Well, there were plenty of questions he still wanted to ask. But just then, Orin remembered—he didn't even have his Big Sister's phone number.
Should he ask for it?
...Nah. He wasn't even sure if she had a phone. Better not ris—
Suddenly, the world blinked.
In the very next instant, Orin found himself standing outside the purple door, unceremoniously—and forcefully—teleported out.
"Cm'on I didn't even ask it!" He said aloud, pouting at the purple door. Knowing that his thought shielding must have slipped up for a second.
"Ouch!"
His backpack fell squarely on his head. He caught it with a frown, rubbing the sore spot. At least his voice was back—that was something.
Orin sighed and muttered with a dry chuckle,
"Big Sis is way too sensitive today… must be her time of the month…"
He immediately clamped his mouth shut and glanced around in a panic.
Thankfully, there was no sign of danger—she must not have heard it.
Sometimes his mouth really had a mind of its own.
He looked around more carefully. The hallway was empty.
Even Brina was nowhere in sight.
With a shrug, he dragged himself towards the elevator, each step heavier than the last.
His shoulders slumped. His stomach growled loudly in protest.
Now that the tension had eased, the exhaustion hit him all at once—mental and physical both.
"Guess I really need to find some food before I pass out…"
----
In front of the purple door that Orin had just exited, a small figure shimmered into view.
It was Brina, holding a pink Clefairy doll.
She looked distressed as she stared at the now-closed elevator doors. Letting out a soft sigh, she turned to the closed purple door and walked straight through it.
Inside, Sabrina still sat in the red chair, unmoving—like a lifeless doll.
"I told you, you wouldn't be able to stop Onii-chan," Brina said aloud in a sweet, singsong voice. She skipped cheerfully into the room and flopped onto the large sofa opposite her sister, happily playing with the doll as she gazed over at her.
Sabrina's red lips parted just slightly.
"...He is very stubborn," she murmured. Her voice was soft, almost sweet—but devoid of emotion.
"Onee-chan, you're even more stubborn," Brina giggled.
"Everything I am doing is for his sake."
Though her voice suddenly turned cold and sharp, her expression remained unchanged—blank and expressionless.
Brina stood up and walked to the center of the room, stopping right at the line where the deep purple floor met the sterile white.
Sabrina's dull eyes followed her, unblinking.
"You should trust our Nii-chan more," Brina said, her own red eyes soft with pleading as she hugged the doll tightly. "He's not weak."
Sabrina continued staring, her expression impassive. The silence grew heavy as Brina's words faded into it.
Then Brina's gaze shifted—to the pink Clefairy doll sitting quietly on the desk.
"You never listen to me… do what you want."
She plopped back onto the sofa with a dramatic pout, hugging her own Clefairy doll.
"My doll's cuter anyway"
----
Meanwhile—
Orin stepped out of the elevator like a zombie. His head throbbed. His stomach ached even more.
Every step felt like it took all the energy left in him.
Somehow, he managed to reach the snack corner Amanda had mentioned earlier.
The area was crowded—parents, guardians and their kids roamed around chatting—but he ignored all of them.
He piled his plate with berries, cookies, and juice boxes, retreating to a quiet corner and inhaling everything like a starving Snorlax.
Even that didn't feel like enough.
After three more trips, he finally felt full… at last.
But now, with his stomach satisfied, the real fatigue hit—his head pounded, his eyelids drooped. It felt like his brain was shutting down.
Knowing he had pushed himself too far today, Orin forced himself to stand and staggered his way towards the Psychic Center.
He barely remembered how he made it, but eventually, he collapsed into the Abra sleeping room—falling face-first into the soft mattress on the ground.
Sleep claimed him instantly.
---
[Orin Murasaki remaining Clefairy Poké Doll x0]
[Funds remaining: ₽2150]
---
"Ugh… my head," Orin muttered, rubbing his aching scalp as he slowly sat up on the soft carpet.
His bleary eyes scanned the dimly lit room, where yellow shapes bobbed gently in the haze. It took him a moment to realize where he was—the Napping Room, surrounded by a cluster of sleeping Abras.
"What the…?" He blinked, disoriented. "Why am I here?"
Then the memories hit, flooding back in waves. The confrontation. The psychic pressure. The deal.
"What? It's evening already?" he mumbled, pulling out his phone. The screen's light stabbed his eyes, making him wince. "How long was I out?"
Dozens of missed calls and unread messages flashed on the display. He had set the phone to vibrate for the exam earlier and completely forgotten to switch it back.
His head still throbbed. Even the soft glow of the screen was too much. He hadn't slept well either—images of his sister's terrifying red eyes had haunted his dreams, keeping him in a restless half-sleep.
"Ugh, what a nightmare. That's what I get for showing off," he muttered, massaging his temples.
He had pushed himself too hard, sustaining a continuous psychic projection to keep his surface thoughts clean, while hiding everything else—a mental juggling act. He had done it before, sure, but never for so long.
And Big Sis's psychic pressure... it had been way too much for his still-fluctuating powers. Especially the extremely dangerous stunt he pulled—overriding her control over his body, if only for a moment.
Still, he was pretty sure the real reason he felt like death was that psychic attack she had launched right at the start.
"How can she be so ruthless to her own adorable little brother?" he grumbled with a pout.
He fished a water bottle out of his bag and took a long drink.
"Ah… now I feel a bit alive."
He leaned back against the wall, still sitting on the floor, letting the cool water clear some of the fog in his brain.
Then he opened his messages, scrolling through them while pulling out a yellow-green apple from his bag—the kind they called Orin. Maybe it was because they shared his name, or maybe it was just the sweet, juicy texture. Either way, he loved them.
As he munched and scrolled, the Abras continued to float silently around him, deep in their dreams. They wouldn't wake up unless he entered their immediate range—and even then, they would just teleport away mid-sleep.
People had sleepwalking issues. Abras? They had sleep-teleporting problems.
Or maybe… they just really loved their naps.
Most of the missed calls and messages were from Terri and Duplica, asking whether he had received the results. His silence must have given them the wrong impression—that he hadn't passed the first exam.
Speaking of which, there was also an official message and email from the Nexus Academy. They congratulated him on successfully clearing the first test and instructed him to report to the Saffron City Gym Leader for the second phase: an interview.
"...Does this even apply to me? That thing this morning must have been the interview, right?" he muttered dubiously, checking the timestamp—it had been sent hours ago, around noon.
With a tired sigh, he sent a message to the group chat apologizing for the late reply. He informed them that he had passed the first test, and had—probably—already completed the interview. He promised to update them once he had more info.
He ignored their immediate replies, his thoughts swirling with the deal he had made with her at the end.
"Well, I should think positively… at least she didn't ask me to take the top spot at the Academy," he muttered with a weak chuckle. "I should be able to manage third place, at least. Mentally, I am more than twice their age—and I have already been through college once. Should still be doable," he added with a sigh.
"But damn… looks like I really do have to study hard now if I don't want to end up stuck in Saffron City forever," he groaned, ruffling his hair in frustration.
Not that Saffron City was a bad place—far from it. It was a bustling megapolis, with practically everything anyone could ever need. But the more he was denied the chance to leave, the more he wanted to. And it's not like this was some Attack on Titan situation where giant man-eating monsters roamed the outside world. There were plenty of safe, vibrant cities out there. There was no reason to keep him locked up here.
Orin had his own theories about why both his sisters had joined forces to keep him in the city. Paranoia was at the top of that list.
"Anyway… I cleared this hurdle, at least. The future can be left to future Orin," he said with a faint smile.
"Umm… I did get into Nexus Academy, right? She wouldn't scam me… right?" he muttered uncertainly as he stood up and exited the room.
He briefly considered heading back to his Big Sister's office to ask her directly.
"…That's not a good idea, Orin. What if she takes back the deal? Better not risk it. Be patient," he told himself, giving his cheeks a firm slap to wake himself up.
Exiting the Psychic Centre, Orin found the garden empty—no parents, no kids in sight. They must have gone home after finishing their second round. Not that he believed anyone actually passed his Big Sis's interview. He silently offered a prayer to Arceus, hoping none of them walked away with lifelong psychological trauma from today's ordeal.
Tossing Brina's overpriced lemonade can and the apple core into the dustbin, he began walking along the cobbled path lined with fallen purple leaves, leaving the Gym grounds with a casual wave to the security guard, Addie.
The sun was dipping low on the horizon, casting warm amber tones over the city, but Saffron still buzzed with its usual energy.
Instead of heading straight home, Orin turned on his heel and made his way towards the barber shop—remembering that he still needed a haircut.
---
Stepping out of the Snip 'n Sip Salon, Orin felt refreshed. His violet hair was now perfectly trimmed, neat yet stylish. He checked himself in his phone's camera, adjusted a stray strand, and smiled as he snapped a selfie.
In this second life, blessed with a face that could turn heads, he made sure to always look his best—hair, skin, physique, and wardrobe included.
The salon was popular, too—known for its unique "Scyther Cut" service, where an actual Scyther gave you a precision trim with its scythes. Usually, booking an appointment took days, especially during busy evenings like this one. But Orin had been a regular for years, and the owner considered him a friend. Since he only wanted a standard cut today, getting a walk-in slot hadn't been a problem.
Still, while he had seen someone get the Scyther treatment once, he wouldn't dream of splurging on such an expensive novelty. Not unless he suddenly started raking in big money.
Now that the sun had set, Orin debated whether to take a cab home or just catch the bus.
Just then, a notification popped up on his phone.
"It's from Nexus," he muttered, tapping it open.
Mr. Orin Murasaki, we are pleased to inform you that you have passed the interview and have been accepted into Nexus Academy. Orientation will begin on April 1st. Attached to this mail are your plane tickets for the early morning flight to Unity City. Please remember to bring your ID card and luggage. Most essentials will be provided by the Academy, so you don't need to worry. We expect you to arrive on time.
If you have further questions, feel free to contact me via the attached email address. For emergencies, you may also reach out to my direct number.
—Lorelei Prima
Director of Student Affairs, Nexus Academy
"It's real… I actually got accepted," Orin whispered, staring at the message in disbelief.