Team Rocket's Second-in-Command!

Despite her earlier declaration to "take the lead," Matori found herself flustered the moment she arrived at the beach.

Once again, it was clear that when it came to these situations, Matori was all talk.

When reality hit, the confident bravado she'd displayed about taking control was nowhere to be found.

"You really didn't have to distance yourself so much," Luo Yuan teased, watching her hide on the far end of the beach, nearly burying herself in the sand.

Ever since she arrived, Matori had been acting like this.

...

Matori thought, If I hadn't stayed this far away, you'd have eaten me alive by now.

"Fresh Alolan coconut—I just picked it. Want to try?" Luo Yuan asked, using telekinesis to crack one open and holding it out toward her.

Matori flushed red, staring at the coconut in his hand.

She'd seen earlier how Luo Yuan had used an embarrassingly intimate gesture to feed Sabrina coconut water.

While he hadn't said anything yet, Matori knew him well enough to realize he was planning to recreate that moment with her.

Just imagining it was mortifying. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

As Luo Yuan drew closer, Matori instinctively backed away.

But after only a couple of steps, her foot landed on something soft and squishy.

"Slow~!"

A Slowbro's head popped up from the sand.

Startled, Matori froze, and in that brief moment of hesitation, Luo Yuan seized the opportunity to capture her in his arms.

Despite her best efforts, Matori's resistance proved futile, and she ultimately fell victim to Luo Yuan's playful antics.

In a particularly good mood, Luo Yuan decided Slowbro deserved an extra treat later that evening.

Meanwhile, the unbothered Slowbro scratched its head, lay back down in the sand, and dozed off under the warm Alolan sun.

---

Time passed quickly in Alola, and another week flew by.

After two weeks of intense instruction, students like Lana and the others had not only gained a deeper understanding of Pokémon habits through Luo Yuan's rigorous "test-focused" teaching but also adapted to his grueling training regimen.

With Luo Yuan's Viridian Forest healing ability aiding their recovery, their physical endurance had improved dramatically. Even Sophocles, who had the weakest physical constitution, could now easily run 3,000 meters.

What puzzled Luo Yuan, however, was how their physical appearances remained largely unchanged despite their enhanced fitness levels.

After some thought, he chalked it up to the unique physiology of humans in the Pokémon world.

After all, who else could endure a Thunderbolt and walk away unscathed?

Even he, with his psychic powers capable of lifting a Snorlax, was far beyond normal human limits.

But today's discussion wasn't about that.

Sabrina collected the freshly completed test papers from the class as Luo Yuan clapped his hands to get everyone's attention.

"You've all done well these past two weeks. What I'm most pleased about is that no one chose to give up," Luo Yuan began with praise.

The students—Kiawe and the others—were visibly stunned, their expressions a mix of shock and delight. After enduring a week of Luo Yuan's relentless drilling, hearing him compliment them felt surreal.

However, the more perceptive among them, like Lillie, Lana, and Mallow, sensed something different in his tone.

Before they could voice their suspicions, Luo Yuan continued.

"I've really enjoyed working with you these past two weeks. But... my time as your teacher is coming to an end."

"Wait, Teacher Luo Yuan... are you leaving?" The students' voices were filled with reluctance.

Hearing the unexpected announcement stirred mixed feelings.

As strict as Luo Yuan had been—burdening them with mountains of test papers and physically demanding training plans—he was, without question, an excellent teacher.

"It's not like I'm disappearing forever," Luo Yuan said with a smile. "Besides, teaching isn't my main profession."

Though he'd obtained official permission to visit Alola for educational exchange purposes, his duties as a Pokémon League Elite Four member meant he couldn't stay indefinitely.

"I have responsibilities back in Johto that require my attention," he explained.

"But don't worry—so you won't forget me too soon, I've left a year's worth of test papers with Principal Oak. He'll be assigning them and supervising your training in my stead."

"..."

Any warm feelings the students had quickly evaporated.

A whole year's worth of test papers?

This past fortnight had already felt like torture—imagining an entire year under the same regimen left them staring blankly ahead, crushed under the weight of despair.

Even Sabrina couldn't suppress a smirk. Luo Yuan's knack for tormenting his students was truly remarkable.

Satisfied with their reactions, Luo Yuan smiled.

Of course, he wasn't trying to be overly harsh. Though he had left numerous test papers with Principal Tracey, he trusted Tracey's penchant for "fun education" would likely stretch those materials across several years.

Soon enough, the students caught on to the flexibility of the situation and started to relax.

"Teacher, let us know when you're leaving so we can see you off," Kiawe said.

If anyone had been most influenced by Luo Yuan besides Lillie, it was Kiawe.

Luo Yuan's Secrets of the Earth had opened Kiawe's eyes to a new world.

Now, in addition to his focus on Fire-types, Kiawe had begun exploring Ground-types as well. He was even saving up to travel to Kanto to meet the book's author—Elite Four Giovanni.

Unaware of Kiawe's aspirations to visit Kanto, Luo Yuan smiled.

"There's no need for a send-off. I'm not sure when I'll leave—I still have some minor matters to handle in Alola. Likely within the next couple of days."

That evening, Kukui and Hala had invited him to the festival in Iki Town.

Additionally, there were still arrangements to finalize at the Aether Paradise.

Turning to Lillie, who was holding an Alolan Vulpix in her arms, Luo Yuan said, "Lillie, come with me after school to meet your mother."

The Vulpix, which Lusamine had chosen for Lillie, had an impressive lineage. Its glossy, pristine fur made it exceptionally beautiful.

"Yes, Teacher Luo Yuan," Lillie replied cheerfully.

Unlike the others, Lillie already knew Luo Yuan was preparing to return to Kanto. Moreover, Lusamine had decided to send her to Johto to continue her training under Luo Yuan.

---

...

Huh. You really stuck it out all the way to the end.

Didn't think you had the patience. Guess I was wrong.

WiseTL's the one who actually made all this come together. I'm just here putting a bow on it... or, well, shoving it in a backpack and calling it a day. Same thing.

If you had fun, you know what to do:

👉 [patreon.com/WiseTL]

Heads up—Patreon's 50% off for all tiers during May. So if you were on the fence? Now's the time.

And if you're the social type, there's a Discord too. Pretty decent spot to hang out—no battles required.

👉 [discord.gg/wisetl]

Alright. That's enough standing around. Go on—before you make it weird.

—Leaf