Here's a continuation, just some more stuff going on with their second day in Galar, not sure if anything really big happens here or not. But something big has already happened this chapter: we made it to one million words! Wow, that is a ton of words to write, this story has gone a long way.

Pokemon Academy Best Girl Elimination Round is still going strong! Keep those votes coming, a few girls are pulling ahead, but things aren't done just yet! We've still got a good chance of girls getting into the final 5! The poll is on my profile, so go cast your votes there!

Nominated: Sango, Cynthia, Elaina, Kate, Dakota, Ayame, Marion, Kitty, Serefina, Madison, Alcea

Guest: No, because I didn't write it?

ConfusedCradily: That will come to a head at some point, I'm sure.

Tambry96bj: Well, you did say she's a rather observant person, after all.

Badoobadoop: I think that's a fairly adequate comparison, although she isn't openly malevolent. She just wants some entertainment, that's all. Nothing wrong with that.

Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings

Chapter 252

"Professor!"

Professor Reinhart glanced down from his newspaper to see Sango storm into the lobby of the hotel, her face filled with anxiety.

"Yes?"

"I found out something important," Sango replied. "My group and I… we ran into someone. A woman named Rui. She…"

Sango frowned, catching her breath and calming down slightly.

"Professor… do you know about the Children of the Oracles?"

Professor Reinhart's expression remained composed, but Sango could see the blood drain from his face.

"What do you know about them?" the professor demanded. His voice was cold.

"I… I've had some encounters with them," Sango replied, glancing over her shoulder at her friends outside. "The pokemon rangers, they…"

"Petal, huh…" Professor Reinhart said, stroking the stubble on his face. His brown eyes were distant, as if he was thinking of something. He glanced away from Sango.

"I think we should contact the Circhester Pokemon Rangers and the police," Sango replied.

"We should," Professor Reinhart agreed. "As well as the ones in Stow-on-Side."

"Professor?" Sango said, tilting her head to the side in confusion.

"Nothing you need to concern yourself with," the professor said, shaking his head. "Don't worry. I'll handle this whole thing. You get back with the others and enjoy your day."

"But professor-"

"What do you expect?" Professor Reinhart demanded. "That I ask you to lend a hand? Keep you in the loop? You are a student under my care. I'm not going to just let you get involved with this with a smile on my face."

Well… that was sensible.

"But I can't just-"

"They won't make any moves on you here if that's what you're worried about," Professor Reinhart reassured her. "I have a suspicion why they're in Galar."

Sango narrowed her eyes. She knew it, too.

"That mural we're excavating," Sango replied. "What's hidden there?"

Professor Reinhart smiled innocently. Smiles of any kind were strange on his stern face, and this one even more out of place.

"I rightly have no idea," he lied. "Now, if there's nothing further, I have some people I need to contact. Go and enjoy yourself, Sango."

Sango scowled. No way was that happening. But the professor wasn't saying a damn thing, so she didn't really have any purpose in staying here. She turned and stormed towards the exit.

"One last thing," the professor called over her shoulder, Sango pulling to a stop. She glanced back to see what he wanted.

"What?"

"Don't mention this to anyone," the professor ordered her. "I think you understand how important it is to not spread a panic right now."

Sango grunted, rolling her eyes. She headed outside.

"Sango, what's up?" Blake asked.

"Doesn't look like it went well," Kate noted.

"It's nothing, guys," Sango said, forcing a smile onto her face. She didn't want to mess things up for the others. She had to accept that she was still a kid who couldn't fight these battles right now. But that didn't make her feel better. She glanced over her shoulder as the doors closed behind her, looking through the glass to see the professor on the phone.

Professor Reinhart walked away from the lobby, and climbed the stairs to reach his room, tossing the newspaper aside. He was still waiting for his phone to connect. Finally, he heard a click on the other end. The soft voice of a woman spoke into his ear.

"'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe."

Aurore spoke back to her,

"All mimsy were ye borogroves; and ye mome raths outgrabe."

The woman on the other end was silent for a while, contemplating the callsign.

"What is it, Aurore?" She asked.

"Your children," Aurore replied. If she didn't hang up on him immediately, then they could move forward.

"…What about them?"

"You sound quite cold, doctor," Aurore replied, his tone no better. "Have you broken so much compared to those days?"

"All those parts of me died a long time ago," the woman coldly replied. Aurore sat in silence for a while.

"So the great Doctor Anja Karzat is now nothing more than a broken shell of a woman," Aurore murmured. "How utterly pathetic."

"Do you wish to scorn me?" A harsh, empty laugh rang out over the line. "How meaningless. I no longer care what happens to those children. I was a fool for even trying."

He wondered if that could possibly be true. She certainly believed it to be true, at the very least.

"And does that also apply to the child you left in my care all those years ago?" He asked. She didn't respond.

"Would you like to know even just their name?"

Still no response. Then, the woman on the other line quietly told him "do as you like."

The beeping phone echoed in the large suite after she hung up, Professor Reinhart sitting alone in contemplation.

Things were very uncomfortable with Group 3 as they walked through Circhester City. For most of them, it was due to the tension between Reiner and Nikita. After that girl, Rui, had put the moves on him, Nikita hadn't said a word to Reiner. She was clearly hurt, and Reiner wasn't sure how to connect to her and make her feel better. Reiner felt guilty himself, even though he hadn't really done anything wrong.

Essentially, the awkwardness between the two of them had spread to the entire group of six. And it didn't help either that Sango was acting a little off, which Blake had picked up on.

Blake himself was still a little concerned with what had happened before, with that Rui girl, but not for the reason that Reiner and Nikita clearly were. Who was she? Who were these "Children of the Oracles" and how was Sango connected to them? He'd heard from her that they were the people who had attacked them on Mt. Chimney, the people who had put Ayame in the hospital, but beyond that… she wasn't saying anything. And with just a look at her, he could tell that there was something off. That she was bothered by something.

And it was really frustrating that she wasn't confiding in them. Weren't they friends? Was it really so wrong for her to tell them what was up? Let them know?

Blake shook his head. That wasn't fair to her. He had things that he was keeping from everyone, as well. He couldn't begrudge her for keeping things private herself.

"Blake?" Blake blinked. Sango had been talking to him, and he was completely zoned out.

"Uh… yeah? What?" Blake asked, feeling a little sheepish. Sango puffed out her cheeks in annoyance.

"Kate said we should try going to check out some of the souvenir shops," Sango said. "Maybe pick some stuff out for the others."

"Oh, yeah, that sounds like a great idea," Blake said, nodding. He wasn't sure if going into souvenir shops while Reiner and Nikita were in the state that they were in was going to be much fun, but he was still willing to try.

"What do you two think?" Sango asked tentatively, turning to Reiner and Nikita. Reiner glanced at Nikita just as she was raising her head, the two meeting each other's gaze for a moment before averting their eyes again. It had happened several times today, and it was starting to get on everyone's nerves. They were concerned for the two, but also unbelievably frustrated.

"Well, uh… I don't mind, but…" Reiner glanced back at Nikita again.

"Whatever…" Nikita said, glancing downwards at the snow.

Lana let out a long, frustrated sigh, shaking her head.

"I don't see what the big deal is," Lana shrugged.

"Huh?" Reiner narrowed his eyes.

"Just stay out of this," Blake said, frowning. "This isn't any of your business, you're just tagging along, right?"

"Nice," Lana scowled at him. "Look, whatever, you guys don't want me around, fine. But I mean… I just don't see what the big deal is between the two of you, you're getting all worked up over nothing, you know? Can't you guys see that?"

"No, it's…" Nikita spoke up, but Lana silenced her with a frown.

"Girl, I've been watching you lot for the last day or so," Lana said, frowning, "you and him both."

"Huh?" Nikita tilted her head to the side, confused.

"What's that got to do with anything?" Reiner asked.

"Wait, spying?" Kate asked, frowning. Lana paused.

"Never mind that," she said, turning away from the scowling girl and returning her focus to the fractured couple. "Listen, I've been watching all of you and your relationships, and while I don't have anything to say on that threesome over there-"

"Hey!" Sango gasped, embarrassed. "I already told you, you're wrong!"

"Whatever. But the two of you, well… why are you so bothered by that girl?" Lana demanded.

"W-well, I mean, she's just so… I mean…" Nikita felt more than a little embarrassed at being put on the spot like this. Between Reiner's wandering eye with that woman last night, and this girl that apparently has history with him, she just felt unbelievably insecure.

"I get it, you're insecure, fine," Lana shrugged. "So what?"

"What?!"

"He likes you, doesn't he?" Lana demanded. "Isn't that good enough?"

Nikita baulked, glancing at Reiner and then back to Lana.

"Wh- uh… huh?"

"From what I've observed, that guy really, really likes you, you know?" Lana said. "He's trying to make you feel better, but you aren't letting him. So, you two, I say you go out, get a nice lunch somewhere, and talk like adults, sound good?"

Nikita looked reluctantly at Reiner.

"Hey, I thought we were all going together?" Kate asked.

"This is more important," Sango reminded her. Kate shrugged.

"Well, the rules say we can't go off alone, but if you two go off by yourself, I guess that's okay?" Kate said, shrugging again.

Reiner and Nikita looked at each other.

"Um… are you okay with it?" Reiner asked quietly.

Nikit frowned.

"Uhum, I guess… maybe?" Nikita asked, looking up at him, her eyes shining with a mix of wariness and hope.

Nikita and Reiner glanced at the others, and they all nodded at the two of them. They looked at each other next, small, worried smiles crossing their faces. They split off and walked down the brick streets in awkward silence, looking for somewhere to talk.

The other four stood there, more than a little relieved that the two of them looked like they were well on their way to making up.

"So what now?" Sango asked quietly.

Lana glanced at the others. Now that the group had been reduced in size to being between her and this… threesome, she felt a little less welcome.

"Hey, uh… thanks for that," Blake told her, stepping forward. He held his hand out. "I know we said some stuff about you earlier, but, uh… really, thanks. It means a lot, you helping our friends out like that, you know."

Lana glanced at his hand, and then back up to his face. Her expression immediately soured.

"Don't think I'm so easy to seduce," she scowled. "I'm not like those two short-haired fangirls."

"H-hey!" Kate exclaimed.

"I wasn't seduced!" Sango protested.

"R-right! I-I don't even like Blake like that! N-not at all!" Kate agreed, not even putting in the effort to make her lie appear convincing. Blake was less emphatic about it, but he was also not very amused.

"Don't doubt my information network!" Lana said, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "I've heard all about you, Blake Harker!"

"…Well you did say you were spying on us," Sango said, frowning. "Seems like you're the most suspicious one here."

"That's… well, I mean…" Lana sputtered, glancing at the three of them. "Th-that was to keep an eye on you, to make sure you wouldn't get up to anything inappropriate on this trip! With your reputation, I couldn't be too cautious!"

"Inappropriate?" Kate gasped, her face turning bright red.

"Reputation?" Blake asked, raising his eyebrow.

Lana gave him a look, a little bit confused at the fact he seemed to be confused.

"Are you… not aware about the reputation you've developed on campus?" Lana asked.

Blake shook his head.

"No, really, I haven't," Blake said.

Lana's expression soured again. She sighed, shaking her head.

"You're known for being a strong freshman and the younger brother of Kanone Harker, obviously," Lana said, "that's something most people know about you. But then there's the fact that you're in a relationship with Cynthia Fafnir, of course. All those articles and stories about how the two of you were dating each other."

"Fucking Dakota…" Blake muttered, shaking his head.

"Then, people are also saying that you're having an affair with a monstrous witch, Elaina Bishop, though that rumor is a lot more suspicious," Lana said, frowning. "The voracity of that story has not been-"

"Don't call her that," Blake harshly rebuked her, narrowing his eyes. "She's not a witch, or a monster. She's just… different."

"…Until now, it seems," Lana said, raising her eyebrow. She took her phone out of her pocket and began checking her notes. "Then, you've been seen going on dates, multiple dates, with a senior, Ayame Toujou. A lot of people chalked that up to you joining with the Empress's faction, but the fact that you don't seem to have been associated through any other sense than with that girl, the implication seems to be that the two of you have quite a… special relationship?"

"Ayame, she's…" Blake didn't really know what he could say in response to her assumption.

"Then, of course, there's that girl, Katherine Kuroso, the little first year, the two of you spend a lot of time together as well, and that got people whispering. But at the same time, you were still seeing Ayame, still hanging out with Cynthia, and then to top it off it was reported that you were making moves on Alcea Vermeil? As well as that article that you were trying to score with both sisters at once, and they had a fight over you, that was headline news if I recall correctly. She was only 12 years old, Blake. Have you no self-control? That… that's just sickening."

Blake couldn't really respond to those accusations, either. Everything she was saying was true, to one degree or another, save for the fact that he wasn't actually involved in those situations in the way she was making him out to be. He wasn't some…

"So basically, most people think that you're just some playboy, more interested in hooking up with girls than in actually training your pokemon," Lana explained. "My sources confirmed that you've been spending time with Caelia Auburne, as well, and now these two, and there's even a story about a gorgeous childhood friend that snuck her way onto campus in order to hook up with you, but I wasn't able to find out anything on that."

Lana blinked.

"Oh, and I almost forgot, there was the night of the Pokemon Day festival, where you spent the night with Sylvia Driscoll, as well."

Something suddenly clicked into place.

"These sources of yours…" Blake said, narrowing his eyes. "How many of them came from Sylvia, if I can ask?"

"Sylvia was my initial source, but I made sure to follow things up and verify my facts with other people," Lana said, scoffing. "Who do you think I am, Dakota Evans? The fact remains, you've had many intimate relationships with a great number of female students here. And I have no intention of becoming just another notch on your bedpost, no sir. So now that we're all on the same page, are we ready to get going?"

They were NOT on the same page. Not even remotely. They weren't even reading from the same book. All of Lana's background research had driven her to the worst possible conclusion imaginable, the notion that Blake was some sort of playboy using girls for his own pleasure.

"I think you have the wrong idea!" Sango was the first one to come to his defense. "I've been around Blake from the start, he's not… those rumors aren't true!"

"So he hasn't seduced multiple girls on campus?"

Sango opened her mouth to say something, but then closed it.

"W-well, I mean… not intentionally?" That was the best she could offer.

Thanks Sango. Real big help.

"Right! And besides, it… it isn't like we did anything, right? So you're totally wrong!" Kate was the next one to speak, much to Blake's chagrin. "We all just slept in the same room! We didn't… do stuff like that! Blake… well, I mean, he… he wouldn't just push a girl down and begin taking what he wanted… even if she wasn't sure she wanted it at first, and then she realizes… er, no! No, no, Blake's not that sort of guy! Neither one of us have fallen for him, at all! I mean, I can only speak for myself when I say he's just a friend, but I'm sure Sango feels the exact same way."

"R-right," Sango lied, though it wasn't a lie in the slightest. Her feelings for Blake were exactly the same as Kate's.

The two looked at each other and smiled, happy to have fooled the other into believing that they only thought of Blake as a friend.

"Besides, even though, yes, Holly did have feelings for Blake, it wasn't something like that!" Kate said. "He didn't do anything, he was just nice to her! She's the one who fell for him all on her own! They didn't do anything, and they aren't going to do anything, Holly agreed to wait until they get married later."

Lana blinked. THAT was new information.

"Marriage?"

"Well, I mean, she wants to marry Blake, but agreed to hold off until she got older," Kate explained, unaware of exactly the kind of scumbag she was making Blake out to be, as Lana took notes on what she was saying eagerly.

God fucking damn it, Kate, why can't you keep your fucking mouth shut? Blake was completely done with both girls' attempts to help him now.

It was a time like this when he wanted the direct and blunt Ayame to be there, so she could say in no uncertain terms what shit was going down, and end things there. But instead he got Sango, who only thought of him as a friend but didn't have the fervor to really convince anyone due to her lack of real romantic experience, and Kate, who DID like him, but was such a frigging guileless dumbass she was undercutting herself by letting her feelings bleed out onto her face.

God damn it, how the hell did I let rumors like these get so out of hand? He bemoaned, not certain where this entire mess had come from. He was not the kind of person who was used to being the center of attention, especially on a topic like this, where his experience was nonexistent.

Honestly it really made him miss his engagement with Alcea, at the very least that was a story that could be proven or disproven with a wedding. A rumor like this wouldn't stop until he actually fell in love and began going out with someone, and that was something that he had yet to conceptualize as even a possibility.

Yeah, well, maybe if you were more decisive and actually had feelings for somebody you'd know how to settle this.