Mori's suspension for the incident with Chelsea lasted until the following Monday. It briefly made Chelsea, Liam, and Vasilio the center of school gossip, and everyone seemed to have their own take on Mori's behavior. This was a nastier side of Everspring International Pokemon Academy that Liam had never seen before, and it made him irritable and cranky.
"As if Mori doesn't have enough going on without everybody in the school talking behind her back," Liam grumbled during the week's Team Virtue meeting.
"Your feelings of humaneness towards Grace Shaw do you credit," said Professor Werner. "But don't deny her this chance to grow in virtue by softening the blow of her failure."
"I don't think gossip is a fair punishment, no matter what she did," Liam countered.
Werner stroked his wrinkled chin thoughtfully.
"No, you're right," he granted. "And yet I wonder if you're giving more thought to their thoughtless words than she does."
Liam couldn't argue with that.
To Liam's surprise, Mori seemed perfectly cheerful on the day she finally returned. If anything, Liam thought she could've done with a little more shame and solemnity, but Mori showed no interest in outward expressions of repentance. She was just glad to be back.
"Fall camp is out," she explained to Liam and Vasilio as they walked to their first class. "And Hempshear for fall break probably is too, unless you—."
"I'll work on your dad," said Vasilio reassuringly. "It is for school, after all."
"I was dying of boredom by Friday," Mori continued. "My room got the shakedown and all my good manga went in the trash."
Liam snorted. He knew what Mori's definition of "good manga" entailed.
"Is your phone still confiscated?" asked Vasilio.
"Yeah," said Mori. "It'll… be a while."
Liam marveled at just how casually his two friends were discussing the terms of Mori's penance. He had expected Vasilio of all people to come down hard on Mori, but even he seemed to view Mori as having suffered enough, despite her apparent lack of remorse.
"Hi, bro."
Chelsea Whitaker smiled at Liam as she passed, but carefully avoided Mori's gaze. Mori ignored Chelsea's presence entirely. Liam was confident that Chelsea was willing to reconcile—he wasn't so sure about Mori.
"Yep," Taylor explained through a mouthful of fried noodles. "Wednesday, starting this week."
"Thank Arceus," said Rebecca. "Friday was such a bad idea. I'm glad they finally gave up."
"It was an experiment," said Vasilio, playing the voice of moderation as usual. "But I'm with you guys. Wednesday is way better."
Taylor had just announced that the international youth group was moving from Friday to Wednesday, a welcome and apparently long-awaited development.
"I didn't know it used to be on Wednesday," said Liam.
"Yeah, well, you don't go to youth group, so you wouldn't know," Vasilio pointed out.
"Liam's also new," said Liz. "Comparatively, that is. It's been on Friday for less than a year. It was an experiment to try and get more kids from Everspring to go, but I don't think it actually changed the numbers."
Arthur gave a loud burp.
"You complete savage," said Rebecca, making a face and fanning the air.
"No, it's polite," Arthur insisted. "In Nanzo, it means—."
"Don't even try that with me," said Liz. "I've been here just as long as you have, and that is not a real Nanzo tradition. I have never seen anyone but you try it."
Arthur scowled.
"Liam, they're discriminating against my culture," said Arthur, leaning confidentially over to Liam.
"Sorry, I trust Liz more than I trust you," said Liam. "But going back to youth group—that means Friday nights are free now, right?"
"Heck yeah," said Taylor. "In fact, hear me out: Santiago's. This Friday. Burgers, fries, milkshakes—then we go busking in Bookwood Street and Jade Lake Park."
"I'm down," said Vasilio. "Rebecca?"
"Sounds fun," said Rebecca, leaning affectionately against Vasilio.
"Arthur?" said Taylor.
Arthur squirmed in his chair.
"Guys, I gotta… study," he said.
Liz snorted.
"Why does no one have any faith in me?" said Arthur in a long-suffering tone. "I'm taking three APs this year."
"Yeah, I know," said Liz. "AP Halo, AP Tekken, and AP Splinter Cell."
Liam nearly choked on his noodles. Arthur glared around at his friends, who were all looking at him with scarcely-disguised smirks.
"Fine," said Arthur, crossing his arms. "You win."
The planned excursion to Bookwood Street and Santiago's had become a full-fledged expedition by Friday. Besides the members of I Am Munchlax (and Liz, who Taylor jokingly styled the band's "manager"), Sylvia, Stephanie, Orchid, and Taylor's classmate August all expressed interest in coming along. Their ranks were further swelled by Robert, the band's tousle-haired and lackadaisical drummer, inviting his large and rowdy freshman entourage, and by the time they all gathered at the dry fountain in the middle of New Court, there were nearly two dozen Everspring students excitedly anticipating their night out.
"Hey, bro," said Chelsea Whitaker.
"Hey Chez," said Liam distractedly. "Dang, everyone's here."
"Everyone," of course, didn't include Mori. Despite a formal end to her school-imposed consequences, Mori was still enduring what she euphemistically called "parental sanctions"—no phone, no laptop, no iPod, no manga, and absolutely no outings. To Liam especially, Mori's exclusion felt wrong—she had been the one who first introduced him to Santiago's, and he knew how much staying home while all her friends were out enjoying themselves would eat at her. He peered up at Mori's bedroom window, which overlooked the middle of New Court. Her curtains were closed.
"We're almost ready," said Vasilio, giving Liam a light flick. "You wanna get a taxi for your Team Virtue peeps?"
"Alright," said Liam. "Chez, go grab Orchid and Aziz for me."
Chelsea gave an ironic salute and set to work. Vasilio was looking intently up at Mori's room, just as Liam had been.
"She wouldn't get in half so much trouble if she believed her parents loved her," Vasilio said quietly.
"Do they?" questioned Liam.
Vasilio gave a confident nod.
"They're not perfect. And they're really bad at showing that they love her. But yeah, they do. At least I think so. I know Mori doesn't."
Vasilio's phone buzzed.
"Arthur's already there," he said as he read the text. "His driver just dropped him and Sylvia off. Rich kids."
He gave a derisive snort.
"Maybe he can save some tables for us?" Liam suggested.
"I'm texting Sylvia," said Vasilio. "I trust her more."
It was lucky that Sylvia and Arthur had arrived ahead, because even with the tables they had reserved, their group barely fit in Santiago's second-floor loft. Liam found himself sharing a cramped corner table with Orchid, Vasilio, Sylvia, and Rebecca, along with their Pokemon. As they waited for the waitress to come take their order, Orchid surreptitiously sketched Vasilio's Amaura in her notebook, while Liam busied himself in perusing the impressive collection of weathered and outdated travel books on the nearby shelf. Liam's Sneasel eyed the Vibrava hovering overhead. Even with all the people, the wood flooring, comfortable chairs, and warm lighting made Liam feel at peace.
"Liam, you planning a vacation in Castelia?" said Vasilio with a smirk.
Liam jumped a little. He had been gazing absent-mindedly at a Unova travel guide, and he felt himself blushing at the knowing grins on his friend's faces.
"Aww, he misses her," said Rebecca. "So cute."
"Hey, I don't know that much about Unova," said Liam defensively. "I figured I should… learn something."
"Where are you from in Unova, anyways?" asked Sylvia.
Liam was grateful for the change of subject. Orchid was looking at him curiously, as if she guessed what the older students were teasing him about.
"Well, my parents are from Anville Town," Liam explained, closing and reshelving the travel guide as casually as possible. "That's where I was born, but I haven't lived there since I was two. Last time I went back was three summers ago."
"I'm more Unovan than Liam is," said Rebecca.
"I didn't know you lived in Unova," said Sylvia, leaning towards Rebecca. Her round glasses sparkled with piqued curiosity.
"I was there for… three years," said Rebecca, counting on her fingers, "in Virbank City."
"Never been there," said Liam. "Actually, I've never been anywhere in Unova besides Anville and the Mistralton airport."
The waitress arrived to take their orders. Orchid jolted when the waitress asked her what she wanted, mumbled something barely audible, and returned to sketching Vasilio's Amaura. Liam smiled to himself. Orchid's decision to come along had puzzled him, but clearly she was getting something out of it, even if it wasn't conversation.
A burger, a milkshake, and an hour and a half later, Liam was following I Am Munchlax down Bookwood Street in what he took to be the direction of Jade Lake Park. The narrow walking street had somehow become more alive while they were in Santiago's, as if the setting of the autumn sun had set loose the foreign college students, fashionable Nanzonese schoolgirls, and shuffling vagrants that now swarmed by them. Hip young couples in designer clothes crowded the foreign stores and restaurants, while bands of young trainers in jackets declaring their allegiance to Team Virtue, Team Balance, or Team Truth gaped at them as they passed by. Even in a place like Bookwood Street, a foreigner in Nanzo was still a novelty.
Liam had never envied the way his Ferrumian or Unovan-born Nanzonese friends could blend into a crowd and avoid the stares. Liam couldn't remember a time his light brown hair and fair skin hadn't been a novelty, and he had long accepted that one of the costs of living in a region like Nanzo was serving as a sort of public entertainment for the locals. He knew that merchants at the Feather and Petal Street market charged him extra because they assumed he didn't know any better, but he didn't resent it. He liked Nanzo, just like he had liked Johto, and he didn't mind if that carried a price. If anything, he felt sorry for students like Orchid, who had to constantly explain that they weren't Nanzonese whenever a local raised their eyebrows at their strange accent or lack of cultural knowledge. Even Arthur and Sylvia came in for it a little, despite their fluency in both local and foreign culture.
Leaving the bustling crowds of Bookwood Street behind them, the students turned onto a winding and steeply-sloping sidestreet—barely more than a paved cleft between the apartment blocks on either side. At the bottom, Liam caught his first glimpse of Jade Lake Park—a shimmering expanse of greenish water criss-crossed by stone bridges and walkways. He could see large islands covered in lush greenery and ornamented with pavilions and terraces in the traditional Nanzo style. Despite the darkness that had fallen and slightly-chilly air of late evening, the park was bustling with people. Most were locals, especially older people accompanying younger children. A few distant rumbles and cries told him at least some of the children had brought their Pokemon along.
"Let's cross there and get set up," called Taylor, pointing to an arching bridge of gray stone just ahead of them.
The Sneasel on Liam's left shoulder was suddenly alert, taking in the new smells and sounds of Jade Lake Park as Liam and the others climbed the steep bridge and arrived on a small island in the middle of the lake. The members of I Am Munchlax set to work unpacking their instruments as the locals gathered to stare at the young foreigners. Liam noticed that Orchid had sat down as close to Taylor as possible, as if determined to get the best listening experience possible.
Even if I Am Munchlax's performance had been mediocre, the novelty of five foreigners playing covers of Unovan pop punk songs would have drawn a sizable crowd. But they were in top form: Taylor's vocals were melodic and moving, Vasilio and Arthur's guitars drove a stirring rhythm, Liz's bow danced effortlessly over her violin, and even Robert's djembe somehow kept time with the other instruments—the latter was the most extraordinary part of the whole spectacle, in Liam's opinion. There were awkward moments—Liam couldn't hold back his laughter at Taylor's attempt at a ukulele solo—but overall, the band gave a genuinely entertaining performance. Orchid took in every moment of it, giving rapt attention to Taylor in particular as he belted out the choruses and strummed along on his ukulele. Liam listened to most of the songs, but he couldn't resist the urge to explore Jade Lake Park a little. Even at night, there was a lot to see.
What Liam first took for lily pads in the dark water quickly revealed themselves to be Lotads drifting lazily in the cool, murky pools. Apart from these plant-like Pokemon and the swarm of Zubat that flittered high overhead—hardly an unusual sight in Nanzo—Liam saw no signs of endemic wildlife. He guessed there were probably Magikarp and Barboach lurking beneath the lake's shimmering surface—a thought that made him shudder—but otherwise, Jade Lake Park closely resembled the community park just out the back gate of New Court. This was a park for people, not a place for wild Pokemon. Many of the activities Liam saw were familiar to him—old men playing chess, middle-aged men and women playing cards or mahjong, young children chasing after their Pokemon. This was Nanzo at its best: a culture bound together across generations by its open spaces. Liam found himself wishing he knew the rules of mahjong or had the courage to join a round of cards. He knew the locals wouldn't have minded—for every rude stare, there was a smile, a wave, a "hello, Unova" followed by hearty and good-natured laughter. But meeting strangers wasn't Liam's strong suit. So he watched, smiled, nodded, and enjoyed being a welcome outsider.
"Where have you been, bro?" asked Chelsea as Liam sat down beside her. "This is their last song."
"Just enjoying the park," said Liam. "I've heard them play loads of times."
"They're pretty good," said Chelsea.
Liam chuckled.
"They're really good tonight," corrected Liam. "Wait until you see them fall apart at the Talent Show before you form a verdict."
Their last song complete, the members of I Am Munchlax proclaimed their love for Everspring City, took their bows, packed up their instruments, and led their friends out of Jade Lake Park. Chelsea ditched Liam to rejoin Robert's entourage, but Liam soon found himself walking next to Orchid. He couldn't resist prying a little.
"How'd you like the show?"
"It was… g-good," said Orchid with a shrug.
From anyone else, this answer would have been non-committal—from Orchid, it was a glowing endorsement.
"If I'm not being nosy, are things back to normal with you and Taylor yet?"
Orchid gave another shrug, Liam thought he saw the color rising in her cheeks.
"What did you… do with it?" asked Orchid timidly.
"Do with—oh, you mean your painting?" said Liam.
"Yeah."
"I taped it back together and put it on my shelf," said Liam.
Orchid's eye grew wide, and she made a small choking sound.
"Sorry," Liam added quickly. "It was too nice to throw away. I had to save it."
Orchid clearly didn't know what to say to this. They had reached the entrance to Bookwood Street, and Chelsea was waving her arms wildly to get Liam's attention.
"I think Chez has a taxi," said Liam. "You gonna ride back with us?"
"I don't… live in New Court," said Orchid. "I went home with Chelsea after school. My driver is gonna… come p-pick me up."
Liam was reminded of Vasilio's remark about Arthur and Sylvia earlier that day. Orchid, despite her shyness and low social profile, was also a rich kid.
"Alright," said Liam. "Well, I'll see you on Monday."
He turned to leave, but Orchid gave an uncomfortable cough.
"B-before you go," she stammered. "I want to ask… Uh…"
Chelsea was standing in the door of a taxi she had flagged down, waving for Liam to hurry up. Liam motioned for her to wait just a minute longer.
"Liam," Orchid continued. "Can I… I mean, I was… w-wondering…"
Her face was very red, and she was shifting her weight from one foot to the other.
"Will you… g-go to Winter Ball… with me?"
She glanced up at Liam, and to his surprise, he saw uncertainty in her eyes. She really didn't know if he was going to say yes.
"Yes," said Liam. "That sounds… Yeah, I'd love to. Thank you."
Liam glanced back at Chelsea.
"Sorry, I'm gonna get left behind if I don't—."
Orchid gave him a thumbs up. She was smiling—genuinely smiling—and Liam couldn't think about anything else the entire ride home.