It's been a while, hasn't it? Life got in the way, like it usually does. I do have an announcement. I've started posting this story on spacebattles as well so if you like the format better there then you're in luck. Also I wrote 10k words here. Jeez, what am I doing?

June 8th

As expected, Kukui and I were busy setting up the lab's equipment and cleaning up his mess for the past week. My ankle healed quickly with the sporadic doses of oran berry, meaning I could do more of the heavier lifting when cleaning up his place.

Years of heavy labor throughout my various odd jobs back in my world made that task easy for me. Kukui was also built like a greek god, so it went by way quicker than I thought.

Even with all the cardboard boxes gone, the lab wasn't completely set up since Kukui still had equipment that needed to be sent from another island. But now it didn't look like an episode from Buried Alive.

I took residence in a room in the basement. There wasn't much stuff in it: just a desk, a dingy laptop, a futon, and a dog bed for Eve. It's very minimalist, but I didn't plan for it to be that way for long.

After setting up the small room, I was dead set on researching as much as possible about this world. Kukui was helpful in that regard. He was working on a small curriculum for me to get up to speed on pokemon. After I took a diagnostic test (which I failed spectacularly), he'd been trying to find a good starting point for me.

I was also studying for my Alolan citizenship. While I did get my lab trainer identification card in the mail, I wasn't completely done setting myself up as a legitimate resident of this world.

All this studying might've made anyone else antsy, but it fit right at home with me. Boarding myself up in a lab and reading books for days on end was painfully familiar territory.

It also helped to have an adorable dog that loved to curl up around my legs whenever I did my work. I made sure not to neglect Eve and usually played with her in the evenings. I took her on walks to get her the proper amount of exercise and to familiarize myself with the area.

However, I knew my week of solitude would end soon, especially when Kukui knocked on my door.

"It's open!" I called. Kukui walked in with an uncertain smile on his face.

"How's the studying going?" he asked casually.

I just shrugged my shoulders. "As well as I expected."

Which was to say not that well. Learning about Alola's distant history was simple, but the citizenship test also required me to learn about certain pokemon in each island. I had thought this was unnecessary until Kukui explained that it was for safety reasons when traveling beyond civilization limits.

"Still struggling with all the species, huh?" Kukui said with some sympathy. "I think I've got just the thing that will help you with that."

He handed me a worn red device with a cracked screen. Numerous scratches were ingrained on the metal, and the buttons were faded from overuse.

I took it from him curiously. It fit my palms cleanly, except for the warps and dents in the grips. "What's this supposed to be?"

"My old pokedex. It identifies pokemon with a scan. Unfortunately, this one's doesn't have the National Dex mod, which is supposed to have data on pokemon from other regions too. I made sure that most of the Alola pokemon are on there, though, so you should be fine."

I whistled. Was this tiny thing a bestiary of sorts? Very useful indeed. This device could save me in more situations than I can imagine.

After fiddling with the console a bit, the screen lit up.

"Hello, John Doe," the device said in a robotic voice, making me blink in surprise. Eve was instantly on her feet and growled, but I rubbed her fur to calm her down. "I am your personal pokedex. Using the scan function, I can identify any pokemon within your vicinity. I also double as a personal identification device in any pokemon center and a communication device."

"I took the liberty of adding your information already," Kukui explained. "Why don't you try it out on Eve?"

"Ruff?" Eve perked up and stuck her tongue out. She was probably just happy to be included in whatever we discussed.

I managed to find the scan function and held it out towards her.

"Rockruff, the Puppy pokemon," the pokedex stated. "They are a rock-type. As they develop, their disposition grows more violent and aggressive. Many Trainers find them too much to handle and eventually abandon them."

"What the fuck is that description?" I asked with wide eyes. Eve was similarly shocked.

Kukui shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not the one that writes these entries. And what the pokedex is saying isn't false. Rockruff is an aggressive pokemon. Especially when she evolves."

Was Rockruff this world's version of a pitbull or something? I couldn't see Eve growing up like that.

Eve looked at me, her blue eyes shining with worry. I was quick to give her a reassuring pat on the head.

Yeah, there was no way Eve was like that. She's a sweetheart through and through.

Though I should probably keep her away from any kids, just in case…

"Looks like it still works!" Kukui cheered. He suddenly looked nervous. "Er, don't mention where you got this from. I'm not exactly supposed to give it to you, you see."

"They regulate the distribution of this thing?" I held up the worn device in front of me. This seemed way too useful not to sell to people.

Kukui nodded before his expression soured. "Alola doesn't have its own pokedex because no league institution exists here. Since you are an Alolan lab trainer, it shouldn't be part of your privileges. If you need to explain it, just say you have special permissions that allow you one. No one should pry after that."

There was a real bite to his words. Kukui disagreed with how the pokedex was handled. I also disagreed, to be fair.

From my foray into this world's version of the internet (it was named pokenet, why the hell does everything have the word poke before it), everything related to documenting or listing pokemon was either taken down or deleted. Similar stuff happened when using a VPN to log on to other regions.

The only thing that was even close to what I was trying to find was forums speculating about the strength of a certain pokemon after a battle analysis or questions about a pokemon's biology, but nothing deeper than that.

It didn't stop at just the internet. Informational books and articles were also vetted before they were released. Or they needed special access/clearance to read some of them. Their reason was that dangerous information shouldn't be available to the public to protect aspiring and innocent trainers.

As a former member of academia, this immediately didn't sit well with me. My instinctual reaction was to think that the ruling bodies still wanted pokedexes to be relevant so that they could control the distribution. Having information withheld from me just had me crying about censorship.

But after more deliberation, I thought maybe there was a good reason that this information wasn't dispensed. It could be legitimately dangerous to know about certain pokemon. The nuclear launch codes back in my world weren't public knowledge for obvious reasons.

But that was assuming that certain pokemon existed with the power of a WMD, which I was highly skeptical about.

The only thing I knew for sure was that the pokemon world was mainly governed by an oligarchy system, which they renamed as pokemon leagues. It was technically classified as a sports association, but they held so much power and influence in the political space that I personally considered it another government entity. It was a technicality that was likened to a very poorly kept secret. People debated about this in the forums, but no one ever disputed or stated that the pokemon institutions were oppressive. I couldn't help but think such posts were removed.

This also favored my 'might makes right' theory more. Of course, the people in power wouldn't want anyone rising to take their place. Not easily, at least.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts. I gave Kukui a grateful nod before turning back to the laptop. When I noticed Kukui standing there nervously without saying anything else, I grew suspicious. "That isn't the only thing you're here for, isn't it?"

Kukui slumped. "So, here's the thing. My old friend, Samson Oak, has returned from the Kanto region. He's a professor who studies regional variants of certain pokemon. He's becoming the principal of the trainer's school nearby. The same one Hau goes to, but since he took over, he's been trying to restructure the teachers and lesson plans there…"

I could already see where this was going. "Did you volunteer with us as teaching assistants? Without asking for my permission?"

Kukui stayed silent—practically an admission of guilt.

My right eye started twitching. "You realize I probably know less than the kids I'll be teaching."

"You won't really be doing that much," Kukui said apologetically. "That's my job. You'll be doing busy work, like organizing papers or keeping a watch on the students."

"Can I say no? I haven't even started on that course you're setting up for me."

Kukui winced. "I'm not sure that's a good idea. Samson is a respected professor in his own right and has wanted to meet you ever since Hala talked about you. I also do owe him a favor."

Hala talked about me? It made sense, considering Kukui and him were close, but I didn't realize I left that much of an impression on him. I've yet to see whether it was a positive or negative impression.

This was bad. I was starting to catch the attention of some powerful figures too quickly. This kind of heat spelled all sorts of disaster when I slipped. And that was a when not an if. I wasn't stupid enough to believe I could keep up this charade if all the people I met were professors or leaders of entire nations.

"It'll be suspicious if you refuse suddenly, right?" I asked warily. At Kukui's nod, I sighed explosively. "Damn it…"

Kukui clapped his hands together and bowed slightly. "Please help me out just this once," he implored. "I promise you'll be prepared for this soon. I'll make sure Samson doesn't grill you too much."

"It's not even a one-time gig either?" I groaned. With a resigned sigh, I slumped in my chair. "I still owe you that favor so I have no right to refuse. Just make sure you include whatever the kids are learning in the curriculum, just in case. When does this position start?"

"Day after tomorrow. And thanks," Kukui said, breathing out a sigh of relief. "I'll owe you for this."

"You don't. This is part of the deal, remember?" I said with a stern look, but my mind was already on other matters. I had to prepare for the questions that might arise when I met Samson. I also needed more appropriate clothing than Kukui's hand-me-downs.

A small amount of fear went up within me when I realized I had to go through Route One again. "This is in the city, right? Will I be alright with Eve on Route One if you can't accompany me?"

Kukui just waved his hand. "Nah, you'll be fine. There's a way to get to Hau'oli city that's away from wild pokemon. It's mainly used by tourists who want to visit Iki town. I'll make sure you know it by tomorrow."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "There was a way to get to the city without being near tall grass? And we didn't take that path last time?"

Kukui froze and gave me a sheepish smile. "Um...oops?"

This bastard…

June 10th

Yesterday mainly consisted of me frantically preparing for my abrupt new position. Kukui had graciously handed me my paycheck early so that I could shop for new clothes. Specifically, I was wearing a white button-up shirt with a blue tie. I also put on some black dress pants alongside my polished black shoes. Eve was tucked away in her pokeball, clipped on my belt.

I also took the liberty of buying myself a pocket knife. With all the sudden danger I found myself in, I'd be a fool not to get one now. However, I left it at home this time since I'm sure it wouldn't be appreciated on school premises.

A well of uncomfortable nostalgia arose within me as I stood just outside the gates of the pokemon school. It was a grandiose building, almost akin to a castle. There were multiple spiraling tower There was a wide, paved area around it with many recreational activities. I could spot a track course and numerous sports courts. I even found a pokemon battlefield near the back.

My hands were sweaty. I was ready, I kept telling myself. I didn't even believe my own words.

I was in front of an academic institution again after all this time. Granted, it wasn't in the same capacity as before, but the feeling was similar enough to give me jitters.

Was this supposed to be some sort of sign or lesson? That I couldn't run from my past? That history repeats itself if you let it?

I didn't know the answer to that. What I did know was that I should get myself to Samson's office before I became late on the first day.

Kukui clapped my shoulder, snapping me out of my thoughts. He was still shirtless with a lab coat and surfer shorts. I wish I had his laid-back confidence, but I was always the type of man to come dressed to the party.

"Alright, stop daydreaming, sleepyhead! It's time to Extreme Speed straight to the office!" Kukui said, grinning. I just groaned at his pun and followed him past the gates.

We immediately entered through the flowery entrance and turned to the receptionist's desk.

"Alola! What can I do for you?" she asked with a practiced smile, looking down at her papers. She lifted her head and her eyes went wide. "Oh! Professor Kukui! The professor is expecting you! And…who is your friend?"

"John Doe. He's my new assistant and will be helping me today," Kukui said with a shiny smile. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes when I saw the receptionist swoon.

She soon froze and cleared her throat. "G-Give me a moment. I have some files to give you."

She rummaged around her desk before picking up a thin folder. I took it from her carefully. "Samson's office is in the highest tower on the right. Just keep going up those stairs!"

"Thanks," I said, put off by her exuberance. We quickly exited the reception area and walked among the pristine halls.

One thing that went through my mind was that this was a fancy place. I could see my reflection on these floors. Each empty classroom I passed by was clean and orderly. Lockers were bolted horizontally on the walls with high-tech locks. I spotted a few labs on the way, sending a pang of discomfort through my chest.

Kukui whistled. "They've upgraded this place since I was last here. It looks like Samson's also adding his revisions too. Must be why all those construction workers were here whenever I went to the city."

"Anything I should know about Samson before meeting him?" I asked.

"He's the cousin of Samuel Oak, the pokemon professor. A master class in his field and a certified legend to all of us." Kukui paused. "That's not to say that Samson's contribution is nothing noteworthy. He's more specialist and damn good at what he studies. It honestly must run in the family. It doesn't take me much to get jealous, but if I had the resources the Oak family has…"

"I was more asking about his personality," I specified. "Is there anything I should not do in front of him?"

"You still haven't adopted the regional greeting, so I think you should start getting used to that," Kukui said. We turned the corner and started walking up the spiral staircase.

"How did it go…Alola?" I shook my hands uncertainly.

"No, like this. Alola!" Kukui gave an exaggerated wave with his palms open. "The motion is an upside-down U. It's supposed to symbolize a rainbow."

"Cute," I commented. I performed the correct greeting, making Kukui smile. "It's kind of strange to greet people with your region's name."

Kukui shrugged noncomittally. "Maybe so. Besides that, you should be fine. Samson's a chill guy."

We arrived at the top of the staircase, standing outside a door. Samson's full name was on the metal plate bolted to the window. "Just let me do most of the talking here," Kukui said and gave a sharp knock on the glass.

"Who is it?" an elderly voice called out from within the room.

"Professor Kukui and John? You called us over."

"Oh, come in, both of you!" Kukui opened the door, and we both entered. Samson stood behind his desk. He had a slightly darker skin tone than Kukui. His graying hair was styled behind his neck, and he wore a Hawaiian (or Alolan?) shirt with white shorts. I guess I came overdressed. "Alola! You certainly came early!"

Kukui and I repeated the greeting before taking a seat at his desk. "Gotta say, I was surprised when you asked for my help. Didn't expect you to become a principal of all things!" Kukui said with his usual exuberance.

"People change, Kukui. I saw my cousin teach in Kanto and thought it was a rewarding experience," Samson answered, chuckling. "Enough about me. Look at you! You're a certified professor now! With a lab and everything! Why, I can remember it like it was yesterday. You were but a rambunctious young lad when you left for Kanto. Now, you've grown up into a fine man."

Kukui laughed bashfully. "It still doesn't feel real sometimes. I've still got a long way to go before I can match up to you and Professor Oak."

"All in due time, my boy. I'd say you're working faster than me. You've already got yourself an assistant!" Samson turned to me, making me slightly straighten in my chair. "One that's managed to tame that beast we call Rockruff, no less!" Samson held his hand out to me. "Samson Oak. A pleasure to meet you, lad."

I grasped his hand. Thankfully, he didn't try to squeeze my fingers into paste like Hala. "John Doe. Nice to meet you, Professor Oak."

Samson laughed. "None of that now! Professor Oak is my cousin! Just call me Samson." He leaned over his desk, his hands folded together. "Alright, now that the pleasantries are over with, let me tell you what you'll be doing here." He faced Kukui. "Some of my teachers are still coming from abroad, so I'll have you take their places as a substitute." Samson then turned to me. "Do you think you can take a class of your own, John?"

"John just moved to Alola, so he's still getting used to our culture," Kukui spoke up nervously. "It might be better to have him as a teacher's assistant so he can see how the Alolan education system works."

Samson shrugged. "No problem. Let me just hand you your schedules for the day. Thanks again for helping out."

We walked out of Samson's office with our schedules in hand.

"Looks like we'll be together most of the time," Kukui murmured, pouring over both papers simultaneously. He also took a peek at the folder that was given to us. "Samson also gave us all the information on the students. Why would he do that?"

"I'm sure he just wanted us to be as prepared as possible," I said, taking the schedule from him. "I wonder if we'll be alright…this looks a bit more packed than I expected…"

Kukui just shrugged. "How bad could it be?"

"Famous last words," I said as we walked to the first period.

"Why is this place so understaffed!?"

"I don't know, John. I truly don't know…"

Both of us were lying in a sweaty heap on the couches in the teacher's lounge. Kukui was dabbing his forehead with a cloth while I was desperately downing a large water bottle. Sweaty stains were underneath my armpits, and my feet felt like I had done leg day three days in a row.

There were a few other teachers that were giving us sympathetic looks. They looked just as wiped as we were.

I was initially worried that I would be unprepared, given my lack of knowledge on pokemon. Thankfully, my fears were unfounded. The classes that Kukui and I were in charge of were basic subjects, like Math.

What did bite us in the ass was the fact that Samson needed more than just a 'little help'.

We basically acted like we were the entire staff. I was running between rooms, trying to get Kukui's materials so he could continue teaching. We moved from classroom to classroom, desperately trying to cover the current curriculum for all students. At one point, I even acted as a janitor when an accident occurred in the halls.

I better be getting paid for this. I'd rather go back to my warehouse job than volunteer at this school. That was saying something since that job was truly shitty.

The door opened and a sweaty Samson came in. He collapsed on the armchair next to us.

"Now you see why I needed your help?" Samson huffed, sinking into the chair.

"You bastard, Samson. You didn't tell me it would be this bad," Kukui said, stretching his back. I heard his hip pop, and I winced. "Where in the world are all of the teachers!? It's not like you to be this unprepared."

"School just started a week ago, and I only just started this position. The other teachers are still on vacation. They should be back by next week, however."

"So that means another day of this…" I groaned.

"On the bright side, the day is almost over. There's only one period left," Samson said. "Speaking of which, John, can you help another professor while I discuss a few things with Kukui?"

I checked my schedule. The last class was pokemon studies.

Well, shit.

"Maybe I can help with that class instead," Kukui offered. He must've seen the schedule and the potential of an absolute disaster. "I do know more than John so I think I'll be able to teach better."

"No need for that. Like I said, professor Simon only needs someone to help him out. The class material is low-level, which John should easily be able to help out with." Samson arched an eyebrow when Kukui still looked unsure. "You're rather overprotective of the lad, aren't you? You should trust him more. You did choose him to be your assistant, after all. Allow him room to grow by himself."

I saw Kukui grimace and resisted the urge to cringe myself.

Samson was on to us. Any more refusals would look highly suspicious. I didn't need another spotlight on me.

There was no choice.

"Sure, I can do it," I said with as much casual energy as I could muster.

"Are you sure?" Kukui asked. There was worry plain in his eyes. "I've already asked you to do a lot today…"

"It's the last period. What's one more class?" I was portraying a complete false bravado now. I shoved my hands in my pocket because they started to shake slightly.

"The break's almost over, so let's get you introduced. Simon!" One teacher in the lounge perked up. "Come meet your assistant for the day!"

A lanky teacher with pale skin and black hair walked up to me. "It's nice to meet you. My name's Simon. Let's get along."

"What did you have planned for today?"

Simon grinned. "I've got a surprise for the class. You'll be helping me show it off. You ready?"

"As much as I could be," I responded.

Which meant not at all, of course.

I was soon in front of a class full of young, multi-colored-haired individuals.

It honestly looked like a rainbow had vomited on these kids. I initially thought that hair dye was a big thing in this region, but upon closer inspection, I soon realized it was just their genetics. The roots of their hair weren't a different color as I would expect from someone using dye.

It was honestly ridiculous. Like something straight out of a cartoon. This fucking world…

Simon was still busy getting his 'surprise' ready, so I awkwardly stood near the whiteboard while the usual murmurs of the classroom filled the air. I could see a few students look at me with thinly veiled interest.

I tried to see if Hau was in this class, but the students here seemed a few years older than him. Next time, maybe.

"And here we are!" Simon walked up right next to me with his bag. Everyone immediately stopped murmuring and paid attention. "Before we start, we've got someone new who will eventually become a familiar face around here. Why don't you introduce yourself?"

I cleared my throat and began my practiced speech. "My name is John Doe. I recently became the assistant to Professor Kukui one week back. I'll be a teacher's assistant here, so not much has changed, I guess." I got a few laughs at that. "Let's all get along and create a good learning environment."

The class politely clapped when I finished. Simon nudged me. "Do you have a pokemon?" he asked. "This is pokemon studies. The class would benefit from seeing as many pokemon here as possible."

The class leaned forward in interest. I unclipped my pokeball and let it drop. With a happy yip, Eve appeared in a flash, immediately jumping in my arms. She tried to slobber my face, which made me hold her away from me. She let out a low whine but still kept trying. The class let out a collective "awwwww" at the adorable sight.

"This is Eve, my Rockruff. She's my first pokemon and my best friend," I said, laughing as I tried to dodge Eve's licks. Damn it, I was trying to be professional here.

"If I'm not mistaken, that's the same Rockruff that Samson himself couldn't handle," Simon said with a small amount of awe. "But she's warmed up to you completely. It looks like we've got ourselves a real professional! What luck!"

If the class had tried to be discreet before, now they were openly looking at me with interest.

"But Rockruff is your first pokemon?" Simon asked. I gulped. Shit, did I already fuck up? "That means you only got her a week ago. That seems very late…"

"I mostly studied them first," I said, trying to find an excuse. I set Eve down near my feet, where she ducked between my legs and made herself comfortable. "I didn't trust myself until I was sure I could handle one properly. There also wasn't much pokemon where I was from that I wanted as a starter."

Simon nodded, and I inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. "Makes sense. Some people aren't into the whole train a bunch of pokemon." He clapped his hands. "I think we've learned enough about Mr. Doe here. Let's get into our lesson plan for today."

He pulled out a pokeball, and a green ballerina-looking creature came out.

"Kir! Kirlia!" it chirped before hugging Simon's legs. The class let out another "awwwww".

"Today, we'll be talking about pokemon evolution!" Simon said with a flair of his arms. "I assume all of you know about evolution?"

Most of the hands were raised. I was also paying attention closely. I'll admit, I was interested in seeing how these creatures came to be in this world in the first place. Were they descended from animals that I was familiar with? Or did some other event cause them to gain superpowers? How many centuries did it take for them to become like this?

Simon walked to the center of the classroom. "All of you are aware of pokemon evolution. But do you truly know about evolution?" The class looked confused about that. "I will elaborate in a bit. First, let's talk about the definition of evolution. Why don't you tell us, John?"

I took a moment to recite the term's definition from my memory. "Evolution is the gradual development of something, especially from a simple to a more complex form."

Simon scratched his chin. "I haven't heard of it being described that way before, but that's mostly right."

I frowned at that. That was the definition I knew, simplified so the kids could understand. What had been wrong with it?

Simon continued. "I would disagree that pokemon gradually change forms. It can be quite sudden sometimes. Does anyone have anything to add to what Mr. Doe said?"

One hand was raised. The student had pinkish hair and skin. He wore the school vest over a white shirt.

"Go ahead, Ilima," Simon prompted.

"I agree that most pokemon change to a more complex form after they evolve. I would like to add that there are multiple ways a pokemon can evolve, some of which involve using the environment or an item. There are also pokemon that have multiple forms that they can evolve to. Mr. Doe's Rockruff exemplifies this with their midday and midnight forms."

I was utterly lost at this point. It was apparent that Ilima was explaining evolution in a context that was unfamiliar to me. Could I be misunderstanding how they were using the term?

Now that I think about it, evolution popped up way more frequently than I expected, especially when I was studying for the citizenship exam. I had thought it odd but ignored it. I see that was a mistake now.

Ilima had even mentioned that Rockruff was one of the special cases, meaning this phenomenon would directly affect Eve and me.

"Beautiful answer, Ilima. There are certain mysteries surrounding pokemon evolution that are still being researched. However, we have made a few breakthroughs throughout the years," Simon said. "Now, how many of you have seen a pokemon evolve in real life?"

There were decidedly fewer hands raised.

"Seeing a pokemon evolve is a very privileged experience. I'm sure many of you have seen videos, but nothing beats witnessing the real thing." Simon smirked. "There are many aspects that I could teach you right now. But this pokemon school operates differently. I am not content with just telling you about pokemon evolution. I am going to show you instead."

Excited murmurs went throughout the classroom. Simon kneeled to his pokemon. A discreet look at my pokedex with the sound settings muted told me it was a Kirlia.

"Hey there, bud," Simon said softly. "I know we discussed this before, but I want to be absolutely sure. You feel like you're ready to evolve right now?"

"Kirlia!" the pokemon cried out. Kirlia gave Simon a determined nod.

Simon brought out a blue stone from his bag. The stone sparkled like the night sky. There was a glimmering star right in the middle.

Kirlia took a deep breath before touching the stone. Immediately, the little pokemon started glowing brightly. There were a few gasps and screams of awe. My own eyes went wide.

Before my very eyes, Kirlia changed shape. It grew taller, with its legs and arms becoming more spindly. Two spikes grew from its chest and back. Its head became more helmet-like, and a sharp edge formed from its right arm.

The glowing eventually stopped. A pokemon that was definitely not Kirlia now stood in the room. The stone that Simon was holding disappeared, seemingly absorbed into the Kirlia.

"Would you look at that," Simon said. He was smirking at all of our gobsmacked expressions. "This is how you evolve a Kirlia into a Gallade, by the way."

"GALLAA!" the new pokemon cried out in triumph.

The room exploded with questions. I had a few to ask of my own, to be fair.

Just what the hell did I witness?! That was less evolution and more instant metamorphosis.

In all honesty, this should've been expected. With pokemon being completely different from the animals I knew, the scientific terms may have changed to fit their behaviors and processes more.

There was also a more worrying aspect to this revelation, however. For all the similar parallels that this world had compared to my world, I now had direct confirmation that my scientific knowledge may not be reliable here. Things like fire burning wood and water being cohesive still applied, but terms such as evolution were used differently. I didn't know what other discrepancies existed and how large they would be.

Once again, I realized that I genuinely didn't know anything about my surroundings.

And that all the achievements I had painstakingly worked for amounted to nothing here.

Thankfully, Simon didn't put me in the spotlight anymore. I was just regulated to passing out papers or handing Simon materials as he explained evolution. The lesson turned theoretical after that grandiose display. Something that I was grateful for since I was soaking up the knowledge alongside the students in the room.

I lounged on the bench outside the school once the class was done. Kukui and Samson were still discussing matters, so I had some time to kill.

I was on my pokedex while Eve was curled up on the bench beside me. After some fiddling, I found what I was looking for.

"Lycanroc, the wolf pokemon," the pokedex droned. A picture of Lycanroc's midday form was displayed on the screen. "The sharp rocks in its mane can cut like knives. Lycanroc wears its prey down by degrees before finishing them off."

I idly switched the other form Rockruff could evolve into. Midday Lycanroc looked more like the wolves back home, except for the jagged rocks sticking out of its fur. Midnight Lycanroc, on the other hand, was more menacing while standing on hind legs with blood-red fur.

"Ruff?" Eve looked at the pokedex. She got visibly excited when she saw the images. "Rock! Ruff!"

"You want to evolve, too?" I asked her. The pup bobbed her head rapidly. "Which form do you want to become?"

Eve stared at the two images for a small moment. She looked up at me and tilted her head.

"Don't know yet? That's fine." I scratched her head, eliciting a pleased growl. "We'll figure it out together."

We sat together in a peaceful silence, basking in the evening sky while enjoying each other's presence.

A loud cry of pain ruined that small moment of peace.

I was on my feet instantly. I saw a few kids in the distance. One was on the ground, crying, while three others were laughing above him. A pokemon was by their side, also laughing.

I quickly looked around the area. There were a few staff members or adults, but they weren't doing anything about it. I would have to step in.

"HEY!" The kids stopped laughing when I marched towards them. The kid crying on the ground looked familiar. I had seen that specific color of hair before.

Wait a damn minute. That was Hau!

"What's going on here?" I asked with a stern voice, my arms crossed. Hau looked up from the ground.

"J-John?" Hau muttered. Tears were streaming down his cheeks, and he was covered in dirt. I clenched my fists at the sight.

"Nothing, teach," the kid said with a smirk. "We were just playing, right Hau?"

"Yeah, Hau!" the other two spoke up with equally sinister smirks. "Tell im'!"

"Y-Yeah, we were," Hau muttered, looking back at the ground.

I just scoffed. "You're a few years too young to pull a fast one over me. What are your names?"

The kid's smirk became even broader. "Hiroki, teach. My friends are Nelson and Bran."

I filed a mental note to look at their files later. This situation could be a misunderstanding. Hau could've been playing with their pokemon and gotten hurt accidentally. It could also be the reason why he was crying.

But the kid's cruel gaze, when answering my question and looking down at Hau, made me consider the more sinister alternative.

"If I had to guess…" I started, lowering myself to meet their gaze. I gave them the most intense expression I could muster. "You three were using this pokemon to bully him. Hau doesn't have a pokemon to defend himself, which would make him an easy target. That's the story I'll have to tell Principal Oak if you don't speak up."

"S-So what?" Hiroki said, trembling. "You and your weak pokemon can't do anything to me! My dad's part of the Hau'oli city council. He won't let you get away with this!"

Eve started growling, but I had a firm grip on her collar. Painful, raw emotions welled up within me as memories flashed through my eyes.

"I'll put you behind bars and put down your stupid dog! My dad is the biggest beneficiary of this university! You can't do anything to me!"

"Is that so…" I said softly, holding my emotions tightly. Even if this kid's reasoning was the same as the person I could only describe as my mortal rival, he was still a kid. A gentle, guiding hand was required to eliminate that disgusting mentality. "Do you think that you can hide behind your father for everything? That's not how this works. You've used a pokemon to assault another person. I'm pretty sure that's illegal. Your father's reputation would get ruined and he won't be able to protect you here."

I wasn't actually sure about the legality. It was a bluff at worst, but one that should've gone without saying. If pokemon assault wasn't illegal, there was something seriously wrong with this world.

My threat worked, however. I didn't need to be a mind reader to see that the kid was trying hard not to be scared. The other two behind weren't trying to hide it and were sending their leader worried looks.

"That still doesn't matter!" The bully stamped one foot down. "Hau doesn't have a pokemon, and I do. That makes me better than him!"

"Better than him? I think you're mistaken," I said. There was that famous childish stubbornness that I was used to dealing with. "On this campus, everyone is equal, no matter their background."

Hiroki smirked. "Then, let's have a battle! If I win, you walk away and admit I'm stronger than you. If you win…you can ask me to do whatever you want!"

I just raised an eyebrow. "A pokemon battle doesn't excuse anything I just said. Why do you want to battle me now?"

"Because the stronger person is always right! That's what my dad told me!"

God damn it. This just started to sound like brainwashing at this point.

The other teachers around the area looked at us like we were a ticking time bomb. None stepped in, only watching from the sidelines. I would find no aid from them.

I didn't want to do this, but it seemed the kid wouldn't listen to any other option. A quick look at my pokedex told me this kid's pokemon was a Yungoos. It was one of the weakest wild pokemon you could find in Melemele, and it was classified as a normal type, which was perfect for me. "Alright, fine. Let's battle."

Hau's eyes widened in horror while the kids smirked. They thought they had the upper hand.

It was time to make sure they knew who they were dealing with.

The kid walked a distance away from me. His pokemon followed him dutifully. I went to the opposite of the field. Eve immediately stood in front of me protectively.

I had a plan for how all of this would go down. Eve shouldn't get hurt in this battle. Her rock typing would protect her from normal attacks if she got hit. But if everything goes according to plan, the kid's Yungoos will also leave this battle unharmed.

But if something went awry, I would immediately withdraw. I was prepared to suffer the humiliation of my peers if it meant keeping Eve safe. It wouldn't be the first time, anyway.

Eve stood in front of me, raring to go. Hiroki smirked and made the first move. "Use Tackle, Yungoos!"

Yungoos howled and started charging towards Eve. It was even slower than the Raticate I faced.

"Dodge," I said simply. Eve hopped to the side, letting the Yungoos pass by harmlessly. Eve prepped herself to deliver a counterattack, but I stayed silent.

"Attack again!" Hiroki screamed when it was apparent I wouldn't capitalize on my advantage. The Yungoos prepared another charge.

"Dodge."

Eve side-stepped the attack effortlessly again, making Hiroki gnash his teeth together. Eve looked confused when I didn't order her to attack. I just gave her a wink, and she concentrated on the battle again.

"Use Leer!" Hiroki ordered. Yungoos glared as it growled at Eve. Eve remained unfazed.

"Break through that Leer with your own," I commanded. Eve growled right back, her eyes turning crimson. Yungoos immediately dropped its false confidence and stepped back, fear evident in its body language. Hiroki and Yungoos must've been the top dog of their class for a while since they didn't seem to know what to do when faced with a pokemon scarier than their own.

"U-Use Tackle!" Hiroki futilely cried out. Yungoos didn't move, too stricken by its fear.

"Drop the Leer." Eve's eyes returned to their usual sky-blues. Both Yungoos and Hiroki looked confused.

"Aren't you going to attack me at all?!" Hiroki asked with a frustrated look.

I just gave him a dismissive wave. "Try to land a hit on Eve first before telling me what to do."

The next ten minutes were just me ordering Eve to play passive while countering Hiroki at every turn. Yungoos only knew Tackle and Leer, which was only one less attack than Eve. But Kukui had been training Eve before I came into the picture, so Eve technically had more experience and could dodge every attack Yungoos tried to land.

In the end, Yungoos slumped to the ground in exhaustion. Hiroki fell to his knees. Frustrated tears leaked out of the corner of his eyes.

The three children on the side looked at me with awe. I scratched Eve's chin for a job well done before approaching Hiroki.

Hiroki was probably thinking this was the worst day of his life. He looked broken, holding onto his exhausted Yungoos. Kids were dramatic like that, but I couldn't ignore him. He wouldn't learn anything otherwise.

It was time for stage two of my plan.

"Hey." Hiroki looked up at me. He glared at me past his tears. I kneeled and looked directly into his eyes. "This loss doesn't feel good, does it?"

Hiroki slowly shook his head, still glaring at me.

"I was practically bullying you and your Yungoos this entire match," I admitted. Eve started to protest, but I raised my hand to stop her barking. "This feeling that you have right now. That's what Hau's been dealing with whenever you pick on him, you know?"

Hiroki's eyes went wide. Hau made a noise behind me, but I didn't turn towards him. My focus was entirely on Hiroki.

"Hau doesn't have a pokemon he can fight with. Yet, you've been targeting him. Do you think you and your Yungoos will get stronger like this? Do you think this is the right thing to do?"

Hiroki shook his head again. Realization was starting to dawn in his eyes.

"Just because you have a stronger pokemon, doesn't make you right all the time," I continued. "I beat you with my Rockruff, but that doesn't make me better than you. I only got her a week ago, after all."

"W-What?!" Hiroki looked at me in shock. "B-But I had Yungoos for an entire month!"

"Yet, here we are," I said. "Even though I beat you, I didn't insult you or bully you. I'm just trying to help you realize a few things. We're all learning about pokemon here, me especially."

"But you're a teacher…" Hiroki muttered.

"That doesn't mean I know everything. Heck, I probably know less than you!" The kids giggled at that. They probably didn't believe me, but they were smiling now, so that was a start. "If you help Hau learn about pokemon, he'll get stronger when he finally gets one. That'll make him a good rival in the future, right?"

Hiroki nodded. He wasn't crying anymore. It didn't seem the message got through completely, but that was to be expected. No one ever changed with one conversation. It had to be done gradually.

I nudged Eve and gave her a pointed look, gesturing at the crestfallen Yungoos. Eve rolled her eyes but walked over. She gave a small bark at the Yungoos before raising her paw. The Yungoos looked at the paw with apprehension. It slowly lifted its claws in response, and Eve gave the tired pokemon a paw-five. They both started smiling.

I stood up and put my hands on my hips. "I'll let you off with a warning. I don't want to see this type of behavior again. There will be a harsher punishment next time." I turned to the two lackeys. "This goes for you two as well."

"Yes, teacher," they muttered in unison. They were about to walk off before I cleared my throat.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" I asked. Hiroki looked up at me and then walked over to Hau. He held his hand out, which Hau looked at with suspicion.

"Sorry for hurting you," he said awkwardly. Hau didn't say anything but took his hand and pulled himself up.

"Get home safely, and don't do this again!" I called out when they separated and left for the entrance.

I looked down at Hau. "Are you alright?"

"M' fine," he mumbled. He looked up at me with a small smile. "That battle you had was so cool. I never saw someone beating a pokemon without a single attack before."

I just kept staring at him calmly. "This doesn't happen often, does it?"

Hau's eyes dimmed. He looked back down, twiddling his thumbs. "It isn't that bad," he said weakly.

I gave him a pointed look. "I'm going to have to report this to your grandfather, so I would like to have all the facts in place."

"DON'T!"

The sudden shout startled me. Eve yipped and ran behind my legs. Hau's eyes were wide, and he was panting slightly.

"Please don't tell my grandpa," he pleaded softly. "It…it wouldn't help."

I raised an eyebrow. "Your grandpa is the kahuna of the island. I'm sure there's something he could do."

Hau's fist started trembling. "I don't want to bother him with this. He's already really busy with a lot of stuff. I also don't want him to fight with the mayor…"

My respect for Hau grew slightly. At least he wasn't trying to hide behind his grandfather's influence. It also looked like there were more power dynamics at play between the kahuna and the city council, which is something I should look into later.

"Alright," I acquiesced. "I won't say anything."

Hau sighed in relief.

I wouldn't mention it this time. But if the bullying continued, I would let Hala know. Then, I would act according to how he reacts to that information. I wasn't going to jump the gun and try to assume what Hau's home situation looked like. I would work only within my capacity as a teacher.

No more or no less.

"That doesn't mean I won't act if I find more instances like this on campus. I expect you to report any bullying you see, especially if this happens to you again. Understand?"

Hau nodded. "Okay, John."

I gave him a small smile. "That's Mr. Doe to you while we are at school. Do you need help going back home?"

"My grandfather's Hariyama should be here to pick me up. I'll be fine."

"Alright. Get home safe."

Hau waved goodbye to me. I returned the farewell and crouched down to Eve. "I'm proud of you for listening to me, Eve. I'll make sure to reward you when we get home."

"Ruff!" Eve's tail started wagging at the prospect. I chuckled and continued scratching her head.

Now that I had time to reflect on my actions, I realized I could've acted more professionally. I had let my personal bias and interest in the situation dictate my decision-making. There probably was a better way to resolve this than with a pokemon battle. In fact, I probably encouraged him to heap more abuse on his Yungoos in the future. That thought alone made me internally wince.

To be fair, I was out of the game for a few years, but I wouldn't make this mistake again.

I stood up to find a familiar student standing nearby nervously. We stared at each other for a small moment before I schooled my expression.

"Is there anything I could help you with?" I asked.

"A-Ah." The student fidgeted a bit. "It's just…I saw what happened."

"If there's anything you would like to say about how I handled the situation, then you can speak up," I said, not unkindly. "Or you can report my conduct to the principal. I'm heading there now, so you might want to wait a bit."

"It's nothing like that! I quite liked how you handled that affair," the student said, waving his hands. His expression was downcast. "I just wished I could've stepped in sooner."

"You shouldn't have to. It's the teacher's job to sort these scuffles out," I said, sending a slight glare to the other teachers who stood by and did nothing. They avoided my scathing gaze. "Still, the sentiment is appreciated..."

"Ilima, Mr. Doe," the student said with a small smile. "You taught my class just now."

I snapped my fingers. "You were the attentive student sitting in the front. The one that answered every question correctly while providing insightful contributions to the discussion."

"That's high praise, coming from Professor Kukui's assistant."

It wasn't flattery. Ilima's hand was the first to go up whenever Simon asked a question. It wasn't hard to tell that Illima took his studies seriously and excelled in his classes.

"Praise that is well deserved," I said approvingly. "Is there anything else that I can help you with?"

"Nothing, really. I just find it refreshing that this institution is getting the reform it deserves," Ilima responded with a serene smile. "Incidents like these were usually left alone previously. Or brushed under the rug."

That was concerning. "Previous leadership didn't do their job?"

"They weren't bad, per se. They were a little more…apathetic…than I would've liked. They were also beholden to the Hau'oli city council more than I liked as well..."

So, they feared higher administration and let incidents like this fall through the cracks. Failings of the education system were something I was intimately familiar with.

"But now, under Principal Oak's leadership, I can start to see the school is changing for the better," Ilima said, his expression brightening. "It's having a rough start with all the staff returning from abroad, but staff like Professor Kukui, Mr. Simon, and you are now on board. The lessons have been of higher quality, too. I would never have imagined that a teacher would be willing to show us a pokemon evolution firsthand!"

I couldn't help but smile at Ilima's enthusiasm. "Keep that attitude of yours, Ilima. It'll do you well in the future."

Ilima smiled right back. "If there are any specific questions, can I come to you? Surely, as Professor Kukui's assistant, you are privileged with more knowledge of pokemon than the average teacher."

I tried not to let my discomfort show. I didn't want to accept, but I didn't want to refuse either. A student with a drive to learn like that should be encouraged. "You can ask me questions, and I'll direct them to Kukui. I'm only just an assistant. You'll receive better answers from him."

Ilima's eyes sparkled. "That would be most wonderful! Thank you very much, Mr. Doe."

"See ya, kid." I waved goodbye to Ilima before heading towards the building.

I checked my pokedex and found a message from Kukui.

"Well, it's time to end this day," I muttered. It had only been one day, but it already felt like I had been on staff for months.

"Come in, Mr. Doe!" I walked into Samson's office and pulled a chair for myself next to Kukui. He gave me a firm pat on the back. "It certainly seems like you two have had an exciting day. Especially you, John. I could practically hear Simon's class from my office!"

"It was certainly a surprise," I responded. "Didn't expect to see a pokemon evolve for my first pokemon studies."

"Those are the types of lessons that I hope I can bring to this academy. Next week, all my revisions should be complete, and all the teachers I've hired should be here. Once again, I can't thank you enough for your help."

"I would say no problem, but you did throw us under the Snorlax here, Samson," Kukui said dryly. "Still, John and I would be happy to come back and help out."

"Excellent!" Samson cleared the papers from his desk. "Is there anything else that you wanted to ask?"

"There is something I need to say," I said, stopping Kukui from standing up. He had a concerned expression when my eyes hardened. "There was an incident in the playground just before I came here. An incident of bullying, to be exact."

Samson leaned forward on his desk. "Between who?"

I grabbed the file handed to me earlier this morning and pulled out the student files. "Hiroki, Bran, and Nelson were the perpetrators. Hau was the victim."

"Little Hau?" Kukui muttered to himself.

Samson sighed. "I've heard reports from the principal I was replacing that there was bad blood between those two. Hala and Hiroki's father don't like each other that much. To think that their fights would transfer into the children…"

"I've managed to resolve the incident. Another concern was that the teachers near the playground did nothing to defuse the situation. They stood by and let Hiroki bully Hau."

Samson's blood drained from his face. "Surely, you're joking…"

"I'm afraid not, sir."

Samson's expression turned thunderous. It was such a switch that I slightly leaned back in surprise. "It looks like I'll have to schedule a staff meeting to let them know this behavior is unacceptable. The Hau'oli city council has been stifling this school long enough. I won't let them have their way any longer."

"And what if Hau was the one doing the bullying?" I asked, remembering that his grandfather was also a notable figure. "Would that change anything?"

"It would not," Samson said firmly, his hands folded together. "No one will hold power over me while I change this school. There is a reason that I became principal. I wanted the Alolan children to have an education on par with the rest of the regions. Anyone threatening that dream will have to deal with me directly."

Samson talked a big game, but I wouldn't believe him until I saw him trying to implement the promised changes. I stopped believing inspiring speeches long ago.

"Thank you very much for letting me know, John. I made the right decision having you and Kukui volunteer here." Samson gave me a smile. "Now, have a good evening for both of you."

"We'll take our leave then," Kukui said, standing up. I also lifted myself from the chair. "Till next time, Samson."

I also waved goodbye and walked out of the office with Kukui.

"Already playing hero, John?" Kukui teased, elbowing my side lightly. "I knew there was a heart underneath that cold attitude of yours."

I rolled my eyes. "It would've been unprofessional to ignore something like that."

"Definitely. You did a good thing today. I dare say Samson has a favorable impression of you now." Kukui started frowning. "Still, I didn't think Hau would be the victim. We should let Hala know about this."

"Not yet," I said. Hau had shown genuine fear when I even mentioned the prospect. He had framed it as not wanting to bother Hala, but I couldn't help but suspect a more sinister reasoning behind that fear. It was still an assumption, however. "Let's monitor the situation in the coming days. If it does get worse, we'll let Hala know."

Kukui looked like he wanted to disagree but sighed instead. "Alright. Hopefully, this isn't a repeat incident."

As we exited the pokemon school, I took one furtive look back. The evening glow illuminated the building. Mixed feelings churned within my chest.

I reminded myself that I would only act as an assistant. I wouldn't overstep my bounds.

I wouldn't make the same mistake that landed me here in the first place.

A/N: Here we are with a behemoth of a chapter. I did have John battle here despite his distaste, but I felt I added enough reasoning where he took the risk. Yungoos was weak and he was fairly certain was newly caught. That would mean Eve would be stronger and John concocted a plan that made sure both pokemon wouldn't get hurt. The teachers also wouldn't help him and he was getting a little emotional because of past experiences.

Bigguy45: I do know what form I want to evolve Eve into, but I will leave that as a surprise. I'm going to leave hints and foreshadowing about it in the coming chapters, however

Togepi: That's a fair criticism to make about the MC. I understand that not everyone vibes with a negative MC, but that is how I made John. I think I made it clear that he didn't have a happy life in his previous world, and it stands to reason that he wouldn't be happy here either. I have been trying to sprinkle light-hearted moments here and there with his interactions with Eve and other stuff so that the negativity doesn't overwhelmingly bog down the reader. I'll work more on that in the future, thanks for reading to this point.