"Since this Deoxys energy core is more or less like a Pokémon Egg, it should be fine if I put it into the culture medium, right?"
He said it and did it. Auron went back to the storage room, took out another culture unit, and placed Deoxys's energy cube into the medium.
Now, on the desk: the culture unit on the left held an Elekid's Egg; the one on the right held Deoxys's energy core (Egg…?). In the middle sat three of Arceus's Plates.
Auron looked over the arrangement on his desk and nodded.
"Not bad at all."
He tidied up the room a little more, put away what still needed putting away, and by the time he finished, evening had arrived. When he went downstairs, he found that Dad and Grandpa Ashford were home as well—and currently locked in a heated argument.
"I think Energy Aid is pretty good. Why not call it that?"
Grandpa Ashford shot his son a look of open disdain.
"And you're still my son? You actually have the nerve to say such a corny ability name out loud?"
Hearing that, Dad bristled.
"Then you tell me—what name did you come up with?"
"Victor's Blessing!"
"Tch. Yours is just about as corny as mine, all right?"
They went on squabbling like that until Grandma came out with the dishes, set a plate down on the table with a hard clack, and only then did the two of them quiet down.
After that, one carried bowls and chopsticks while the other brought the dishes—clear division of labor, flawless teamwork.
Even so, when it came to naming the ability, neither would yield to the other. Across the dinner table they continued glaring back and forth.
"How about this—Victini's ability is called Victory Star?"
Auron really couldn't take the atmosphere anymore, and he also didn't want a name he knew so well to be replaced by either of their embarrassingly rustic suggestions.
Dad and Grandpa Ashford both widened their eyes at him as if to say: We're discussing this—who asked you to butt in?
"All right, we'll go with what Xiaoze said. His name is far better than either of yours."
At that, Grandma spoke. The two men didn't like it, clearly, but they had nothing to say. They simply bowed their heads and ate.
"Aren't Xiaoze's gaokao results coming out tonight?"
"Mm. Yeah—midnight tonight."
Auron nodded. His gaokao results were indeed due, and once the results were out, the next step would be filling out university preferences.
Though Auron had already come up to the capital, he'd handled everything with the teachers back at his school in Vantora, so there was nothing left to worry about. He'd just fill in Skyspire University, and that would be that.
After dinner, Auron headed to the back yard to play with his Pokémon. The others stayed in the living room watching TV, all waiting together for midnight to arrive.
It didn't take long before the time was nearly up; the whole family gathered, eyes fixed on the computer.
"It's out! It's out! It's out!"
The moment the clock struck twelve, Mom could no longer hold back. She pressed Auron by the shoulders and urged him to check his results—now.
"Here we go, here we go—"
Written Examination
Pokémon Comprehensive: 145
Math & Science: 140
History: 45
Civics: 48
Battle Examination: 395
Seeing the scores, Auron broke into a smile. These results did justice to the three months he'd spent grinding away.
"Wow!"
Overcome with excitement, Mom leapt into Dad's arms.
"I thought your son was going to be weak and ordinary for the rest of his life…"
With her face buried against Dad's neck, she choked up as she spoke.
"Haha, there, there. Even being ordinary isn't so bad, is it?"
Dad stroked her hair to comfort her—but the words had barely left his mouth before he realized Mom had already lifted her head and was glaring at him.
"Er… okay, okay, my bad."
Dad slowly lowered his head. He'd noticed not only Mom glaring; Ashford Vale and Liu Xiangjun were glaring too. No wonder he surrendered so quickly.
After the family celebrated Auron's results for a while, one after another they yawned and retired to their rooms. It was late, and everyone was tired.
Auron, on the other hand, wasn't sleepy at all—his phone kept going ding-ding-ding without stopping.
Youyuyou: How'd everyone do?
Jace Rowan: Not bad. Total 752—enough to clear Skyspire's cut-off.
Yin Hanling: I'm okay too—733, also enough for Skyspire.
Serena Elm: Seconded—740, enough to make it～
Tim Wynn: 755! Highest in the group!
Tim Wynn: Proud.jpg
Auron Vale: Unlucky for you—773. The real group-topper!
Auron Vale: Haughty.jpg
Youyuyou: I got 740. Looks like we'll be meeting again at Skyspire soon. When's everyone coming to the capital to hang out?
Auron Vale: I'm already here.
Jace Rowan: Same.
Tim Wynn: I'll probably head over about a week before term starts.
Youyuyou: Hanling and I need two more weeks. My dad's job transfer just went through, so we'll go together.
Serena Elm: I'll likely come before school starts, too.
Auron Vale: Perfect. When you're here, it's on me. I'm in a good mood today!
Youyuyou: Thanks, boss!
Yin Hanling: +1
Tim Wynn: +1
Jace Rowan: +2
Serena Elm: …+1
They chatted a bit more, then the group gradually quieted down. It was late, and everyone was getting drowsy.
Auron set his phone aside and flopped face-first onto Snorlax.
Then he waved at Crobat. "C'mon, sweetheart—come down and sleep with us～"
Crobat looked at Auron with smiling eyes, then settled itself onto the special upside-down roost installed just for it and went to sleep.
Auron didn't mind. Chuckling, he wrapped an arm around Charmander. Man and Pokémon, they drifted off together atop Snorlax's broad belly.
......
The night passed without incident. Early the next morning, Auron was roused by Liu Xiangjun to get ready for breakfast.
At the table, still bleary-eyed, Auron asked, "What am I doing today? I'm so bored."
"Your grandpa already finished the Slowking experiment and wrote the paper. The Gliscor one too. Think about whether there's anything else you want to research."
Dragged out of bed too early, Auron's brain hadn't fully booted. He thought and thought, but couldn't decide what else he ought to do.
"Uh… not sure. Let me swing by the institute later. Maybe I'll get a feel for it then."
"Fine. We'll go together in a bit. We can also get the paperwork started for reporting your doctoral title."
"Got it."
After agreeing, Auron finished eating. With his head a little clearer, he followed Dad and Grandpa Ashford out toward the research institute.
On the way, Auron weighed his options. Should he handle Weavile's issue first, or Rhyperior's? Hey—how many fragments do I have now for that key to the National Treasure Vault again?
The National Treasure Vault's collection had to be better, no matter how you looked at it, than what Grandpa Flint had in his personal vault.
"Mm… Dad, I just thought of another evolution—but I'll need someone for it."
Auron suddenly looked up and addressed Dad.
Dad gave him a glance, offhandedly asking, "Who? Can't we handle it ourselves? Why do we need someone else?"
Auron smiled. Brother Su, time to settle that debt.
"Elite Four Su Qianyan!"
(End of this chapter)