Wednesday, July 8th. The long-awaited Piplup Cup finals were finally kicking off — arguably the most talked-about sporting event of the year.
One finalist: a genuine prodigy out of Crestwood University's Fighting Department, already courting attention from Gym Leaders twice his age. The other: a total unknown, a non-professional Finance Department student who'd somehow talked his way this far.
The contrast alone kept engagement sky-high — and, strikingly, online sentiment leaned overwhelmingly in Luke's favor.
"wait, Teacher Luke's actually THIS young?"
"grinding a rookie tournament for levels, that's peak dirty tactics honestly"
"beating up literal teenagers, talented but morally bankrupt, name a more iconic combo"
Suspicions of him slumming it for easy prize money floated around plenty — and honestly, given his reputation, most people figured that tracked completely.
"strongly recommend disqualifying Teacher Luke on principle"
"isn't he basically Master-tier at this point, how is this even allowed"
"you're overthinking this, he's tournament-eligible age-wise, and honestly nothing wrong with grabbing easy cash"
"let the man cook, let him cook"
Fielding the chatter, guest commentator Wesley Tanner, Metro City's own Gym Leader, just smiled. "His commanding's genuinely sharp, sure... but calling him Master-tier feels like a stretch."
Chairman Preston, white hair and all, stayed quietly noncommittal for a long stretch. Sub-twenty Master-tier Trainers aren't unheard of — the current World Champion took the title at eleven, after all.But if Luke really were Master-tier, would he really be here, grinding a rookie tournament?Does that track with anyone's actual behavior?
"Perhaps he had some kind of unusual opportunity along the way," Preston offered vaguely.
Beside them sat a heavily built, bearded man, nodding along. "Seen his videos myself — genuinely impressive stuff. But that's a game. Underpowered Pokémon, no matter how sharp the commanding, can't fully close a raw power gap."
He narrowed his eyes. "Naive of him, honestly, thinking he can use my son as a stepping stone to sharpen his own team."
Wesley glanced over — Jonathan Lyle, Owen's father, Electric-type Gym Leader of Stormhaven City, here as a guest specifically to support his son. Guest commentary carried no bearing on the actual outcome, of course, but watching your kid take home a title in person still meant something to a father.
"We'll see," Preston said, laughing dryly.
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Riverbend Arena was packed to capacity for the finals. Massive banners from Bojiaman Corp ringed the battlefield, and a cluster of Magnemite — doubling as aerial cameras — hovered overhead. Compared to standard drone rigs, a Sturdy-boosted Magnemite could shrug off collateral damage from stray moves without missing a beat — genuinely ideal utility Pokémon for the job.
"GO TEACHER LUKE!!"
Hannah, one of the tournament's own Final Four, had organized what amounted to a full professional cheer squad. Tyler, the other semifinalist, was right there with her, cheering loud enough to rival a full drumline.
Watching from the player's corridor, Luke felt his face heat up with secondhand embarrassment. This economy really doesn't let a man make some easy side income in peace.
"Kojie!" Haunter looked ready to go.
The small Dusk Stone had been fully licked clean the night before — turned out, despite being literal rock, it tasted almost exactly like candy. Post-stone, Haunter had spent the rest of the evening giving Luke increasingly hopeful, affectionate looks.
"There genuinely isn't any more," Luke said, spreading his hands.
Haunter: (°ー°〃)
"Play well today and maybe there's another one in a couple days."
"Kojie! (☆_☆)"
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Owen stepped onto the field, expression carefully guarded. Facing Luke's easy smile, he said, dead serious, "Don't talk to me. I'm not listening to anything you say."
"...Can't even say hi?" Luke blinked.
"NO. You're just trying to mess with my focus."
"...Have you eaten yet?"
"N-not yet. Was planning to eat after the match."
The commentator's voice rang out, delighted. "Are both competitors already trash-talking each other pre-match?! The tension is PALPABLE!"
"I know a good spot nearby, could point you toward it after," Luke offered.
"Really? I'm not really into Metro City cuisine, though, too sweet for my taste..."
"THE MATCH HAS BEGUN!" the commentator cut in. "This is shaping up to be a final for the history books!"
______________________________
Red light flashed — Magneton and a grinning Haunter materialized on the field simultaneously.
Owen's nerves eased slightly. This guy seems... genuinely easy to talk to. Just need to command clean, and this is winnable.
His eyes sharpened, mouth opening to call the first move — right as Magneton slammed hard into the ground.
"IT'S ALREADY HAPPENING! Incredible speed — that's Shadow Punch from Haunter!"
Up in the stands, Tyler frowned. He's already essentially Master-tier and he's STILL opening with a sneak attack?
"Of course," Tyler muttered. "Peak Teacher Luke."
The tactic was so baked into Luke's instincts at this point that even he flushed slightly, catching himself mid-move. Accident. Total accident. Haunter just went on its own, I swear — this thing is TOO dirty for its own good.
Grinning, Haunter withdrew its fist and blinked into position in front of Magneton, eyes glowing with Hypnosis's alluring blue light.
"Electric Terrain!" Owen shouted.
Reflexes clearly honed from growing up in a Gym showed instantly — crackling current burst from Magneton, weaving into a full electromagnetic field around it. Under Electric Terrain, sleep-inducing moves failed outright, and Electric-type attacks got a clean power boost.
Up at the guest table, Wesley shot a glance at Jonathan. A Stormhaven-trained countermeasure for exactly this matchup — didn't expect that prepared an answer.
Hypnosis fizzled uselessly.
"Thunderbolt!" Owen followed up instantly.
Blinding current surged from both of Magneton's magnets, six separate arcs converging into a devastating bolt.
BANG!
Just as the momentum looked ready to flip, a gasp rippled through the crowd — a second grinning Haunter had appeared directly behind Magneton.
The Substitute had eaten the Thunderbolt. The real Haunter had already repositioned behind Magneton, a small Will-O-Wisp flame lit at its fingertip, burning steadily along one of its screws.
"Haunter dodged the Thunderbolt entirely!" the commentator called. "And that Will-O-Wisp landed clean at close range — Magneton is now burned!"
Baiting out Electric Terrain to sidestep Hypnosis had been an easy read; landing the burn had been the actual objective the whole time.
Luke rubbed his chin, thinking ahead. Haunter's got the speed edge, so Owen's real priority now is landing something with guaranteed accuracy. Magneton's status options: Thunder Wave, or Supersonic. With Electric Terrain's boost active, Thunder Wave's clearly the stronger pick.
"Haunter, Hex!" Luke called.
"Magneton, Thunder Wave!" Owen called simultaneously.
The burn was already chipping steadily at Magneton's stamina — and landing Hex now meant double damage on top of it.
A thick wave of Haze swallowed Magneton whole, and it dropped from the air with a pained cry, barely clinging to consciousness.
Jonathan slammed a fist on the table, visibly rattled. That's not a read — that's an instant, perfect prediction. What is this kid actually capable of?
"Still a window here," Wesley said, narrowing his eyes. "If the paralysis lands—"
Luke had abandoned his usual stall-heavy Protect approach entirely in favor of straight aggression via Hex — and Magneton hadn't gone down clean. If Thunder Wave connected and luck broke the wrong way, Luke had potentially just set his own trap.
A crack of electricity, and Thunder Wave slammed into Haunter, locking its body rigid instantly.
Paralyzed.
Owen's eyes went wide. There's still a chance!
"Haunter — close it out with Hex," Luke said, unbothered.
Haunter grinned and stuck out its tongue — a Cheri Berry rolled openly into view, tucked there the entire time. In front of thousands of spectators, it chewed the berry with theatrical relish, letting out a sly little laugh.
"Kojie kojie! ヾ(≧≦)ヾ"*
Haunter's held item had been a Cheri Berry all along.
Paralysis: cured instantly.
It extended a single finger toward Magneton, and another thick wave of Haze rolled forward.
Screeeech—
A grating shriek of corroding metal cut through the arena. The referee's flag went up.
"WINNER: Metro City University's Luke!"