POKEMON : THE WAY OF PERCEPTION

"That is, if I were the principal, I would never allow these wild trainers to enter the school. They only tarnish the noble atmosphere of our academy!" A girl named Stephanie nodded repeatedly, agreeing with the elegant Stephanie's statement.

Not only her, but many other students standing nearby also nodded in agreement. From their perspective, these wild trainers didn't belong in a prestigious school like theirs—they weren't qualified to step foot here!

Ash noticed their disdainful behavior and frowned slightly. Even Pikachu, perched on his shoulder, showed a hint of displeasure. However, Ash didn't bother to argue; it simply wasn't worth the effort.

Initially, Brock had been taken by Stephanie's noble demeanor and beauty, despite her being younger than him. However, after hearing her words, his interest instantly evaporated.

Misty, on the other hand, was visibly irritated. In her view, these students were the ones who should be ashamed. Despite their holier-than-thou attitude, their school hadn't produced a single graduate in two years! Yet, here they were, mocking others?

As her frustration grew, Misty stepped forward, ready to confront them.

"Let it go, Misty," Ash said calmly, grabbing her hand. He shook his head lightly, silently asking her to hold back.

"But... they're being so rude!" Misty protested, feeling aggrieved. The students' taunts were infuriating. What gave them the right to look down on other trainers?

Ash held firm, determined not to stoop to their level. However, this group of self-important students wasn't satisfied with leaving Ash and his friends alone. Their jeers grew louder and bolder, as if egged on by the sight of Misty's restrained indignation.

"Look at them—they're cowards," one boy sneered. "These trainers don't even have the guts to defend themselves!"

"No wonder. We're elite students of the Pokémon Research Academy, after all," added Stephanie with a mocking laugh, hiding her mouth behind a delicate folding fan. "How could these wild trainers dare to challenge us?"

The group burst into laughter, their arrogance palpable. Ash's patience began to wear thin. He turned to Misty and nodded, silently giving her permission to speak. Then, without hesitation, Ash walked toward the group, determined to confront them himself.

"Finally stepping up, are you?" a smug student called out, clearly unimpressed.

Ash stopped in front of the crowd and fixed them with a calm, unyielding gaze. "Is this the quality of students from the world-renowned Pokémon Research Academy?" he asked flatly.

His words hit a nerve. The students bristled like startled Meowths, their arrogance replaced by anger. Ash's remark had struck at their pride, highlighting the truth they preferred to ignore.

"What did you say?!" one student demanded, teeth clenched in fury.

"If you truly had quality," Ash replied evenly, "you wouldn't behave like this—mocking others, looking down on people. No... even behind closed doors, you wouldn't talk this way." He shook his head, his tone filled with disappointment. "No wonder this school hasn't had a single graduate in two years."

The truth stung, leaving the students fumbling for a response. Their faces flushed with anger and embarrassment as they stared daggers at Ash.

"Enough!" a sharp voice cut through the commotion. The crowd fell silent as Stephanie—who now introduced herself as Yuto Sundae—stepped forward.

Ash's eyes flickered with curiosity. It was impressive how this girl commanded such respect from the group with just a word.

"You must be trainers challenging the Pokémon League, correct?" Yuto Sundae asked, her elegant demeanor intact as she studied Ash and his companions.

Ash didn't respond, his calm gaze never wavering. He wasn't about to be swayed by her beauty or noble air.

And Yuto Sundae was indeed beautiful—arguably the most stunning girl Ash had seen since arriving in this world. Even Misty and her sisters couldn't quite compare. Her allure wasn't purely physical; it was her refined, confident presence that set her apart.

But Ash wasn't impressed. He preferred the cheerful, kind-hearted personality of someone like Misty.

Misty, unaware of Ash's thoughts, stepped forward protectively. She couldn't deny feeling a bit self-conscious in the face of Yuto Sundae's poise and elegance, but she wouldn't let that stop her.

"So what if we are?" Misty challenged, glaring at Yuto Sundae.

Yuto Sundae glanced at Misty briefly before dismissing her with an air of indifference. "As trainers, you must be quite strong," she said, shifting her attention back to Ash.

"My name is Yuto Sundae," she continued, "top trainer of the Kanto branch of the Pokémon Research Academy."

Ash remained unfazed. "And?"

Yuto Sundae's brow twitched slightly at his nonchalance, but she quickly regained her composure. "If I were to challenge you to a battle, you wouldn't refuse, would you?"

Her tone was confident, even a little condescending. She seemed eager to demonstrate the gap between their abilities and prove the superiority of her prestigious education.

"You want to challenge Ash?" Misty asked incredulously, exchanging a glance with Brock. They couldn't hide their amusement.

Among the trio, Ash was undoubtedly the strongest. Brock, the former Pewter City Gym Leader, was also formidable. Misty had her own strengths, particularly with Water Pokémon, but even she recognized that Ash was on another level.

Yuto Sundae's logic, however, wasn't entirely flawed. From an outsider's perspective, Pikachu appeared to be an ordinary Pokémon, and Ash seemed like the least intimidating of the group.

In reality, the opposite was true. Yuto Sundae's confidence was based on common sense, but she had underestimated the person standing before her.

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