to spend an entire day assisting someone of Rowan's stature was something countless students would have desperately wanted.
And Rowan had chosen Luke first.
It was obvious what that meant.
Rowan thought highly of him.
And this was a genuine opportunity to prove himself.