Stardew City - 17:00
Immediately getting to work, I initialized the Pokeblock-making machine I finished building a few days ago.
What? Did you think that I would make Pokeblocks with my bare hands? None of that! The reincarnation process increased my processing speed by quite a bit. I managed to recreate the machine by sticking together the different clues shown in the various Pokemon media.
Almost all my time, whether at home or in class, used to be spent on this machine. I almost gave up a few times, but it came out great.
The machine takes the form of a perfect angular cube, iron-gray in color, with the user interface on the front side. The UI offers us the choice between different colored Pokeblocks and their better variants.
All the icons holding the pre-registered Pokeblocks recipe are alight, which means that they are ready to make as long as the ingredients are available.
The Pokeblocks shown in the games are disappointing, mainly because food doesn't matter in-game, but this is real life. Nutrition is one of the most significant parts of a Pokemon's growth, with their natural talent.
In theory, feeding Pokemons the right Pokeblocks can improve their potential over time.
Seventy-six icons are displayed on the screen, depicting the eighteen attributes and the rainbow Pokeblocks, each having four grades in total.
Their ranks go from low-level to medium-level, advance-level, and top-level Pokeblocks.
The attribute Pokeblocks are fed to Pokemons of the same type to strengthen their affinity and their prowess with said type.
The rainbow Pokeblock serves the purpose of optimizing their body functions to the top, making up for genetic defects and permitting an unequaled growth in overall strength, along with the benefits of having the slickest look amongst their kind.
On the top-right corner is another icon for customized Pokeblocks. As a beginner in the craft, I am not wasting expansive berries to practice, even if it is the lowest rank.
I am going to make an Oran Pokeblock. In the end, it is just dense and processed Oran berry jelly, containing overwhelming nutritional value nonetheless.
Inputting the Oran variable for the base algorithm, The machine starts making noises indicating that the process has initiated.
It isn't automatic. While being sort of similar to the game, it is also more complicated.
I put my hands on the screen and began to manipulate the preparation. My hands were moving at the speed of light. I had such concentration I didn't notice the sweat dripping down my face.
Let's go!
" Shit! "
It's a failure, all according to keikaku.
Practice makes perfect, right? If I do that every evening at home, I should be able to perfect my technique just in time for the school-end selection.
My enhanced processing speed means I got a tremendous improvement in talent, learning rate, dynamic vision, and control over my body, making it all the more possible to achieve my goal.
I tried a few more times this evening and managed to get one right. Successful but defective at the same time.
I'll stop for now. The exhaustion is catching up.
*Bam Bam Bam*
Getting down the stairs with gigantic and heavy steps, I see my mom sprawled on the couch like some Slaking watching romance shows.
" Kid, you're so sweaty, did you just... "
" No! I didn't! I was... "
" I know, Elijah, you are eighteen already. You can do whatever you want, but don't make noise, ok? "
" Mom... "
" Come on, sit down. "
The evening was over. I went to bed as I'd normally do and dozed off until the next day.
Stardew City - 6:30 - Two Weeks Later
The two weeks went by quickly, between going out with Orange and practicing with my Pokeblock-maker. It was finally the long-awaited day.
Boringly getting up from the bed, I look at my phone. Somehow, my internal clock makes me wake up at this time every day.
After washing myself up to start the day, I put on the same clothes I have been wearing for a while, albeit with a different color scheme. I have a look at the mirror and say with a smile.
" So handsome. "
Today is our last time going to high school. The final meeting with our class takes place in the morning and the school-end selection in the afternoon after lunchtime.
After getting ready, I quickly go to the kitchen to make our breakfast.
Wait, what's going on? My mom is already in the kitchen in front of some cereals and milk.
" Who are you? "
" Elijah, come eat. "
" Mom? "
" Shut up before I take out my belt. "
I quickly shut up and sat down on the seat in front of hers. My mom made food in the morning. She never did this, even when Elijah was a kid.
She usually puts some croissants or cake in the fridge the day before. I'm so proud of her.
" Kid, don't worry. I'll buy you a Pokemon if your luck fails. "
" Heh, you know how good my luck is, and you think I'd lose? "
That's right. As I said two weeks ago, when I was monologuing in my head, my luck is off the charts.
You guys don't believe me? Last week I found a Prism Scale on the market for only five Pokedollars.
A month after reincarnating, a Keystone suddenly fell on my head when resting after my workout.
I usually find some Pokedollars everywhere, in small quantities, but the accumulation made it enough to support a family for a few years.
" Whatever, take good care of your new friend, you hear me? "
" Naturally. "
I gave a big hug to my mom and went out through the front door.
*Click*
Looking at my phone, it was seven-twenty. Sophia must be at the bakery already. I'll sprint.
*Tap Tap Tap Tap*
My run was so fast that I got there in one minute. Even then, I was still calm. Not a trace of exhaustion was visible on my face.
Since the advent of Pokemons, The Earth has become several times larger, going from a circumference of about forty-thousand kilometers to now a hundred and sixty thousand kilometers, effectively quadrupling it.
The human body has also become stronger and healthier, affecting even those born more than twenty years ago. Top athletes can now run a
hundred-meter track in more than six seconds.
How our planet's living conditions have not been affected by its massive expansion? Nobody knows. It must be Arceus's doing.
Now walking towards Orange, I started the conversation.
" How are you doing, Orange? "
" Good, I slept well. I must be at my best for the selection, and you? "
" Same. I Wouldn't want my luck to be affected. "
" Let's go. I want to be in class early. "
We continued taking the same old path, reaching the school about thirty minutes before the bell rang.
Sitting down at the same protagonist's double seat, we talked until class started.
*Ding-Dong*
The beardy and muscular homeroom teacher came in through the door and began to speak.
" Today is our last class as the 3B. Not like I'll be missing you or anything, but I hope your efforts allow you to realize whatever your dream is. And good luck to you guys. "
Hehe, tsundere. I love this guy, no homo.
We spent the whole morning talking with each other before splitting up and going to the cafeteria with my dear Orange.
Cafeterias in private schools are indeed good. The food is freshly prepared and quite tasty. The variety is also there. Half of the menu is oriental food.
We ordered two shawarma and took a seat near the window. A bunch of money-grubbers, it cost a total of fifteen Pokedollars!
We ate our sandwiches silently, appreciating the atmosphere of the almost empty cafeteria and those Pokemons parading below the window on the luxurious field.
Hmmm, Cute.
Anyways. Once done eating, we walked over to the Pokemons and threw ourselves under the tree for a quick rest.
Stardew City - 13:50
I rose from my half-sleeping state and patted myself, making the few leaves on my body fall at my feet.
" Wake up, Orange. "
" Hnnnnn... "
" Come on. The selection is in ten minutes. "
" Help me up... "
I took both her hands in mine and softly pulled her up.
" Hahh, it felt great. Elijah, let's go. "
Orange said while grabbing my arm and taking me to the scheduled room. Our class's eighteen other students were already there, apparently waiting for us.
" Are we late, guys? "
" Don't worry. Our Pokemons will be delivered later at fourteen. There are still five minutes until then. "
The room we just got in is the same classroom we usually study in, the desks have been replaced by a two by ten meters table covered in a soft cloth.
After waiting for a while, The five minutes were now over. Ten skinny, cap-wearing men entered through the door, holding two little boxes each.
The men then started lining the boxes down on the table before opening them, revealing six Pokemon eggs and fourteen Pokeballs.
Once done arranging them, nine of them went out, and the man who stayed began talking.
" Hello, my name is James. I am a state worker in charge of today's procedure. I will be calling your name and your ordered item, and you will be coming to the table to retrieve your stuff. Arthur Pendragon, you asked for a Pancham? "
" Yes. "
" You're lucky, one of the few that got the Pokemon they wanted. "
" Thanks, sir! "
Fourteen classmates soon received their Pokemons, and it was finally our turn.
" You six asked for Pokemon eggs. So there is no need to call you one by one. Just take whichever you want. "
Among the six of us, the other four are the offspring of wealthy families and thus don't need the school to buy them Pokemons. Instead of abstaining, they decided to treat the selection as a gacha. I admit I'd do the same if I didn't need the Pokemon egg.
The six eggs are entirely white and spherical, making it impossible to guess what we are getting.
With my enhanced sense, I caught sight of the two healthiest-looking eggs. Before anyone could move, I ran at the speed of light, caught two Pokemon Eggs in my arms, and returned to where I was standing two nanoseconds ago.
" Elijah, why are you running? "
" I took the best eggs, alright? Here is one. "
" Thanks. "
My GOD, she looks so good when she smiles.
I felt the egg in my arms, as smooth as a Porygon2's skin. Hehe, baby, you hear me? Be beautiful.
James waited for the other four to take their eggs to talk.
" Alright, my job is done for today. You can go home and don't forget to buy the incubation machine at the nearest PokeMart, show the clerk your student card, or else he won't hand it over, and good luck. "
With that said, James took off with a sprint as if his wife was waiting for him to play.
" Orange, let's buy the incubation machine before going home. "
" Let's go. I want to get back. "
We hurriedly ran to the PokeMart near the school. It looks like the game versions, blue and white, with automatic sliding glass doors, a few shelves in the center, and fridges near the wall.
We threw our student cards on the counter and asked for two machines. The clerk went to the storage room and soon walked back with two square boxes of about forty centimeters in height.
Getting out of the store and continuing on our way, we soon came to the intersection separating our paths.
" Off you go, Elijah. "
" Alright, stay safe on the way, alright. "
" Yeah, and don't forget to come to my place tomorrow before noon. "
" Sure, I'll be there. Bye. "
" See you tomorrow. "