I Really Didn’t Want to Be a Trainer-Chapter 673: Teacher Lu: Don’t say I taught you, it’s shameful!

I Really Didn’t Want to Be a Trainer-Chapter 673: Teacher Lu: Don’t say I taught you, it’s shameful!

Chapter 673 Teacher Lu: Don’t Say I Taught Him—How Embarrassing! (Thanks to Guild Leader [Yanzuzu]!) 13
The World Juniors tournament was in full swing;
the first afternoon decided the competition’s top 64.
Ash, Alice, Manchong, and others all advanced.
Except Trip… After being cut down by Paul, Trip fell into a shell and planned to pack up and head back home.
Ash had once come from his own version of the “Lake Acuity Tragedy.”
From the standpoint of mutual improvement, Paul’s way of pushing Ash was even more motivating than the formidable Alain.
Teacher Lu was preparing afternoon tea in the villa when he learned the list of those who advanced and couldn’t help but be stunned.
Well then… they’re all my students!
Count Gladion from Alola, Ami from Galar… truly my disciples are everywhere!
The tournament would last a week, so Lu Ye wasn’t in a hurry to return to Miare City;
he planned to set out only after the champion was decided.
Cynthia had also applied to the Sinnoh League for a long leave, officially to “coordinate follow-up matters with Team Plasma,” a perfectly reasonable-sounding justification.
For Lucian, though, this was nothing short of a bolt from the blue!
At the Sinnoh League, Lucian removed his purple rimless glasses and let out a long, deep sigh.
“What’s wrong? Lucian, you look pale,” Aru said, sitting cross-legged on the carpet by the tea table, fiddling with Pokémon cards as he turned to look.
“Come play with us!” Flint grinned from the sofa, arm thrown over the back, “Think of it as stress relief!”
Lucian felt grief swell up inside;
it wouldn’t be cut off so easily.
Please don’t play PTCG at work in front of me.
If only you two were a little more reliable, I wouldn’t have to handle everything myself!
He glanced out at the pounding rain, adjusted his glasses, and stared up at the ceiling at a 45° angle.
So tired. I want to retire so badly!
Meanwhile.
The Unova League shone under clear blue skies today.
Outside the detached villa, Axew, Pikachu, Togepi, and other little ones chased each other across the green lawn while the fountain burbled out a lovely melody.
Meloetta dropped out of stealth and sat by the fountain edge, swinging her legs back and forth.
Victini flitted between the courtyard and kitchen, happily sampling Lu Ye’s specially made macarons.
Blastoise watched Gothitelle watering flowers and pushed up his sunglasses with a hand: “Bu-bii…”
Sylveon padded around the villa’s grounds but found no trace of any “wild experience,” then returned to the courtyard with a slightly disappointed dip of her head: “Bu-bii…”
The balcony extended from the villa’s second floor, rows of glass windows gleaming;
white sheer curtains fluttered inward on a gentle breeze.
Inside the window was the villa’s living room;
the walls were painted rose-red. Caitlin sat on a white armchair and lifted a white porcelain saucer with graceful composure.
Cynthia had changed into an elegant, noble black coat;
she sat with her legs crossed and lowered her gaze to a mythology book resting on her lap.
A knock sounded on the door. Haunter bared his teeth in a grin, carrying a plate of temptingly colored desserts and set it down on the coffee table in front of the sofa: “Gengarrr~!”
“Thanks, Haunter.” Cynthia closed her book and smiled.
“Gengarrr~” Haunter waved his hand.
Caitlin propped her chin on her hand and watched Haunter with a distracted expression.
Even though Teacher Lu is annoying… his Pokémon are really adorable…
The plate held a variety of cream petit cakes officially called “bofuretsu,” a type of dessert wildly popular in Kalos.
The fragrant scent of tree fruit wafted through;
Caitlin’s gaze fell on the bofuretsu and she pursed her lips slightly.
Footsteps clattered down the hallway outside the living room as Ash and Alice burst back in, excited.
“Teacher Lu said we can start eating!”
“You should wash your hands first.” Cynthia smiled gently.
“What a hassle…” Ash and Alice sighed and turned to go.
At that moment, Lu Ye walked into the living room, wiping his hands on a towel, and asked in surprise, “What’s wrong, don’t you like them?”
“We haven’t started yet.” Ash swallowed, “But they smell amazing!”
“Of course—they’re all made with fresh tree fruit.” Lu Ye introduced proudly, “The pink sweet bofuretsu is made with Pecha Berries. The green matcha-flavored bofuretsu is called the ‘Deluxe Summer Bofuretsu.’ It’s the kind of dessert that could appear at a three-star Snorlax Restaurant!”
“Aah…” Alice wiped drool from the corner of her mouth.
A three-star restaurant… Even in Miare Plaza, famous for its cuisine, only Siebold had that honor.
To get to taste Teacher Lu’s desserts… this is incredible!
Caitlin’s calm expression shifted subtly.
Bofuretsu come in five ranks, from lowest to highest: Ordinary, Rare, Rich, Delicate, Deluxe.
The higher the rank, the more favorability it raises in a Pokémon.
Because bofuretsu can be eaten by both humans and Pokémon, it fits more the role of a breeder than a mere pastry chef.
Caitlin examined the petite, tempting pastries on the white porcelain saucer, curious. She carefully picked up a pink cream cake and took a small bite.
“Mm!”
Light bloomed in Caitlin’s eyes.
She seemed to see the cherry blossoms of Kalos;
the tree-fruit aroma and the cream’s richness melded perfectly. She reclined in a field of Flabébé, lazily stretching her waist as pink-and-white puffs surrounded her from all sides, cream slowly whitening her cheeks.
No—this is too good… Caitlin’s cheeks flushed;
this flavor is illegal!
“Bofuretsu are part of Kalos’s cultural spirit, like energy cubes for Hoenn or curry rice for Galar…” Lu Ye was talking when he suddenly froze and looked back at the coffee table, which was trembling.
“Is that an earthquake?”
The porcelain on the table shook slightly;
tea splashed from a saucer.
Cynthia frowned and looked toward Caitlin, eyes closed, blue light radiating around her.
“Her psychic power is out of control.” Cynthia said calmly. “Ash, go fetch Butler Jerome—he’s got counteracting medicine.”
“Right!” Ash dashed out at top speed.
Alice looked anxious. “Miss Caitlin, are you all right?”
Lu Ye frowned.
Caitlin’s psychic power was stronger than a typical Psychic-type Pokémon’s—she was like a humanoid Pokémon. She couldn’t fully control that power. After becoming Unova Champion, incidents of power loss had become less frequent, but they still occurred.
But a sudden psychic eruption… what triggered it?
Lu Ye’s gaze fell on the half-eaten bofuretsu. He paused, feeling something odd.
Could it be… that the bofuretsu’s benefit for a humanoid Pokémon like Caitlin was simply too strong?
It seemed this batch of tree fruit had an exceptional effect!
Thud, thud!
The tableware’s tremors grew more pronounced;
Caitlin’s golden hair floated in the air under the influence of her psychic surge.
Lu Ye tried using Aura to calm the rampaging psychic waves and blinked in surprise.
It actually worked!
The gentle Aura from the Tree of Beginning had an emotion-calming effect.
Lu Ye reached out;
a soft azure orb bloomed in his palm and the air currents brushed Caitlin’s floating hair.
The orb dissolved into gleaming blue motes that drifted down toward Caitlin.
Her eyelids fluttered;
her body went limp against Cynthia, and the wild psychic turbulence gradually waned.
“How did you do that?” Cynthia asked in astonishment.
Caitlin’s psychic eruptions had been a headache for the entire Unova League.
Cynthia, Fumiko, and others had consulted countless experts;
everyone said there was nothing they could do except suppress it with medicine.
This was the first time Caitlin’s psychic rampage had calmed so easily!
“I just shot a burst of Aura,” Lu Ye said. “It’s only an emergency measure;
next it’ll take Meloetta’s music therapy…”
At Lu Ye’s call, Meloetta floated into the room and hummed a gentle, soothing melody.
The song drifted through the air;
Caitlin’s little face smoothed, and she leaned on Cynthia’s thigh, slipping into a light nap.
Lu Ye’s eyelid twitched.
Damn… I’m actually a little jealous!
Their gazes met Cynthia’s gray eyes;
a faint helpless smile touched Cynthia’s face as she moved her lips.
“Tonight.” Cynthia said.
A kneeling pillow tonight—maybe I can push my luck further…
Lu Ye raised an eyebrow.
Worth it. This afternoon tea was worth it!
…
Caitlin slowly woke and saw Cynthia’s pale cheek before her.
“Bamboo Lan…” Caitlin said softly, “Did I sleep for a long time?”
“Hm? You’re awake.” Cynthia lowered her eyes and smiled, “Don’t worry, it wasn’t long. Your psychic outburst left your brain exhausted.”
“Is that so… it happened again.”
Caitlin sighed in frustration.
Maybe this is why I can never beat Bamboo Lan.
Her eyes rested on the bofuretsu on the coffee table;
memories came back clearer and she murmured:
“I caused trouble for Lu… I caused trouble for Teacher Lu.”
“He apologized to me.” Cynthia sighed helplessly, “He said the tree fruit might have allergens and that he should have warned you beforehand… I’ll make him go home to reflect!”
“No—”
Caitlin’s voice grew faint.
She couldn’t bring herself to say that it was the sheer deliciousness of the bofuretsu that sparked her power.
But she remembered how Teacher Lu used Aura to steady her chaotic telekinesis and how Meloetta’s song calmed her down.
Like Bamboo Lan, he was a champion who treated people kindly and gently…
Sunlight streamed through the window and gilded the sheer curtains;
Caitlin lay on Cynthia’s soft lap.
“Actually…” Caitlin began slowly.
“What?”
“Actually Teacher Lu isn’t so hateful.”
Caitlin averted her eyes and watched the curtain swaying in the breeze, whispering:
“I agree… you two, um… should be together…”
Caitlin let out a small, animal-like whimper.
Cynthia was slightly surprised—she hadn’t expected Caitlin to bring up romance so suddenly, and a dignified smile lifted her face.
“If you get married…” Cynthia teased, “I’ll invite you and Fumiko to be bridesmaids.”
“I don’t want to talk about this.” Caitlin shrank back.
“You’ll help pick the wedding dress styles, right?”
“Uu…”
…
After the villa’s little interlude.
That night, Teacher Lu enjoyed a lap pillow from Cynthia.
The price was “tomorrow’s breakfast prepared by Bamboo Lan.”
“Spare me.” Lu Ye said.
A chef’s palate is a fragile thing… once you fall into the Dark Cooking Society, there’s no turning back!
“No way—I’ll learn how to cook!” Cynthia said proudly.
The three days in Lacunosa Town passed in a rehearsal of “honeymoon life” with Bamboo Lan.
Perhaps because Cynthia’s culinary skill improved, Teacher Lu found his resistance to “dark cuisine” seemed to strengthen…
He’d cameo at tournament venues as a commentator and judge now and then;
he’d take Cynthia to the Team Rocket stall to freeload ice cream.
Days were simple and unremarkable—essentially loafing about.
He hadn’t expected the peaceful life he’d longed for to be so fully realized during the World Juniors…
Teacher Lu sighed: “Seems like I and the Baby Cup have an uncanny compatibility!”
Once he brought Meloetta, Victini… and all the little cuties back to the café, and officially opened, life would surely look brighter!
Within three days, Manchong, Ash, Trip, and Alice all advanced into the top sixteen.
After each match, the host would always ask contestants, and many of them mentioned “Teacher Lu” without prompting.
“Looks like Lu’s a popular name… so many teachers.” the cameraman said.
The host nodded in agreement.
If the entire top sixteen were students or acquaintances of one person… that’d be ridiculous!
July 25, Sunday.
The final four emerged amid intense excitement, drawing countless eyes.
Lu Ye looked over the bracket list, startled:
“Paul versus Alice, Manchong versus Ash?”
Cynthia pressed a hand to her forehead, studied the list, and said dumbfounded, “It looks like… they’re all your students?”
“Paul and Alice are half-and-half.”
Lu Ye nodded, “Manchong and Ash are people I met when I was in the Kanto region.”
He thought back to his days teaching at Celadon University a year ago.
Teacher Lu’s expression turned complicated.
A whole year, and Ash has tried to win the championship with nothing to show for it!
If so… don’t let Ash say I taught him, or it’ll be embarrassing!
“By the way… Caitlin came to see you once.” Cynthia said lightly, “To thank you for stabilizing her psychic powers the day before yesterday.”
“Oh, how embarrassing!” Teacher Lu said—very embarrassed indeed.
Cynthia smiled faintly: “She heard you received Fireinium Z and Buginium Z from Alder… and she asked if you’d collected a Psychic Z.”
“A Psychic Z?”
Lu Ye froze.
That would mean using Hypnosis as a Z-Move!
I actually feel tempted!
But without a Shiny Stone, even with a Z-Crystal it’s useless…
Cynthia: “I remember you have a Normalium Z?”
Lu Ye nodded: “I got it at the Battle Chateau;
including Fire and Bug, that makes three attributes.”
“Exactly as I thought.” Cynthia offered a small smile. “So I took the liberty of getting you the Psychic Z… I’ll give it to you when we go back!”
Lu Ye: ?
“You don’t seem pleased?”
Cynthia glanced at him;
her smile softened:
“Or do you want to go see Caitlin yourself and talk specifics with her?”
Cynthia emphasized the word “specifics.”
Lu Ye felt a chill run down his spine but also a flicker of feeling.
This is the first time I’ve seen Mengmengda get jealous…
Anyway… very cute!
“You can just accept it.” Lu Ye said.
After all, Z-Crystals circulate on the market.
Lu Ye thought to himself: “If I head back to Kalos in a few days and actually unlock a Shiny Stone… I’ll have Haunter do an awkward Z-dance.”
If the trainer does the Z-awkward dance, what business is it of Teacher Lu?
…

Chapter 673: Teacher Lu: Don’t say I taught you, it’s shameful!