"Alright, that concludes today's lecture. If any of you have ideas or questions, please feel free to discuss them with me anytime."
"Thank you all."
Professor Oak slowly closed the thick stack of documents, the dry rustling of paper sounding formal and solemn. He handed the papers to Daisy Oak, the blonde woman in a white blouse who was waiting nearby. Together, they stepped to the side of the podium, where the soft yellow light from the ceiling shone gently, then bowed to the audience seated around the circular lecture hall.
The applause rolled like waves, filling the round space of the auditorium. The sound of clapping hands mixed with soft whistles created an atmosphere full of admiration. For many, attending a lecture directly from this famous professor was a rare honor.
Professor Oak usually shared Pokémon knowledge on radio broadcasts. Though useful, those sessions were still fairly general. But today's lecture was different. It delved much deeper, packed with detailed scientific analyses, data, charts, and experimental evidence not everyone could immediately grasp.
Most of the attendees — from veteran trainers to young students — had to rely on recorders or phones to capture the entire content, so they could later study every detail and try to fully understand the meanings behind the professor's words.
Alex was no exception in taking notes, but unlike most, he truly understood the majority of what Professor Oak said on the spot. This made him one of the very few in the audience able to fully grasp the core points of the lecture as it happened.
Even Roxanne, one of Rustboro Pokémon School's top students, furrowed her brows and carefully pondered each new concept the professor mentioned. She needed time to analyze and piece together the scattered knowledge into a complete picture.
When the lecture ended, Professor Oak began packing his things. He carefully placed each note into his briefcase, moving slowly but with the practiced motions of a seasoned scientist. After observing for a moment, Alex decided to approach with his open notebook in hand.
May, who had sat beside Alex the entire time, was still lost in the vague feeling left by the lecture. Although her father was Professor Birch and she had been exposed to Pokémon knowledge from an early age, what Oak had presented far exceeded her immediate ability to process. Seeing Alex move toward Professor Oak, she instinctively followed, her gaze still unfocused.
Roxanne had initially planned to leave the hall and return to the dormitory, but when she saw Alex approaching Professor Oak, curiosity held her back. Someone prepared like him surely had complex questions.
Alex smiled lightly, his expression polite yet confident. He spoke, "Hello, Professor Oak. May I trouble you for a few minutes? I have some questions I'd like to discuss."
Professor Oak paused briefly when he saw the young man holding a neatly written notebook. It was clear this was a well-prepared inquiry, not a spur-of-the-moment question. Throughout his teaching career, he had met many fans but rarely had someone approach with such in-depth questions immediately after a lecture.
With a fondness for sharing knowledge, the professor smiled warmly and said, "No problem at all. If you want to ask, please feel free."
Receiving permission, Alex opened his notebook, glanced over a few lines, and asked directly, "Professor Oak, I've read some of your reports online. One report caught my special attention — titled 'Thoughts on the Impact of Grapefruit on the Stepped Neural System and Polymorphism of Pokémon.' In it, you mentioned that the fiber in grapefruit can improve Pokémon's neural functions. I want to know: how many samples did you test? What exactly was the range of improvement? And are the upper and lower thresholds proportional?"
May stood beside Alex, eyes wide. She understood each individual word but when they combined into sentences, it became as obscure as a complex equation. Roxanne was also surprised — despite her deep knowledge, she hadn't expected Alex to use professional terminology so naturally.
Professor Oak was momentarily taken aback. For a moment, he looked at Alex more like a seasoned research colleague than a seventeen-year-old teenager. These questions, if posed at a thesis defense at Celadon University, would make many professors furrow their brows in thought.
His eyes grew serious. The kind smile he usually wore gave way to the focus of a scientist entering analytical mode. He replied slowly, carefully considering the numbers: "In total, I tested 17 samples at various development stages. The improvement ranged from about 17% to 21%…"
Alex listened while quickly jotting down notes with steady strokes. He didn't hesitate to ask more questions, delving deeper into aspects just mentioned: environmental conditions, species differences, genetic factors… The exchange lasted a long time, becoming a fascinating academic dialogue.
May stood outside the circle of conversation as if listening to an entirely foreign language. Roxanne, despite her efforts, understood only about one-third. To her, it was like reading a technical book but only skimming a few pages before getting dizzy.
Finally, Alex closed his notebook, his tone calm: "Thank you very much, Professor Oak. I have no more questions."
Professor Oak smiled, but there was a rare look of high regard in his eyes. He shook Alex's hand, then wrote a number on a small piece of paper and handed it to him. "Here is my phone number. If you have any questions about Pokémon, don't hesitate to contact me. And if you ever come to Kanto, please visit the research lab in Pallet Town."
Alex nodded in acceptance, responding with a firm promise. They exchanged a few polite words before Alex, May, and Roxanne left the lecture hall. Outside, the streetlights had turned a deep yellow — the clock showed nearly eleven at night.
May suddenly remembered a practical problem: "Alex, it's so late. The Pokémon Center is closed. Where will we sleep tonight?"
Alex hesitated. Indeed, he had forgotten to arrange accommodation, having been caught up in the lecture and questioning. Rustboro wasn't a tourist hotspot; hotels were scarce, and most were fully booked due to the crowd coming for the lecture.
While he was still thinking, Roxanne unexpectedly spoke: "If so… you two can stay at my place tonight."
Alex and May turned simultaneously, eyes wide with surprise.