As the only key high school in Viridian City, it boasted a strong faculty and excellent students. While not many graduates became Professional Trainers, the number was not insignificant either.
As expected, Viridian No. 1 High School served as the testing site for this year's college entrance examination.
The battle test was the final item, meaning the exams were now over.
Wearing his blue and white school uniform, Kai left home. After wandering briefly outside, he arrived at his school.
Along the way, he saw many Pokémon, though most were common species like Caterpie and Pidgey. The rarer Pokémon were only seen alongside people—apparently already tamed.
Upon entering Viridian No. 1 High School, Kai went directly to Room 302 of the complex building. This was the meeting place for a small club of just five members.
Kai was a member of the Viridian No. 1 High School Psychology Club.
Before the world changed, their role had been to help students suffering from excessive academic pressure, with guidance from a counselor.
Of course, students nowadays had strong pride. Even under pressure, they wouldn't visit such a place for consultation, so the club had been idle.
But now, according to his memories, things were different.
Their club was also responsible for mediating emotional issues between students and their Pokémon…
And the workload wasn't small. If not for the main work being handled by their instructor, they might not even have time for classes.
"Eh… Senior Sister, you didn't go home?"
Kai pushed the door open easily—it was unlocked. Inside, he immediately recognized the girl in blue jean shorts and a white short-sleeved shirt.
This was the senior sister he had chatted with earlier. She had taught him a lot since he joined the club.
Beside her, a Persian yawned, looking very tired.
As today was the college entrance examination, she wasn't wearing her school uniform and looked more striking than usual.
"Kai?"
"Not yet. At noon, Professor Elm sent over the Breeder assessment materials. I wanted to take them home to look over," Senior Sister Maya said.
"Breeder assessment materials? The latest version?"
"Yes. Would you like to see?"
The Pokémon Breeder was another career path for Trainers.
Some Trainers who disliked battling but enjoyed raising Pokémon chose to obtain a Breeder's license, specializing in Pokémon care and breeding.
The status of a Breeder was no lower than that of a Professional Trainer. A popular saying online was, "Behind every successful Trainer is the silent support of a Breeder," highlighting their importance.
Many large Pokémon-related enterprises also preferred to hire Breeders to care for their Pokémon.
Crucially, Breeders didn't have to fulfill the same obligations as Professional Trainers, such as exploring dangerous Secret Realms. Their lives were more relaxed.
Mediating emotions between Pokémon and Trainers was actually one of the many required skills for Breeders.
Members of clubs like the "Viridian No. 1 High School Psychology Club," including Kai, were like simplified, amateur versions of Breeders.
It was precisely for this reason that club members were very interested in the Breeder career path.
The National Breeder Assessment was held every year just before the National College Entrance Examination. Once the exams ended, the first-hand assessment materials would circulate.
After the club's instructor, Professor Elm, obtained the materials, he immediately shared them.
Kai reached out, took the papers handed by his senior sister, and began reading.
"I wonder how much the Pokémon knowledge in my head will help with this…"
From Kai's perspective, his unique insights gave him some confidence.
Question 1: What does Beldum primarily use to control its movements?
Kai: "??"
Psychic power?
After checking the answer at the back, Kai's face fell. It was actually magnetic force.
If you think about its Steel typing first, it's not that hard, he comforted himself.
Question 2: What is the optimal incubation temperature for a Swablu egg?
A question mark appeared over Kai's head. How would he know?
They should test evolutionary forms, attributes, or compatible moves—not this kind of thing…
By the time he reached the essay questions, he simply gave up.
Example [Picture Attached]: The white cheek area of this Marill has turned light green, and it appears to be in extreme pain. How would you handle this situation?
Send it to a Pokémon Center, right? When sick, you see a doctor.
That said, Kai knew that answer wouldn't earn any points. He checked the answer key and was dazzled by the complex series of steps.
There were other topics, too.
How would you teach a Meowth the following moves? Please choose one to answer—Thunderbolt, Shadow Ball, Dark Pulse, Double Team, Water Pulse…
Use a TM? Pat it on the head and it immediately learns the move?
Nonsense. Such things didn't exist in reality.
"Are these really this year's Breeder assessment questions?" Kai looked up. His game and anime knowledge were completely useless here.
"Yeah, it's relatively easy," Senior Sister Maya said, smiling at Kai's expression. "They say this year's written test was the easiest in five years. The real difficulty lies in the two practical exams that follow. I hear ordinary people can't pass them."
"Stop, stop…" Kai quickly interrupted. "I don't want to know more about Breeder stuff. I want to become a Professional Trainer."
"I knew you'd say that. You might be the only one in our Psychology Club who doesn't want to be a Breeder but aims to be a Professional Trainer," Maya said with a strange look. "After the four of us graduate, you'll become the club president. To be honest, I'm not very confident about handing the club over to you."
"Professor Elm has been busy this year, and the club hasn't recruited any new members. Don't let it get abolished when the new term starts."
"Don't worry, I'll recruit a group of good students at the beginning of the term," Kai said, making an "OK" gesture.
"That's enough for me. Next, you'll have to work hard. This year's battle test pressure is still quite high. If you don't understand anything, you can ask me," Maya said.
Among Viridian No. 1 High School graduates, only a small number—excellent students like Maya—could be admitted to key universities. And only a small percentage of those would become Professional Trainers. Kai's dream was not an easy one.
"I will."
Kai smiled. After accepting his memories, he had already come to terms with reality…
People who joined the Psychology Club were all cheerful and strong-willed, and Kai was no exception. He would devote himself fully to whatever he decided to pursue.
Moreover, his family had spent so much money for him to study at a key high school and register as a Trainer. If he didn't work hard, it would be truly inexcusable. After all, his family's conditions weren't particularly affluent. Kai didn't want to let his parents down.
Even if the world hadn't changed, he would have had to work hard in his final year.
What's more, now that he was getting to know this world, he had fallen in love with it. He couldn't wait to get his first Pokémon.