Hitching a ride with Lynnea's family, Owen successfully made it back to Fairview.
He and Eevee were dropped off near Fairview High School. Though the atmosphere in the car had been a bit... unusual... Owen had to admit that skipping the maglev train was incredibly convenient. From there, he was less than a kilometer from his house—an easy walk to finish the journey.
Owen hauled his massive backpack up five flights of stairs, Eevee perched on his shoulder like a little coach supervising his workout. He fumbled for his keys and pushed open the door.
"You're back?"
"I'm back," Owen panted.
In the living room, his father was watching TV. Hearing the door, his mother hurried out of the kitchen.
"Good! Our big trainer is finally home!" Owen's father stood up, beaming with pride.
"What's going on? You guys aren't at work today?" Owen asked, dropping his bags by the cabinet.
"The factory gave me the day off, and your mother's workplace did the same. Can you guess why?"
"Is it... because of me?" Owen asked, surprised.
"Exactly! I kept telling them my kid was going places," his mother said, her joy unmistakable. "I'm making a feast today for our big hero, Eevee."
Owen blinked. Wait, clarify that—who exactly is your child here?!
After a bit of explanation from his father, Owen understood. It was all because of the Young Ho-Oh Cup. Somehow, the management at both his parents' workplaces had heard about his championship victory.
To congratulate them, the bosses hadn't just given them a day off—they'd handed out red envelopes with cash bonuses.
"Again?" Owen muttered.
After the incident at the Rift, the Trainer Association had sent a compensation fund, and his parents' employers had sent "sympathy bonuses" then, too. This was a repeat performance.
"Yep! Usually, people only get bonuses like this when their kid gets into a top university. We've already had it happen twice. I bet we'll get a third one after your college entrance exams," his father laughed.
Owen and Eevee shared a look. Well, no one was going to complain about extra money.
However, his father's expression soon turned serious. "Son, two high schools from Metropolis called this morning asking if we'd be willing to send you there for your final year. Is this some kind of new scam?"
"They said it was because of your performance in the Young Ho-Oh Cup," he added.
Owen froze. "We can just call the admissions offices for those schools to verify if it's real."
"The numbers matched the official school info online, but we haven't confirmed yet," his father said.
"Then it's likely real. But... is the Young Ho-Oh Cup really that big of a deal?" Owen was genuinely puzzled. It was just a rookie tournament.
"I don't know the details, but they promised amazing conditions. They'd waive your tuition for senior year and even help your mother and me find jobs and housing over there..." his father continued. "I looked them up. Their resources and university acceptance rates are much higher than Fairview High. If it's real, shouldn't we consider it?"
Like any parents, they wanted the best for their son. They had been debating it all morning, waiting for Owen to get home to give his input.
Owen fell into deep thought.
Ambition naturally pulls people toward better environments. If he could go to Metropolis with free tuition, he was definitely interested.
Having experienced the city, he knew how far behind Fairview was. For a trainer to truly grow, a big city was the prime choice.
But the suddenness of it all was overwhelming. No matter how much of a "dark horse" he was, he was still only sixteen.
While Owen was weighing his options, a guest arrived.
Ethan, the professional trainer, was making his second visit to the house. The first time, only Owen had been home; this time, the whole family was present. Since Ethan was the man who had saved Owen's life at the Rift, his parents treated him like family, immediately offering tea and inviting him for lunch.
Ethan politely declined with a smile. "No need. I'm actually here to discuss something specific with you and Owen."
Owen looked at the older man, already guessing why he was there.
"I'll get straight to the point. After Owen's victory, I assume other schools have contacted you?"
Owen's father nodded. "Yes, two high schools so far. We were just discussing it. What's your take on it, Mr. Ethan?"
Owen's father trusted Ethan implicitly. The man had saved his son's life and refused all gifts and rewards in return. His character was beyond reproach.
"My view is: you could go, but it's not necessarily the best move," Ethan said.
"Let me put it this way: In Metropolis, Owen's starting line might be higher than some, but given your background, the support you can provide him is limited.
Over time, other students will use their massive family resources to close the gap, and Owen will lose his edge.
No matter how talented a trainer is, they need resources. Metropolis is a battlefield of wealth and supplies. Right now, it might not be the right fit for him."
Ethan knew the Metropolis schools had researched Owen's background. The cost of training a "grassroots" trainer was high, and for the sake of resource management, they wouldn't offer him a blank check.
"So, what are you suggesting?" Owen's father asked.
"If Fairview High had nothing to offer, I'd honestly recommend he go. Saving hundreds of thousands in tuition alone would help you a lot," Ethan explained. "But what if Fairview can offer something better?"
"I'm here representing the Fairview Trainer Association. Because of the recent Rift incident in Nanwu Town, our branch has received a surge of extra resources. To use them effectively, the Association and Fairview High are launching the 'Rising Star Project.'"
"The goal is to provide heavy support to elite local rookies during their senior year. This includes waived tuition, monthly stipends, and independent, specialized coaching.
Owen meets every single criterion. If he joins, he'll even have the chance to directly obtain an Evolution Stone for Eevee."
"In Fairview, the competition is lower. The resources we can focus on, Owen specifically, will be no less than what he'd get in a crowded Metropolis school—possibly even more."
Ethan looked at Owen with clear appreciation.
"One more thing: Senior year is only one year. Moving your whole life to Metropolis is a massive disruption you might not be ready for.
Better to wait until he goes to University. Whether it's Metropolis University or Imperial Capital University, those are the real starting lines for a trainer.
High school is just for building the foundation. The resource gap between schools can be bridged with the right strategy."
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