While Shinji spent his morning training down near the ships steam engine room, Shuu had decided to seek out Haruka. After hearing how his cousin had managed to talk to Hikari the night before, he knew he didn't have a choice. He needed to get this unpleasant conversation out of the way because if Hikari was traveling in Nedlle with Haruka, they would be "running into" them ... a lot. Shinji would make sure of it. It was like he had some weird hero complex when it came to the bluenette.

Not that Shuu didn't understand... He was man enough to admit, to himself anyway, that he always went to the same regions as the brunette simply so he could make sure she was okay. He noticed over the last year or so that her personality had changed a lot. She was very angry. At everyone.

There were rumors that Senri was going to retire soon and Masato would take his gym. Shuu was under the impression that the Pettleburgh gym was run by Harukas mother before her passing. Which would mean rightfully, Haruka should be taking over the gym. Masato wasn't even related to its original owner.

While contemplating what he thought could be wrong with the fiery farm girl his ears picked up that lovely sound they adored so much. But it wasn't a happy voice he heard. No... This voice sounded angry and hurt. Slowly he crept up to the open doors of the ships video phone room and carefully slipped inside, taking a seat in the far corner where he couldn't be seen.

His heart physically hurt for Haruka when he finally started paying attention to the conversation she was having. The things he heard nearly caused him to growl out loud in frustration. Never in his life had he wanted to hit a woman... but the auburn haired woman on the screen was testing his patience.

"I don't know what you're so upset about Haruka. It's not like you're even training it. What gives you the right to say what Masato does or doesn't do with his pokemon?"

"They're not his pokemon, they're mine!" Shuu could hear her voice cracking and wanted nothing more than to go defend her, but she seemed to habe a handle on it. "YOU forced me to leave them behind and transfered them to Masato, without my permission, after you shipped me off to some boarding school in Alola!"

"Oh, so now you're calling me a thief?" A hideous high-pitched laugh could be heard, like the woman thought what she had just heard was the funniest joke in history. "That's rich coming from a tramp like you."

"What's that supposed to mean?!" Harukas voice reflected the hatred Shuu was feeling inside. How dare this woman accuse such a pure person of being anything less than perfect?

"Oh, I don't know?" Her voice laced with sarcasm, the woman continued mercilessly. "Maybe that you're a lying, thieving, whore. You're not even worth the energy it would take to explain it."

Shuu couldn't take it. He stood up to hang up the call but before he had a chance, Harukas pain filled voice filled the room. "What is your problem you witch?!" Not even trying to hide the huge tears in her eyes, Haruka yelled so loud her voice cracked.

"I am NONE of those things! I've never even had a boyfriend, how the hell can I be a whore?!" She's never had a boyfriend? Shuu thought confused. As far as he knew, Haruka had been dating Yuki Soto. Becoming lost in his thoughts, Shuu missed part of the conversation, but the sound of a different voice brought him back to reality and he watched with wide eyes as Haruka broke down.

"You're such a disrespectful little shit! After everything I've done to raise you-" she didn't get a chance to finish whatever it was she was trying to say because Haruka cut her off almost immediately.

"You know what Mitsuko...Fuck you ok." She was so calm saying it, that the woman Shuu learned was named Mitsuko was stunned into silence long enough for Haruka to say her peace. "You didn't do anything but manipulate your way into MY moms house after she died. You spent all those years pretending to be her friend, but the whole time you were planning on how you could take her place! You're nothing but a home wrecking, backstabbing, lying... trash! You're trash, and you will never take my mother's place, no matter how hard you try I'll find a way to stop it."

"H-how dare you!" Mitsuko managed to stutter out, but once again Haruka cut her off.

"You never got over the fact that my father picked her over you!" Her voice was so bitter and hoarse that Shuu nearly began to cry himself. He could feel her pain and it was agonizing.

"I almost feel bad for you, the only way he could love you was if she was dead." Haruka had lowered her voice to the scary calm again and Shuu swore he saw her step mother's face pale in horror. "But you're so twisted I can't feel bad for you, you narcissistic sociopathic bitch!"

"What is the meaning of this?!" Suddenly, a booming voice could be heard sending the brunette into a terrified silence. Shuu scooted further back in the corner and watched with mixed emotions as Haruka world unraveled.

"Dad? Where did you-" she didn't stand a chance. In full view of the screen stood an enraged Senri. With fire burning in his eyes, both Shuu and Haruka could see any attempt at defending herself was pointless.

"I walk into my door and all I hear is my daughter screaming profanities at my wife?! Explain yourself!" As she opened her mouth to try to explain, Mitsuko jumped back into the screen. Wrapping her arms around Debris shoulders she whined,

"Oh Senri, it cant be helped." He was so blinded by rage he didn't see the woman glance at Haruka or shooting her a sadistic smile before 'defending' her. "You know she hasn't been right since her dear mother... She doesn't mean anything by it, cant we just let it go?"

"No, you always forgive her but not this time." Shuu was aghast. How could this man so easily believe his daughter would speak out of turn unprovoked? But what Senri said next made his blood run cold. "You've gone too far this time Haruka. Don't bother coming home for theHaru Hana festival."

"But dad..." She didn't get a chance to speak as Senri slammed his hand down causing his video to shake.

"No! You'll do as you're told and stay away!"

"You know what? FINE!" Before anyone said anything else, Haruka slammed her fist against the button to disconnect the call.

Tears fell freely down her cheeks as she breathed heavily and swore under her breath. Having just overheard one of the most dysfunctional conversations ever, Shuu knew what Haruka needed right now wasn't a confrontation about their past, but a friend to taker mind off of... that.

Standing up, he slowly walked over until he was standing next to the still crying girl. He didn't want to scare her, so he cleared his throat announcing his presence.

"Shuu?!" Turning towards him, Haruka stared in surprise but it was quickly overshadowed by anger. The venom in her voice as she questioned him nearly broke him right there and then. "What are you doing here?"

Scooting her chair back, Haruka stood up and began to storm out. "I don't have time for your crap right now." She meant it too. After everything that had just happened, she couldn't handle another emotional roller coaster.

But Shuu had other plans. Grabbing her wrist, he pulled her until she was facing him. He could see the pain in her eyes and wanted nothing more than to take it away from her.

So that's what he did, or tried anyway. "I'm not here to start anything Haruka." She looked exhausted. Both mentally and physically, that's when he got an idea. He knew how to cheer Haruka up.

"I was actually going to ask if you'd had a chance to check out the ships frozen moochi bar yet." When her eyes lit up he knew she was in. Maybe they couldn't clear up things just yet, but for now at least he could try and make her trip fun again.