I Am Munchlax occasionally gave public performances before school. Liam found them in the middle of "Ocean Avenue"—the central anthem around which their repertoire of "street songs" was built—outside the school gate on the next Monday. They were clearly a little rusty after the summer—Rebecca's performance on the violin alone felt truly effortless—but Liam was glad to hear them playing again. He pitched a very small tip into Taylor's open guitar case, earning an appreciative wink.

"That's our last one," said Taylor as the song concluded. "We'll owe you one next time, Liam."

"Actually, I have a question," said Liam. "Uh… unrelated to music."

Taylor looked a little disappointed, but he shrugged and started packing his guitar.

"Ask away, dude."

"Cass told me to ask you about Rasmus," said Liam awkwardly.

"Oh, you mean Raz?" said Taylor. "What about him?"

Liam shifted uncomfortably.

"I… don't know?" he said. "Anything, I guess. There was something… anyways, I saw his name somewhere and I asked Cass about him, and she told me to ask you."

Taylor drummed his fingers thoughtfully on the lid of his guitar case.

"Well," he began. "Raz was old, old Everspring. He and Silas and the rest graduated when I was in middle school. They were just… man, those were the good old days. I used to hang out with them when they were skating or jamming or doing battles. Complete legends. We always knew they were gonna do it—take on the Pokemon league. They were just so good. At, like, everything. This baby right here…"

He patted his guitar case lovingly.

"Silas gave it to me. It still has some of his musical power in it."

"So… what about Rasmus?" prompted Liam. "I heard something… happened with him."

Taylor made a face.

"Well, yeah, he went off the deep end or something. He was psychic—dude could snap pencils in half with his mind and stuff like that. I think he started messing with people's heads during official matches. After that came out, the League Commission kicked him out of the Elite Four. I dunno what happened to him after that."

The bell rang. Taylor hoisted his guitar case over his shoulder and jerked his head in the direction of the school gate.

"So, what was this about again?" he asked as they walked together.

"Just a weird note somebody got," said Liam evasively. "Something about Rasmus."

"Hmm, weird," said Taylor. He didn't sound too concerned. "You coming to the lock-in on Friday?"

"I think so," said Liam. "Not really my thing, but Vasi and Sylvia have been selling it hard. I don't think I really have a choice."

"Hey, it'll be awesome," said Taylor reassuringly. "Principal Kahakai's letting us have a dance party at 3 AM. Plus there's supposed to be pizza. I go anywhere there's free pizza."

"That's a good point," Liam granted.

Maybe a lock-in was worth it—at least for the pizza. He wondered if he should tell Chelsea what he had found out about Rasmus. He decided to wait. The note could still turn out to be a weird one-off thing, and he didn't want to creep Chelsea out by revealing that he had been doing his own research. If it came up, it came up, but Liam would hold onto it for now.

"What you lack is confidence!" growled Professor Werner. "If you don't believe that your Pokemon will do what you command, do not command it! Battles are based on mutual trust. If you don't trust your Pokemon, how can it trust you? Are you a trainer?"

"Last time I checked," Liam muttered.

"Then command like one," said Werner, tapping his cane irritably. "Give your Pokemon reason to be confident in you. I ask again: are you a trainer?"

It was Thursday, and Liam and Tim Choi were giving an exhibition battle for the younger members of Team Virtue—Chelsea Whitaker, now wearing her green team jacket, among them. Werner was in an unusually sour mood, critiquing every move Liam and Tim made. Liam, however, was coming in for the brunt of it.

"I'm a trainer," said Liam, trying hard to keep his anger under control. "Espeon, use Psychic!"

Seeing Chelsea and the other new members of Team Virtue receive their team jackets had been a heartwarming experience. Even after just one semester in Team Virtue, it felt like the birth of a new generation. More importantly, it was a reminder that Team Power's shadow still hung over the entire school community, including the younger students. Nanzo was still safe, but only for now. Perhaps that was what was eating at Professor Werner as well.

"Your choices should be automatic," he said, snapping his fingers impatiently. "There's too much hesitation. They won't hesitate, I can assure you."

"Then maybe they'll do something stupid like I keep on doing!" said Liam.

He was yelling now, despite his efforts to keep calm in front of Werner and the other students, and he immediately saw the disappointment in Werner's eyes.

"We'll finish this battle another time," said Werner curtly. "Aziz, Jera, why do you give a demonstration?"

Liam reluctantly recalled his Espeon. He hated weathering Werner's criticism, but he also hated seeing Werner disappointed in him. All that together meant that at the moment, he hated Werner, and he was glad to put some distance between them.

"That was rough, bro," said Chelsea Whitaker as Liam took the empty seat next to her.

"He's being ridiculous," Liam grumbled.

"I still like him," said Chelsea pleasantly.

"Good for you."

Liam watched Jera and Aziz's battle in sullen silence. He noticed that Werner wasn't anywhere near as critical as the younger students as he had been with him. That wasn't fair, but… Liam could see the point. As Team Virtue's second-oldest student member, he sometimes had to be the object lesson. Aziz and Jera weren't experienced enough to take the full brunt of Werner's tongue-lashings—Liam was. It didn't make him feel any better, though.

"Tim, Liam, I've brought you someone."

Liam turned around and, to his surprise, saw Taylor standing at the entrance of the tent. Beside him was a student Liam recognized by sight: Orchid Ng. Orchid was a 9th grader, with a long curtain of black hair that covered most of her face. To say that Orchid was shy was to put it mildly—Liam had never heard her speak before. She looked a little shell-shocked even to be there.

"Hey, man," said Timothy, beckoning for Taylor and Orchid to sit down. "This is the first time the flow of the Dao has brought you to a Team Virtue meeting."

"Yeah, well, the Dao flows in mysterious ways," said Taylor sarcastically. "I'm just here to deliver a team member for you. Think of it as a favor from Team Truth. Orchid, this is Timothy Choi and Liam Holbrook. Guys, this is Orchid Ng. She's a protege of mine that's interested in joining up with you losers."

"Hi Orchid!" said Chelsea.

Orchid only just returned her classmate's friendly wave. Professor Werner had noticed the unexpected arrivals and was hobbling towards them with his cane.

"Mr. Moran," croaked Professor Werner. "What is it that you've brought us?"

"Hey, Professor," said Taylor. "You know Orchid, right? Well, for some reason she thinks joining Team Virtue would be a good use of her Thursdays. Right, Orchid?"

Orchid nodded.

"I'm… yeah. W-what Taylor said."

Her small voice cracked as she spoke, and she carefully avoided Werner's penetrating blue eyes.

"Very well," said Werner. "Are you familiar with the precepts of Team Virtue, Miss Ng?"

Orchid coughed and started rocking on her heels.

"Right r-rituals, right roles, and r-right…. relationships."

Taylor gestured to his protege as if to say "See?"

"Very good," said Werner. "We'll get you a Team Virtue jacket next time. Liam, bring Miss Ng up to date with what we're doing. Thank you, Mr, Moran."

Werner gave Taylor an appreciative nod and returned to the front of the tent, leaving Liam to handle Orchid. Taylor gave them a cheeky goodbye salute and departed.

"Hi, uh, Orchid," said Liam. "You can sit down here with me and Chez and I'll… uh, explain things."

Liam knew Werner was testing him by leaving him with Orchid—daring him to overcome his resentment and put on a responsible face for their newest member. It was the last thing Liam wanted to do, but he knew he needed to do it anyways. That, he imagined, was something like "virtue."

"We're doing practice battles today," explained Liam, trying to keep his voice neutral. "And by practice battles, I mean 'Werner goes full inquisition on everything you do' battles."

"Professor Werner was giving Liam a hard time," said Chelsea. "Because he likes him."

"Professor Werner is much nicer if he hates you," Liam concurred sarcastically. "So make sure he doesn't take a liking to you and you'll be fine."

To Liam's surprise, Orchid giggled. The sound made the Sneasel perched on Liam's shoulder jump. Orchid gave a startled jump in return, and the two stared at each other with mutual curiosity.

"Is that y-your… Sneasel?" asked Orchid timidly. Her voice was still low and raspy, but it didn't waver as much now that Professor Werner wasn't standing over her.

"Yeah," said Liam. "You wanna see him?"

Orchid nodded, and Liam lifted his Sneasel off his left shoulder and set it on the table, where it looked just as vulnerable and cornered as Orchid had when Taylor escorted her in a few moments ago.

"He's a little nervous," said Liam. "He likes to be high up. He feels safer when he's watching you instead of you watching him."

Orchid offered her hand gently to Sneasel, who sniffed it cautiously.

"Orchid's alright," said Liam encouragingly.

"It's okay," said Orchid. "He can d-decide."

Sneasel gave a small growl, and Orchid jerked her small hand away.

"Sneasel!" Liam scolded. "Be nice."

Sneasel shook its head stubbornly and clambered back onto Liam's shoulder. Orchid giggled again.

"He's just… shy," she said. "Oh, it is a he, right?"

"Yep," said Liam. "You can tell by the quill on his head. It's shorter on female Sneasels."

"Cool," said Orchid.

She continued to look admiringly at the Pokemon on Liam's shoulder.

"You like Dark types, Orchid?" asked Liam.

"Oh, uh… I don't know. I think Sneasel looks… cool."

"Orchid's an artist," said Chelsea. "She's really good, too. But she only likes to draw scary Pokemon."

Orchid's eyes widened a bit and her cheeks turned red, as if Chelsea had just exposed her to Liam.

"What Pokemon do you have?" said Liam, sensing that Orchid's artistic abilities weren't a place she wanted to start with new people.

"Dartrix," said Orchid. "And Spinarak. And… Grimer. The Alolan kind."

"Did you live in Alola at some point?"

Orchid nodded.

"When I was… younger."

"Where are you from originally?" asked Liam.

Orchid looked a little trapped.

"I know that's a loaded question," Liam laughed. "Just… give it your best shot."

"I'm… my parents are from Dongzo," began Orchid hesitantly. "I was born in Orre. I've lived in Orre, Dongzo, Alola, and Nanzo."

"Dang," said Liam. "You're like an omega-level TCK. Nanzo's only the second place I've ever lived."

"Me too," said Chelsea.

Orchid gave an embarrassed smile, but didn't seem inclined to take the subject any further.

"Are you guys going to the lock-in?" asked Chelsea, changing the topic.

"I… yeah," said Orchid.

Liam only shrugged.

"Oh, come on, bro," said Chelsea. "You don't come to anything! You gotta step up."

"I come to some things," said Liam sullenly.

"Marsha told me the only reason you came to—"

"Here we go with Marsha telling me about my life again," said Liam. "You know, the other day you told me I didn't really know you, so let me turn that back on you and Marsha. You don't really know me."

Chelsea frowned.

"Well, how is that gonna change unless you actually come to school events sometimes?"

Her voice was half-whining, half-teasing, and Orchid tried to conceal her smirk at Liam's obvious consternation. She did have a point.

"Fine," said Liam. "I'll come."

"You know," said Chelsea slyly, "You say I don't know you, bro, but you just proved one thing Marsha told me."

"And what's that?"

Chelsea leaned forward confidentially.

"You can't say no to girls."

Orchid giggled.