After patching things up with Kate, in this chapter we get to check out Ayame's birthday party! What does Olivia have planned?

KedharS: Well, Kate is pretty trash so that's fair.

Guest: Thanks, I will!

Aquahaze675: You're right, we're definitely seeing the party this time. It should be interesting.

Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings

Chapter 372

"Are you sure you're okay with this?" Blake asked, glancing at his Skorupi, sleeping comfortably in Kate's arms.

"It's fine, Blake, I can take care of this little guy for you for the night," Kate assured him. She took a glance at the troubled expression on his face.

"…Are you sure you're okay with this?" She smirked.

"That's, well… I mean, I want to go to the party, but…"

"I'll bet you do, you're dressed rather eagerly after all," Kate snidely interrupted him, giving his outfit a pointed look. Blake glanced down at his clothes. He was wearing a suit, the same one he had worn for the party a few weeks back, because Olivia had told him that the party was formal wear, no exceptions. And Kate had given him nothing but flack for it.

"I just… it doesn't feel right leaving my newborn baby pokemon with you the first night it hatched, is all," Blake explained.

"It's fine, just think of me as your babysitter," Kate grinned. "You two have a good time. I'll bring this little guy back to my room, okay?"

Blake glanced outside. It wasn't snowing, but it was still rather cold.

"Are you sure?"

"His fever's reduced, so he's in better shape," Kate insisted. She lifted up the snugly wrapped Skorupi, snoring away warmly. "He'll be fine. I brought a thermal blanket and everything."

"I guess so…" Blake said, nodding.

"I'm telling you not to worry, you guys have fun," Kate said.

"We will," Ayame said, nodding, a warm smile on her face. "Thank you."

"Don't, uh… you don't need to thank me!" Kate said, suddenly bashful. "I'm just doing my duty of care as a poison master, that's all!"

"Still, I'm glad."

"…I guess it's… you can think of this as a birthday present," Kate said, scratching her cheek and glancing down, blushing a little. "A-anyway! You guys, go!"

The three stepped out into the cold winter air, Kate heading off in her direction, pack over her shoulder and Skorupi wrapped up tight as Blake and Ayame headed to the location of the party, the same ballroom that the party a few weeks ago at the start of December had been held at. This wasn't one of Olivia's house parties, this was a fancy, fully-catered affair. She'd really pulled out all the stops for her best friend.

"…So I can't help but notice you aren't dressed up," Blake noted, glancing at Ayame. She flinched.

"Th-that's… well…" Ayame turned away from him, her face hot. "I-I… The boss told me that I should make a big entrance, so I'm going to meet up with her before…"

"Am I going to be wowed?"

"Sh-shut the fuck up!" Ayame sputtered. The lit-up Meloetta Ballroom was getting closer.

"…Sorry today wasn't the birthday date you would have liked," Blake apologized. "We only got to spend a little time together, and then we sort of had Kate and my Skorupi as third-wheels…"

"It's fine," Ayame smiled. "I got to spend my birthday with the guy I love, so… it… it was great, honestly, and… what are you making me say?!"

Blake laughed as Ayame's face turned red with embarrassment. She scowled at him. Now. Now was the time.

Blake reached into his pocket and took out the wrapped box he had been trying to give to her all day.

"This is…"

"I know the time isn't really right," Blake admitted. "But… I know you're going to be getting a lot of birthday presents soon, and I wanted… I wanted this to be your first one. It isn't… it wasn't very expensive, but I still…"

Ayame snatched it from him, her hazel-gold eyes shining eagerly. She tore open the wrapping paper and opened the box, gasping at what was inside.

It was a ribbon, the same bright blue as the sky, nestled in red felt to make it stand out even more.

"This… huh?"

Ayame slowly pulled the ribbon from the box, pulling it through her fingers. She looked at him with a questioning and awe-filled expression on her face.

"A ribbon?"

Blake nodded, blushing a little.

"I… I was thinking about… your hair," Blake admitted. "But… I couldn't cut it. It… it's perfect. Perfect for you. But… your ribbon… it… I know it's precious to you, but at the same time, well…"

Blake glanced down, slightly ashamed.

"Even though it's beautiful on you, it's a gift from another guy, and well… if you're going to wear a ribbon I want it to be one that I gave you. So I had Olivia help me pick one out, that was the same in every way, so…" Blake looked up at her tentatively. "That… it's not, like, super possessive and creepy or anything right? I just… I thought you looked beautiful with a ribbon in your hair."

Ayame turned bright red. She smiled warmly at him.

"It's not creepy at all, Blake. I… I think it's very sweet."

Blake sighed with relief.

"But… I'm sorry."

Blake glanced at her, stunned.

"It really means a lot to me that you thought about this, really," Ayame said. She reached up and ran her fingers over the ears of her ribbon. "But… this ribbon, it's been so much a part of me for so long. I can't… I can't just replace it. It was what helped me get the courage to move forward, it was the ribbon I wore when I got my best time, the ribbon I wore when I met my best friend, it…"

She turned red and smile bashfully.

"It was the ribbon I had when I fell for the boy I love," she shyly told him. "It… it really does mean the world that you bought this for me, but… I can't wear it. I can't replace this ribbon that's been filled with so many precious memories."

"I… I see," Blake said, nodding.

"So you keep it."

Blake looked at her in confusion.

"I-I don't mean, like… wear it, or anything, just, well…"

Ayame glanced aside, the embarrassing request she was about to ask of him completely flummoxing her.

"I… I'm going to be graduating soon. There's only a few days left until my last semester. And when I go… even if we're together, it won't be the way it is now. You'll be doing your own thing, and I'll just be… off. Maybe I'll get a cameo if I'm lucky, or… or maybe you'll move on to someone else."

"Aya, I wouldn't-"

"So keep this for me," Ayame insisted, opening his hand and gingerly placing the ribbon into it. "That way we'll both have one. And when you miss me, you can just look at it, and remember that even though I'm somewhere else, I'm thinking of you, too. So… so even if I'm not with you, a part of me will always be by your side."

Blake closed his hand, the ribbon feeling hot in his grip. He held it close to his chest and smiled, resisting the urge to cry.

"This way, as long as… as long as you have it we're together, right?" Ayame said, glancing down into his eyes.

"Yeah," Blake replied, smiling up at her. She leaned down and he leaned up, their lips about to press together.

"Ooh, what's this? Birthday smoochies already, huh? So Blake, did you give her that long, hard present of yours already?"

Ayame and Blake pulled apart in embarrassment, turning to look at Cynthia with angry glares.

"Cynthia?!" Blake sputtered.

"We-we were just-"

"Getting hot and heavy outside the party, I know, we saw," Cynthia cackled. She was wearing a coat over her bright red dress, and her well-made-up face was beautiful in the window light. Even her hair was unnaturally straightened, lying flat and short on her head. Sango was next to her, and her dress was a midnight blue. They were the only two from Blake's friend group that Ayame felt close enough to invite to her birthday party.

"No wonder you two wanted to come here on your own," she continued to twist the knife in.

"W-well, um… I-I need to go prepare," Ayame said, backing away. "Th-thank you, for your present, Blake!"

Blake flipped her off in response. She giggled and flipped him off in exchange, dashing off with a hot face and nervousness in her gut.

"Ooh, a present?" Cynthia giggled, skipping over to him. She poked him in the arm with a teasing grin. "So, what'd you get her?"

"…A promise," Blake replied, slipping the ribbon into his pocket before Cynthia could spot it.

"Too bad, she ran off before I could really start having fun," Cynthia giggled. She linked her arm through his and smiled, batting her eyes at him. "I hope she doesn't mind if I keep you… occupied for the night, Blake?"

Sango pulled out a spray bottle from her purse and sprayed Cynthia on the back of the next, causing her to let out a gasp.

"Hey!" Cynthia exclaimed, turning to Sango. "Don't get my hair wet! Or my dress!"

"Keep it in your pants," Sango dryly replied, putting the spray bottle away. Cynthia grumbled something about Sango being "no fun" and trudged into the ballroom ahead of Blake and Sango.

"Thanks for that," Blake said.

"Don't mention it, I heard what happened," Sango said. "Her too, huh?"

Blake sighed, nodding.

"Better be careful," Sango giggled, elbowing him playfully in the side. "Or maybe I'll fall for you, too!"

Blake let out a dry chuckle as Sango tried to keep the pain from showing on her face.

"I'm surprised she has so much energy," Blake said. "She's been taking care of that Vulpix all week, and she still looks full of life."

"If by 'she' you mean 'all three of us' then yes, she's been taking care of Aud all week," Sango replied with just a hint of bitterness in her voice. "She loves the little darling, but when it comes time for midnight feedings she's conveniently snoring away."

"I can only imagine," Blake sighed. "Though now I won't have to."

Sango blinked, surprised. "Wait, your egg, it didn't-"

"This morning," Blake replied.

"Oh, really?!" Sango asked. "What pokemon is it, huh?!"

"Skorupi," Blake said. "Kate's taking care of him tonight."

"Kate? So you two patched things up?" Sango asked.

"Yeah, we- wait, you heard about that?"

"It was kinda obvious you were ghosting her, dude."

Blake sighed.

"We're fine now, don't worry."

"Guess that makes two baby pokemon we have to look after now," Sango laughed. "Well, three if you count Maddi's Duskull."

"I guess the egg meetings will be really hectic when we start meeting up next semester," Blake laughed. "So who's looking after Cynthia's Vulpix anyway?"

"Julia has that joyful responsibility," Sango replied, trying not to look too relieved that it wasn't her problem to deal with. "Silver is helping her too, but he'll be going to sleep soon."

"Hey, come on guys!" Cynthia called from the doorway, stomping her heel impatiently. Sango and Blake glanced at each other and sighed, catching up with her. The three entered the party. Immediately, it became clear that they were a little out of place.

Unlike the last party Olivia had held, everyone wasn't going wild and enjoying themselves like it was a house party. They were mingling and speaking with one another like respectable people. And unlike the last party the trio had attended at the Meloetta Ballroom, the students here were seniors who were clearly used to this level of class, whereas the freshmen had been nervous.

Sango, Blake, and Cynthia exchanged glances, even Cynthia looked a little nervous.

"Wallflower time," Sango decided, stripping her coat off and putting it in the coat room as the others did the same. They stepped into the ballroom proper, expecting to get strange looks and questions about what three first-years were doing here.

Much to their relief, their presence went mostly ignored.

"Blake! Cynthia! Sango!"

Surprised to be called out by name, Blake and the girls turned in the direction of the voice, Cynthia's jaw dropping. Serefina walked up in a tight black dress the accentuated her generous cleavage, with the help of two straps that, in Cynthia's professional opinion, did not have the load-bearing capacity to support the packages they were carrying. She caught herself and shook her head, regaining her focus, looking up into Serefina's eyes.

"You guys finally made it, huh?" Serefina laughed. "It's nice to see some familiar faces. I don't know many of the seniors here since they're all from the Appeals Course."

"Same," Sango agreed. "Honestly, Ayame is the only person here we know, except Olivia, I guess."

"Well, she does make it a point to get to meet everyone," Serefina laughed. "But I gotta say, I'm really surprised."

"By what?" Blake asked.

"Cynthia, she's really changed," Serefina said, glancing at the redhead.

"Me? Have I?" Cynthia asked, her ears perking up. "What do you mean?"

"…You're not drooling and you're actually making eye-contact," Serefina snidely replied, Cynthia flushing red. "That's kind of a first. What's the matter, you go blind?"

Cynthia wiped her eyes, and shook her head. She took Serefina by the hand.

"I'm sorry, Serefina," Cynthia confessed, looking down sadly. "Your boobs, they are lovely, the nicest I've ever seen. But… but my heart belongs to someone else. I'm sorry, but I can't continue to praise your beauty."

"…I'm sorry to hear that," Serefina stated in a flat tone that said she was in no way sorry.

"Yes, it's fine," Cynthia wiped the tears from her eyes. "Now, I shall devote my love to Blake. And breasts. But mostly Blake. …But stills breasts."

Now it was Serefina's turn to drop her jaw in shock. She turned to Blake, flabbergasted.

"But… but he's Ayame's boyfriend!"

"I'm still going to love him!" Cynthia cheerily declared, wrapping her arm around Blake's. "Because he's the man I love!"

Serefina turned her head slowly to Blake, her mouth still wide open. Blake sighed and shook his head. There was no use in explaining.

"So Ayame invited you because you're in the Caretaking Course?" Sango asked. Serefina nodded. "We're kind of friends. She took okay care of me last year, and I've, um… given her some advice recently about love and stuff."

She turned and gave Blake a pointed look.

"And I have some more advice to give her right now…"

Blake tried to shake Cynthia free, but she was sticking to him like glue.

"You made it!"

All heads turned to see Olivia strolling through the crowd, bidding farewell to a group of pretty girls she had been talking to. Cynthia quickly dropped Blake's arm and stepped away to greet the older student with a smile and a wave. Olivia was wearing a fancy white and gold dress that turned the heads of everyone in the ballroom as she walked past, her face made up perfectly and her hair as shiny as silk.

Olivia glanced over Cynthia and gave her a cursory nod, smiling in approval. Cynthia blushed a little and stood slightly taller. She turned to Blake and Sango and greeted them as well.

"Welcome, I'm glad you three could make it," Olivia gushed. She turned to Blake. "And Aya is particularly looking forward to seeing you again. She was smiling ear to ear after she received your little gift, she couldn't keep from turning bright red!"

"Hey, Blake's gift isn't little," Cynthia snapped. "I mean, I haven't seen it myself, but I assume-"

Olivia burst out laughing as Blake hung his head in shame, embarrassed by Cynthia's "defense" of his manhood.

"We… that wasn't what I meant by a gift!" Olivia cackled. Cynthia blushed.

Recomposing herself to look as dignified as always, Olivia addressed them again with a warm smile.

"I'm glad you all came here," Olivia said. "Aya really will be thrilled to know all her new friends are here to wish her a happy birthday."

"We're happy to be here, too," Blake said.

"Please, enjoy yourselves," Olivia encouraged them. "There might not be many people that you know, but feel free to mingle, get to know the group, and do be sure to try out the refreshments! Nothing but the fanciest restaurants for my beloved Aya's birthday!"

She paused, and turned to Cynthia.

"…But no alcohol for you."

"What?!" Cynthia exclaimed.

"What?!" Sango exclaimed as well. "You serve alcohol here?"

"Gonna be a narc?" Olivia asked, crossing her arms over her chest. "Little miss campus safety?"

"Ergh…" Sango knew she had a duty to report, but Olivia kept talking.

"We take special care to ensure that nothing bad happens," she assured the girl, turning back to Cynthia. "And that's why no alcohol for you. Do you want a repeat of what happened at my party on Pokemon Day, right? So NO alcohol. Do I make myself clear?"

"But… but if I can't drink, how am I gonna get Blake to get me drunk and have his way with me?!" Cynthia whined.

Blake slapped his hand against his face in irritation.

"That isn't going to happen," he replied. She gave him a sour look in response.

"I'm surprised you can afford to serve alcohol here," Serefina said, genuinely surprised. "After all, you-know-who is here, and-"

"What's this?"

Another annoying redhead's voice piped up, Olivia turning towards it with a calm smile.

"Serving alcohol to minors, hmm?" Dakota asked, storming forward. She wore a bright green dress and a victorious smirk on her face.

"Why yes, I did hear something about that," Olivia replied, smiling at her. "Would you like to publish that story? Of course, that won't be like your standard tabloid fare, I'm afraid. That would end in my expulsion! And if I were to be kicked out, well, then you wouldn't have my face to sell your papers, now would you?"

Dakota scowled.

"One of these days, I SWEAR one of these days I am going to find something on you that will really let me smear your name through the mud," she vowed. "Maybe not this, but something."

"Oh? You're approaching me?" Olivia giggled, touching her hand to her cheek and smiling innocently at the girl. "Me, the darling of everyone? You've been saying all year, and all last year, you're going to find something on me, but when are you going to learn, sweetie?"

Olivia waved at another girl walking past and gave her a saucy wink.

"There aren't any scandals, I'm a perfect angel! The darling of every camera! Why do you think I personally invited you, my dear?" Olivia struck a pose, turning her shoulder to Dakota and giving her a smoldering gaze over it. "I just love the paparazzi."

Dakota continued to fume.

"Keep digging if you want, but it's no act!" She winked at Dakota as well. "I'm just that perfect."

"I swear, I'm gonna-"

"That's enough," Akira emerged out of the crowd of onlookers and grabbed Dakota by the arm.

"But Aki, I can't just let her-!"

"Let's just enjoy the party, okay?" Akira sighed. "We don't have to be working tonight."

"But Aki!" Dakota whined.

"…Aki?" Cynthia sniggered behind her palm, Dakota's face turning as red as her hair.

"Sh-shut up!" Dakota exclaimed, shaking free of Akira's hand and stomping through the crowd, Akira following after her with an apologetic glance.

"Like I said," Olivia smiled. "Mingle. Get to know people. It should be fun. Aya will be coming shortly."

And with a flourish, Olivia vanished into her crowd of guests and admirers.

The party has begun! It should hopefully be a fun time! And hopefully, it'll got a little better for Cynthia than Olivia's last party.