The rain gently beat on the wood of the house. It was turning dark outside, from a mixture of both the sun setting and the clouds forming overhead. Both the purple haired Gym Leader of Azalea, and the Normal-Type Leader from Goldenrod, were here at his home. They would stay safe and dry from the rain, which was fine by Bugsy. He found that the background noise of the water droplets was a great way to help him study. But Whitney had a problem.

She's madly in love. She has been for at least half a year. It's crazy. They've been Leaguemates for as long as she's been a Gym Leader. And she always thought he was a good guy. But lately she felt a unique desire turn in her. He wasn't just a good guy. He was a responsible guy. Someone who had their head on straight. He had a plan. A vision for his future. Something she didn't really have.

But most of all he was ADORABLE. Whitney always considered herself the queen of cute. Her own city calls her The Incredibly Pretty Girl for crying out loud. If someone was cute, she deemed it as law. And Bugsy was more than cute. Here she was, making a whole scene about infatuating people and their Pokémon with her cuteness and Attract. And now here she is. Head over heels for this boy with adorably purple hair, such a tender voice, a sweet set of le-

"It's crazy how much our information changes you know? What's true one day could be only half true next, and then a year after that, who knows?"

"Ain't that the truth." She looked at him, having to hold back a swoon from her mouth as he spoke. Here she is at his place, studying with him. Whitney's twintails flickered with excitement. He's currently turning around to try and thumb through books on his extensive bookshelf, looking slightly out-of-place in his mostly traditional Johtoian home. She can't help but watch. See how his shoulders flex as he reaches up to grab a book. How his hair sways with every little step. Seeing him go tip-toe to reach a book that's just gently out of grasp. She really should be helping him when he does that, but Whitney found herself immobilized by love.

Four months. She's been seeing him for four months. And she's been crushing on him for two longer. And he thinks they're still just friends. She keeps dropping hints and clues here and there, but he doesn't pick up. But she knows. She can tell some gears are turning in his head. She can tell the way he turns his head sometimes, the way his cheeks get just a bit of rose pink on it. There's gotta be something though. Something she can use as a breakthrough.

She felt nervous herself. This wasn't the common way to go about it, after all. The guy is supposed to tell the lady he loves her, right? Not the other way around? Isn't she messing this all up? Oh no. She can't mess this opportunity up.

Her heart burned with the thought. She just wanted closure. Six months of just thinking about him, not being able to do any more than that. It hurt. She'd rather the book be closed forever than never be able to turn a page. Tonight she'd do it.

It was about 7 PM. They've been here since at least 2, and they even had a dinner together. In some way, she loved to just hear him prattle on about whatever Bug-Type he had in mind. Whitney knew that he never had anyone to talk this much about bugs to. Or at least not somebody new. She even learned a thing or two there, but his voice, his enthusiasm, was music to her ears. And he's going off again, talking about…

"...And that's why Yanmega could only evolve when learning that move. Maybe that Kukui guy is right, you know."

"Yeah…" Whitney let out a dreamy sigh as she stared at him. She couldn't help it. She soon felt a twinge as her eyes adjusted. He was frowning. Oh no.

"...Am I boring you, Whitney?" Bugsy asked back. He looked just a touch peeved on his face. His eyes were going back to his book. He was afraid he bored her finally.

Whitney practically yelped and jumped towards him. "No no, I-I was just-"

"Why do you listen to me talk?" He asked, a slightly raised eyebrow. His eyes turned back to her and he seemed dejected. This was a feeling he was used to.

Whitney wanted to cry right there at the idea that she accidentally ticked him off.

"Because…"

She stammered, looking at his face slowly getting more sulky and sullen, with a hand outreached on his open book. Aha.

She gripped his hand with both of her's. She held it gently, like a bouquet. His eyes immediately went wide, and a blush came on his face. His frown turned quickly into a face of confusion.

"I love you, silly." She looked at him, into his face, as her own cheeks grew rosy. She chuckled, her head falling downward and then back up. "You didn't notice?"

His eyes darted all over the room. Bugsy's heart began to beat like a Rillaboom off his rocker. His hand was already getting sweaty. Then he focused back on her. "...You weren't trying to just be nice?" Is she joking?

"Bugsy, nobody tries to 'just be nice' for four months. You're my friend, no matter what, but…I've been in love with you since…well. Gosh, I think it's been six months now."

"Whitney, I…" Bugsy grew a smile. That made Whitney smile too. "I've felt the same way, but… I didn't know how to say it." He's always had a crush on her. But ever since they started hanging out, she'd been more captivating than ever. Her hair, her smile, her enthusiasm? His lips began to quiver about it. Part of his mind was telling him that she's still just trying to be friendly, and that maybe this is a prank, or something.

She couldn't help but give a high-pitched series of laughs. She held his hand in just one of hers now, using her other hand to clasp at her cheek. "Well. Guess that made two of us, huh?"

That worry he had began to fade away. Bugsy nodded. "Yeah… I mean." He let out a sigh, genuinely feeling relieved. "Whitney, everyone had a crush on you. Or, at least that's what I understood. I just felt so… out of your league."

The Normal-Type expert scoffed. "League Shmeague!"

"So then, why me?" He asked, looking as curious as he usually does when looking at bugs. A smile was beginning to curl back onto his face.

Whitney pursed her lips. "...Because you're not afraid to show people who you are."

He looked confused, but that sappy line made his face glow bright pink. "...W-what?"

"I mean it!" She shook his hand. "So many people over in Goldenrod just… wanna get with me. Like to get something from me. Just to get likes on some social media, or because they think I'm hot, or something! And…" She pursed her lips. "... You're not like that. You're someone with a goal. A mission. And you're not putting on a face for anybody, and… deep down, I really admired that."

The boy nodded slowly. He sort of understood it, but he still felt like this whole thing was a dream. He sighed. Happily this time. "... I've always loved how you acted, Whitney. I mean, shucks, you're so… active. You do everything to your fullest. It kind of inspired me to study more, become a Professor sooner rather than later."

Whitney sniffed. She felt a tear welling up in her eye. "You mean it?"

Bugsy nodded.

She turned around his desk to throw herself to him, holding him in a hug. She reactively kissed him, making Bugsy's hair stand on end as he felt a jolt go down his spine. This was the first time anyone not related to him kissed him. He closed his eyes. He never felt so wanted in his life. Slowly, his arms raised up, and found themselves latched above her hips. She raised a leg up, and she pulled back from the kiss, resting her pink hair on his purple bangs. Her hands came up to rub at his temples and cheeks, fingers delving into his thick velvet hair.

"I've wanted to do this since I had my eyes on you. Just play with your hair." Whitney spoke with a kind sigh. "You have the cutest set of hair~!"

Bugsy began to laugh a little bit, and feel a truly earnest smile come on his face. Mouth open, teeth showing. It was the most wonderful little smile Whitney had seen yet.

She couldn't help but to cup his cheeks and bring her face in close and laugh. Even if she had to crane her neck down a bit. Bugsy had never been so touched, held so closely before. He didn't want this moment to end, but next thing he knew he was being thrown onto the couch with her.

This was a bit much for Bugsy. He felt like he was being tossed into the deep end. But Whitney just wanted to get off her feet for a bit, it seemed. She just held her arms around his torso while resting her chin on the top of his head. She even kissed the top of his head. She did this because she was afraid. She thought that all this time spent building up this crush could've gone to waste. The Goldenrod Gal really thought that she could've messed this up like she did last time. But she didn't. And she was so glad.

"Bugsy…" She spoke, and he silently turned his head up to try and get a better look of her. "Bugaboo…" She said again; her own little pet name for him.

The poor Bug Catcher felt like he could just melt and turn into a pile of goo like a Ditto. A little nickname? Like lovers' do?! He couldn't believe it. He never knew he could have something like this. He just swooned, hiding his mouth in Whitney's arm, and she couldn't help but to quickly giggle and cheer to herself. She could tell exactly how he was feeling. Her boyfriend was so damn adorable.

Azalea Town's Gym Leader felt his head spin. He'll have to find a petname for her.