Pokémon：Trainer's Gambit

Dust swirled across the plaza outside the school gates.

Giselle clenched her teeth, glaring at the blonde young man before her with frustration.

"Your Cubone is already injured," the young man said coolly, though his gaze lingered on Cubone's wounds.

"If you treat it now, there's still time."

Giselle bit her lip, about to concede

"Cubone!"

Cubone shakily pushed itself up from the ground, glaring defiantly at its opponent.

"...You're continuing the battle?"

The blonde young man—Gladion from Alola—paused, his expression hardening.

"Fine. If this is what it takes to get stronger, so be it."

"Lycanroc—"

He raised his hand, and the crimson-eyed Lycanroc howled, sharp rocks materializing in front of it.

"Rock Slide!" Gladion slashed his arm downward.

The jagged stones shot toward Cubone—a direct hit could be fatal.

"I forfeit!" Giselle blurted, but it was too late.

She watched in horror as the rocks descended—

"CUBONE!!"

A streak of white lightning darted through the dust, yanking Cubone to safety just in time.

"Sylveon~" Sylveon set the unconscious Cubone down, flicking its ribbons elegantly.

"Made it."

Natsume exhaled in relief, scanning the crowd.

"Anyone else hurt?"

The students shook their heads.

One look at the scene told Natsume everything.

He patted Giselle's shoulder reassuringly. "Can't win 'em all. It's okay."

Thanks to his intervention, Cubone avoided critical injury—but by the rules, Giselle had still lost.

"Instructor, I..." Giselle's eyes reddened, words failing her.

I embarrassed you. The unspoken apology hung in the air.

Gladion, his blonde bangs shadowing his eyes, spoke coldly:

"Risking your Pokémon's safety just to keep fighting... That's irresponsible."

"As a Trainer, you're failing them."

His words weren't wrong, but their harshness stung.

This aloof young man cared deeply for Pokémon—he just had a very extreme way of showing it.

Natsume crossed his arms.

Ah. Another blonde tsundere.

"I..."

Giselle wanted to argue, but her hesitation mid-battle had been immature.

Defeated, she hung her head.

Gladion recalled Lycanroc and locked eyes with Natsume.

"You're their battle instructor?"

"Simulation Battles, technically." Natsume nodded, curious where this was going.

"I see..."

Gladion struck a pose, dramatically sweeping his bangs aside.

To get stronger... I need to fight someone stronger!

"Then... battle me!"

The students gasped.

"Is this guy nuts?"

"No way Natsume-sensei would accept!"

The poker-haired student in the crowd grimaced.

Knowing Natsume-sensei... he'd totally wreck this kid.

As one of Ash Ketchum's Alolan rivals, 14-year-old Gladion was formidable even without a Z-Ring.

Natsume rubbed his chin.

Potential? Plenty. Attitude? Needs work.

"You're not ready," Natsume said flatly.

Gladion's eyes narrowed.

"I've beaten everyone here!"

Natsume glanced at the cowering students.

Y'all are embarrassing.

Erika's been too soft on you.

Time for Gengar to whip you into shape.

"What'll it take for you to fight me?" Gladion demanded.

Natsume smirked. "Easy. Beat Giselle again."

The students' jaws dropped.

Again?!

Cubone got demolished!

This'll just be another slaughter!

Giselle, equally confused, shot Natsume a questioning look.

...What's your game here?

Gladion studied Giselle, then Natsume. "If I win, you'll battle me?"

That Sylveon's power... It made his hands tremble—not with fear, but excitement.

Even losing would teach him something.

"Deal."

Natsume grinned, steering Giselle away.

"First, let's patch up Cubone."

As the lunchtime crowd grew, Erika and Kanon watched from the sidelines.

"Should we intervene?" Kanon fretted.

Erika shook her head.

"If Natsume-sensei stepped in, he already has a plan."

Whether spotting Gladion's weaknesses or Cubone's untapped potential...

With the "Strategist" guiding her, Giselle might just turn the tables.

...

"Lycanroc's a close-range brawler. Keep your distance."

Natsume pointed at Cubone's bone club. "Use Bonemerang to zone him. No melee."

Giselle's eyes widened.

He figured all that out... in minutes?

Even Professor Erika couldn't...

"And Protect? You do know it, right?" Natsume tsked. "Someone skipped class."

You've literally taught one lesson!

Giselle swallowed hard.

...We might actually win.

She released Cubone, its battered but determined form materializing.

"Cubone!" It gripped its bone, breathing heavily.

Giselle's resolve hardened.

"Just... trust your Pokémon."

Natsume smiled. "It'll answer you."

As Giselle nodded, he handed her a red cube.

"Wh... What's this?"

"Cheri-Sitrus Pokéblock. Heals HP."

Natsume coughed. "Gengar hates the taste."

"Gengar~" Gengar waved dismissively.

Trash food.

Cubone stared at the block, drool dripping.

"Cubone! (ˉ﹃ˉ)"

"Pokéblocks boost vitality too, so—"

Cubone swallowed it—and blinding white light erupted.

Natsume & Giselle: ???

"What the—?!"

The crowd erupted.

Natsume-sensei whispered to Giselle, and Cubone evolved?!

Since when does that work?!

Kanon gaped.

"Pokémon don't just evolve from advice!"

Erika chuckled. "It was the Pokéblock."

"Natsume-sensei's breeding skills are world-class."

She gazed at Marowak. "And that little one... refused to lose."

Natsume stared blankly.

It was just a heal item...

How did it trigger evolution?!

First cooking, now medicine? His weird evolution methods were multiplying.

Marowak spun its Thick Club, eyes blazing.

Gladion frowned.

That man's influence...

To grow stronger so easily...

He shook his head, fists tightening.

Evolution won't decide this!

"Lycanroc, Rock Slide!"

The attack shattered against Marowak's Protect, which retaliated with a Bonemerang to Lycanroc's knee.

"LYCANROC!" It staggered, snarling.

Too far for Counter...!

Gladion gritted his teeth. "Close in! Crunch!"

"Protect!"

The barrier flared again, Lycanroc's fangs screeching against it.

The crowd cheered—but Gladion paled.

This strategy... It's like she knows my moves!

Just from his tips?!

Impossible!

Flustered, Gladion miscommanded—and Giselle pounced.

After a breathless exchange...

Midnight Lycanroc crashed to the ground.

Silence.

The students blinked.

The unbeatable Lycanroc... lost?

Was Giselle always this strong?

No—she was crying earlier!

Their gazes shifted to Natsume, arms crossed like this was normal.

Natsume-sensei... you're insane.

Gladion's hands trembled.

I... lost to her?

Does this man really see through everything?

He swept his bangs back, determination hardening.

Meanwhile, Giselle spun with Marowak, laughing.

We evolved. We won.

All thanks to him...

Her cheeks flushed as she stole a glance at Natsume.

For his sake... I'll win the tournament!

"Alright, back to class!" Natsume shooed the students away—though they desperately wanted a battle lesson now.

Erika approached, amused. "My elective numbers just dropped, didn't they?"

"Doubt it."

No raise for extra classes anyway...

He turned to Gladion, who stood conflicted.

Erika's smile faded. "The school could report trespassing to Officer Jenny..."

Gladion met their stares.

"...I came to Kanto to get stronger. For... someone."

"Then challenge Gyms," Natsume said. "Why here?"

Gladion glanced at Erika.

"Ah." She winced. "I've been substituting... The Gym's closed."

Natsume looked skyward.

Erika's subbing because I went to Cinnabar...

So this is my fault?!

"Gyms don't matter," Gladion said fiercely. "I want to join your class."

In Natsume, he saw a path to power—for his mother, his sister, his fractured family...

Natsume: "No."

Gladion: "Huh?!"

I do need tournament pawns...

But you can't just demand things.

"I'll do anything! Clean, cook—anything to learn!"

Bet you wouldn't give me Lillie's number, though.

"Police first," Natsume said. "Then we'll talk transfers."

Gladion's eye twitched—but the thought of Marowak's evolution and Giselle's growth steeled him.

"...Fine. I'll turn myself in. Then I'm coming back."

...

Of course, Natsume wasn't actually sending Gladion to jail.

The kid was just... overly intense.

After Kanon processed his enrollment, Erika murmured:

"You're recruiting him for the tournament?"

"Three students per teacher," Natsume said. "If he works out, he's in."

"But his obsession with winning..." Erika frowned. "At his age, shouldn't he explore the world, not just battles?"

Natsume watched Gladion walk away.

For Lusamine and Lillie, he'd shouldered too much too soon.

Strength is the only way he knows how to protect them.

"...He's tougher than he looks."

Erika giggled. "You sound like his father."

Natsume blinked.

"I'm not that old—"

"Not age. Vibes." She teased. "You're practically retired."

"My Pokémon train themselves. Except for the occasional property damage..."

Erika stared.

They... what?

Is that his secret?!

After farewells, Natsume briefed Gladion on his "training."

"Wait... Really?"

Gladion hesitated. "I can... study under you?"

"I'll cover basics. The rest is up to you."

Natsume shrugged. "One month till finals. Make it count."

Gladion grinned—a rare, genuine smile.

Natsume clapped his shoulder.

"See you in class!"

Gladion froze.

The warmth lingered as Natsume walked off...

Just like... back then...

Shaking off the memory, Gladion studied his schedule.

The end-of-year tournament...

I won't let you down, Natsume-sensei.

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