Pokemon: School of Masters

"When would you have to leave for the academy, then?" Duplica asks with concern.

"Don't most academies and schools start on April 1st?" Terri asks doubtfully.

"Yeah, you are right. So I will probably have to report there tomorrow," Orin says with a wry smile.

"Wha—?" Terri stares in shock, her mouth half-open.

"Seriously? Tomorrow? That's too soon," Duplica murmurs sadly.

"This feels way too fast. You haven't even finished your exams today, and you're already leaving tomorrow?" Terri asks, alarmed.

"This year's exams got postponed by a week for some reason, and Saffron has always been the last exam center in Kanto. That's why this all feels so rushed," Orin explains, feeling the abruptness himself. He had already given up on this year's exams—until that confirmation email arrived yesterday. Now, everything is moving too fast.

"Well, there is no point dwelling on it. You should stay laser-focused on your exams first," Kyle says seriously.

"Yeah, you are right," Orin nods with a smile, though both girls only manage weak smiles, their mood dampened.

"Alright, I should go. I have to reach the gym an hour early, apparently," Orin says, standing up.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Duplica asks, standing up abruptly.

"Yeah, there have been more Poké-nappings, robberies, and even kidnappings in the city lately. You might run into one of those thugs," Terri says, mirroring Duplica's concern as she stands as well.

"Must be those bastards from Team Rocket," Kyle mutters in disgust.

"There is no need. You guys know the gym is nearby," Orin says, shaking his head.

"Yeah, they definitely wouldn't try anything near a Pokémon gym," Kyle nods in understanding.

Orin, however, smiles wryly to himself. He wouldn't be so sure about that—especially with this city's gym.

"Still, you should be careful," Terri says seriously.

"I will," Orin assures her with a smile.

"All the best, my psychic protégé!" Duplica says, hugging him tightly.

"Thanks, Copycat," he says, hugging her back.

"All the best," Terri adds, stepping forward to give him a hug as well.

"Thanks, Terri," he replies, smiling warmly.

"My battle noodles will definitely give you the strength to ace the exam!" Kyle says, holding out his fist.

"Thanks, Kyle," Orin grins, fist-bumping him.

"Alright, I am off!" Orin waves as he leaves the shop, his friends following him outside. But Kyle has to go back in as more customers start pouring in.

The girls watch Orin's back worriedly as he jogs through the alley.

As Orin makes his way through the crowd, he takes a different route from the one he arrived on earlier, emerging on a completely different street. This area is more of a commercial district in the northeastern part of town, with massive billboards spanning the tall buildings on either side.

Most of the billboards are advertising various Pokémon products. Still it doesn't surprise him that, even in this world, Pikachu remains the public's darling—especially in Kanto. But they aren't the most eye-catching. That title belongs to the ever-changing holographic billboards of Silph Co., towering above the rest.

Orin, however, isn't even looking at them. His mind is divided into three parts: first, worrying about the exam; second, worrying about his big sister's response; and third, regretting how he missed the chance to bag either of those two cute girls.

In fact, he knows both of them are at least somewhat interested in him. Until a few years ago, he thought they were too young and childish, but now that their bodies are maturing, they are definitely in his strike zone. Still, he worries he may have already missed the golden window.

For Orin, the golden window is when you know a girl, but not too well—just enough to keep that bit of flirtatious tension alive. That way, asking her out doesn't feel awkward. But these two girls are his childhood friends. He sees them almost every other day, and he is concerned that they may have become too familiar with each other, that the spark of possibility has already faded.

Orin sighs as he jogs, knowing these are just excuses. The real reason is that he likes both of them and can't decide whom to choose. If he picks one, she will tell the other instantly, and then he will lose his chance with the other.

Despite having an adult mind in his body he still hasn't figured out a way to safely date them both! This feels eerily similar to choosing a single starter Pokémon—ugh, why can't he just have them all?!

Shaking off his frustrations, he decides to focus. As ridiculous as it sounds, he has even bigger issues to tackle today than figuring out how to start his harem.

Looking up, he notices the holographic projection on the tall building shifting again.

💠 [The Silph Co. logo materializes in a glowing, rotating display, followed by a palm-sized phone. A professional yet warm female voice speaks:]

"From Poké Balls to cutting-edge trainer gear, Silph Co. continues to revolutionize the world of Pokémon training!

🔬 Silph Scope V2 – Now with real-time spectral scanning! Never get caught off guard by a wild Ghost-type again!

⚡ Pokegear V2 – Upgrade to the future with our cutting-edge holographic smartphone! Stay connected, track your Pokémon in real-time, and never worry about losing them again!

🎉 Exclusive Offer! – Every PokéGear purchase enters you into a chance to win a Master Ball—the ultimate tool for any trainer! Don't miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

✨ [The hologram shifts to reveal a powerful silhouette of a Trainer standing beside their Pokémon, the Silph Co. logo shining behind them.]

🛰 "Silph Co. – Advancing Trainers, One Innovation at a Time."

Orin scoffs internally. If his colleagues at the Psychic Gym hadn't warned him about this scam, he might have been blinded by the allure of a so-called Master Ball too. He knows the truth—this 'Master Ball' is nothing more than a glorified Ultra Ball, a mere replica. And even then, the so-called 'winners' are pre-selected by Silph Co., chosen from employees' friends and relatives.

He can't help but feel a little jealous of his colleagues at the gym. With their telepathic powers, they can easily extract information from unsuspecting Silph Co. employees. However even with his limited knowledge of the world and PSI, Orin knows there are plenty of ways to counter telepathy, so these espers aren't all-powerful.

Obviously, he isn't counting a superhuman existence like his big sister in that assessment.

As he jogs through the city, his gaze drifts toward the towering silhouette of the Silph Co. building in the distance. But something else catches his eye, causing him to slow down.

It's the local PokéMart, with rows of Poké Balls displayed outside.

Orin's steps falter.

Behind the store's transparent glass display, the Poké Balls gleam under the artificial lights.

"They always put the most expensive ones outside to lure in customers," he mutters, a wry smile forming on his lips. And yet, he finds himself drawn closer, a quiet pull urging him towards the display.

"Luxury Balls, Net Balls, Ultra Balls… and even Dusk Balls," he murmurs, his gaze lingering on them longingly.

"Soon," he whispers to himself, inhaling deeply before tearing his gaze away. Determined, he resumes his jog.

But he stops again—just one store down.

A Clefairy Poké Doll sits in the window.

Sale: ₽300 → ₽250

"That's a good price," Orin muses. "Clefairy Poké Dolls almost never go on discount… Should I get one? Maybe more than one? They would make great gifts…"

---

After making his purchase and keeping the dolls safely in his backpack, Orin continues jogging. Not even a minute later, he takes a left turn. The main road continues ahead, and in front of him stands a tall gate, flanked by imposing stone barricades.

 SAFFRON GYM

The bold letters are hard to miss, but Orin's attention is drawn to the long line in front of the gate. The security guard stationed there is checking IDs, letting people in one by one.

It's normal for the gym to attract a crowd, especially on battle days. But what stands out is the number of kids his age, each accompanied by a parent or guardian.

"They must be here for the admission test, just like me," Orin mutters with a sigh.

Instead of joining the line, Orin veers off to the side, following the high stone wall. Soon, he reaches a smaller, less conspicuous gate.

FOR EMPLOYEES ONLY

The bold letters on the metal gate don't deter him. Before stepping forward, he pulls off his bag, rummages through it, and retrieves an ID tag.

Orin Murasaki

Volunteer

Saffron Gym

His photo stares back at him. As he clips the tag onto his hoodie, a familiar voice calls out.

"Good morning, Orin."

The security guard, an old man with kind eyes, unlocks the gate with a smile.

"Morning, Addie," Orin greets back, grinning.

"I keep telling you, kid—you don't need to flash that ID. You think I am so old I can't recognize you? You have been coming here every day for the past three years!" Addie huffs in mock irritation.

Orin chuckles. "Rules are rules, Addie. I wouldn't want you getting in trouble over me."

Shaking his head, the old man waves him through. "Go on, then. Have a good day."

"You too, Addie." Orin steps inside, offering a wave as the gate clicks shut behind him.

Inside the walls, it's a whole different world.

The bustling cityscape melts away, replaced by a lush purple forest. Trees heavy with purple blossoms line the paths, their petals drifting in the breeze. Even the bushes are tinged with purple, scattering the expanse in rich hues.

Orin breathes in the fresh air, his steps slowing as he soaks it all in. He has always loved this place. Maybe it's because of his surname—Murasaki, meaning 'purple' in old Earth's Japanese.

The color also isn't just a coincidence. This gym has belonged to the Murasaki family for generations. When there is no Gym Leader in a given era, it shifts into a Psychic Research Center instead. Perhaps, long ago, his ancestors started the tradition of planting these purple trees, leaving a legacy that still lingers.

The cobbled stone path curves, merging with a larger central road. At its end stands a massive structure.

"Saffron Gym," Orin exhales sharply, his expression growing serious as he stares up at it.

The gym's architecture is regal—a massive white cylindrical building crowned by a huge purple dome. Its pristine, curved exterior stretches out into various other connected facilities, an imposing yet elegant sight.

A growing crowd is already gathering near the entrance, murmuring amongst themselves.

Instead of taking the grand staircase leading up to the main building, Orin pivots to the right, heading for a smaller building adjacent to the main one.

As he approaches it, a metallic, high-tech gate with a camera mounted above it comes into view. He pulls out his ID and presses it against the scanner beside the door.

SWISH

The metal doors slide open like an elevator, and Orin swiftly steps inside as it closes behind him. The interior is a long, sterile white corridor, giving the place the feel of a hospital or a laboratory.

Walking through the silent hallway, he soon reaches a door labeled 'Employee Lounge'. He pushes it open and steps inside.

The room is brightly lit, filled with people in lab coats sitting at various tables, engaged in their own tasks.

Some are holding spoons, their brows furrowed in concentration as they attempt to bend them with their minds. A woman scribbling notes in a notepad glances up, notices Orin, and waves. He grins and waves back.

Despite being a rest area, the atmosphere is as quiet as a library. Orin moves silently among the tables, exchanging nods or subtle waves with familiar faces. Eventually, he reaches a group playing a card-guessing game—an exercise he had once done himself to train his psychic abilities.

***

[Orin Murasaki obtained Clefairy Poké Doll x2]

[Orin Murasaki : Volunteer at Psychic Gym (Did Odd Jobs)]