Ash and Pikachu were strolling through the halls of Naranja Academy, still getting familiar with the massive campus. After his lively interactions with Nemona, Arven, and the rest of the unique cast of characters he'd met so far, Ash wondered what other surprises Paldea had in store.

"Pikachu, what do you think? Should we check out another class today?" Ash asked, glancing at his partner.

"Pika!" Pikachu chirped in agreement, its tail flicking with excitement.

As they rounded a corner, Ash nearly bumped into a man with purple hair, gray eyes and black hexagon-shaped glasses. He is shown wearing a white lab coat with a purple shirt underneath, where he carries a Rotom Phone in his shirt pocket, purple sweatpants and white and purple toeless sandals.

"Oh! Sorry about that!" Ash said, stepping back.

The man adjusted his glasses, looking up in surprise. "Ah, no worries at all! Wait a minute… You're Ash Ketchum, aren't you?"

Ash blinked. "Yeah, that's me."

Jacq's face lit up with excitement. "The World Champion? The same one who battled Leon in the Master 8 tournament?"

Ash scratched the back of his head, a little embarrassed by the recognition. "That's me, I guess. And you are?"

"I'm Jacq," the man said, offering a handshake. "I'm the homeroom teacher for the academy's general studies class and one of the researchers who helped update the Pokédex for the Paldea region."

Ash's eyes widened. "You worked on the Pokédex? That's so cool! I use mine all the time."

Jacq chuckled, clearly delighted by Ash's enthusiasm. "It's an honor to meet someone who's achieved so much. I've heard a lot about you. Your journey is an inspiration to Trainers everywhere."

"Thanks," Ash said, grinning. "So, you're a researcher too, huh? What kind of stuff do you work on?"

"Well," Jacq said, holding up his Rotom Phone, "I focus on Pokémon biology and behavior. One of my biggest projects was integrating new features into the Pokédex for Paldea. It's more interactive and detailed than ever before, which helps Trainers learn about the Pokémon they encounter."

Ash leaned closer, clearly intrigued. "That's awesome! Can you show me?"

Jacq led Ash and Pikachu into his classroom, a cozy space filled with books, charts, and various Pokémon models. He placed his Rotom Phone on the desk and brought up the Pokédex interface.

"This is the Paldea Pokédex," Jacq explained. "We've added features like habitat tracking, which shows where you're most likely to find certain Pokémon, and behavior logs that give insights into their habits."

Ash and Pikachu stared at the screen, fascinated as Jacq scrolled through entries.

"Check this out," Jacq said, tapping on an entry for Lechonk. The screen displayed a detailed 3D model of the Pokémon along with notes on its behavior.

"Lechonk… A Normal-type Pokémon," Ash read aloud. "It's kind of cute, don't you think, Pikachu?"

"Pika pika!" Pikachu agreed, nodding.

Jacq smiled. "It's always great to see Trainers so engaged with the Pokédex. You've caught a lot of Pokémon over the years, haven't you, Ash?"

Ash nodded. "Yeah, I've traveled to a lot of regions and met all kinds of amazing Pokémon. But there's always something new to learn."

Jacq's eyes sparkled. "Exactly! That's what makes Pokémon research so exciting. Oh, by the way…" He reached into a drawer and pulled out a sleek, updated Rotom Phone. "Here's the latest model with the Paldea Pokédex installed. Consider it a gift from me and the academy."

Ash's face lit up. "No way! This is awesome—thank you so much!"

Jacq grinned. "You've done so much for the world of Pokémon. It's the least we can do."

As Ash and Jacq continued talking, the conversation shifted to their favorite Pokémon and memorable experiences. Jacq was particularly interested in hearing about Ash's encounters with Legendary Pokémon.

"So, you've met Ho-Oh, Lugia, and even Mewtwo?" Jacq asked, his eyes wide with amazement.

Ash laughed. "Yeah, I've been pretty lucky. But honestly, every Pokémon I've met is special in its own way."

Jacq nodded thoughtfully. "That's a great way to look at it. Pokémon aren't just tools for battle—they're partners, friends, and part of our world."

"Exactly," Ash said, smiling.

As the conversation wrapped up, Jacq clapped his hands together. "Well, Ash, I hope you'll stop by my class sometime. I think the students would love to meet you—and maybe even hear some of your stories."

Ash grinned. "Sure thing! Thanks again for the Pokédex, Jacq. I'll make good use of it."

Jacq chuckled. "I have no doubt about that. Take care, Ash—and good luck on your journey in Paldea!"