A second passed. Then two seconds passed.
Kaisen did not fall.
Not only that, he stepped out of the car with a "confused" expression and looked back. Even the pedestrians and Officer Megure cast doubtful glances. Tetsu Tahara thought he had missed his target and pulled the trigger again.
Bang!
This time, everyone witnessed the attempted murder. A blogger who had been out walking his dog and recording a vlog accidentally turned his camera in that direction due to the first shot. The entire process was recorded—the firing of the bullet and its eventual halt mid-air in front of Kaisen, unable to advance.
At that moment, Tetsu Tahara opened his eyes wide and saw the bullet suspended in the air before it fell to the ground.
"Damn it!"
He quickly grabbed a Poké Ball and released it. A giant Beedrill, about 1 meter tall with a yellow body and black stripes, appeared.
"Beedrill, use Poison Sting—go for the kill!"
But at the same time, not only did Tahara throw out his Pokémon, Kaisen and Officer Megure also sent out their own—Fafninter and Raiden.
Fafninter, a pseudo-legendary Pokémon, was Kaisen's trump card. It was the partner he received when he started his journey in Dragon Village, home to the Meteor People.
Unlike most dragons, Fafninter looked like a mythical alpine beast. Its body was covered in thick white fur patterned with icy blue rosettes, and its long tail and sturdy limbs gave it an air of primal grace. Towering over most other Pokémon, its navy-blue underbelly and shaggy mane flowed elegantly around its neck and back, while curved, shadow-like horns arched proudly from its head. Despite its fluffy exterior, every step it took emanated overwhelming pressure—like a blizzard hiding a mountain of steel.
Raiden, on the other hand, was an electric-type Pokémon with a canine appearance. It could command lightning and sprint on all fours. Though powerful, it was only about 1.5 meters tall.
Compared to Tahara's Beedrill and even Officer Megure's Raiden, Kaisen's Fafninter was a true giant.
The moment Fafninter was summoned, a terrifying aura swept over the scene.
It was the kind of dread that accompanied death itself.
Even the bystanders began to sweat, while Beedrill and Raiden visibly trembled.
Cold sweat rolled down the brows of the pedestrians. After a moment of stunned silence, everyone began exclaiming:
"Whoa! Mom, look—it's Fafninter!!"
"Fafninter? Isn't that a Pokémon from Tandor?"
"Yeah, I heard it's pretty rare. So far, only two trainers have one in the entire world."
"Who are they?"
"Vaeryn, the Dragon-type Gym Leader from Tandor, and Wulfric, the Ice-type Gym Leader from Kalos."
"What a cool Fafninter and such a handsome young trainer!"
"Guys, does no one want to talk about the consequences of trying to murder a trainer with a pseudo-legendary Pokémon? I just captured the whole thing!"
As the crowd buzzed with excitement, Tetsu Tahara realized something was terribly wrong. But before he could flee, Tyranitar swung its massive tail in disdain—
Crack!
The thick tail struck Beedrill like a whip, violently slamming it backward.
Boom!
Beedrill flew through the air, its deadly needle inadvertently piercing through Tetsu Tahara's kidney. For an enemy of this caliber, Tyranitar didn't even need to use an actual move.
It wasn't necessary.
The poison from Beedrill's sting spread quickly, and Tahara screamed in agony.
As expected, Officer Megure took charge of the aftermath. Tahara was rushed to the hospital and would be arrested once stabilized.
Meanwhile, the blogger who recorded everything approached Kaisen for permission to post the video. With Kaisen's approval, the footage was uploaded.
…
When Kaisen returned home, he learned that both Ran and Eriri had already left for school.
After changing into his uniform, Kaisen, wearing a golden pendant that symbolized his position as student council president, rode his Fafninter to school.
However, upon reaching the school gates, he chose to land.
Most public spaces in this world had protective barriers—not visible to the naked eye, but you'd crash into them if you tried flying over.
Moreover, Shuchiin Academy, being an elite institution under the direct administration of the Pokémon League, was fortified with some of the most powerful protective measures available.
As the Fafninter landed, Kaisen returned his Pokémon to its ball.
The guard at the entrance, upon seeing the student council president, saluted and allowed him to pass.
Upon entering the campus—
"Good morning, President!"
Female students greeted Kaisen excitedly as he walked by.
"That's him! He's even more handsome in person than in the photos!"
"Right? I'd totally date him—even just for a week!"
"You're so greedy. I'd be happy with three days!"
"Forget that! Just one day! Or even just once!"
"Wait, once? You sure that's appropriate?"
For many children of noble families, Kaisen was practically a legend—a commoner who not only made it into Shuchiin but rose to be number one in his grade.
But what made him even more legendary?
During his freshman year, he dated several senior girls—breaking up weekly, like clockwork.
As a result, he was labeled a heartbreaker by countless male students but was inexplicably beloved by many female students.
And yet, in his second year, those same girls—some of whom had even broken up with him—voted overwhelmingly for him to become student council president.
"Where's his moral compass? His bottom line?"
Still, the male students could only weep, covering their faces in shame, as Kaisen became a living legend—spoken of in hushed tones throughout the academy.
Even graduating seniors and the parents of students were talking about him.
Strangely enough, Kaisen faced no backlash. Not a single ex publicly slandered him. Instead, they all praised him, saying they weren't worthy and that he deserved someone better.
It was baffling.
Even the most charming male students had begun to avoid Kaisen entirely, developing an instinctive fear of his presence.
At the same time, Kaisen was unaware of the stir his morning incident had caused.
The video of the attack began to spread like wildfire, thanks to none other than Sonoko Suzuki, the academy's self-proclaimed gossip queen and connoisseur of handsome men.
As the unofficial loudspeaker of Shuchiin, anything she found out was practically guaranteed to spread—unless it was top-secret.
Within moments, the video of Kaisen's attempted assassination topped the school's online forum.
"Ran! Your guy got attacked this morning! Someone tried to shoot him from behind—twice!"
"What?!" Mouri Ran slammed the table in fury, instantly splitting it in two with a single strike.
Elsewhere, Kaguya Shinomiya picked up her phone and contacted her loyal blonde maid, Ai Hayasaka.
"Someone tried to assassinate the president. I want him sunk in Vermilion Bay."
Maki Shijo, too, made a call—this one to her younger brother, Mikado Shijo.
"Brother, this is serious. Someone went after the president. Mobilize our family's international team. I want him dealt with abroad."
…
But the ripple effect didn't stop there.
As people across the world were drawn in by Kaisen's striking appearance and charisma, the news reached far beyond Japan.
Johto Region
"Anata, I found him. Iori's already moving."
"Yes, Miss!"
"Wait—transfer me to his school. And prepare a Tyranitar clone for me…"
Kalos Region
"That boy… it's him!"
Tandor Region-Snow bank Gym
"So that boy got the Egg of my Fafninter that old Witch asked me for."
"It seems he raised it well."
…
Kanto Television Network
During a break in her program, Vermouth saw the footage.
A hint of murderous intent flashed in her emerald eyes.