Lies.. Lies everywhere

"Well.. I went out to the terrace yesterday to see the city lights in the evening. She was there nearby and we looked at each other. After some moment, she flew to my shoulder and I asked her if she wanted to be my partner. That is how I got her." Ayan said as smoothly as possible. He was great liar in his previous life. 

Thus lying in this life too wasn't that big of deal. Pidgey too nodded her head in approval. This made everyone's jaws hit the floor. The teacher just spoke of space and this Pokémon just came and disproved everything.

"Well you see not all Pokémon are same. Like Ayan's Pidgey here, it had it's own mannerisms and habits and Ayan was lucky enough to be nearby and liked by it. But that doesn't mean that this is the norm.. Very few Pokémon are friendly in the beginning, and thus you need to be careful." 

The class went on for an hour before recess. As the bell rang for recess, the classroom turned into a whirlpool of noise. Desks screeched as students stood, chairs toppled, and conversations sparked like wildfires. But unlike the usual chaos, this time everyone had a focal point: Ayan.

Or more accurately, the Pidgey calmly perched on his shoulder. By the time Ayan had taken three steps from his desk, he was already surrounded. 

"Did you really catch it yourself?"

"Can I pet her?"

"What does she eat?"

"Is she trained to do flips or anything?"

"One at a time, people. She's still getting used to the school noise."

Pidgey tilted her head with practiced elegance, blinking at each student and letting out soft, almost melodic coos. She even allowed one of the braver kids to lightly scratch the feathers atop her head—before lightly pecking his sleeve in disapproval when he tried to touch her wings.

"Pidgey" (I thought this world is calm, what is up with the enthusiasm with these people, hmph!)

"Hey, hands off her wings," Ayan warned."She doesn't like that." Ayan didn't know but the words of Ayan actually gained him a point in friendship counter if he checked his PokeDex now. 

"That's so cool," someone muttered. Just then, the crowd parted slightly as a girl made her way forward.

Elicia.

Elegant and quiet, she wasn't someone who usually walked with the loud crowd. She was one of the very few students in their year who already had a Pokémon—a Budew that often peeked from her bag or followed her to Pokémon studies. Today, Budew peeked out from the crook of her elbow as she stopped beside Ayan.

"Pidgey, huh?" Elicia said. She came from a rich family and apparently she loved grass type Pokémon so her father got her a grass type Pokémon egg and it turned out to be Budew. Roserade was the eventual evolution of Budew and it was known for it's elegance. Thus Elicia loved Budew even more and carried the Pokémon everywhere. 

"Yeah." Ayan nodded, smiling. "She found me."

"That's rare," she replied, looking up at Pidgey with genuine interest. "Budew and I have been partnered since I was seven, and I am finally not alone in the class." Elicia said with a smile and after looking at Pidgey for some more time she said. "Your bond seems natural."

Ayan thought that being the center of attention of the class and now that it had moved away from here, she might show her jealousy and even ask for a battle after class, but it seemed he thought too much. She was just curious. 

Budew chirped from Elicia's arms—and Pidgey replied. For a few seconds, the two Pokémon exchanged a series of polite, almost musical calls.

"Huh. I think they're introducing themselves." Ayan said.

"Looks like it," Elicia agreed with a small smile. "Let me know if you ever want to have them train together."

"I'd like that." 

----

The class started again after recess and honestly Ayan was happy to get the recess over. It was too much attention and even the students from the other sections had come to look at it's Pidgey. Dude, it's just Pidgey, you can see it everywhere. 

If he had gotten some rare flying Pokémon it would be more of a headache. Though Pidgey like the initial attention it got tired by the end and flew off to a nearby tree branch and perched on it. Only when the class started again did it come back to the shoulder of Ayan. 

The Pokémon studies class continued after recess and Ayan paid some attention to it, unlike the other classes. Not because he wanted to learn more, but wanted to see what the difference between his knowledge and the knowledge of the world that humanity had. 

Though it was basic he would be able to figure out the gaps soon and thus paid quite the attention and focus. The class was over by 1 pm and soon it was time for Ayan to return. 

As Ayan stepped through the door, his shoes clicking softly against the clean floor tiles, his mother called from the kitchen.

"You're back early—didn't go to the gym today?"

"I did. This is after school." Ayan dropped his bag by the door and walked into the living room.

And that's when his mother turned, spatula in hand—and froze. Dead still. Her eyes flicked from Ayan's face to his shoulder… where Pidgey blinked at her, feathers puffing up slightly in curiosity.

"Is that—?" she asked.

"A real Pokémon?" came his father's voice from the hallway, followed by footsteps. "Ayan, tell me that's not a plush you won in some claw machine."

"It's not." Ayan said. 

"She's mine."

"Yours!?" His mother's voice went up nearly an octave. Before either of them could launch into another question, Ayan lifted his hands.

"Wait. Before you ask—no, she wasn't stolen, gifted, or part of some sketchy side deal. I met her. We connected. She chose me. I didn't even throw a Poké Ball right away," he added. "We spent some time together first. Then I asked her if she wanted to come with me. She said yes."