Pokémon: Who told him to come out of Pallet Town!

Chapter 34: The Whip of the Academy

"The eerie fog has disappeared, and the Pokémon Research Academy has appeared!"

"There must be lots of rare Pokémon inside, meow!"

In the distance, perched on a large tree, Meow Meow, holding binoculars, spoke excitedly.

"What's wrong with you guys, meow?"

Meowth noticed that Musashi and Kojiro weren't sharing their hopes for the future behind him, which seemed unusual. He turned around and saw that their expressions were a bit off.

"What's wrong with you guys, meow?"

Meow Meow looked at the two of them strangely, and noticed that they both had a strange expression on their faces.

Meow Meow had only ever seen this expression on the two of them when they were carsick.

Are you feeling unwell?

"No, seeing these things brings back some unpleasant memories."

"Darkness, so dark!" Kojiro cried, tears streaming down his face.

"Were you once students of this college?"

Meow suddenly realized.

"Yes, so we're abandoning this mission?"

Musashi looked at Meow Meow with a serious expression.

"What the hell?! We're ruthless villains, how could we possibly give up just because this is our alma mater!"

Meow replied with a look of disappointment.

"No, that's not how it is, meow... Ugh!" Kojiro said, making a gagging motion.

"Cheer up, meow! Even if it's not a mission, don't you want to go back to your alma mater for a visit?" Meow started encouraging the two:

"Think back to your wonderful school days, meow!"

"At the Trainer Academy, I always get knocked over by Onix during morning runs; my homework, soaked by Poliwag's spray, hangs on Psyduck's head; and my lunchbox is always covered in Snorlax's drool..."

"Don't you all want to go back to this wonderful life, meow!"

The meowing gradually escalated from sentimental to passionate, and flames slowly ignited in the eyes of Musashi and Kojiro.

However, it seemed to be a flame of anger.

"Who wants to go back to that suffocating life? Let them go!"

"Meow, shut up!"

"Bang!"

The two of them each kicked Meow Meow, sending her flying into the treetop.

"Let's go, Musashi. I feel like my stomach is going to explode if I look at this again."

"Me too—ugh!"

Musashi and Kojiro supported each other as they walked away from the Pokémon Research Academy.

"Why, meow? Meow's speech was so moving!"

Meow Meow never went to school and thought life inside was as wonderful as described in books.

Undeterred, it raised its binoculars and peered inside, where it spotted a familiar figure on the teaching building.

"What's that researcher doing here!? Musashi Kojiro, wait for me, meow!"

Meow Meow jumped up in fright, afraid that Natsume would suddenly appear behind it like a ghost again.

"Achoo!"

Natsume rubbed his nose, thinking that the Pokémon at Oak's lab must be missing him.

On the third floor of a certain teaching building, Natsume leaned against the railing, pondering whether he should borrow the school's printer to print more business cards.

He hadn't even gone downstairs before he finished sending them out.

Hmm... it's probably best not to dance in Jim's minefield.

Natsume thought about it and realized that he was an honest person and should follow the rules.

Glancing downstairs, Natsume spotted Ash and the others and set off to go over.

As soon as he went downstairs, a figure blocked his way.

"You must be Natsume, right?" The privileged student raised his chin and looked at Natsume with an arrogant expression.

"Little friend, please move aside." Natsume said, casually turning the other child's head to the side.

The top student's expression froze for a moment, but quickly returned to normal.

"Who's a kid!" With that, the top student threw his student ID at Natsume.

Natsume picked it up and took a look.

"You're so old and you still haven't graduated?"

"You could have graduated three years ago...we were waiting for you!" After saying this, the top student seemed to realize the ambiguity in his words and paused in his speech.

"Hmph, the founder of the Academy Whip, you're not afraid of me, the fourth president, are you?" The top student deliberately raised his voice.

"What is that?" Natsume looked at the top student with a puzzled expression.

"What? What is that?" The top student also looked at Natsume curiously, and the two stared at each other.

"What is the Whip of the Academy? Who came up with that name? It sounds so tasteless."

Natsume waved his hand.

The top student: "..."

She was somewhat bewildered by Natsume's reaction, and pulled out a photo from her pocket, constantly comparing it to something.

"It's you!" After a long silence, the top student pointed at Natsume and shouted:

"First president, I challenge you as the fourth president of the Academy's Whip!"

"Then tell me first, what exactly is the Academy Whip?"

Natsume waved his hand and looked down at the top student opposite him. To be honest, he had a vague impression of the name "The Whip of the Academy".

"It's that...that..." The top student suddenly blushed, and his voice became extremely awkward.

Natsume's gaze grew increasingly puzzled.

"That's it!" The top student seemed to have gone all out, uttering a string of words:

"When decaying textbooks turn to pulp in Gyarados's Water Gun, when cowardly Poké Balls shatter under Tyranitar's Stone Attack—we are forged from the steel whip of flame! Shatter the glass dome of the greenhouse, and drive the parasites huddled in data tables onto the battlefield amidst torrential rain and thunder!"

After saying this, the top student lowered his head, his face as red as if it were bleeding, and his body trembled with shame.

"Oh! You mean that? I remember now, I started a club in your college three years ago!"

Natsume finally remembered.

When he first came to the Kanto Pokémon Research Academy three years ago, he discovered that there were huge problems with the teaching model there.

The college places great emphasis on theoretical courses but neglects practical application.

Natsume also knew why.

The students here are all from wealthy and influential families, so if something happens to them, the school will have a hard time taking responsibility.

Over time, teaching has become so theoretical that it has become unhealthy.

So Natsume casually started a club called Academy Whip.

The club's philosophy is to "bully" other members and force them to engage in Pokémon battles.

Once established, the club attracted many students who craved strong opponents.

I never expected that the amateur club I casually started would actually be recognized by the academy and even be passed down to the fourth generation.

Natsume was very surprised.

"So, you're the fourth president?" Natsume looked at the top student, then suddenly changed the subject:

"How could you come up with such a chuunibyou (delusional) idea for joining the group? I didn't even dare to look at it when I wrote it myself."

The top student: "..."

"It's...it's all because of the rules you set, saying that every future club president must keep the club's ideals firmly in mind!"

Tears welled in the eyes of the top student as he glared angrily at Natsume.

She diligently memorized the club's principles, but Natsume, the founder, couldn't even remember the club's name!

"Yeah, if it's this kind of cringey mentality, isn't it a bit inappropriate to use it as a reason to join the group?"

Xiao Gang's voice came from behind.

Turning around, Natsume discovered that Ash and the others had appeared behind him from nowhere.

At this moment, all four of them looked at Natsume with curiosity on their faces.

Xiaoxia raised an eyebrow and teased:

"You don't just want to see every company president embarrass themselves, do you?"

"Impossible! Natsume-nii isn't that kind of person. He must have his reasons for doing this, don't you think so, Natsume-nii!"

Ash retorted defiantly, then looked at Natsume.

"Well, it's like this..." Natsume scratched his head and began to explain to everyone.

He certainly had his own reasons for doing this.

Natsume fears that after he leaves, the club will become a real bullying organization.

As a result, the group's membership philosophy, membership ceremony, and other things were made to be quite childish and immature.

Hmm... People with delusions of grandeur can't be all that bad at heart.

Most importantly, they're easy to fool!