Aspiring to become a Pokémon trainer

Perched on the lizard's back, bathed in the cool night breeze, the blonde girl gazed intently at her friend, who was leaning slightly forward, focused on riding.

Sensing the fragrance wafting from the tip of her nose, Kerni knew it was the fruity aroma nurtured by the cutting knife of Nanyin Yueduan.

"Nanyin, how have the classes been these past few days?"

Taking advantage of the free time after the event, she lowered her head, rested her head on her friend's shoulder, and breathed softly.

"The teachers and students at Orange Academy are very kind. Although there are some mischievous children, they can control their tempers in class. In comparison, is Kornie adapting well here?"

Suppressing the itch spreading from her neck, Nan Yin calmed her throat and, unusually, lost her composure.

Perhaps, she then realized that her past tacit acceptance and indifference had gradually made her friends accustomed to this distance in their relationship, which made her feel strange after she was aware of the feelings between them.

"With Nan Yin's help, there won't be any problems."

"That's good......"

The greetings were nothing special, but the lingering gazes made the girl's ears turn slightly red.

Faced with the undisguised intimacy of her former friend, Nan Yin is inevitably affected. She is not a cold-hearted person; her former composure was merely a facade for dealing with people.

Nan Yin was at a loss for how to deal with it. She had always regarded Ke Erni as a child who needed to be taken care of, and she never thought that one day she would step into such a situation.

Unable to find peace of mind, with the passage of time, the tall buildings in the distance became increasingly prominent, and the figures of people coming and going became clearer; the city of Tsukita was now right before my eyes.

Release the handlebars and slow down. The road ahead is bustling and no longer convenient to ride the Milerton. However, walking through this vibrant night market is a novel experience.

With graceful steps, they trod on the continuous halos of light, rarely speaking, merely watching their dark shadows lengthen under the streetlights, concealing their own thoughts.

until—

"Look everyone, those lanterns are so beautiful!"

A melodious voice broke the silence, and the Pink Diamond Princess leaped forward, pointing towards the iridescent neon lights.

With its keen eye, how could it not notice the awkwardness and strangeness between the two girls? So, it will slowly melt away the lingering warmth of winter.

"Shall we go take a look, Nan Yin?"

Turning to her friend to ask a question, Korne's expression remained warm and genuine.

She vaguely sensed that Nan Yin was different from usual, but she couldn't pinpoint the difference in the details.

"Ah."

She nodded in agreement without refusing. The street that Tianxi pointed out was located on the way home, and since it was on the way, Nanyin would not go to such lengths.

Stepping into the dazzling lights, unlike her friend's uneventful state, Kerni moved her toes and landed precisely on the edge of the drop where the sidewalk and the road meet.

Following the swaying of her center of gravity, the girl's body rose and fell, almost falling over, but she was not worried at all. After all, every time she was about to fall, Nan Yin would turn her head and, with a hint of helplessness, steady her.

It was under these circumstances that Koelni managed to spare a thought and asked softly, "Nanyin, how much longer do you plan to stay in Padia?"

"Although I get through every day like this, I'm still finding it hard to adjust to the local customs and culture. I don't want to have a sandwich for lunch anymore, and the air is so dry..."

Extending her fingertips, Nan Yin pulled the girl who was about to lose her balance back up. She could tell that her friend was trying to coax her. However, she still had her own mission to complete and needed to attend to her teaching duties for the next half month.

The exploration of Zone Zero is still in progress and there will be no answers in the short term. Once she completes the encyclopedia and collects all the seasonings, she will have no reason to stay on this land any longer.

"So, Cornet, when do you want to leave?"

"Hmm? Of course, it depends on Nan Yin's wishes. After all, you've always been the one taking care of me, and I'm more than grateful to you."

She spoke naturally, and Korni's smile grew even brighter, but Nan Yin turned her head away, deliberately not looking, and only used a cold snort to cover up her momentary lapse in concentration.

"I know I'm worried, why aren't you coming down?"

Releasing her hand from Korne's, she gently tapped the girl's forehead with her fingertips, easily pulling her to her side, onto the lower side of the road.

"Hehe, Nan Yin is always like this, saying one thing and meaning another. But, we've been in Padiya for so long, and we finally have a chance to go shopping together, so please indulge me, okay? After all—"

“Even Nemo’s newly acquainted students are rudely taking up your time.”

There were no clouds today, and the moonlight was bright and clear. It shone down on my face, tinging my fair skin with red. I don't know if it was the restless evening breeze when I rode the lizard beast, or the noisy and crowded throngs of people that emboldened me.

Koerni opened her heart to Nanyin about things she had never dared to think or say before, speaking frankly and openly.

"......I see."

Once, Nan Yin didn't understand her friend's support and obstruction, and she also held onto the arrogance of someone outside the painting. But now, she recognized the friendship the friend had shown, and yet she was bewitched and agreed.

But can a relationship that allows someone to act spoiled and indulge their behavior still be considered a normal companion?

She forced herself to regain her composure, but when they were silent, she couldn't help but recall the days and nights they had spent together.

Energetic and enthusiastic, as radiant as morning flowers; strong-willed and unyielding, standing tall like bamboo in the cold – this is how I perceive Korni after a year.

Nan Yin couldn't tell whether it was the long-term companionship that changed her mind or the change in identity that caused a brief moment of confusion. She really couldn't tell.

She resolved to wait a while and adapt to this unevenness, and she also followed her instincts and spoke again softly.

"Cold?"

"A little bit."

She had intended to deny it, but looking into her friend's eyes hidden in the night, for some reason, Korni lied.

As their initial exchange faded, a warmth and a weight settled around her neck—it was the scarf Nan Yin had been wearing recently.

"Be more careful next time."

The girl could no longer hear what came after that; she only saw them enter the small house, and the white-haired beauty sweep the bed, pull down the lamp as night approached, and bid them farewell.

Goodnight, Korni.

......

The next morning, the sunlight shone through the gauze window, casting dappled patterns.

Undoubtedly, today is another sunny day.

She got up, pulled back the blankets, brushed aside the stray hairs that had fallen beside her ears, gently tugged at the creases in her cotton socks, and after a quick wash of her face, Nan Yin left the bathroom and went to the stove as usual.

Regardless of her past relationships, she has adapted to her current life and grown accustomed to the happiness of being in the spotlight and busy taking care of those children.

Tearing off a sticky note, she wrote down today's instructions for her friend. With Magiana standing quietly in the entrance hall watching her go, the girl tied the laces of her ankle boots and took a few steps into the school's flowerbed.

However, compared to the past, she sensed a change in the atmosphere among the students. Looking down the aisle, the children were less carefree and more nervous, whispering among themselves.

What... happened?

A sense of confusion arose in my heart, especially after Nan Yin entered the classroom where the lesson was given, and this doubt turned into tangible feedback.

There were far fewer students attending class than before, and even the first three rows, which were usually full, had several empty seats.

She took out the roster and compared it with the number of people who actually showed up. She quickly found the students who hadn't come to report today.

Including Qiuming, Pina, Pipa, Melok, and Ordiga, a group of students who used to bully the weak were also nowhere to be seen, and even the introverted Peony was unable to attend class.

She didn't plan to ask about specific matters in class. After finishing the scheduled content, she took the time to announce the end of class early and turned on her phone, which had been ringing frequently since earlier.

Upon turning on the screen, not only Nemo, but also Claver and Ginja sent several messages in quick succession, their tone extremely urgent, clearly stating the necessity of convening all the teachers for an emergency meeting.

Without much hesitation, Nan Yin went straight to the conference hall, pushed open the door, and sat down at the very end of the long table.

As far as she could see, the faces around her were more or less familiar: biology teacher Ginya, home economics teacher Savaro, history teacher Reho, war studies teacher Huang Bo... and the old principal with his furrowed brows.

Similarly, upon seeing the girl, Clavel seemed to breathe a long sigh of relief, lightly tapping the table to explain his reasoning.

"Now that everyone is present, let's begin this meeting. Yesterday, a student group called the Tianxing Team surrounded a group of students on the playground, causing a few of them to voluntarily drop out of school. What are your thoughts on this incident?"

Chapter 180 High Attention and Sense of Responsibility

"What is the Tianxing Team?"

Fiddled with the stray hairs by her ear, the black-haired woman named Huangbo murmured, seemingly puzzled by the term the old headmaster was using.

Similarly, this was not just a question on his part; few of the teachers present were aware of the existence of this student group.

"Let Teacher Nanyin answer this question for everyone. Although she only recently took on the role of teacher in the cultivation course, it is precisely because of this filter, combined with her similar age, that she is able to delve deeper into the student group and discover the process of the evolution of conflicts."

Listening to the hushed discussion, Clavel deliberately turned his gaze to the girl who had just taken her seat, as if he had already made up his mind.

It was certainly not a spur-of-the-moment decision. Although the old principal was elderly and usually spent his days in his office handling various affairs, he was extremely serious about everything and hoped to be able to connect with the students' youthful mindset.

Whether it was the campus network or gossip among teachers and students, Claver would collect information whenever he heard it, and secretly analyze it to confirm the most popular trends among young people. He would even change into a school uniform and sneak into the crowd.

Therefore, he had heard and witnessed firsthand the reputation of Nanyin music among student groups on more than one occasion.

— Calm and patient, seemingly cold on the outside but warm on the inside, he is not only extremely focused on teaching, but also willing to give up his leisure time to benefit students after class.

The teacher's identity did not seem to create any barriers to communication. Her humorous style and youthful appearance even made all the students fall in love with the two weekly enrichment classes. Whenever Claver approached that classroom, she couldn't help but marvel at how full the classroom was.

His gaze softened, and seeing the girl's bewilderment, the old headmaster's brow relaxed, offering silent encouragement with his eyes.

Regarding the bullying within the college, it was Nan Yin who first discovered it and informed her. Compared to herself, this girl should understand the relationships between students better and is more suitable to elaborate on the existence of the Tianxing team at the meeting.

"...I'm not sure if I should use the term 'Sky Star Team' to describe those students. To be precise, they are not the perpetrators, but rather the main group of victims."

Nan Yin had intended to remain silent, listen quietly to the meeting, and get to know these unfamiliar colleagues, but the old principal's words put her under the watchful eyes of many, leaving her no choice but to speak up and explain.

She didn't harbor much resentment. She had always disapproved of the bullying and oppression, and simply stating the facts was in line with her own wishes and wasn't too much trouble.

“Bullying, isolation, spreading rumors. Although I haven’t been at Orange Academy for very long, I have noticed some unusual behavior among some students during breaks.”

"Introverted personality, unusual hobbies... Due to their differences in various aspects, they are in a vulnerable position and are bullied by others. They have no choice but to unite their strength and say no to those who abuse them."

She paused her speech, took a few deep breaths to calm herself, and then calmed down to get to the point.

“Some time ago, I overheard those kids’ discussion by chance. They didn’t have any ulterior motives. Their organization of the operation was just to make everyone realize that they were no longer in a vulnerable and isolated situation.”

The girl's voice was clear and crisp, quite pleasant to the ear, but all the teachers present, regardless of age, frowned, realizing the seriousness of the conflict.

—The bullying happened right under their noses, and because of their own negligence, it escalated into the major incident we see today.

"I am truly ashamed. I was overly concerned with the artistic cultivation of my students, but neglected the fundamental aspect of nurturing people. I failed to detect the signs of trouble in advance, which is a dereliction of duty as a teacher."

With a deep sigh, the nasolabial folds that appeared with his furrowed brows revealed Ba Su's disappointment and shame.

"I'm sorry... This is also my fault. As a nurse in the hospital, I was responsible for counseling students' mental health, but I only knew how to listen and guide them superficially. I ignored the root cause of their distress and never thought of sharing their burdens and solving their problems."

The pink-haired woman, with her delicate features and low voice, clutched the hem of her clothes, feeling that she was not worthy of the title of "teacher".

Perhaps this is why she has not yet passed the certification exam.

Just like her complicated thoughts, Mimosa, who is currently working as a nurse in the infirmary, has not yet passed the nursing teacher exam and therefore does not have a formal professional title certificate.

"We are already deeply ashamed, like cooking without seasonings, forgetting the essentials. How can such negligence be called considerate..."

Covering his face, the burly Savaro turned his head away, as if unwilling to let others see his embarrassment.

"It's a truly regrettable fact. I can't imagine how disappointed those children must have been when their pleas for help went unanswered."

Ginja clenched her fists, gritted her teeth, and forced out the words, a stark contrast to her previous relaxed and slovenly demeanor.

Not only those who made a clear statement, but also several other teachers with more reserved personalities lowered their heads, feeling more or less ashamed.

The atmosphere of self-blame and self-suppression grew increasingly heavy, but the next moment, the old principal lightly tapped the table, awakening everyone's awareness. He knew that if he didn't speak up, these people trapped in their emotions would probably just blame themselves.

"Self-pity cannot change the status quo. No matter how negligent we were in the past, or how many mistakes we made, the incident has already happened and must be handled reasonably and properly, regardless of which side we are dealing with!"

The kindness of an elder faded from his eyes, and when he raised his head again, only solemnity and majesty remained on Claver's face.

He was never a coward who shirked responsibility. As the principal, he had to uncover the truth, rectify the school's atmosphere, set an example, and give those children and their parents a satisfactory explanation.

"Although I arrived late during yesterday's conflict, I communicated with both student groups afterwards. By combining their different accounts, I can roughly deduce what happened at the time."

"As Nan Yin said, the Tianxing team did not commit violence. They simply surrounded the former bullies on the playground and made it clear that if the other party did not stop bullying them in the future, they would fight to the end."

Gently pushing up the glasses on his nose, the old principal exhaled a breath of stale air and set the tone for the matter in a deep voice.

"There was no violence, no Pokémon used. It was less of a conflict and more of an open and honest warning. However, the enforcement was not well controlled, which frightened some students, leading to today's absences and voluntary withdrawals."

"Therefore, my suggestion is to openly state the existence and positive significance of the Tianxing Team to dispel the concerns and anxieties among the students."

"Secondly, we cannot ignore the fault of the perpetrators because of this incident. Since we stand with the school, we must show our determination and openly support the victims, even if this incident causes some students to miss classes or drop out of school."

Before he could finish speaking, Clavel paused for a moment, his eyes thoughtful, focusing the dappled light onto the mirror, where it flashed with a sharp, cold glint.

Involuntarily, everyone present straightened their backs and held their breath, even Nan Yin was no exception. In a daze, she even felt an overwhelming sense of oppression, as if she were looking directly at those champions again.

"Finally, we need to soothe the emotions of both parties. The perpetrator needs to teach and educate through their words and actions, while the victim needs to patiently heal their trauma."

"The emergence of the Tianxing Team is more than just a wake-up call. Rather than waiting for the impact to fade, it's better to formalize its existence and integrate it into the student council. Let these bullied children themselves monitor bullying. Coincidentally, our students also lack practical combat experience, so assigning them, along with some of the original students, to this role is just right. Furthermore..."