Pokémon：Trainer's Gambit

"Achoo!"

Natsume sneezed violently.

Seriously? It's only been three days, and my students already miss me this much?

Arriving at the school gates, a familiar student bowed respectfully.

"Good morning, Natsume-sensei!"

Natsume nodded approvingly and pulled out a shiny holographic card from his pocket, handing it to the student.

"Respect for your teacher—I see great potential in you."

Instantly, every male student on the playground locked onto the card in the boy's hands.

A collective gulp echoed across the field.

"T-That's a Johto Expansion Pack holographic UR!"

"How did Natsume-sensei even pull something that rare?!"

"Duh, he probably printed it himself!"

The student stared at the ultra-rare card, face flushing red.

"Th-Thank you, Natsume-sensei!"

Watching Natsume casually hand over a card worth thousands of Pokédollars, the boys erupted in cheers.

"Natsume-sensei, you're the coolest today!"

"Instructor, you're the best! And no, that's not bootlicking—it's literally our class motto!"

After shooing away the kids, Natsume headed to the faculty office.

Erika adjusted her thin-framed glasses, smiling.

"As popular as ever, I see."

"Well, I am as handsome as ever."

Natsume sighed dramatically. "Speaking of which, how's Gladion? No trouble?"

"If anything, he's too well-behaved."

Erika chuckled. "Attends every class, excels in battles—model student material."

"As expected from my teaching."

...You've literally taught two classes.

Erika coughed lightly. "Oh, the Sunlight Chamber is finally repaired. Feel free to use it again."

"No thanks!"

Natsume laughed awkwardly and bolted for his classroom.

Inside, students were buzzing about last night's stream.

"Hitmonlee was insane! One kick, one KO!"

"Should I specialize in Fighting-types too?"

"My dad says Natsume-sensei is actually a Tourian battle master here on a teaching exchange!"

Natsume choked on air.

...Should I be flattered or concerned about your dad's intel?

Two pairs of eyes burned particularly bright in the crowd—Giselle and the edgy blond Gladion.

"Today's lesson: Ally Switch."

Natsume tapped the blackboard. "Battling is just rock-paper-scissors with extra steps. Prediction is key—"

His effortless breakdown had the class hanging on every word.

Then, a student with a ridiculous haircut timidly raised a hand.

"B-But what about luck?"

"Next question."

Natsume grinned. "We don't discuss imaginary concepts here."

"Should I teach my Lapras Hydro Pump?"

"Next question."

"What's the accuracy of High Jump Kick?"

"Next—"

The lesson continued, each answer more brutal than the last.

"Gengar~"

The Gengar lurking in Natsume's shadow yawned lazily before floating outside.

Its gaze lingered on the freshly repaired Sunlight Chamber, deep in thought.

"Gengar!"

It shook its head.

No more trouble for Trainer!

Maybe the Thunder Room will hold up better.

...

After class, Natsume strolled through campus, thermos in hand, in high spirits.

The old janitor guarding the training facilities gave him a strange look.

"Natsume-sensei... got good news and bad news. Which first?"

Natsume's smile froze.

"Good news."

"Your Arcanine seems to have mastered Wild Charge."

The old man had seen enough in his years to recognize the move.

Natsume clutched his chest.

You call that GOOD news?!

"A-And the bad news?"

"The Thunder Room is... temporarily out of order."

The janitor coughed. "Equipment's too worn out. Might take weeks to fix."

Natsume exhaled in relief.

Then he saw the charred wreckage of the Thunder Room.

"You call this wear and tear?!"

This is straight-up arson!

"Arcanine!"

The proud fire-type wagged its soot-covered tail, fur still crackling with residual electricity.

Gengar grinned smugly.

Mastered a new move in one afternoon—not bad, right?

Wild Charge, a technique that cloaked Arcanine in a storm of electricity, boosting its speed and power while shredding Water-types.

Natsume stared at his eagerly awaiting Pokémon.

His wallet wept silently.

Finally, he patted Arcanine's head.

"Good job."

"Arcanine~!"

Its tail wagged furiously.

The repair bill, of course, came from Natsume's pocket.

The construction foreman shook his hand tearfully.

"You're our patron saint of steady income!"

Natsume: "Haha."

As the foreman walked away, he pondered:Maybe I should start praying to Natsume-sensei instead...

...

That evening, Gold messaged:"Natsume-sensei, can I come over tonight?"

Natsume blinked—then remembered.

Tomorrow was the Cerulean City Fishing Tournament, with prizes including Mystic Water.

Sure, Squirtle already had one, but knowing the little guy, it probably wanted a whole necklace of them.

"Sure, not like I'll stop you."

"Sweet! Togebo, we're blasting off!"

Goggles on, Gold and his Togekiss launched from Goldenrod City at breakneck speed.

When the doorbell rang minutes later, Natsume was stunned.

"That fast?!"

Opening the door, he found Gold, windblown hair defying gravity, flashing a peace sign.

"Yo, Natsume-sensei! Long time no see!"

"Get in here."

Gold stepped inside, eyes widening at the lavish interior.

Natsume-sensei's loaded!

...We're separated by a tragic economic barrier now.

Crossing his arms, Gold brooded like a philosopher.

Meanwhile, Togebo played cards with Togepi, its face already covered in marker doodles.

"Togekiss!"

"Togepi doo-ee~!"

Despite being a card shark, Togebo happily let its little sister win—repeatedly.

You're spoiling it rotten!

At Gold's insistence, they played snooker—with Natsume losing spectacularly.

One particularly cursed shot sent the cue ball orbiting the black ball before plopping into a pocket.

Gold stared in awe.

How is this level of failure even possible?!

Natsume coughed. "So, uh, what time's the tournament tomorrow?"

"7 AM at Cerulean Harbor." Gold tilted his head. "Wait, didn't you sign up?"

A cold sweat dripped down Natsume's neck.

"The tournament's... in Cerulean City?"

"Yeah?" Gold blinked. "You did register, right?"

Natsume's smile turned strained.

Going to Cerulean City... feels like asking for trouble.

"It's fine! Just fishing!"

He forced a laugh.

"What's the worst that could happen? It's not like the Gym Leader has nothing better to do!"

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