Pokemon: Thunder & Fire

Episode VII: Preparations

The day before the ceremony, the class gathers for a final discussion, an eager buzz filling the air. Tomorrow is the day; the long-awaited announcement of the game's victor.

The class that triumphs will be rewarded with the coveted one-year VIP lunch vouchers, a prize that has been on everyone's mind since the beginning of the challenge.

Excitement and nervous energy radiate from the group as they speculate about the outcome, wondering who has truly earned the victory.

"Akio, what exactly did you do that day? I've been dying to know!" Enji blurts out, unable to contain his excitement any longer. The suspense is clearly getting to him, and his voice bubbles with anticipation.

"I just can't wait until tomorrow, I need to know now," he adds, leaning forward as if the answer might somehow spill out quicker that way.

It isn't long before the rest of the class chimes in, echoing Enji's curiosity. All eyes turn to Akio, who lets out a resigned sigh. "Alright, alright... if you're all that desperate to know," he says, setting his drink aside.

His expression shifts from playful reluctance to something more serious, signaling that whatever he is about to reveal is worth the wait. "Listen up then..."

"As you all know, there's the penalty system, right?" Akio begins, his voice steady, laying the groundwork for something important. His classmates nod, their attention fixed on him.

"From the very start, it's been clearly stated that the penalty system deducts points from each team; different amounts depending on how many members don't make it back to the spawn point," he explains, his tone deliberate. It's obvious he's leading them somewhere, and the class leans in closer, trying to follow his train of thought.

They nod again, following along, though some look confused. "So, if you think about it carefully," Akio continues, "those two facts, the penalty system and the return to spawn, should naturally connect in your mind. But the way they were explained, was meant to trick you," he says, a faint smile crossing his lips.

"You see, it was revealed that each Pokémon would have a bounty tied to them, based on the total points they were holding," Akio explains, pausing for emphasis.

"The more points a team transfers to a single Pokémon, the higher that Pokémon's bounty grows." His voice is steady, laying out the mechanics of the game as if it were simple math.

"Now, most teams think they're being clever by keeping the points divided between just a few Pokémon, or even having one carry the bulk of it," Akio continues, his eyes scanning the room as if daring someone to disagree.

"But here's the catch," he adds, leaning in slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. "The pokemon who designed the game? They knew teams would do exactly that. They anticipated it." There's a subtle smile on his lips now, a hint of satisfaction that he's pulling back the curtain on something few had realized at the time.

"To counter that predictable strategy, they added a twist," Akio reveals, his tone sharpening. "A twist that most people overlooked or didn't realize until it was too late." He pauses for a moment, letting the tension build before delivering the punchline.

"The penalty? It's not just about who fails to make it back to the spawn point. It's tied directly to the bounty on that Pokémon." His classmates' faces show a flicker of understanding, the gears in their minds turning as they start to piece it together.

"So, all I was doing," Akio says, his voice now carrying a trace of smugness, "was figure out which Pokémon was holding the most points. And not just guess, I knew. I knew exactly which one was carrying the largest bounty." He leans back slightly, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes.