"Okay then."
Auron scratched his head. He really hadn't thought this part through.
He'd assumed things were the same as before: rent a team, get excited, post it online, and wait for people to point out what didn't fit.
But the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. Back then, those archetype teams were already more or less developed; most people had some grasp of them.
Now, if he dumped all the archetype-team ideas onto the internet in one go, the forums would probably end up like this—everyone flooding the feed with team lists and hot takes.
"Hellew~"
While Auron and the others were talking, a round little head poked in through the doorway.
Seeing so many people in the room, the small round head didn't dare come in. He only gave a timid greeting to the group.
"Fugui, get in here."
Yu Xiuzhu's eyes lit up. He waved the little round head over. The kid still looked a bit cowardly, but he shuffled in.
"Uh, hello, my name is Wang Quan."
"Mhm, great—Fugui, hand over the present I gave you this morning."
Ignoring the chubby boy's introduction, Yu Xiuzhu stepped to his side and held out his hand expectantly.
Only then did the others understand why Yu called him "Fugui" after hearing the boy's name.
The chubby boy grimaced as the room tittered, and protested, "Bro, my name is Wang Quan!"
"Sure, Fugui. Hurry up."
Resigned, Wang Quan pulled a small box from the backpack slung over his shoulders.
"Here. What do you want this for?"
Yu didn't answer. He turned and set the small box in Auron's hand.
"Xiaoze, thank you for what you just taught me. I don't have much with which to repay you. Take this—at least I won't feel like I benefitted for nothing."
Auron panicked and immediately tried to push the box back. "No, no, no—nothing that important. Please take it."
Yu smiled, glanced at Auron and Ashen Vale, and said, "Xiaoze, Dr. Lu—please accept it, or I won't feel at ease."
Ashen smiled faintly at Yu. He knew very well that this whole string of moves was likely for the sake of the chubby kid who'd followed behind.
And once Auron accepted the gift, Yu would bring up one more request—one Auron would find hard to refuse.
"Xiaozhu, may I call you that? All right, then—why don't you tell us what you want from me or from Xiaoze first. We should at least know what it is."
Yu shook his head and put on a serious face.
"Dr. Lu, of course you can call me that. But this gift is my thanks for the information Xiaoze just shared. If we were in ancient times, knowledge like that would be a grace tantamount to rebirth. So no matter what I say afterward, and no matter what you say, I am giving this to you."
Ashen looked at Yu's earnest face, gave a helpless smile, and set the little box down on the table.
"All right. Say it, then—let's see if there's anything we can help with."
Joy flashed across Yu's face. He immediately pushed the still-bewildered chubby boy in front of him.
"I want my little brother to apprentice himself—take Xiaoze as his master. Is that all right?"
Of the six people present, everyone except Yu was stunned. What kind of plot twist is this?
"Uh… ask Xiaoze. It's his business; he should decide."
Half amused and half exasperated, Ashen took two steps back, leaving Auron fully in view.
Auron looked at the hopeful light in Yu Xiuzhu's eyes, then at the chubby boy's rather vacant expression. He had no idea what to do. He turned his head and looked at Ashen with a bit of helplessness, reaching out via Aura.
(Dad, what do I do? I've never gone through anything like this.)
Ashen shot him a sympathetic look.
(Your dad hasn't either. You'll have to handle it yourself.)
Then he unilaterally cut the Aura link, turned, and wandered off toward Dax Jonas.
"Uh…"
Auron rubbed his face, resigned, and addressed Yu Xiuzhu.
"Er… why do you want, uh, Fugui to take me as his master? I'm just a soon-to-be college freshman. I don't have much to teach him."
Yu answered without hesitation.
"It's fine. I believe in you. Just that system-team material you explained—he could study that for a long time."
"Also, his starter Pokémon is a Larvitar. He can serve as your Sandstorm test case. What do you think?"
Auron looked pained. "But I still have to go to classes."
"That's fine. Dax told me—you're enrolling at Skyspire, yeah? Fugui is at Skyspire too. You can teach him in your free time."
Yu happily shook Wang Quan by the shoulders.
"Uh…"
Auron was at a total loss. He's sealed off every exit—how am I supposed to dodge this?
"Er, we haven't asked Fugui yet. What if he doesn't want to?"
"I do!"
"Pfft—!"
Auron had barely finished when Fugui took one step forward, squared up in front of him, and said I do with a determined look.
Ashen and Dax both promptly took it the wrong way and burst out laughing.
Auron gave the two incorrigible old boys a helpless look, then turned back to the chubby one and asked, seriously:
"Are you sure? This is our first time meeting. Are you certain I'm someone you want as a master?"
"I'm sure. You're someone my brother approves of. I trust you—and I trust him."
Little Fugui was just as serious. It was all very solemn—but watching the way his cheek fat wobbled every time he spoke, Auron struggled not to laugh.
He forced it down, exhaled, and said, "All right. I can only promise to teach you to the best of my ability—nothing beyond that."
"Yes, Master!"
Fugui snapped his feet together and stood ramrod straight.
"You brat—if you're taking a master, you kneel!"
Yu kicked Fugui lightly in the rear, and the boy jerked as if remembering himself and started to kneel.
Auron hurried to catch him. "No, no, that's not necessary. It's just a small matter."
"You're right—Master Xiaoze is right," Yu said, slapping his forehead. Then he whipped out his phone and dialed again.
"Hello? Uncle? I found a master for Fugui—listen, he's top-notch! Hurry and get the apprenticeship gifts ready, okay? Hanging up now, bye."
Watching Yu in action, Auron's cheek twitched. He asked in a low voice, "Is he always like this?"
Fugui nodded, then, with great secrecy, crooked his index finger and circled it a few times at his temple.
"Got it."
Auron drew a deep breath and nodded. He understood exactly what that gesture meant.
"All set!"
Finishing the call, Yu strode back looking inordinately proud and said to the chubby boy, "All right, Fugui, let's see all your Pokémon."
The chubby boy pulled a face. "Master, my name is Wang Quan!"
"Okay, Fugui—let's get those Pokémon out."
(End of this chapter)