3: Bored Walk

"AHHHHH!" May screamed like she was being murdered. When the men (and mon) came running, they exhaled disappointed when they saw she had simply reacted to the clothing apparel store. May was eager to drag Wally in despite his facial protests. May stopped briefly asking "Brendan, are you coming?"

"Nah," he replied simply "I'm fine with what I have brought."

"O.K." she smiled, puling Wally as he mouthed a 'help me!' The others waved with nearly mean grins on their faces, Swampert doing his best physical attempt at flipping him off despite their different bodies.

"Oh yeah!," the Professor suggested happily to Brendan "There is a store with more grown-up articles of clothing next door in the mini-mall, if you want anything a bit classier for your interview on the first day or whatever." Brendan saw his point, so the three remaining walked next door. It was locked down at first for the evening. Brendan could tell it was not meant to be a simple shack for the tourists but rather an actual local mall. However, Kyukui was able to get them in.

Brendan found some nice dressier slacks to wear, as well as a few items he couldn't get (sneak) through customs for sale that looked suspiciously familiar and powerful. The one other item that really caught his eye that he ended up purchasing (despite the price) had a light shining down on it and dramatic music playing as he viewed it for the first time... until Kyuku finally answered his phone and the ringtone stopped.

Brendan came out with only a couple things in a bag... save for his new grey aviator sunglasses!

"I-wear-my-suuuunglasses-at-night." he hummed.

"Aha!" Kyukui cheered "Those are some stylin' shades cousin!"

"Thanks." he sincerely replied, surprised at his own pleasantness and him calling him cousin, but he quickly dismissed it as the odd wording of "cuz." Maybe this guys wasn't so bad after all. That would have to wait until later to decide though, especially when May came out with a few bags... and a large stack of boxes and such with Wally's legs just barely visible behind them. Apparently, May agreed to cary the stuff for Wally she had him purchase in exchange for Wally carrying all the stuff for her she had him purchase! Maybe this relationship was the best for Brendan.

"Uh May," the professor stuttered "you sure you didn't buy to much stuff that would interfere with your purchases necessary for your new Pokemon journey?"

"NAH!" she beamed "I have most of my money still left!" Poor Wally.

…

"Well," Brendan exclaimed "I guess this is my stop." he said as they stood on the base of the hill in front of the hotel he was staying at. "Hopefully the trainers don't give me any trouble."

"Ah yes! Of course..." Kyukui replied, just now really getting a good look at his Swampert for the first time. "You know Brendan, you seemed to have raised this Swampert incredibly well! I can tell just by looking at this seemingly ordinary Pokemon that you have trained it to be an extravagant battler and partner!"

"Thank you sir." Brendan said, shaking his hand happily on instinct without bothering to flex his muscles. His ring was still glowing anyway though... that is, until Swampert handed Wally back all his (May's) bags.

"Well...' May stuttered "I guess we're both off to Professor Kyukui's house. That's where we're staying, if you... need anything." It hurt Brendan to see May looking so beautiful in the moonlight. Arceus, he hoped they weren't sharing a room yet, let alone a bed! After all, he and May were each other's firsts. He still deep down wanted to be her one only, but did she?

"Goodnight." Wally said as politely as he could, struggling down the hill unable to take anymore of this lifting.

"You know," the Professor added, indirectly halting Wally in his tracks as he struggled angrily "There is going to be a ceremony tomorrow night for the trainers starting their journeys." May looked at him. "It would be an honor if a former champion like you would attend!"

"Wha? ME!? How'd you... know?" Brendan felt lost. "I mean, I guess that's up to you guys."

"Y-yeah... yeah Brendan!" May finally let out encouragingly.

"Well, okay!" Brendan smiled "Hopefully I can stop after work."

Brendan was abruptly tackled into a hug.

So, they all exchanged numbers and times before waving goodbye.

Brendan even did so like an Alolan with Profesor Kyukui to his surprise and happiness. He then tried it with Wally, but it only resulted in him dropping stuff and running down the rest of the hill after it all. Finally, after a long staring contest, the two remaining Hoen trainers left bowed before going there separate ways... just like usual...

"Brendan!?" she turned around, shocking them both. "...goodnight."

"...goodnight May." He smiled back, before they turned away from their posts and each other's grins as May descended down the hill and Brendan went in to check into his home away from home.

Brendan let Swampert out of his Pokeball as he went to claim his room key.

"Hi," Brendan greeted "we're here with a reservation under Birch."

"Second room on the right." the older woman replied cheerfully.

Brendan entered the room and called home, getting the answering machine to say he was fine, before collapsing in a big heap on the bed. Swampert watched from the chair as he got drowsy...