Chapter 4: Friday Night Outing (Part 2)
Andrei, Daniela and The Queen of Battles were looking at the Nickit that had just spent an hour and something speaking of the events that put her into the paranormal situation all of those sitting at the table found themselves in, one way or another. Alongside some explanations for some parts of it. Although some did raise questions alongside the answers they gave.
The presentation of those events and the explanations were stated through whispering, Joina resorting to whispering less quietly whenever she would have shouted if what she said would have not been stated through whispering. Just like in that one scene from Spy X Family. For the same reason as the reason the characters in that scene spoke through whispers, although one of them was depicted as shouting at the other a few times: To not be overheard speaking of information they did not wish to share with others.
As the Nickit spoke, her three silent listeners ate their food and, if they had any, drank their drinks. While the jewellery wearer only bothered to sip from her Rawst Berry Ramune soda between her words. Now that she was finally done speaking, Joina started to dig into her ketchup stained Omurice. Ready to speak between her mouthfuls of that food, if asked anything.
"Well, props to you for actually explaining everything." The Dragonite at the table broke the silence that fell over the table immediately after the dark-type stopped talking, and started eating without any sort of manners. "Although most of what you told me sounds unbelievable…"
"…Neither does you three exiting the screen of a TV. Yet I saw you do it."
"I'm still trying to come to terms with what has happened myself, Daniela…" Andrei joined the conversation, relieved that Joina did not reveal what his Palace was all about. Not that the Eevee knew much about what was outside the bedroom in which The Holding Lover formed a bond with him. But, still, he did not wish to reveal to his crush that his Persona is a replica of her called The Holding Lover.
"That's fair. If you experienced anything close to what The Queen of Battles experienced, I can understand why you're still trying to do that." The dragon-type replied, while nodding. "But speaking of you." The Dragonite then stated, while facing the Riolu she mentioned. "How are you not fuming with rage at having such personal matters be exposed?"
"Because it isn't anything bad. So what if you know that I miss my father and brother?" The fighting-type replied, in a slightly annoyed tone.
"But doesn't that make you look weaker to others? While trying to hold a bad girl façade?" Daniela inquired the questions both her and her childhood friend had, yet that only she had the courage to ask.
"I've decided to try to not keep it up around Pokemon I'm supposed to befriend." The Queen of Battles replied, in the same tone. "Self-improvement, and all. I have my reasons for it, including the fact that we'll have to collaborate in The Alternative World."
"Wait, what?! Why?!" The Eevee at the table replied to that statement, clearly surprised.
"Wait, you're not part of Team Bitches, now that you know what this is all about?" The Riolu inquired, while crossing her arms. "Though, I do suppose that name wouldn't work if you two joined the team…'Cause you're not bitchy in any way…"
"Well, I'd first rather see for myself how truthful the account of Joina is." The dragon-type replied, while crossing her arms herself. Right around her big chest, making a certain Eevee blush while watching this interaction.
"Then, you can join us on a trip tomorrow!" The before mentioned Nickit joined the interaction, a plate licked clean of Omurice in front of her dirty maws. Joina started to also lick clean her maws after making her suggestion.
"Then I shall." Daniela replied to the suggestion of the dark-type, before making her arms drop from their positioning around her chest. "But at what hour?"
"At 14:00, in front of the TV." Joina told the Dragonite, flashing her signature grin at the dragon-type, before facing the only boy at the table. "What about you?" She then asked the Eevee.
"Well…I'd feel bad if I let Pokemon rot in Palaces, while being able to help them." Andrei replied, while looking at the table. "So…I'm joining the team."
"Well, that means that we have to change its name, then." The Queen of Battles told the two.
"I do have a suggestion…" The reason why the team name had to be changed stated.
"Shoot." The Riolu who stated that the name of the team must be changed told the boy to continue, through a single word.
"…How about Team Truth Seekers? Just, think about it: Your team is actively seeking Pokemon with suppressed desires inside of some sort of other world. By being suppressed desires of theirs, those Pokemon are actively hiding and/or lying about them. And by saving those Pokemon your team seeks, you reveal the truth about their suppressed desires." Andrei suggested, then explained his suggestion.
"I like it." The Queen of Battles replied, before facing the one that suggested the name her team previously had.
"I prefer the name Team Bitches." Joina started, her grin having faded a few lines of dialogue ago. "But I do agree with you: Andrei and Daniela simply wouldn't work under the label 'bitches'. But they can work under the label 'Truth Seekers'."
"And Ion surely won't object to the name change." The fighting-type concluded that part of the conversation.
"Therefore, from now on, we shall be known as Team Truth Seekers."
"So, we should make a group chat…And invite Andrei and Daniela on it." Joina mentioned, while pulling out her phone. Its jewellery-encased phone case sparkling in the lighting of the maid cafe as much as the jewellery covering the fur of its owner.
The group chat was made, and The Queen of Battles, the Eevee and the Dragonite were invited onto it. All three of them joined it, while the male Leafeon maid from before came to pick up both the payment and his tip. He left with both, both obtained from the dark-type.
Everyone now satisfied with their meals, except for the large dragon-type, then went back to their homes. Andrei together with his adoptive father and Daniela together with her adoptive family, while Joina and the Riolu went to their respective homes.
The Eevee and his adoptive Leafeon father went to their house in silence. Where they also silently went to sleep in their perspective rooms. The younger male falling asleep from the exhaustion that came with being subjected to the paranormal experiences he just went through, while the older male fell asleep from the exhaustion his long work shift subjected him to.
In the meantime, another family also went to their house. But not in silence.
"So, why were you in that maid cafe?" The Dragonite asked her adoptive Salazzle mother, as the two were surrounded by her four adoptive Salandit fathers. Two of them were running in circles around the two women, while the other two silently followed the exact same two Pokemon.
"Jim wanted to see how one was like, and it was his turn to choose where we have our date." The Salazzle replied, before sighing. "More expensive than it was worth, no matter how good the food was. And his eyes weren't even looking at the reason for the increased prices, but at me."
"Not that I minded that, quite the contrary. But he could have done that in any other less expensive restaurant, or at home."
"But enough about me: Why were you there, dear? I won't judge, whatever your response is."
"I met Andrei going around with Joina and The Queen of Battles at the store, and they helped me shop." Her daughter replied, not lying but hiding the paranormal side of those events. "Then Joina invited the whole group to eat at the maid cafe on her money, so I couldn't say no to free food."
"Especially because Andrei was going there, isn't that right?~" The Salazzle teased her adopted daughter.
"We are just friends, mom." Daniela replied, clearly not pleased to be teased about that from the tone of her voice.
"For now, you are indeed." The older woman continued her teasing. "But neither me nor your fathers would object to you two dating, isn't that right?"
"INDEED!" The loudest of the four Salandit proclaimed.
"Indeed!" The one less louder than that one then proclaimed.
"Indeed…" The quieter one proclaimed.
The one that's completely silent nodded in response.
Making their adopted Dragonite daughter sigh.
The family of six then arrived at their house. Where the dragon-type went to sleep in her bedroom while trying not to think of what her parents were probably doing in theirs.
Somewhere else in Orbaj Town, a certain Nickit arrived at her house. She used her keys to open its entrance door in front of her, then closed it once she was behind it. Joina then made her way to her bedroom, where the dark-type went to sleep.
Also somewhere else in Orbaj Town, a certain Riolu arrived at the last floor of the apartment complex with ten floors she lived in. Doing so by running on the stairs leading up to it. A very good practice for training uphill running speed and endurance. Although The Queen of Battles stopped struggling with doing this exercise a long time ago. Now only pushing herself to do it faster and faster.
Once in her apartment, she tiptoed her way around her sleeping mother. Their shitty TV displaying some fort of romance drama on a channel that the Lucario was watching while she was still awake on the couch in front of it. The Riolu made sure to close the TV, as to not raise the electricity bill of her family more, before making her way into her bedroom. Where she meditated with her eyes closed, until that meditation turned into sleeping.
And the following day, the now sleeping teenagers dealt with the paranormal once again.
End of chapter 4: Friday Night Outing (Part 2)