Simon's mom smiled and let it go. You only needed to say thank you once; the rest you tucked away in your heart—bring it up too often and it just felt awkward.
"How'd you end up over here? I thought your exam site was over by No. 2 Secondary? Are you done already?"
This time, Jace's dad spoke up. He'd practically watched Auron grow up. Because of his temperament, Jace's dad never put on airs with Auron; he just asked straight.
"Of course. Got lucky—first batch into the test hall, so I got out quick."
Auron answered without a care. He knew Jace's dad had the same tone with everyone, and he wasn't afraid of him. The man had just been a teacher too long; the stern face was habit. Inside, he was softer than anyone.
"How'd you do? Did you beat the opponent?"
Jace's mom leaned in with a bright smile. The Rowans were a lot like the Vales—at home, one parent played "strict," the other "gentle." The difference was, in Auron's house it was Mom who was strict and Dad who was mild, while in Jace's family it was Dad who was strict and Mom who was easygoing.
"Sure did. I picked the higher difficulty—the one with a Trainer—and I still took the win in the end."
"Really? That's wonderful. I knew you could do it."
Auron couldn't help the pride in his voice when he spoke to Jace's mom. He'd long figured out her style: praise-forward. Since he was little, Auron had loved being praised by her.
Simon's dad and mom traded a startled look. They'd already heard from Yin Hanling about Auron's strength, but for Auron to show up here this fast meant even a 985-caliber university's Trainer, fielding a higher-difficulty exam Pokémon, had been crushed by him. They'd seen that kind of thing before—but only online, or on those news digests you skim on the papers. This was the first time it had happened around them.
Auron chatted with the adults a little longer, answering every sort of question with easy polish.
He'd never been great in school growing up, but his parents knew it wasn't because he couldn't learn—it was because he didn't like studying. They couldn't do much about his grades, but they never slacked on teaching him manners or how to carry a conversation. So even talking with adults didn't faze him. A bit of that ease came from those old wage-slave days too.
After a while, Yin Hanling bolted out through the main gate, waving as she ran toward them, grinning ear to ear. Jace's dad couldn't help clicking his tongue. Just this morning, this lively, sunny girl had been the one chasing his son around with a hammer.
Hanling flew straight into her mother's arms and said happily, "I passed! Higher difficulty with a Trainer—I won!"
Simon's mom gently patted her back, smiling. "Good—good—my daughter's the best."
Hanling was about to say more when, out of the corner of her eye, she caught Auron standing to the side with a smile. She quickly slipped from her mother's embrace and asked, "Huh? Wasn't your site at No. 2 Secondary? How'd you get here? Don't tell me you got one-shot."
Auron rolled his eyes. "Please. If I got one-shot, do you think things would go well for you? Don't forget—none of you have beaten me."
Hanling puffed out her cheeks, grumbling, "Tch. How do we know you didn't run into a Steel/Rock typing? Poison-type gets blanked, Flying-type gets quartered."
Auron snorted. "Tch. How many Steel/Rock combos are there? Like I'd be unlucky enough to bump into the Aggron line or a Probopass. Besides, my Golbat's Shadow Ball doesn't just sit there and look pretty."
While the two of them bickered, Jace appeared at the school gate. Unlike Hanling, he came out with his hands behind his head, strolling along at an easy pace.
The moment he stepped out, he saw Auron. His eyes lit up, and he quickened his steps.
"Yo—done already? That's solid."
Auron turned toward Hanling, jerked his chin at Jace, and said, "Hear that? That's how you talk. Learn from him."
"Tch."
Thanks to Auron, Hanling, and Jace all being in the first batch, the three of them were also the earliest to come out. After chatting awhile longer, Jace's dad and mom and Simon's parents said they'd leave the time to the kids and head home first. If everyone wanted to get together in the evening, they could eat out—but they should head back early.
The three agreed, so the parents left with easy minds.
Not long after they'd gone, all three of the kids' phones chimed with message alerts. They each picked up their phones to find Tang Yunqin talking in the group chat.
Tang Yunqin: @Auron Vale I'm done too. Where are you? I'll come find you~
Auron Vale: I'm at Vantora No. 3 Primary. Come over. Jace Rowan, Tim Wynn, and Yin Hanling are all here.
Tang Yunqin: Okayyy_
Tang Yunqin arrived not long after, but even with her there, they still needed to wait for Tim.
Among them, it looked like only Tim Wynn and Simon Greaves weren't in the first batch—otherwise they would've come out by now. Even if Simon wasn't here, he would've asked in the group where to meet.
They waited a long time before Tim finally came out. He'd gone in late, but he passed quickly.
"Now it's just Simon," Auron sighed. He'd been the first to finish and had waited ages, but there was still no word from Simon in the group. Hanling hadn't gotten a call from him either.
…
At Simon's house, his dad, You Mingda, was sprawled on the sofa watching TV when something in his pocket jabbed his thigh. He pulled it out and tossed it on the coffee table, then kept watching.
Two or three minutes later, Simon's mom came out of the kitchen humming, carrying a plate of fruit. She was about to flop onto the sofa to binge the show with him when something on the coffee table caught her eye.
She picked it up—it was Simon's phone.
"This kid. How did he forget his phone at home?" she said, baffled.
All of Simon's dad's attention was on the TV. He replied absentmindedly, "It's fine. He's with Hanling—she brought her phone."
No sooner were the words out than both of them froze. In the next heartbeat, they snatched up the car keys and bolted out the door.
…
At another exam site, Simon stood alone by the school gate. He'd been waiting there for a while.
"Huh? Where'd my mom and dad go? They just dropped me off. How are they gone already? At least leave the phone with me if you're going to drive off…"
A little later—
"Should I go find Hanling? Her site is at No. 3 Primary. But if I go there and she comes here, then what?"
A dozen thoughts chased each other through Simon's head before he decided to stay put and wait for someone to find him. If you got separated, the best thing to do was not to wander.
…
After another stretch of waiting, everyone's phones pinged again. They opened the group to find a message from Simon.
Simon Greaves: …Where…are you guys?
Yin Hanling: We're at No. 3 Primary. Hurry over.
Simon Greaves: Okay…
In no time, a car pulled up beside them. Simon climbed out of the passenger seat, face calm. The driver's window slid down—his dad stuck his head out, gave the group an embarrassed greeting, and then drove off in a hurry.
No one dwelled on it. They roped Simon in and started talking about what to eat.
Jace made a suggestion. "How about hot pot? My treat."
Thunk—
With a crisp sound, the Poké Ball at Auron's waist popped open. A Munchlax materialized, chewing on its finger, eyes blazing as it appeared in front of the group. It craned its neck, doing its utmost to edge its way into the circle.
(End of chapter)