"Pokémon Identification Theory?"
"Bro, you didn't... forget about your makeup exam, did you?"
Hearing Rowan repeat the name of the subject, the person on the other end of the call seemed a bit helpless. However, Rowan quickly responded, so he didn't think there was anything wrong.
"Ahem, no, I just overslept. Where is it again? I'll head over now."
"It's at the Student Center. There's still over twenty minutes left; if you leave now, you can still make it in time."
"Got it."
After hanging up, Rowan opened the map app on his phone to check the location of the school. Fortunately, nothing had changed—it was still the same school layout he remembered.
The "Student Center" referred to the School Activity Center, located in the southeastern part of the school.
When he first rented an apartment, he was lucky to meet an old man from a residential area nearby school who he got along with. Thanks to that, he was able to rent a conveniently located small apartment at a relatively low price—just a few hundred meters away from the school's main entrance in a straight line.
As for the source of funds, aside from the money he had saved up from part-time jobs during holidays, there was also an insurance policy given to him by the orphanage director. It stipulated that as long as he got admitted to an undergraduate program, he would receive a lump sum—enough to cover his living expenses throughout university, provided he didn't spend extravagantly.
There was also another portion of the funds that would be granted to him after graduation. This was one of the main reasons Rowan was determined to take the makeup exam. Besides, no matter how much the world had changed, having an extra academic credential in peaceful times was always a good thing.
The exam location wasn't a problem, but the subject itself was. Rowan had never heard of a course called "Pokémon Identification Theory," yet in a way, it made perfect sense.
Since he's already crossed over, Rowan felt this was the biggest change brought by the different world—Pokémon themselves were fantastical beings. They harbored nearly limitless potential and formidable power, with Arceus at the very origin even elevated to the level of a multiverse creation god.
Although he had yet to fully understand the situation of this world, Rowan could tell that it was an era where Pokémon and humans generally coexisted peacefully. It was only natural that humans would study and research Pokémon, even incorporating them into school curriculum.
Still, no matter what the exam it was, it didn't make much difference to Rowan. After all, it had been far too long since he graduated.
Even though he had successfully graduated back then, after all these years, he had long since forgotten most of what he learned. If he had crossed over just a little earlier, Rowan wasn't even sure if he would have gotten into this place.
Fortunately, this was the final round of exams before graduation, and the questions were mostly tailored for each student.
Rowan quickly found his exam materials on his phone. The written test consisted of eleven questions in total, with ten of them being mandatory. Answering at least six correctly would be enough to pass—just like the standard subject exams he remembered.
However, these exam questions…
Question 1: Based on the given circular shadow, identify the Pokémon.
There were no hints other than a supposed black circular shape. There were at least several Pokémon that fit this description—but the correct answer turned out to be Jigglypuff viewed from above. And this wasn't the only question of its kind.
Question 2: Which Pokémon does this type of flame belong to?
Answer: Infernape
Without the answer key, Rowan was certain these questions would have completely stumped him.
And these were the simplified, special versions of the questions meant to boost graduation rates. If it had been the original version, Rowan might as well prepare to repeat a year.
With his knowledge of Pokémon, memorizing these questions quickly wasn't too difficult. Besides, these test questions weren't all that different from the abstract daily tasks in the games.
By the time Rowan finished getting dressed, Nekomi had already prepared his exam permit and exam supplies—she had even unlocked his bike.
"Let's go. Once the exam's over, we can go out for a stroll."
"Meow~"
Rowan didn't bother looking for Nekomi's Poké Ball—she was one of those Pokémon who disliked being inside one. Aside from the very first time she was released from it, Nekomi spent almost all her time outside the Poké Ball.
After heading downstairs, Nekomi effortlessly hopped onto the back seat of Rowan's bike, naturally wrapping her arms around his waist as they set off toward the exam venue together.
"Bees..."
Along the way, Rowan observed his surroundings. He spotted ordinary bees and some small flying insects fluttering among the flowers. It seemed that this world wasn't inhabited solely by humans and Pokémon—at the very least, insects still existed.
But there were far more signs of Pokémon's presence.
Outside a "Snow King" store, its mascot was "taunting" the nearby Luckin Coffee outlet. However, the Snow King mascot wasn't alone—a companion dressed as a small Snorlax stood beside it, likely part of some new collaboration.
On the other hand, Luckin Coffee had a more chibi-style Stantler mascot, who seemed a bit reserved—unlike the Snow King staff, who had completely let loose under their costumes. As a result, the Stantler was losing ground in this playful "battle," and Snow King had already claimed half of Luckin's storefront space.
Near a loading truck, Rowan caught a glimpse of a Machoke—its efficiency was clearly far superior to that of humans.
Before long, Rowan arrived at the school gate. Inside the school, there were other students accompanied by their Pokémon, though they weren't particularly numerous. Many of them were heading in the same direction as Rowan.
The Meowscarada sitting on the back of his bike attracted quite a bit of attention. In Illumina, Meowscarada wasn't a common Pokémon. Some people were seeing a real Meowscarada for the first time, while others had never even heard of this species before.
Even within the same school, different majors had different admission requirements, and everyone made different choices. Pokémon were amazing, but life wasn't impossible without them. Some people simply had no interest in them at all.
Making his way through the crowd, Rowan quickly arrived at the activity center in the corner of the school. However, this activity center was far more grandiose than the one in his memories. Nearby, a display board stood tall, showcasing the "2016 Pokémon Data Management Major Employment Rate Rankings."
There were also quite a few other exam candidates around, holding books like "The Ecological Atlas of the Galar Region" and "Factors Influencing Regional Pokémon Formation."
"Stop looking around! Over here!"
Just as Rowan was mentally comparing the changes in the activity center, someone at the entrance spotted him. It was Zhang Lin, the classmate who had called earlier to remind him to hurry over.
"You really are too relaxed—it's almost time, and you're still not rushing... Wait a minute, Meowscarada? Is that yours?"
"Yeah."
"You sly dog! I've never seen you bring a Pokémon out in all four years, and now you suddenly have one? Why did you even borrow mine then?"
"Just in case. Better to be overprepared—I really don't want to repeat another year."
Though Pokémon Identification Theory sounded like a theoretical course, it actually included practical assessments. Students could either bring their own Pokémon or rent one from the school. Generally, using a familiar Pokémon increased the chances of passing.
"This fur color… You must've put in a lot of effort raising it. So, did all that money you saved from being stingy go into your Pokémon?"
"Not really. Anyway, let's talk later—see you after the exam."
"I've already registered Weavile with the examiners for you. Just scan your ID when you get there. With your Meowscarada, you should be all set. I'll be waiting for you at the food court. Want me to buy you something to eat?"
"No need. I'll decide when I get there. See you later."
Taking the Poké Ball containing Weavile, Rowan entered the exam hall with Nekomi. He and Zhang Lin had always been close friends.
Rowan had taken some time earlier to sort through this altered world's relations based on the notes in his phone.
Their majors had undergone some degree of change. Rowan's field now focused more on Pokémon data management, whereas Zhang Lin's field was Pokémon observation and research. The two had become familiar through common required courses.
The quality of Nekomi's fur coat reflected a certain level of breeding effort. While appearance wasn't everything, it revealed quite a lot.
As a top student, Zhang Lin had extensive theoretical knowledge, which was why he said that it has been raised well.
However, Rowan having a Meowscarada didn't seem particularly strange to him. Unlike common housebird and housebug Pokémon* that were everywhere, the Starter Pokémon weren't as widespread, but they're not as rare as giant pandas either. Their distribution was highly regional. [TN: Pokemon that can be captured in the early stages of the games.]
Aside from wild populations, every region had facilities dedicated to raising Starter Pokémon. Hoenn's Mudkip Swamps and Paldea's Sprigatito Cat House were prime examples.
Acquiring a Starter Pokémon wasn't complicated either. As long as one was of the right age and lived near a Pokémon Research Lab, they could apply in advance and receive a Pokémon when setting out on their journey.
Rowan having a Paldean Pokémon wasn't beyond comprehension. After all, everyone had their own little secrets. If Zhang Lin had any thoughts about it, it was probably whether he could observe Meowscarada closely enough to write a research report.
As Zhang Lin mulled over this idea, Rowan and Nekomi arrived at the entrance to the exam hall.