Apart from a few teachers, Tetsu, and Sato, no one else knew about Eichi requesting a leave of absence. Everyone else went about their business as usual.
In the blink of an eye, it was Sunday. While other students were out playing or sleeping in the Dormitory Zone, Eichi woke up on time, washed up, ate, and arrived at the teaching building on time.
As soon as he entered the classroom, he saw several teachers he didn't recognize. Eichi quickly greeted them. Director Yanagi certainly thought highly of him, assigning three teachers to proctor his exam.
One of the older male teachers said to him, "Eichi, please place your Pokéballs on the podium. We will conduct a body search."
Eichi nodded in understanding, placed his backpack on the podium, took out a pen, and cooperated with the three teachers for the search.
After confirming that everything was in order, Eichi was seated in the front row as arranged by the teachers. One teacher began to take two test papers from a sealed bag and handed them to him.
Eichi took the papers and quickly scanned the questions.
The first few questions were standard content from this semester, so he started writing immediately.
At the same time, the three teachers sat around him, watching him closely. The questions on the test were not easy; they were all high-difficulty problems, and some were even beyond the syllabus.
Eichi had anticipated that Director Yanagi would include some advanced questions. That was why he only told Director Yanagi that he had self-studied one semester's worth of courses, when, in reality, he had completed all the first-year courses. Therefore, these questions did not stump him.
He wrote smoothly, without pausing for too long on any question. In less than an hour, Eichi was finished. He carefully checked his answers one last time, and after confirming that everything was correct, he stood up and announced, "I am finished."
The same middle-aged male teacher took Eichi's test papers and began grading them right there at Eichi's desk while the two other teachers watched him.
The teacher continuously marked checkmarks, and even halfway through the grading, he hadn't found a single mistake. The teacher looked up at Eichi, then continued grading.
In fact, he was the one who wrote this test. He knew Eichi was a first-year student who had only been in the Academy for a few months, but Director Yanagi had asked him to include advanced questions. Yet, Eichi had answered all of them correctly, and the questions he wrote were very difficult. This Eichi is truly impressive, he thought, feeling a little surprised.
Just as the teacher was grading the final question, Director Yanagi arrived without making a sound. However, Eichi still noticed him. As soon as Director Yanagi reached the door, Eichi called out, "Director Yanagi."
"How was the test, Eichi?" Director Yanagi asked with a smile.
"Not bad," Eichi replied.
The three teachers greeted Director Yanagi when they saw him. Director Yanagi waved, acknowledging them. He then asked the grading teacher, "Are you finished?"
The male teacher stood up, handed the test papers to Director Yanagi, and said, "Director, I'm finished. It's all correct, a perfect score."
Director Yanagi looked unconvinced. "Oh, really? Let me take a look." He took the papers and quickly glanced over them. After a moment, he looked up and praised Eichi. "That's excellent, Eichi. You answered everything correctly. You pass the theoretical assessment."
Director Yanagi smiled on the surface, but inwardly he was thinking: Well done, Eichi. You told me you finished self-studying this semester's courses, but you didn't mention finishing next semester's as well. Eichi looked back at Director Yanagi with a cheerful expression. Director Yanagi had no choice but to say, "Then let's proceed to the next stage: the practical assessment."
***
Director Yanagi led Eichi to the Battle Hall next door.
Once there, Eichi walked to the left side of the field. He was curious as to who his practical opponent would be. The three proctoring teachers walked to the nearby spectators' seats, but Director Yanagi did something different: under Eichi's gaze, he walked straight to the right side of the field.
"Surprised, Eichi?" Director Yanagi asked with a smile. "Your practical assessment opponent is me."
"So it's Director Yanagi," Eichi said. "I hope the Director will go easy on me."
"This is a practical assessment," Director Yanagi countered. "I won't be holding anything back."
One of the teachers stood up and said, "Director, we can begin."
"Then let's start, Eichi," Director Yanagi said, releasing his Pokémon.
A white light converged on the ground, forming a green, cactus-like Pokémon: a Cacturne. The Cacturne's main color was green, and its shape resembled a human, like a scarecrow made of cacti. They have warning coloration, such as yellow eyes and a mouth formed by holes on its face. Dark green spines are scattered along Cacturne's upper arms, legs, and neck. These dark green, diamond-shaped spines extend down the front of its body. Cacturne has a triangular, spiky, inverted structure on its head. This structure is a deeper green than the rest of its body and looks like a hat.
Eichi activated his Eye of the Bug Emperor:
Talent Grade: Excellent
Trainer Rank: Experienced.
Knowing Cacturne's rank, Eichi knew which Pokémon to send out.
"Go, Heracross!"
A burst of white light converged, and Heracross appeared. Heracross was aware of the occasion, and it stared solemnly at the Cacturne.
Director Yanagi smiled. "Heracross, is that your newly caught Pokémon? It looks very good." He then commanded, "Begin! Cacturne, use Ingrain!"
Cacturne responded, and roots continuously emerged from under its feet, anchoring it firmly to the ground. Cacturne itself could no longer move.
"Heracross, use Horn Attack!"
Heracross vibrated its wings and charged toward Cacturne, aiming its large horn.
"Cacturne, use Sandstorm!"
A strong gust of wind and sand immediately picked up, whipping up a Sandstorm. Heracross, caught in the storm, was struck by the sand, but it didn't deviate, continuing to charge toward Cacturne.
Cacturne couldn't dodge, nor did it intend to. "Cacturne, block Heracross!" Director Yanagi commanded.
Cacturne showed no fear in the face of Heracross's attack, raising both hands to intercept the Horn Attack. Although it blocked the move, Heracross's attack was not easy to withstand, and Cacturne sustained damage. However, Director Yanagi smiled faintly. The moment after Cacturne caught Heracross's attack, a green energy surged from the roots anchored beneath its feet, and the damage it had just taken began to heal rapidly.
"Cacturne, use Spiky Shield!"
Cacturne forcibly grabbed Heracross's horn with one hand while swinging its other arm to strike Heracross's body.