I wake up to the soft weight of Teddy curled up beside me, snoring lightly.

  Last night’s conversation still echoes in my mind—the clan, my grandfather, the truth about Mom. It was only thanks to Teddy that I managed to calm down enough to sleep.

  “Wake up, Teddy,” I whisper, nudging him gently.

  He groans, bats my hand away, and burrows deeper into the blanket.

  “Come on. Didn’t you say you wanted to meet my friends?”

  He mumbles his name like he’s still dreaming, but slowly opens one eye and pushes himself upright. I check my Pokédex, pulling up the scan from last night:

  Teddiursa (Teddy)

  Level: 12

  Type: Normal

  Gender: Male

  Moves: Fling, Covet, Scratch, Baby-Doll Eyes, Lick, Fury Swipes, Counter, Play Rough

  Finally. Play Rough.

  Mom’s Ursaluna—Teddy’s mother—had been tutoring him in that move since last year. It’s not a basic move for a Teddiursa, and it might give us an edge soon.

  “How confident are you with Play Rough?” I ask.

  Teddy hops down from the bed, flashes a grin, and raises a paw.

  “Teddi-ted.”

  I take it to mean: Watch and learn.

  After a quick shower, we head to breakfast.

  The cafeteria’s chaos has doubled overnight—first-years finally have their Pokémon, and it shows. One kid’s trying to calm a jittery Hippopotas while another is chasing a noisy Emolga.

  Teddy stays in my arms, watching the scene unfold with curious eyes—until he spots the breakfast trays. I feel him freeze. A single drop of drool slides down his cheek.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  I sigh. “Of course.”

  We get in line.

  “Gabriel Santos, companion: Teddiursa,” the cafeteria staffer says. “Honey-flavored kibble for the little one. Standard meal for you.”

  I can’t carry the tray and hold Teddy, so he hops down and walks beside me, staring at the food like it’s sacred.

  We spot Flavio and Melody at our usual table. Sitting with them are two Pokémon: a snow-white Vulpix with icy blue eyes and a striking, red-masked bird Pokémon I don’t recognize at first glance.

  So that’s a Hawlucha.

  “Teddy, say hi,” I gesture toward my friends.

  Teddy ignores me completely, eyes locked on his plate.

  “Sorry,” I say. “He doesn’t process words until he’s fed.”

  I set his bowl down. He sits, paws tucked neatly under him, and starts eating with this loud, satisfied humming that draws attention from nearby tables.

  “What a cutie,” Melody says, gently feeding her Vulpix in her lap.

  Flavio laughs. “Not sure if he’s rubbing off on you or the other way around, but that gluttony is definitely shared.”

  I pretend not to hear them and focus on my eggs.

  “So,” Flavio says between bites, “a second-year told me we should bring our Pokémon to Instructor Joy for a full analysis. It upgrades our Pokédex profiles. Supposedly it’s part of next week’s class, but we can do it early.”

  “You sure know a lot of girls,” Melody mutters, clearly unimpressed.

  “Hey, I know the guys too,” he grins, taking her hand dramatically. “I’m just social.”

  Wait. What? Since when were they holding hands?

  I raise an eyebrow.

  Melody blushes and quickly pulls her hand back. “Not now,” she says, glaring at Flavio before shooting me a warning look.

  Flavio just shrugs, grinning.

  He’s about to say something else when he shifts gears. “So. You thinking about who to battle first?”

  “Irene,” I say immediately.

  Melody and Flavio look past me.

  I turn—and there she is. Irene Redstone. Red hair, calm expression. And next to her, a sharp-eyed green canine. An Electrike, if I’m not mistaken.

  It fits her. Fast. Focused. No nonsense.

  She glances at me. “Good to know. I was going to challenge you anyway.”

  My gaze drops to Electrike, but before I can respond, she asks, “Where’s your Pokémon?”

  I glance down.

  Teddy’s flat on the floor, rubbing his belly with a sleepy smile, completely oblivious.

  Irene follows my gaze. Her cool exterior cracks for just a second—eyebrows rising, lips parting.

  “…Really?”

  “What?” I ask, feigning innocence.

  But I get it. Teddiursa isn’t exactly an intimidating first impression. Most people think of them as plush toys, not battlers.

  She shakes her head and sighs. “Tomorrow. Five o’clock. Battle Hall.”

  Then she turns and walks away, Electrike trotting behind her with a smug look on his face.

  I glance down at Teddy, still licking his paws.

  “Damn it, Teddy,” I mutter.

  But part of me is smiling.