"I'm back."
Aron called out calmly, mimicking the original owner's voice as he opened the door with a creak.
Before him was a spacious living room, easily over 50 square meters, he estimated.
Aron's house was located in the city center—a large, 300-square-meter flat with an astonishingly high price tag. This apartment was purchased by Aron's parents to be close to their workplaces and his school. However, Aron's grandfather lived in a manor on the outskirts, which served as the family's primary residence.
"You're back!" Aron's mother,Mary Smith stepped out of the kitchen, wearing an apron and with her hair tied up. She looked surprised.
"We didn't expect you to return so soon," his father,Lukas Smith said,smiling warmly.
As the head of the Psychic Gym,Lukas typically finished work around five or six in the afternoon. Aron's father was a dedicated Gym Leader, unlike some who often went missing, leaving robots to handle challengers. He took his role seriously.
"Yeah," Aron replied softly, his face calm as he changed into his slippers and walked into the living room.
His parents were used to his reserved demeanor. They exchanged glances before Aron's mother asked, "Little Aron, did you manage to capture a Pokémon?"
In response, Aron took the Luxury Ball from his waist and placed it in his palm.
"Great!" Lukas beamed. "What Pokémon did you catch?Let me see it."
Aron nodded, pressed the button on the Luxury Ball, and a beam of red light released Torchic into the large living room.
Torchic glanced around, taking in the unfamiliar environment, its small, dark eyes filled with alertness.
"A Torchic, a nice little one," Lukas observed with a pleased smile.
"Oh?" Mary tilted her head, her eyes gleaming with interest. She squatted down, carefully examining the Torchic.
As a master breeder, Aron's mother had significant expertise in evaluating Pokémon.
After a moment, she stood up, her eyes gleaming as she exclaimed, "This Torchic has impressive potential."
Then, turning to Aron, she asked, "Little Aron, did you get this Torchic from the Pokémon Breeder Center?"
"Yes."
"You're lucky," she replied. "This Torchic has excellent potential. With proper care and training, it has a bright future."
A curious look crossed Lukas's face. He first glanced at the Torchic, then turned to Aron and spoke in a serious tone, "Of course, a Pokémon's potential doesn't determine everything."
"I'm not sure if your teacher has mentioned this, but a Pokémon's qualification level is only one factor in determining its future."
"Potential sets the upper limit, but 99% of Pokémon never reach that limit."
"Only with proper training and breeding can a Pokémon reach its maximum potential."
Lukas paused, his tone becoming more relaxed as he continued, "I know you want to become a Pokémon scholar, but that path doesn't conflict with being a Trainer."
"In fact, both roles can benefit each other. Being a Trainer can help you gain a deeper understanding of Pokémon."
"I understand," Aron nodded.
At that moment, Aron's mother's Pokémon, a Delcatty, walked over to Torchic with light steps, waving its tail and giving a soft, welcoming call.
---
[Pokémon: Delcatty (Normal Type)
Ability: Cute Charm
Potential: semi-Elite Level
Level: 52 (Gym level)]
---
semi-Elite level potential and Gym level strength—exactly as Lukas had said. Most Pokémon struggle to reach their full potential, and Aron understood this well. In this real-world version of the Pokémon universe, training and raising Pokémon required time, often measured in years.
From the original owner's memories, Aron knew that his father's strongest Pokémon was an Alakazam at peak Gym level. Now in his early forties,Lukas's potential for improvement was small. His goal was to help Alakazam reach the quasi-Elite level.
But that final step was like an insurmountable wall.
In order for a Pokémon to advance to the next level, it had to break through level barriers, often referred to as bottlenecks.
Early-stage bottlenecks were relatively easy to overcome, but after reaching the elite level, each subsequent bottleneck grew more challenging, often holding Pokémon back for years, or even… a lifetime.
"All right, spend some time getting to know each other," Aron's mother said gently. "Now go wash up; it's time to eat."
"Okay." Aron nodded and headed to the bathroom.
Once Aron was out of sight, his parents exchanged glances and began speaking in low voices.
"This Torchic has at least elite-level potential—very rare," Mary said.
"I know," Lukas replied. "But did you notice? Little Aron doesn't seem opposed to the idea of becoming a Trainer."
Reflecting on Aron's earlier response,Mary nodded thoughtfully. "It does seem that way."
"This is a good sign,"Lukas said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "With Little Aron's Psychic talent, if he becomes a Trainer, his future could be incredibly bright."
"And my father is still preparing that Pokémon for him. If it works out…he has the possibility of becoming an Elite ."
Mary nodded. "Whether Little Aron wants to be a Pokémon scholar or a Trainer, we need to respect his wishes."
"While his grandfather hopes for a successor, our son's dreams are what matter most."
In truth, Pokémon scholars held even greater status than Trainers of equivalent ranks, but that path required immense talent and had more intense competition. Most people could not hope for success.
If Aron became a Trainer, they could use family resources to help him achieve greatness. Although Elite status might be difficult, becoming a semi-Elite would be within reach.
But if Aron chose to pursue Pokémon scholarship, all they could offer would be connections and support.
The two spoke in hushed tones until Aron emerged from the bathroom, at which point they headed into the kitchen.
---
A little while later, Aron's mother returned to the dining table after placing the food in Delcatty's and Torchic's bowls.
At the table,Lukas broke the silence, "Little Aron, do you have any plans for the upcoming vacation?"
Aron thought for a moment, then replied calmly, "I plan to continue my studies."
His parents' faces fell slightly.
But then, Aron added, "And train Torchic to help it grow faster."
"Chic~?"
Hearing its name, Torchic looked up from its bowl, a bit confused.
Lukas and Mary exchanged smiles upon hearing Aron's response.