"During this afternoon's specialized courses, I'd like you to serve as my interpreter," Professor Rowan said.
Natsu glanced at the interpreter standing beside Professor Rowan, his academic advisor.
Wasn't there already an interpreter?
His academic advisor, Ichiro, mouthed furiously, "What are you waiting for? Say yes!"
Any guidance from a Pokémon Professor was incredibly valuable.
Ichiro genuinely hoped Natsu would have more opportunities to showcase his talents.
"Well, it's like this..."
Professor Rowan cleared his throat. "It's not that Ichiro-sensei's Japanese is lacking, but so technical terms require careful consideration."
During the earlier class, Natsu had left a profound impression on Professor Rowan.
This made the Professor want to learn more about the young man.
Seeing no way out, Natsu nodded and followed Professor Rowan to the next classroom.
"Can you get so extra credit?" Natsu whispered to his academic advisor.
"You idiot, seize this chance, and you might even secure a spot at Osaka University!"
Natsu smirked. "Osaka University is just average. If I wanted a guaranteed grad school spot, I would've switched to economics long ago."
Ichiro twitched his mouth, montarily at a loss for words.
By that afternoon, rumors about Natsu had spread throughout the entire grade.
"That interpreter guy with Professor Rowan is so handso!"
"Are you dumb? That's Natsu, the top student from the finance departnt!"
"Didn't you hear? Professor Rowan made a slip of the tongue, and Natsu corrected it during the translation!"
"Apparently, Professor Rowan invited Natsu to be his graduate student, but Natsu turned him down?"
"Wow, Natsu's that big of a deal? He even turned down a guaranteed grad school spot!"
"Not just any grad school spot—it was for the Pokémon Academy, a top-tier major!"
"Isn't this a once-in-a-lifeti chance to beco a Trainer?"
The rumors were rampant, but Professor Rowan's invitation wasn't baseless.
Even after concluding his visit for the day, Professor Rowan remained amazed by the knowledge and deanor of Tokyo tropolitan University's students.
Among them, the young man with both grace and intellect stood out the most.
"Natsu, huh..." Professor Rowan murmured to himself.
Recalling Natsu's reason for declining the invitation, the usually stoic Professor couldn't help but smile.
"Don't want to be a Trainer?"
"Then how about joining my research institute as a researcher?"
Professor Rowan sighed. "Aside from Cynthia, I've never t a young scholar so well-versed in history."
Cynthia, the Sinnoh Region Champion, was also a profound history scholar who had once served as an assistant at Professor Rowan's research institute.
Thinking back to Natsu's confident deanor when discussing Sinnoh's legendary Pokémon, Professor Rowan mused.
"If it's the two of them, they might have a lot to talk about."
After calming down, Professor Rowan penned a handwritten letter and handed it to his interpreter.
"Ichiro-sensei, please deliver this letter of recomndation to Natsu."
Professor Rowan nodded.
"If Natsu isn't interested in Fudan University... I can recomnd him to Celadon University for further studies."
Ichiro stared at the recomndation letter in astonishnt, feeling an overwhelming sense of disbelief.
Celadon University was considered a holy land for Trainers worldwide!
Especially its Pokémon Academy and Business School, which had produced legendary figures like Samuel Oak and Mr. Stone, the president of Devon Corporation.
In global university rankings, Celadon University was on par with top Viridian League schools, often surpassing them in Pokémon studies!
Ichiro couldn't help but feel excited for Natsu. "I'll make sure he gets it!"
"Please also convey this to him," Professor Rowan added with a smile.
"If he's interested in academia, my research institute is always open to him."
In just one afternoon, Natsu had left an indelible impression on Professor Rowan.
His knowledge and insights into Pokémon evolution alone were enough to leave the Professor in awe.
anwhile, rumors about the top student Natsu continued to spread like wildfire across Tokyo tropolitan University.
Back in the dormitory, Kazuya elbowed Natsu excitedly.
"Natsu, what kind of questions did that old man ask you?"
"About Milotic's evolution," Natsu replied indifferently. "And his thoughts on the Red Gyarados phenonon."
"Whoa, you could answer such tough questions?!"
"Whoa, you can't even handle sothing this simple?!"
Natsu pondered. Shouldn't these be common knowledge?
How could they be considered major research topics in this world?
Just then, Ichiro knocked on the dormitory door and asked Natsu to step out.
"This is a letter of recomndation from Professor Rowan."
Ichiro swallowed hard.
"Take a good look. This isn't so ordinary school like Osaka University!"
"This is Celadon University, the holy land for Trainers worldwide!"
At the ntion of "Trainer," Natsu imdiately put the letter down.
Natsu said seriously, "It's not that I don't want to go to Celadon University, but I love Tokyo tropolitan University too much."
"Cut the crap!" Ichiro was exasperated.
"This is a once-in-a-lifeti chance to beco a Trainer!"
"I'm serious."
Natsu's face was sincere, even squeezing out a tear. "My love for Tokyo tropolitan University runs deep."
Ichiro was so frustrated he could spit. He shoved the letter into Natsu's hands and gritted his teeth.
"I'm done with you. Do whatever you want!"
Looking at the neatly written letter, Natsu sighed and tucked it into his pocket.
Back in the dormitory, Kazuya, who was reviewing "Criminal Law" on his bed, rubbed his receding hairline and casually asked,
"Hey Natsu, why did you turn down Professor Rowan's guaranteed grad school spot?"
Natsu glanced at the "Criminal Law" textbook.
"I'm scared of dying!"
Aside from being a Trainer, being a Researcher was the second profession Natsu wanted to avoid.
Hadn't they seen it? Industry leader Professor Samuel Oak almost suffocated to death from a Muk;
Professor Bill, the pioneer in communication studies, swapped bodies with a Rattata, reenacting "Your Na";
Professor Birch from the Hoenn Region was constantly chased and bitten by Zigzagoons...
This wasn't an ani. If you got hit by a Thunderbolt, you'd die!
The bloody examples were right in front of them.
So, Trainers were off-limits, and Researchers were even more so!
anwhile, Yuuichi, who was dreaming of becoming a Trainer and dressed expensively, was flipping through a paper Pokédex.
"Natsu, there's a 'Piplup Cup' Trainer competition hosted by Piplup Inc. in Minato Ward. Want to participate?"
"Are you going there to feed yourself to the Pokémon Academy?"
Kazuya snorted. "Besides, Natsu doesn't even have a Pokémon. How's he supposed to compete?"
"I have a starter Pokémon."
"What? When did you catch that?"
Natsu pulled out a Poké Ball. A red light flickered, and the room temperature instantly dropped by 5°C.
Yuuichi, who was checking the registration details on his phone, suddenly saw a ghostly face pop up on the screen, startling him so much he fell to the floor.
"Whoa! You scared the hell out of !"
Kazuya rolled on the bed, laughing. "You idiot, you're scared of a Gastly?"
As he spoke, Gastly slowly turned its head, its mouth stretching to its tongue, revealing a long, crimson tongue, and gave Kazuya a friendly smile.
Kazuya's face turned pale.
"Whoa, Natsu, your Gastly is pretty impressive!"
Yuuichi excitedly examined Gastly.
"Looks way stronger than the Gastly from the Battle Departnt next door!"
"Gastly!"
Gastly grinned proudly, narrowing its eyes and nodding at Yuuichi.
Kid, you've got good taste!
Natsu recalled Gastly. "Alright, enough chit-chat. I need to get back to my place for a live stream."
"What? Natsu, you're not planning to compete?!"
"I've said it a million tis, I don't want to be a Trainer!"
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