Sugisaki also spoke up, "Our company brought a few young geniuses along as well."
"The League has sent a little fellow over too," Moriguchi added.
After hearing everyone's input, the wrinkles on Moriguchi's face seemed to smooth out slightly. "It's truly quite mysterious," he remarked. "In previous years, across the three assessment sites in Johto, it was lucky to have even a few promising prospects. Yet this year, so many have emerged at the Goldenrod City site alone."
Nagayama touched his teacup, looking somewhat puzzled. "It is indeed a bit strange."
"By the way," Nagayama continued, "Kant, we all have decent students here. What about your side? Silver Academy is the best comprehensive school in our region; you should have plenty of good prospects."
Professor Kant rubbed his head and laughed. "There are a few good ones."
Inwardly, however, he was thinking: The ones who came this time are mostly fourth-year students, with only a few third-years. There's even one second-year, but I know that second-year is just here for the experience. Although there are several with decent talent, they are already fourteen years old. Compared to these others, they are a bit on the older side.
It looks like I can only rely on Eichi this time. Thank goodness Eichi is here. Eichi, oh Eichi, you have to do me proud, or else I'm going to lose face.
Nagayama clapped his hands and said, "As you all know, after every assessment, the results of all candidates are ranked. Why don't we try to guess how many will achieve three A-grades and who will take first place?"
Once Nagayama mentioned this, everyone's interest was piqued. Everyone knew that although the four assessment sections were scored numerically, they were eventually converted into grades.
From top to bottom, the grades were: S, A, B, C, D, and E. These corresponded to scores of 98 and above, 90, 80, 70, 60, and below 60, respectively.
Based on results from previous years, achieving three A-grades marked a candidate as a genius. Furthermore, in most years, anyone with three A-grades was essentially guaranteed a spot in the top three. Occasionally, particularly formidable geniuses would appear who could achieve 4A or even S-grades—sometimes multiple S-grades. The strongest Breeding Master in the League today had started with three S-grades and one A-grade.
Sakuraba toyed with her hair and spoke slowly, "I won't guess the first place winner, but I believe the little fellow I brought should be able to get three A-grades."
"I have quite a bit of confidence in mine as well," Sugisaki said. "I think they can do it too."
Moriguchi added, "Since you all are so confident, I can't lose faith in ours. Three A-grades should be no problem."
Nagayama glanced at Kant and asked, "Kant, why aren't you saying anything? How about this: let's have a bet between us to see whose student ranks the highest in the final standings?"
"Are you sure you want to bet?" Professor Kant asked with some uncertainty.
Seeing Professor Kant's expression made Nagayama even more determined to follow through. Since Kant seemed reluctant, Nagayama decided to add some incentive. "How about this: if you win, I'll give you the formula for a Pokéblock I recently researched."
Professor Kant's eyes lit up, and he snapped his head up. "Really?"
"Of course it's real," Nagayama said. "But if you lose, you have to give me that Pokéblock formula concerning Gyarados."
Hearing this, Professor Kant hesitated for a moment. However, that Pokéblock formula was simply too tempting, so he decided to agree.
"Fine, a bet it is," Kant declared. "Everyone must be a witness so Nagayama can't back out later."
"With me here, he won't be able to back out," Moriguchi assured him.
"Thank you, Senior Moriguchi," Professor Kant said.
Nagayama laughed. "You're making it sound as if I'm bound to lose. I'll give you all a surprise when the time comes. Just wait and see."
He picked up his teacup and took a large gulp while the others simply smiled and remained silent.
At this moment, Eichi was unaware of what was happening on Professor Kant's end. Having finished the exam, he gave it a general evaluation: the paper was not difficult.
By completing the simple and medium-difficulty questions at the beginning, one would earn roughly 80 points. However, the remaining 20 points were not easy to get. Those 20 points were reserved for true top-tier students. With his strength, these difficult problems were no issue at all.
There was, however, one small sub-question Eichi was slightly unsure about; he felt it wasn't perfectly solved and might cost him a point or two. Therefore, he estimated he could score at least a 98 without issue.
After checking everything over, Eichi handed in his paper and walked out of the classroom under the watchful eyes of the others. The looks they gave him were all the same. Even without looking back, Eichi knew what they were thinking, and the feeling was incredibly satisfying.
He went downstairs to his seat. Professor Kant hadn't returned yet, and Eichi had no idea what he was up to. Feeling a bit bored, he pulled out a book and started reading.
The other teachers waiting below looked at Eichi as if they had seen a ghost. One teacher even thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. He checked his watch—What's the situation? Finished in half an hour?
He probably didn't know how to do it, so he came down early, that person comforted himself. His mood improved significantly after that thought.
A while later, another boy with green hair wearing a dark blue tracksuit came down. He looked quite arrogant, but the moment he saw Eichi, his expression changed. Like the teacher, he assumed Eichi had only left early because the test was too hard for him.
Closely following him was a girl with black hair and a long white dress. She was very beautiful, with bright eyes and delicate features, carrying a quiet and gentle aura. After coming down, she glanced at the green-haired boy and Eichi before walking to the side to wait. During her wait, she stole another glance at Eichi.
Later, several more boys came down, all quite young. As time passed, more and more people finished.
A few students from Silver Academy also came down, including the senior who had chatted with Eichi on the school plaza last time. Eichi hadn't expected him to be so capable; he was actually a top student!
The moment the senior saw Eichi, he asked, "Eichi, junior, why did you come down so quickly?"
Eichi was about to explain, "I..."
But the senior cut him off, giving him no chance to speak. "I know, you did your best. But even if you don't know the answers, you should stay and keep grinding; you might suddenly figure it out."
Eichi: ...
Your ability to jump to conclusions is truly something. I haven't said a thing, and you already 'know'.
It was worth mentioning that this senior's name was Diao Kato. Fortunately, it wasn't Taka Kato. When Eichi first heard his name, he had jokingly asked if Taka Kato was related to him. Eichi had intended it as a joke, but to his surprise, Diao actually answered—his older brother's name was indeed Taka Kato.
This family is truly something, Eichi thought, not knowing what to say.