Aakash POV
"Do the two of you accept?"
The question hung in the air for several moments.
For a brief second, both Apoorv and Rakesh simply stared at me as though they were still processing what they had just heard, their expressions shifting from surprise to realization before finally settling into excitement.
Then both nodded almost simultaneously.
"Training under you would probably be the best opportunity any student could ask for," Rakesh said without hesitation. "I'm in."
"I'm in too," Apoorv immediately added. "Besides, we haven't really gotten much time to hang out since the Konkan incident. Most of the time you've been buried under academy work, department work, or international meetings."
I couldn't help but smile slightly at that.
The last few months had indeed been hectic.
"Good," I replied. "That makes things simpler."
The atmosphere in the office relaxed noticeably now that the purpose of the meeting had become clear.
"Since you two are the first members," I continued, "you'll automatically serve as the leadership core of the team. One of you will become captain and the other vice-captain."
Both immediately straightened slightly.
"However," I added before either could say anything, "I haven't decided who gets which position yet. We'll determine that during the month-end evaluation. By then, the remaining members of the team should also have been selected."
Neither appeared disappointed by that.
If anything, both seemed pleased.
Competition was healthy.
Especially between people capable of pushing one another forward.
"Any objections?" I asked.
Apoorv immediately shook his head.
"Wouldn't have it any other way."
Rakesh nodded in agreement.
"Same here."
"Good."
With the formalities settled, the discussion naturally shifted toward training.
Over the past few weeks, I had received reports regarding nearly every student in the academy, but paper assessments could only tell part of the story. The best way to judge a trainer's progress was still through direct observation.
"Let's have a look at your partners," I said.
Both immediately reached for their Poké Balls.
A moment later, four flashes of light appeared inside the office.
The room instantly became more lively.
The first thing I noticed was how healthy all four Pokémon looked.
Their bodies showed the signs of proper conditioning, balanced nutrition, and consistent training rather than reckless overexertion.
That alone already placed them above many first-year students.
My gaze settled first on Rakesh's Pokémon.
Charmeleon stood proudly with his arms crossed, his tail flame burning brightly while his eyes constantly scanned the surroundings. There was an unmistakable confidence about him now compared to the examination period.
His movements were energetic.
His posture was balanced.
Most importantly, his battle instincts had matured considerably.
He wasn't simply relying on aggression anymore.
The recent reports regarding his battles against academy instructors suddenly made perfect sense.
Then my attention shifted toward Meowth.
Or more accurately—
Toward the performance Meowth was putting on.
The Pokémon immediately stretched lazily before sitting down as though merely existing required tremendous effort.
Its posture screamed laziness.
Its expression screamed laziness.
Even the way it flicked its tail looked lazy.
Yet its eyes told an entirely different story.
Sharp.
Focused.
Alert.
Beneath that relaxed exterior was a Pokémon constantly observing everything around it.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
I checked with system panel Evolution wasn't far away.
A few more breakthroughs and that Meowth would likely become a Persian.
The transition would significantly increase its speed and physical capabilities.
"Your Meowth is progressing well," I remarked.
Rakesh looked pleased by the praise.
"He works hard when he wants to."
Meowth immediately looked offended.
The reaction earned a chuckle from everyone in the room.
My attention then moved toward Apoorv's side.
The moment Prinplup appeared, it immediately recognized me.
"Prin!"
The familiar greeting made me smile.
Back during the Konkan incident, Prinplup had still been a Piplup.
Now the little penguin had grown considerably, carrying itself with far more confidence and maturity.
The evolution suited it well.
Its feathers were well maintained, its aura stable, and its overall development reflected careful training rather than rushed progression.
"Good to see you too," I said.
Prinplup puffed its chest proudly.
Then came Totodile.
The moment it materialized, any hopes of maintaining dignity vanished immediately.
Without even taking a second to assess its surroundings, Totodile locked onto Apoorv's shoes and charged forward with clear criminal intent.
"Todoooo!"
Its jaws snapped toward the unfortunate footwear.
Unfortunately for Totodile—
Someone had anticipated this outcome.
A blue flipper appeared from nowhere.
Smack.
Prinplup swatted the back of Totodile's head with the efficiency of someone who had clearly performed this exact action many times before.
Totodile stumbled forward before stopping completely.
The entire office fell silent.
The crocodile slowly turned around.
Prinplup stared back.
The message was clear.
Behave.
Totodile blinked.
Then immediately abandoned all rebellious intentions.
"Dile."
With the expression of someone who had suddenly remembered proper manners, it obediently walked back and stood beside Prinplup while awkwardly scratching the back of its head.
The transformation was so fast that even I had to suppress a laugh.
"Looks like somebody knows who the real boss is," I commented.
Apoorv sighed.
"You have no idea. If Prinplup isn't around, this guy becomes a menace."
Totodile looked deeply offended by the accusation.
Then attempted to bite Apoorv's shoelace again.
Another swat arrived instantly.
Smack.
Totodile immediately returned to standing properly.
At this point, even Meowth was watching with amusement.
As laughter filled the office, I couldn't help but feel satisfied.
Talent.
Discipline.
Potential.
The four Pokémon standing before me possessed all three.
More importantly, their trainers had the right mentality.
The academy had only been operating for a few weeks, yet the foundations were already becoming visible.
And looking at the two young trainers sitting across from me, I couldn't help but think that perhaps
The future of the academy was brighter than even I had expected.