Author's Note: I'm using Victor's (male Pokemon SwSh mc) Japanese name, Masaru, in this story.
Months have passed since Masaru became the champion of the Galar region and Hop had decided to become a researcher. Despite this, however, he's still eager for Pokemon battles and even went to the extent of promising Masaru to steal his title someday.
"Sure! I'm looking forward to it, Hop."
Sitting by the research lab, he cannot help but space out after thinking about his best friend.
"I really can't read him," he'd think from time to time. Sonia would eventually notice her troubled apprentice and tell him to focus. But this time, she decided to let him off for the day as he really makes no progress when she sees him like that.
"Go on," she permitted. "I heard your boyfriend's coming home today, too."
The boy's face burned bright red as he heard those words. He turned away and mumbled, pouting, "It's not like that..."
The professor sighed and gently slammed her palm to her face.
"You two are starting to irritate me, holding back both of your feelings and all."
"You said something?" Hop asked, unable to hear what Sonia just said.
"Ugh, just forget about it. Go home for today and I'll take care or everything here."
Noticing the pile of books scattered around the lab, Hop felt guilty of leaving Sonia to clean everything up.
"I'll hel-"
"No! Just. Go. Home. And. Leave. Everything. To. Me. Capiche?" Sonia exclaimed, her frustration visible in her expression. Again, she sighed, "Augh, I'm doing this for you, okay? Don't worry about me."
Knowing nothing he'll say will get through her anymore, Hop just nodded at her and left, heading straight back to his place. He still couldn't help but feel guilty as soon as he stepped out of the lab, though. And, even then, he completely forgot what he was so down for to begin with.
As he was walking by the bridge towards Postwick Town, a strong gust of wind blew out, almost dragging him along, followed by a huge shadow that towered above him. Struggling to look up, he saw a Corviknight rushing through the same direction he's going in, but it was carrying no cars whatsoever so he thought it was a wild one that plans to roost in the slumbering weald.
Unbeknownst to him, it was Masaru riding his Pokemon, heading back home. Sighing, he continued with his slow pace and eventually got home.
The sun had almost completely set when he arrived. To his surprise, the same Corviknight he saw earlier was sitting idly by their garden; and, on closer look, he noticed the Galar Champion and Tower Master ribbons attached to its jet black feathers in its chest. Quickly, he approached it and gave it a friendly welcome.
"Hey there, little guy!"
The gigantic bird cheerfully rose in response to the boy's call, snuggling closer to him.
"Hahah! I guess you're no longer little, after all!"
A sudden realization came up this head.
"W-wait if you're here then does that mean...?" The door to their house creaked open, his mom coming out of it.
"Hop, dear, is that you?"
"Yes, mom! I'll be right there."
She smiled seeing his son being friendly with the Corviknight.
"Don't keep your guest waiting!"
Hop gulped at her words as he hesitated to go inside.
"Ugh, dropping by without telling me again", he thought. Frustrated, he grunted out loud and slammed his hands to his cheeks, leaving a bright red mark that quickly dissipated, anyway.
"Argh! I don't even know what I'm so nervous about! Whatever!"
He marched angrily inside and towards the guest room. There, he saw a familiar hat peeking from the couch. But as he had no intention of hiding himself with how loud his footsteps were, the person immediately noticed his arrival and stood in excitement to face him.
Smiling excitedly, he greeted, "Hey, Hop! Long time no s-"
All of a sudden, a pair of arms wrapped around him, locking the him in an embrace. Surprised, Masaru was unable to react for a while, but eventually returned the hug as a favour.
"Hehe, you missed me?" He teased, both of them refusing to let each other go.
"Hmph..." Hop sulked. "Barely contacting me and visiting again out of the blue... Now you say that."
Masaru flashed an awkward grin the other boy cannot see. "I'm sorry, I thought you'd like a nice little surprise."
There was a moment of silence. Hop tightened his embrace and rested his head on Masaru's shoulder.
"Stupid..."
It was then when Hop's mom walked in on them and gasped in surprise.
"Oh my, am I interrupting something?" She giggled.
Both of their eyes widened in surprise and Hop pushed Masaru away, breaking their contact.
"M-mom...!"
Again she giggled at the thought of how close a friend the two have become.
"Oh, I was just about to tell Masaru here that I've already informed his mom that he's here. Anyway, I'll go cook for a bit so you two wait for a little more, alright? Oh, and Hop? You should go take a shower."
The two of them just nodded at her as she left happily, moving in a hop-skip-jump rhythm.
Hop turned to him shyly and asked, his face a bit red, "D-Do I smell, Masaru?"
"Yup," he teased to see the other boy's reaction; his face was growing redder. "You smell nice."
"...!"
Masaru flashed a cocky grin, enjoying the reaction he was getting. Sighing, Hop eventually just brushed it off.
"By the way, were you flying with your Corviknight again?"
Shocked by the question, he froze in his place and began awkwardly scratching his cheek.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about, ahahah..."
"Hmph, I'm not letting you get away with this. I'm gonna take a shower for a bit. You go wait in my room, alright?"
"Sure!"
Masaru rushed straight to Hop's room, only to be greeted by a sea of scattered books and a sorry excuse of a bed. As he picked them up, he noticed that it's all books relevant to Pokemon research, including a bunch of general mathematics and some science books.
"Heheh, you're working hard too, huh?"
He eventually picked up the books and placed them back in their respective shelves, perfectly organised so he thought Hop wouldn't have a hard time looking for them the next time. Then he fixed the bed, but before he knew it, he fell almost instantly asleep after he decided to close his eyes for a bit.
Meanwhile, Hop just finished taking a shower and was about to head up to his room.
"Masaru, Hop, dinner's ready!"
Hop decided to peek on the kitchen before calling Masaru down. On the table were different flavours of curry, two of which were their favourites. His mom caught him staring.
"Now, now. Go call Masaru and have dinner so he can go home before it gets too late."
"Okay, mom. He's just upstairs anyw-"
"Upstairs...?" His mom asked softly in a concerned tone. "Wait, you let him go upstairs!? You haven't even cleaned your room yet!"
Realising what just happened, Hop hurried upstairs.
"Oh man, this is so embarrassing..." He thought.
Ever since, he's always shown Masaru that he's well-organised and this worried him that he might think otherwise. However...
"Masaru...? You there?" He called out, but there was no response. He felt nervous somehow... until he heard soft, snoring sounds. He was eventually welcomed by his own clean room, much to his surprise. But more importantly, he saw his best friend, innocently sleeping on his bed.
He approached him and noticed how defenceless Masaru looked. His mind was starting to get all kinds of dirty thoughts so he slapped himself back to his senses. Regardless, he can't get rid of how cute he thought Masaru looked, especially since he's just there sleeping in front him.
Eventually, he gave in to temptation and just laid down beside him, covering the both of them with his blanket. He was hesitant, but once again, he took Masaru into his arms in an embrace.
"I've always known you were strong... but I didn't know you can be this vulnerable..." he mumbled to himself, resting his head on his back. "You smell nice, too..."
And just like that, slowly, he too drifted into sleep.
As his mom arrived at the scene, she can't help but just leave them alone. She went down to clear up the kitchen and was full of happy thoughts about her son and his best friend.
Morning came and Leon arrived. His mom greeted him and told him to have breakfast, but Leon insisted he cleans up first.
"By the way, could you be a sweetie and do me a favour, Leon?"
Puzzled, Leon just nodded.
"Tell Sonia for me to let Hop have his day off today."
"Huh? What's this about, mom?" He asked, still puzzled. One thing he cannot shake off though was how happy she looked.
"Go ahead and see for yourself," she responded, gesturing him to go up to Hop's room. He just shrugged and did that exactly.
What greeted him was a sweet, innocent view. On the bed was Masaru, the current champion of the Galar region, the same person who scratched his 'unbeatable' record, looking all vulnerable, and his brother, Hop, so heavily attached to him.
"Oho~ I see how it is!" Leon took out his rotom phone and took a snap.
"Aaand... sent."
"Sonia!"
"W-W-What!? What's going on!?"
Standing in front of the young lady's bed is her grandmother, Magnolia.
"You're late again! Don't you ever feel responsible, you-"
"Alright, alright. Sheesh, grandma... Huh?" Her attention shifted as her phone buzzed violently.
"What is it, " the old lady asked. "Is it broken?"
Sonia looked at her with that ugh old people expression. She just scratched her head and checked it out.
"A... day off? Sure, but... oh... Oh!"
"Hmm? What is it?" Magnolia wondered as she took a look at her grandchild's phone.
"Hoho... Looks like those two are getting along well."
Sonia can't help but feel happy for them.
"You're making good progress, Hop... I'm impressed." She whispered, smiling.
"Now go get prepared you lazy little-"
"Alright, alright, I'm on it, ugh!"
"Oho~ Heheheh... a candid photo of the champion, eh. Not bad, Leon, not bad!"
Jogging around the streets of the fortress city, Hammerlocke, Raihan, the dragon-tamer received an interesting photo from his rival and the former Galar Champion.
"Gotta say, though... those two look really good together. Maybe I should find myself a lover, too..."
He pondered for a bit, and ended up just shrugging the thought out.
"Oh, well... Looks like I've jogged through the whole town again. Selfie time!"
The two peacefully slept alongside each other, unaware of how close they were. But, everyone knows that even as they woke like this, they would be happy seeing how despite the things they went through together, all the ups and downs, they're still there for each other. Maybe this was the motivation they both needed to finally let each other realise their true feelings...