After lunch, we head to our second class of the day with Instructor Knight.

  She greets us at the front of the room, arms crossed but eyes a little softer than usual.

  “Good afternoon, students. I trust you enjoyed your morning,” she says. “It’s Friday—and I imagine most of you are counting the minutes until the weekend. Especially since you’ll finally be calling home to receive your companion Pokémon.”

  That gets a few nods. Mine included.

  I can’t stop thinking about Teddy. It’s been strange going through all of this without him. And, honestly… there are things I need to ask Mom.

  Knight continues. “There’s a reason we don’t let you start the week with a Pokémon already by your side. First—distraction. Young trainers tend to jump straight into battling, ignoring the groundwork. But more importantly, there’s something deeper: how a Pokémon affects you. And how you affect them.”

  She lets the silence settle before moving on.

  “Last time, we asked why trainers are necessary. Today, I ask—what makes a trainer?”

  I consider raising my hand. There are points on the table. But I don’t have an answer I’m proud of. Not yet.

  Knight glances around, then speaks again.

  “Most would say a trainer is someone who trains Pokémon. Simple. But not complete. Let me ask you this instead: why do Pokémon need humans at all? They grow stronger in the wild. They evolve, learn to fight. So… why choose us?”

  That lands.

  I sit up straighter, attention fully locked in. I’ve thought about this before, but not deeply.

  Irene raises her hand. “Pokémon raised by humans improve faster than wild ones,” she says, voice calm. “I believe it's due to some form of synergy—something shared.”

  Knight nods. “Exactly. What researchers call aura. Humans and Pokémon both possess it—an internal energy, subtle but powerful. Alone, our aura is passive. But together…”

  She steps away from the podium, pacing slowly.

  “When a bond forms between a human and a Pokémon, their auras begin to influence one another. Pokémon grow faster under human guidance. They learn moves sooner. Their instincts push them to grow—and they've learned that humans accelerate that growth.”

  A few students exchange glances, eyebrows raised.

  “As for us?” Knight continues. “We gain more than just power or protection. We gain friendship. Loyalty. Purpose. And… influence.”

  That word hangs in the air.

  “Ten years ago, a major discovery was made,” she says. “Pokémon don’t just change with us. They change us. Especially when the bond forms during childhood. Our auras intertwine. And over time, their traits start shaping our own.”

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  The classroom shifts. I notice a few students frown, some glance at their Poké Balls—even though they’re still empty.

  I lean back in my seat, mind drifting.

  Teddy.

  He’s always been easygoing. Playful. A little spoiled, if I’m being honest. And absolutely obsessed with snacks. He used to steal treats from my lunchbox and hoard them under the bed. We laughed it off as cute—my mom especially.

  But now I wonder.

  I’ve always loved food. Even before Teddy hatched. But over the years, did his gluttony rub off on me? Or did I just enable it because I understood it? Because it felt like me?

  Knight goes on.

  “This is why, today, we recommend children receive Pokémon from eggs—not as infants or hatchlings. A Pokémon born in the presence of its trainer develops with a natural aura alignment. The early influence is softer. Over time, as personalities emerge, the bond strengthens gradually.”

  She pauses at the front of the room.

  “If your first partner didn’t come from an egg, don’t panic. That’s why you’re raising your academy starter from one. Once you bond with two Pokémon, your aura begins integrating both—and the starter’s influence will help regulate the first.”

  That makes sense.

  Teddy came from an egg—just like the one sitting in my lap now. I still remember the wait, how every twitch of that shell made my heart skip. From the moment he hatched, it felt like we just fit. We never clashed, never pulled in different directions. If his aura ever influenced me, it did it gently. Honestly, the only thing I’ve ever noticed is how much I crave sweets these days. But I was already a bit of a foodie before he came along… maybe he just amplified it.

  Knight clears her throat.

  “This influence also explains why the League regulates how many Pokémon a person may carry. Every citizen is permitted one partner Pokémon. To carry more, you must hold a trainer certification.”

  A few students nod. I already knew that part.

  “As students of the Academy, your acceptance grants you a provisional certificate. And upon graduation, your certification will be recognized by the League as the equivalent of a six-badge trainer. That means you’ll have the authority to carry a full team of six.”

  Now the room is quiet.

  Knight's tone shifts—slightly softer, but still deliberate.

  “This is serious. Because not every type affects their trainer the same way.”

  She lifts a finger and begins listing.

  “Fire-type trainers often become more impulsive, passionate, and hot-tempered. Electric-type trainers tend to grow restless, energetic, and erratic. It’s not inherently harmful—but it does shape who you are.”

  She takes a breath.

  “But then there are the Big Six—types known for their deeper, more volatile influence: Dragon, Ghost, Psychic, Poison, Dark, and Fairy.”

  She lets that sink in.

  “Some of you may already know of Sabrina, the Gym Leader of Saffron. She was born with strong psychic potential, amplified by her bond with her Psychic-types. The result? Severe detachment during her formative years. It took her over a decade to develop basic social awareness. Even now, she struggles.”

  A few students murmur quietly.

  “Or consider Valerie, the Gym Leader from Laverre. Her Fairy-types amplified her sense of empathy and emotional projection to the point where she lost her identity entirely. She began dressing in costumes to ground herself—to feel more like her Pokémon, because it was the only way she could still feel herself.”

  Knight meets our eyes, one by one.

  “This is the power of bonds.”

  She steps back.

  “If your companion belongs to one of the Big Six types, remain after class for further instruction. It’s not a punishment—it’s preparation. The rest of you are dismissed.”

  Chairs shift. Bags rustle. I stay seated for a moment, just breathing.

  Teddy’s a Normal-type. Safe. Steady. Constant.

  I’ve never felt off-balance around him. Never overwhelmed. If anything, he grounded me.

  Made things simple.

  Made me simple.

  Maybe that’s why I’ve never had some of the hangups other kids do. I’m still me. Mostly. The only thing I can blame him for is my sweet tooth—and even that started before he showed up.

  Still...

  This isn’t just about training anymore. It's about becoming someone.

  And whether I like it or not, my team will help decide who that is.

  As I stand and grab my bag, I glance at the empty spot on my belt.

  Teddy will be here soon.

  And I’m ready for whatever we become—together.