September 8th marked the end of the week-long freshman orientation. The school team members had all returned to their normal academic lives today, while Xia Hanao, in a wheelchair, watched the freshmen from the stage.
"Good morning, everyone. Are you all surprised that you don't see any senior school team members or your drill instructors today?"
After Xia Hanao finished speaking, he tilted his ear to listen to the voices from the audience. However, the students seemed unimpressed, and only a few scattered voices from the crowd responded: "Yes!"
Hearing this, Xia Hanao was so angry he almost threw the microphone out of his hand. "Are you trying to annoy me!"
This time, the voices from the audience were unified: "Yes!"
These freshmen had long heard about Xia Hanao's personality from the school team members. As long as you didn't court disaster, the entire freshman class would occasionally run into Xia Hanao, and this Coach Xia would be very happy.
"Go on, shut up. I'm telling you, our school team members have returned to their normal studies, and your drill instructors also have jobs. So, I am officially announcing that your orientation is over. Our plan for this morning is for me to chat with you all, you can rest this afternoon, and classes will officially begin tomorrow. If you understand, give me applause."
The audience was silent. Xia Hanao spoke up, "Hey, who taught you this trick? Lu Bingming or Wei Chiting? It's only been a summer, and he's gotten quite good. And you too, you believe whatever he says? Do you even know that the decision on when you get dismissed is up to me."
As soon as Xia Hanao finished speaking, applause erupted from the audience.
Xia Hanao leaned back in his chair with a sense of satisfaction. "I believe everyone knows that the back mountain of our school is undergoing renovation. After the renovation is complete, we will introduce new courses, and the final exams will also change to some extent. I'll get your feedback first."
...
While Xia Hanao was discussing the upcoming teaching with the freshmen, Song Zifu finally emerged from the school infirmary. Looking at the sunlight outside the infirmary and then at the room filled with the smell of disinfectant, Song Zifu felt an irreconcilable hatred between himself and Xia Hanao.
Song Zifu grabbed his Poké Ball and walked towards the sports field. He decided that he would rather skip class than let Xia Hanao get away with it alone. He couldn't be the only one suffering.
As Song Zifu arrived on the sports field, Xia Hanao was discussing the university Pokémon competition from a few months ago with the freshmen.
"Teacher Xia, do you think we'll have a chance to use Ultra Beasts?"
Xia Hanao asked the student to sit down. "That's a very good question. Compared to some extremely rare and powerful Pokémon, Ultra Beasts are indeed easier to obtain. However, Ultra Beasts are quite temperamental, so you need to be prepared. Also, Ultra Beasts can only be captured with specially made Poké Balls, and these special Poké Balls can currently only be obtained at Jiang Ling University. So, it seems you'll have to wait a while longer."
As he was speaking, Song Zifu strolled over nonchalantly. Xia Hanao saw him and said, "Morning, Xiao Song. You're out of the infirmary. How's your recovery going?"
Song Zifu forced a smile. "Thank you for your concern, Teacher Xia. I'm much better. Although my health isn't great, I can still participate in teaching. As for you, Teacher Xia, is your health alright?"
Xia Hanao blinked. "My health? What could be wrong with my health? I'm perfectly fine, thank you for asking."
Hearing their veiled jabs at each other, the students present were a bit worried. Song Zifu was about to openly challenge Teacher Xia. Chu Ting, in particular, looked at Song Zifu with concern. She knew that Song Zifu was no match for Xia Hanao, in any regard. She worried that if Song Zifu continued like this, it would escalate out of control.
Song Zifu pointed at Xia Hanao's wheelchair. "Is that so? But Teacher Xia is still in a wheelchair."
Xia Hanao patted his wheelchair. "I've gotten used to it. Me being in a wheelchair doesn't affect my teaching."
Song Zifu threw out his Poké Ball. "In that case, I'll have to ask Coach Xia for guidance."
Seeing the Charmeleon and Litwick released from the Poké Balls, Xia Hanao sighed. "Alright, let's let the students present see what their Coach Xia is capable of."
Xia Hanao casually pointed at Chu Ting. "This student, you'll be the referee."
Chu Ting was taken aback when Xia Hanao designated her as the referee. After a moment, she silently walked out and stood between Xia Hanao and Song Zifu.
Seeing the referee in place, Xia Hanao sent out Froakie and Diancie. "Come on, let me see how much you've grown in these few days."
"Litwick, Charmeleon, attack!"
Seeing Litwick and Charmeleon not attacking the Pokémon but directly spewing flames towards him, Xia Hanao quickly maneuvered his wheelchair back several meters to dodge the flames.
Song Zifu said, "I apologize, Teacher Xia. It's the first time these two are cooperating, so they're a bit unaccustomed to battling. I hope Coach Xia will be understanding."
Xia Hanao knew exactly what Song Zifu was up to. He stood up from his wheelchair and pushed it aside. "Let me tell you, this wheelchair is very expensive. See the decorations on the back? Those are all genuine healing items from Pokémon. This wheelchair alone costs enough to buy a house in Linglong City, believe it or not."
After saying this, Xia Hanao casually pointed to another student. "Please, could you keep an eye on my wheelchair for me? Thank you."
That student, showing great interest, came over to Xia Hanao's wheelchair and began examining the expensive equipment. Xia Hanao, meanwhile, decided to show Song Zifu a thing or two.
"Two Hearts... Never mind, no need for the incantation to deal with you. Diancie, evolve and finish him."
Although Diancie found it strange that Xia Hanao didn't recite the incantation for her evolution, her synchronization rate was already at its maximum, and she evolved successfully even without the words.
Seeing the even cuter Diancie after evolution, even though Chu Ting wasn't fully focused, she still cast an admiring glance at Diancie. Song Zifu became even more enraged seeing Xia Hanao act this way. Did he not even deserve to have Xia Hanao recite all the incantations for him?
People can become extremely rational when they are extremely angry, and such people are frightening. However, there are people in this world whose anger is always impotent rage. Song Zifu was such a person.
"Charmeleon, Litwick, Flamethrower!"
"Froakie, take care of Litwick. Diancie, use Dazzling Gleam on Charmeleon!"
Froakie skillfully rushed forward, then tossed Litwick up, and with a Four Symbols Ascending Cloud Fall, directly defeated Litwick. On the other side, Diancie's Dazzling Gleam kept Charmeleon from lifting its head. After Froakie finished its battle, it turned back to attack Charmeleon. Charmeleon was already struggling against Diancie, and with Froakie added, it was even more overwhelmed. In a short while, it was defeated by the two Pokémon.
Xia Hanao recalled his Pokémon and gave Song Zifu some perfunctory compliments like "You fought well." Then, he turned to the freshmen. "Everyone, I'll teach you a little trick today. If you accept a challenge from someone, you need to learn to make targeted arrangements. You can't be stubborn and use fire-type Pokémon to counter my water and rock-type Pokémon. Do you all understand?"
The students in the audience responded in unison: "Understood."
After a few brief remarks, Xia Hanao turned around. "Hey, why are you sitting in my wheelchair? Get down quickly."
The student who had been guarding Xia Hanao's wheelchair quickly stood up. "Teacher Xia, I understand why you don't want to leave this wheelchair. It's so comfortable to sit in. My back feels especially warm. I even feel like my kidneys have been strengthened."
Xia Hanao rolled his eyes at him, then sat back in the wheelchair. "See? You feel the same way. This wheelchair is my treasure. I'm really reluctant to lend it out to someone else in a few days. Alright, do you have any more questions? Then, you're all dismissed."
After dismissing everyone, Xia Hanao, in his wheelchair, headed to the cafeteria to see if he could get some afternoon tea. Song Zifu, with red eyes, stared at Xia Hanao. "So, Coach Xia, your legs were fine all along? Your rehabilitation was fake, you were just pretending to be sick?"
Xia Hanao smiled. "Pretending to be sick? That's too disingenuous. I won't hide it from you, I only got better these past few days. If you had come out of the infirmary two days earlier, I might not have been able to stand and battle you. But as they say, it's fate."
Saying this, Xia Hanao wheeled himself away from the battle arena. As he passed Song Zifu, Xia Hanao said, "You know, young man, you need to take care of yourself. Don't be like me. Not everyone can find a treasure with extremely strong recovery abilities to sit in a wheelchair or on a stretcher after going too far."
After Xia Hanao left, Chu Ting came to Song Zifu's side. "Are you alright?"
Song Zifu pushed away Chu Ting's outstretched hand. "Get away from me. I see it now. Have you been captured by that Xia fellow? If he tells you to be a referee, you'll be a referee. If he tells you to get into bed, will you be obedient too!"
Chu Ting looked at Song Zifu with vacant eyes. "What are you talking about? Am I that kind of person?"
"Shut up, you just wait and see. I'll prove that I'm stronger than him!"
Looking at Song Zifu, who had completely lost his mind, Chu Ting didn't know what to do. Song Zifu's retreating figure already made her feel terrified and like she should stay away.
Time flew by. During the evening self-study class, Chu Ting received a message from Song Zifu: "You wait and see, there's big news tonight. Big news that will change the entire landscape of Liuling."