Greetings Pokémon fans and whoever may be viewing this story! Tis the night before Direct, and I am feeling the HYPE! Waaahooo!

Personally, I want Gen4 remakes (TAKE ME BACK TO SINNOH! MY HOME REGION), but I know a lot of people are thinking 'Stars' or Kanto remakes (because Lillie was going there). Or a spinoff game...who knows?! We'll know in the morning.

Anyway, back to this chapter, this takes place a little ways in the future. Hau has been away training to become a kahuna with his dad, and returns to Alola. Time can change a person. He's still pretty go-with-the-flow, but a bit more serious now. He still has that grin...but it's a bit more like Tsuki's now, with different meanings behind the same smile. This was actually one of the first shorts I wrote under 'Smile', so let's do this. (One more short to go)

* This short contains no spoilers. Rating is K+. Friendship-Angst theme.

Enjoy~!

~IG

Hau

The moon was high in the sky, and I'm thankful for it's light. Something's not right. I can tell something's not right with Tsuki. She's just vanished. I turn the corner to the small gardens, and see her blue yukata glowing in the light. But there's someone else here, standing in front of my friend. My eyebrows knit together. An older boy...he looked like that one Elite Four member that used Poison. But my focus was on Tsuki; fear was pouring off her in waves, and her head was bowed, arms curled around like a shield. The boy was boxing her in against the tree. Shattered trust.

"Tsuki?" I asked, stepping forward. The boy turned, Tsuki looked up. "Ar-"

"Beat it, kid!" The older boy snapped. I continued as if I hadn't been interrupted.

"-re you okay?"

"Hana's fine! Now beat it!" Wrong. Tsuki didn't look fine. Her hair had come loose from the bun it had been in earlier, and her yukata was dirtied and askew. Chocolate eyes were wide and to me, her smile was clearly forced. Warning.

"She doesn't look okay."

"Hau-" She definitely didn't sound okay. She sounded scared, like the time the Ultra Beasts had been released. Danger. I didn't like this one bit, and didn't like this guy anywhere near her, no matter who he claimed to be.

"Tsuki, where're your Pokémon?"

"I gave them the night off." She said breathlessly, eyes dancing between me and the boy.

"All of them?" That was stupid, and Tsuki wasn't stupid. This is...not right.

"Yes. Please-just go." I shook my head.

"No way. Not without you."

"She's not going anywhere." Challenged.

My gaze switched to the boy. "Hey, Tsuki's coming with me."

"You know who you're talking to? I'm one of the Elite Four, and who do you are to address the Champion so casually?" I stuck my hands behind my head, hoping to appear calm.

"Her best friend."

"Best friend?! Don't make me laugh! You're just a kid! Now beat it!" Defend. I sighed and reached into the kimono-robe Gramps had forced me into just a few hours ago, removing Kanalei's Pokéball, and placing a crystal in my ring.

"I'm warning you, my Pokémon don't like seeing my friends in trouble. Tsuki, come over here."

"I don't think so." Before he could call a Pokémon of his own out, Kanalei had burst from her Pokéball, landing gracefully in the moonlight. When she saw Tsuki cowering against the tree trunk, my starter let out a scream that pierced the night, beautiful eyes turning into shards of ice. The Elite stumbled backwards, pulling Tsuki towards him. Fight. Kanalei gave another scream, hair beginning to come loose from her pearls. Pulling my sleeve back, the bright moonlight caught the bracelet I had been given seven years earlier. The older boy's eyes widened, and a wide smile appeared on my face. He paused, eyebrows coming together, but Tsuki's rose into her hairline. We were so good at reading the other.

"Hau-!"

"Don't worry Tsuki." I stretched my arm out, towards Kanalei. "We won't let you get hurt."

What kind of Kahuna (-in-training) would I be if I can't protect my friend?