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Chapter 27: Welcome Ceremony -2 | Pokémon
🕑 Added 2025-08-03 10:19:41 +0000 UTCOrin Murasaki Entrance Exam Score: 21/25 points
Proff. Oak raised a hand toward the front row.
“Please welcome to the stage—Giselle Yuto!”
A few spotlights shifted and focused on a girl rising gracefully from the front row. The nearest holographic screen zoomed in on her.
She had elegant, long brown hair, perfectly styled, and wore a custom school uniform with a notably short pleated skirt, showing off her long, toned legs. Her posture was confident, refined—but her faint smile gave off just the right hint of superiority.
The applause was sparse but growing, mostly from male students already taken in by her looks and presence.
“She’s... pretty,” Orin muttered under his breath, eyes on the screen, while wondering how much he scored himself.
A pang of disappointment also struck him as he remembered the bet he had made with his Big Sis. He had really hoped to be the top scorer himself.
Still, he couldn’t help but admire the girl who topped as Giselle made her way to the stage, walking with practiced poise.
"She looks weak," Orin heard Janine mutter making him sweat.
Giselle approached Professor Oak and gave a small bow.
“Hello, Professor Oak. I’m honored to get the top rank, and I’ve always been a fan of your work,” she said with flawless grace.
Orin’s eyes narrowed slightly now that he got a good look at her face.
So that was Giselle… The name rang a bell.
He remembered her from the old Pokémon anime—the top student at the Pokémon School. The prideful girl who once looked down on Ash and his friends.
“Thank you, Giselle. Congratulations on securing first place in the entrance exam,” Professor Oak said warmly. “And Nexus Academy always gives winners their just rewards.”
A few lights shifted toward Giselle as Oak continued, “As the top scorer, you will receive a free upgrade to your Pokédex, and 5,000 Nexus Credits will be transferred to your account.”
“Thank you, Professor,” Giselle replied with a sweet, modest-looking smile.
The applause was light again, but present.
Orin perked up at the word Nexus Credits—the second time he had heard that term.
Is 5,000 a lot? he wondered, but the Pokédex upgrade was what really made him envious.
“The second place scorer will receive 3,000 NCs,” Oak continued. “Third place gets 2,000, and both fourth and fifth place will receive 1,000 NCs each.”
He gave the crowd a wink. “Check your mailboxes later to see if you have earned one of these prizes. Oh, and there’s a hidden House Point bonus tied to your rankings—but you will know that eventually.”
He turned to Giselle again. “Now, do you have a few words for your friends?”
“I do, Professor.” She stepped up and looked over the crowd.
“Even at my previous school, the prestigious PokéTech, I was the top scorer. And now, it seems that even in this top-tier academy, I’m fated to shine brightest,” she said with a gentle smile. “I do feel a little bad for the rest of you—who sadly aren’t blessed with my talent, my beauty, or my humble attitude.”
She gave a perfectly timed pause—just long enough for some of the boys to clap and cheer.
“Back in PokéTech, they used to call me a star,” she continued with a soft giggle. “But really, I’m just Giselle☆.” She struck a casual, picture-perfect pose.
Orin raised an eyebrow, surprised at how many guys were clapping now.
“Is she… praising herself?” Yellow asked innocently, tilting her head.
“Something like that,” Orin said with a chuckle, recognizing her exact personality from the old anime.
"She is just a total snob," Janine said as her hand kept moving to her ninja pouch.
Giselle clasped her hands sweetly. “I hope all of you spend this year respecting one another—and your future Pokémon. May this Millennium Ceremony be remembered as a year of peace and unity. I will also do my best to be a guiding star for you all... so you always have someone to look up to. Thank you.”
She gave the professor a graceful nod and stepped down, waving with poise as a surprising number of boys stood to applaud.
Meanwhile, a few others were already starting to pack up.
“Uhm—umoh—yes, such a... wonderful speech by the young Miss Giselle,” Professor Oak said, clearing his throat awkwardly. “But I still have a few things left to announce, so please don’t leave just yet!”
Orin couldn’t help but chuckle at the helpless expression on Professor Oak’s face. Still, his eyes drifted once more to where Giselle was sitting.
Wouldn’t be a bad idea to get close to her, he thought. If nothing else, she was bound to be a strong contender for the top spot in the Nexus Rankings… and maybe, just maybe, I could fix her?
“Many of you might know me because of my invention—the Pokédex,” Professor Oak resumed, as a rotating hologram of the classic red device appeared behind him. “It’s a powerful piece of tech that’s incredibly helpful for anyone who wants to raise and train Pokémon.”
The hologram expanded, showing a wireframe model, details, and historical versions of the Pokédex.
“Now, due to certain regulations, Pokédexes are currently not available for general public use. However—” he raised his hand dramatically “—every student accepted into Nexus receives one for free.”
As soon as he finished his sentence, a gentle flash of light passed over the hall like a wave. In an instant, a red rectangular device appeared in every student's lap.
Orin blinked in surprise. He could have sworn he felt some kind of faint energy sweep through the auditorium, but it was gone just as quickly as it came.
“A Pokédex... wow,” he muttered, picking it up.
Holding the real thing in his hands—solid, cool, and iconic—felt surreal. Owning a Pokédex had always been one of those childhood dreams, and now it was real.
He glanced around. Everyone seemed to have one, just like him.
“Such an old model” Janine muttered, picking hers up.
“But I already have a mobile phone, and it’s smaller than this,” Yellow said, adjusting her straw hat as she inspected the device curiously.
“It’s not just a mobile phone,” Orin said, grinning. “Wait—let Professor Oak explain.”
“The Pokédex you’ve just received will serve as your student ID, your wallet, your campus map, and much more,” Professor Oak explained with a warm smile. “Think of it as a phone—but one that’s fully integrated with Nexus Academy’s systems.”
He paused for a moment before continuing. “To activate it, simply open the flap. It will scan your face and register you as the owner.”
Orin immediately flipped his open. Inside was the classic design he had seen in old images online—like a retro handheld mobile, complete with a physical keypad. A blue light at the top blinked briefly, then scanned his face.
User Registered
Please type your name:
Orin typed in his name with a grin and leaned over to help Yellow register hers too. Janine had already done hers.
“You can configure your Pokédex later to your liking,” Oak continued. “There will be a dedicated session today that goes over its full features, so don’t worry if you feel lost. This is the classic model—strong, reliable, and built to last. You can upgrade it later using Nexus Credits, but this version is the most durable by far.”
His expression turned a bit more serious. “That said, treat it with care. This is the only one you get for free—replacements will cost you. It’s the result of decades of research, not just mine, but of brilliant minds who worked alongside me. I hope you treat it with the respect it deserves.”
Orin looked down at his Pokédex, a nostalgic smile spreading across his face. Just owning the basic version was already a dream come true—his inner pokemon fan was doing backflips in happiness.
“Now,” Professor Oak said, his voice growing more solemn, “according to ancient Unity Isle legend, a thousand years ago—when the world was fractured by war—four heroes, trainers from different regions, came together. Each one embodied a unique trait. United, they founded this Academy, which became a Nexus of peace and hope for both humans and Pokémon.”
All eyes were back on the stage as the lights dimmed slightly.
“To honour those founders, Nexus Academy is divided into four Houses: the courageous Valor House, the wise Lumina House, the creative Mystic House, and the ambitious Eclipse House.”
As he spoke, four shimmering holographic sigils rose into view:
Valor in red,
Lumina in yellow,
Mystic in blue,
Eclipse in black.
Orin leaned forward with interest, eyes scanning each of the symbols.
So this was like Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin… but with a Pokémon twist?
"The Four Houses do not divide us—they reflect us. In knowing ourselves, we better understand one another. That is the heart of Unity," Professor Oak declared, his voice calm but commanding.
"The courage of House Valor.
The wisdom of Lumina.
The creativity of Mystic.
The ambition of Eclipse.
Together, they shaped this place of learning, peace, and purpose."
As he spoke, the four house symbols slowly drifted toward one another in the air, merging into a single emblem—the symbol of Nexus Academy.
A wave of applause followed, echoing through the vast auditorium. Orin and Yellow joined in as well, both a little awed by the moment. Janine just clapped slowly.
“Now,” Oak continued, raising a hand toward the ceiling, “there is an ancient tradition by which students are assigned to their Houses. Look above you... behold the miracle of Nexus Academy. The symbol of our Unity… the Nexus Crystal.”
High above them, the metal casing of a large chandelier slowly opened. From within, a radiant rainbow-colored crystal emerged, glowing with shifting light.
“That’s what I felt earlier,” Orin muttered, eyes wide. “That wave of energy—it came from this.”
“It is so pretty," Yellow said in awe.
“It won’t fall on us right?” Janine said in a panic, already half standing.
Professor Oak continued. “This crystal has resided in the halls of Nexus Spire since the Academy’s founding a thousand years ago. It doesn’t judge who you are—it listens to who you might become.”
He paced slowly, letting the weight of his words hang in the air.
“It doesn’t test your strength, your intellect, or your dreams. Instead, it senses which path will best nurture your growth. You may feel drawn—to courage, wisdom, creativity, or ambition—not because you lack the others, but because that path calls to you right now.”
The crystal began to glow brighter, casting shimmering bands of rainbow light across the entire auditorium. As it passed over the students, Orin felt it again—that strange, warm energy—not just washing through him, but settling inside him, like a quiet hum beneath his skin.
“All lights are needed for the world to shine,” Professor Oak said, his voice resonant and proud. “Remember, no House is superior. Each one trains different kinds of champions. In fact, all Houses have produced League Champions, Pokémon Professors, Rangers, and even League Leaders.”
He gave them all a meaningful look.
“You’ll train in all disciplines, explore every path. Your House is just your starting point—not your ending point.”
He smiled warmly as the light from the Nexus Crystal slowly dimmed.
“You may feel drawn to bravery, or a calling to lead others—then Valor will nurture that fire within you,” Professor Oak said, as a red door lit up at the far right of the hall.
“Perhaps your heart seeks truth, strategy, or the pursuit of knowledge—then that gentle light belongs to Lumina.” A yellow door beside it shimmered to life.
“Maybe your journey isn’t about finding answers, but asking the right questions—Mystic welcomes the curious and the unconventional,” he continued, gesturing to the opposite side as a blue door lit up there.
“And some of you carry quiet ambition, sharp intuition, or secrets even you haven’t yet uncovered—Eclipse holds space for that too,” he said with a smile, as the last door glowed with a deep black light.
“Now,” Professor Oak concluded warmly, “go to the House that calls to you. Follow the path you wish to walk.”
[Orin Murasaki obtained Pokedex 1.0]
