I don’t think I’ve ever felt this tired in my life.

  After that nightmare of a gym class, it was easy to see why Tuesdays only had one subject. My legs felt like they’d detached and were now sending angry letters to my brain. Flavio looked like he might just lie down and perish on the cafeteria floor. Melody, on the other hand? She looked like she’d just gone for a casual jog.

  “I didn’t think you were so weak,” she said to Flavio, smirking as he flopped onto the bench beside her.

  He lifted his head with the effort of a dying man, then let it fall back down without a word.

  Wow. So Flavio can shut up.

  “I’m barely walking and I was still top five in our group,” I muttered, dragging my tray to the table. “Meanwhile, you were the top of our class and got an extra point for your trouble.”

  Melody shrugged, still smirking. “Years of training. Following my brother’s routine has its perks. Trust me, today was light work compared to his warmups.”

  “Please don’t let Instructor Smith hear you say that,” I said, glancing over my shoulder like she might materialize behind me. “She strikes me as the type to take that as a challenge.”

  We shuffled into the cafeteria like wounded soldiers and collapsed into our now-usual corner. I considered hitting the showers first, but hunger had its own opinions. As I inhaled my lunch, Melody gave me a look of barely-contained horror.

  “Can’t you at least try to chew your food?” she asked, pushing her tray an inch further away. “It’s like watching a vacuum cleaner with a grudge.”

  “My stomach has demands,” I said around a mouthful. “I am merely its humble servant.”

  Flavio raised an eyebrow. “You just referred to your stomach in the third person.”

  I chose not to respond. I had more food to conquer.

  Still starving, I stood and announced, “Be right back,” then left to negotiate seconds from the cafeteria staff.

  By the time I returned, I realized something had changed.

  Our table—my table—was full.

  Seven people now. Three new faces, all deep in conversation with Flavio and Melody like they’d known each other for years.

  Flavio spotted me and grinned. “Gabe! Good news—we're not social outcasts anymore!”

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  I blinked.

  He patted the seat beside him. I sat cautiously, feeling like I’d walked into someone else’s friend group. The guy next to me gave a polite nod.

  Flavio launched into introductions with his signature flair. “Everyone, this is Gabriel Santos—local mystery man. Gabe, this is Hugo King beside you. Across from him is Lidia Betti. Next to me is Alicia Young. And that scowling tower over there is Max Anderson.”

  They all nodded or waved, and no one looked hostile. That was… unexpected.

  “Lidia’s the last legacy student in our year,” Flavio added. “She and her group joined us last night while you were passed out.”

  Lidia—white hair, calm eyes—smiled back. “After battling Melody yesterday, I figured we’d get along. No point in hiding when the competition’s this fun.”

  “You three know each other?” I asked, gesturing between Lidia, Max, and Alicia.

  “Alicia, Max, and I grew up together,” Lidia said. “Our parents work together, sometimes on League business.”

  “Hugo joined us during the third exam,” Alicia said, her voice smooth and melodic—soothing, even. “He’s been stuck with us ever since.”

  I caught myself staring a moment too long at her freckles and quickly looked away.

  “I’ve heard the exam was brutal,” Melody said. “What was it really like?”

  “They weren’t that bad,” Hugo said with a casual shrug.

  “First two were fine,” Alicia added, nodding.

  Max cleared his throat and took over. “Written test for knowledge. Then a psychic evaluation.”

  I blinked. “Wait. What’s a psychic evaluation?”

  All eyes turned to me. For a moment, the silence was deafening.

  “…You didn’t do one?” Max asked, genuinely baffled.

  Flavio leaned in with a grin. “Legacy kid.”

  Melody leaned closer to me and whispered, “Most kids get evaluated before they receive their first Pokémon. Usually illusions—psychic types test your reactions, instincts, personality.”

  I didn’t remember ever doing anything like that.

  And that probably wasn’t good.

  Max continued, his tone sharp. “The third exam was the real test. Battle royale. Over a thousand of us dropped into a combat zone. We were given six Pokéballs and one badge. First ninety-six to earn eight badges by battling passed.”

  That actually sounded awesome.

  And terrifying.

  “And losing meant you were out?” I asked.

  Hugo nodded. “If you lost your first battle, there were no second chances.”

  “Survival of the fittest,” Max said.

  Melody raised an eyebrow. “Did any of you run into Irene?”

  The name dropped like a rock in water. Even Lidia’s smile faded.

  Alicia leaned forward slightly. “Irene Redstone is… intense.”

  “She destroyed her opponents,” Max added, frowning. “Didn’t matter what Pokémon they used. Type disadvantage? Didn’t stop her.”

  “She won every battle,” Hugo said. “Decisively.”

  I frowned. “What kind of Pokémon did they give you for the exam?”

  “Randomized teams,” Lidia replied. “Even mix of types. Nothing over level fifteen.”

  So no tricks. No advantages. Just skill.

  I leaned back in my seat, suddenly remembering the way Irene had looked at me on the first day.

  And then, as if summoned by our conversation, Irene walked into the cafeteria.

  Clean uniform. Dry hair. Not a trace of sweat or effort on her. She could’ve come straight from a photo shoot instead of Physical Conditioning 101.

  She glanced around—then her eyes landed on me.

  No glare. No sneer. Just that same confident smile, like she knew exactly where she stood in this world.

  Flavio leaned in beside me, tone amused. “Looks like your favorite fan’s back.”

  I didn’t respond.

  “She still terrifying or… kinda hot now that she’s not actively threatening you?”

  “She’s not my fan,” I muttered, eyes still on her.

  He gave a low whistle. “Oof. That serious, huh?”

  “…I think she’s my rival,” I said quietly.

  Irene walked past our table without a word. But her eyes lingered, just for a second.