This is disclaimed. Even the picture. It's only the story I own.
Raindrops clattered and splashed on the ground. Dull grey clouds cover the beauty of the blue sky. On this day, everyone in Aspertia stayed home, enjoying their home's warmth. Okay, fine; maybe not everyone.
Heavy panting and the stampeding of footsteps in the rain signaled the arrival of Mei's childhood friend, Hugh, running to Aspertia's famous tourist spot: the outlook.
"Most likely she should be here…where else? Got to…congratulate her…" he said to himself as he ran faster to the outlook's stairway.
"Everyone's probably celebrating…" He panted to take a breath, finally reaching the gray-bricked floor.
"M-Mei!" he managed to shout out, seeing a young woman holding the wet steel bars, perfectly still and quiet. He ran beside her, noticing that she did not see to reply to his calling.
"Hey…congrats…on your victory…as Unova's new Champion… … … Mei?"
She still stood there, elbows propped against the railing. "What is there to congratulate?" She said with a soft and quiet voice, one like a whisper. "Hey, what happened to your positive and happy-go-lucky character?"
Mei sighed, facing Hugh with a bored look. "I'm happy that I'm Champion. Sure I am," she looked up at the sky shrouded in gray and mist. "But then…when I came back home only then did I realize…"
Her friend's eyes widened. "Realize what?"
Mei carried on, the rain getting harder and harder. "…I was gonna get to work more often every single day, probably twenty-four-seven, being beaten mercilessly by Trainers, not doing anything else but sit in that chair waiting for challengers, and worst of all…" she returned her gaze to Hugh. "…I won't be spending time with you, Hugh. So, being a Champion means not being able to be a kid anymore.
Hugh gave an uneasy look. "Well, you've got a point there…" He leaned on the metal railing. "…But, it doesn't mean you… what doesn't it mean…?"
Mei managed to give a small smile. "Listen, I know that you're trying to reassure me, but, you know, my fate as Champion can't be changed. I just have to do whatever happens. You know, like, 'Go with the flow' kind of thing." She sighed, returning to that glum look as she descended the stairs. "See ya… in some time… Hugh."
"Wait!"
Mei stopped in her tracks, turning around to face her friend once more.
"I'll be with you every time you battle Mei!"
"W-what do you mean?"
"I've got your back!"
"Y-you c-can't…"
"I've relied on you to beat Team Plasma!"
"Well, yeah, but what does this have to do with…?"
"And you beat them harder that I would've imagined!"
"Well, of course, I couldn't let anyone destroy Unova, you know?
Hugh smiled. "Then… the least I could do is watching your battle!"
"…?"
"You've got my back the whole time! It's my turn!"
"…Hugh…"
He sighed. "Okay. I'll tone it down." He paused, looking up at the sky once more. "But, my point is, you don't need to be sad. I'll be there every step of the way! Got that?"
Mei smiled a larger smile than the one earlier. "Y-yeah!"
"Then, how bout we have some fun before your first day?"
"Yeah!"
…
"You don't need to be sad. I'll be there every step of the way! Got that?"
"I've read the message loud and clear, Hugh, loud and clear."