"Little buddy, something on your mind?"
Florian's attention became focused the moment he heard Arven's concerned voice. The young Trainer blinked a few times before realizing his current situation: walking alongside said older boy with long hair of mixed blond and brown, as well as Nemona and Penny on his other side. The fresh air at the Naranja Academy entrance helped clear his thoughts, regaining his clarity on reality. The sun poised to set over the horizon for the day was warm and calming.
"You seemed pensive recently," Penny added. The girl with short hair of alternating light blue and red frowned slightly. "I know it's not like you to fall ill, but you seem out of it lately."
"I do?" Florian hummed.
"It's understandable you feel this way, Florian, and it's no wonder too!" Nemona smiled. The taller girl with the strand of green bangs standing out from her long ponytailed black hair confidently held her head high. "With all the many accomplishments you've done for both Naranja Academy and Blueberry Academy as its exchange student, you're really running yourself down to the bone with all the battles from both schools! You're even wearing a Blueberry Academy uniform instead of a Naranja Academy uniform!"
The prompt to look down at his current attire had just occurred to Florian, causing him to realize that he has been wearing the autumn uniform of Blueberry Academy while attending classes in Naranja Academy. Not even a hat to his name, showing off his brown hair in a standard short cut. Even when he had other seasonal uniforms of both schools, among other apparel, he forgot to change to fit his current location. That is not to say that he would forget to do laundry. He would just wear it without thinking, that was that.
How no one, neither student nor staff member, called him out on it until Nemona pointed it out once classes were done was a mystery to him. Was the white top enough to adhere to the dress code despite the whole ensemble differing with a red tie of a different style and a pair of blue trousers instead of orange? Was it because of his current station as Naranja's current exchange emissary to Blueberry that they were allowing branding as a subtle form of promotion for future abroad studies? Were Nemona, Director Clavell, or Ms. Geeta pulling strings on his behalf? He was doubtful of it as not even Nemona got this kind of preferential treatment, but something was certainly up.
"Oh, right… My bad, guys."
"Honestly, I like that uniform more than ours, no offense," Arven offered. "Looks really good on you, little buddy, so I wouldn't have said anything."
"I'm not even wearing a school uniform, and you know about my past with authority," Penny shrugged, proving her point by waving her gray hoodie's sleeves. "Not ratting you out at all. Although, I assumed you were on good authority anyway since you're also wearing those same black gloves I've seen the members of the Paldean Elite Four wear."
"Ah," Florian also realized that he instinctively wore the Elite Gloves gifted to him by Geeta a while back at the League Club room rather than the standard issue School Gloves from either Academy. They were certainly nice and comfy, so much so that Florian somewhat forgot the initial promise he made to Geeta when she gave them to him. "So I am, so I am."
"I know the dress code is somewhat strict, but I don't think there are problems with it as long as you show up to classes with appropriate attire, as far as I'm aware," Nemona noted. "Besides, I like those gloves too, but that's beside the point. You've managed to balance your priorities between Naranja Academy and Blueberry Academy while setting aside enough time to battle! Que tan fuerte! I wish I could've also been an exchange student and join you in this fruitful experience."
"Uh…," Florian had no additional comment.
"You do know that there's more than just battles involved with Florian's schedule, right?" Arven pointed out.
"Don't try to act so surprised, Arven," Penny sighed. "Even you know her general line of thinking and main priorities by now." She straightened her posture and glanced at Florian next. "But Nemona does have a bit of a point. Florian, with all the adventures you've had at Blueberry Academy and all the back-and-forth you've presumably done before and after our group trip to Kitakami, you must be super exhausted! Those time zone differences are killer, y'know? I know I am when you've invited me to raid the League Club as one of your 'special coaches' or whatever, but it's worth getting to spend time within your busy schedule. The extra credit in helping you also happens to be a big bonus.
"Huh? But I'm fine," Florian replied, looking away rather sheepishly.
"Nonsense!" Nemona declared, immediately stepping in front of his path to stop him. "I know I'm all for battles, but I'm also all for making sure my friend is taking care of himself."
"That's surprisingly considerate, coming from the battle maniac herself," Arven pondered.
"After all, how can my greatest treasure continue to battle me if he's in no condition to do so?!" Nemona wept, having swiped up Florian's hands in her own during her burst of dramatic emotion and leaning close to his face as though she was confessing her heart out.
"Wh-What?!" Florian coughed while Arven and Penny fell over.
Should've figured! Both Arven and Penny thought as they dusted off each other.
"Florian, far be it from me to exercise my authority as your student council president, but por favor!" Nemona continued, her orange eyes suddenly sparkling with unshed tears. Florian began to blush, but mainly out of mortification due to passing students watching their little spectacle. "If you're going to give your all to something, at least give it all in battling me! I promise to take care of you after and make you all better, even if it takes the rest of my days to see you well again for one more battle! Prometeme!"
"… This… feels like something my mum and older sister would watch on the telly in the old days," Penny remarked dryly. "What do they call it again? Soap operas? 'Telenovelas' or something? I gotta ask Peonia again what they are."
"Heh, you think?" Arven chuckled along. Who calls a television a 'telly'?
"This also reminds me," Penny paused, sending a hand into her fluffy Eevee backpack to snag an unopened bag of salty potato chips and pull it open. "Came prepared with a snack to enjoy the show."
"Hey! You better be eating those in moderation, pipsqueak, unless you really want to stay that short forever!" Arven chastised.
"Mmgh!" Penny coughed in frustration after swallowing the first few potato chips she slipped into her mouth. "How many times are you gonna harp me for my eating habits?!"
"Well, excuse me for caring about your health!" Arven huffed, crossing his arms and looked away briskly.
"I'll take a potato chip and eat it… however I want!" Penny emphasized with a potato chip grasped between her thin thumb and pointer finger, lowering to her teeth, and snapping it cleanly in half with an exaggerated yank of her head while salt particles and crumbs sprayed everywhere from the impact.
"…" Arven had no comment about what he just saw, opting to stare awkwardly instead at the strange nerd girl as she continued to chomp on her chips with excessive flourish.
"… You lost me," Florian shook his head, slipping his hands out of Nemona's and moving them down. Penny and Arven quickly disengaged from their own broiling conflict upon hearing Florian speak again, with Penny rolling up the potato chip bag to reseal it and hide it away in her Eevee backpack. "Nemona, Arven, Penny… I'm fine. Promise! I've just been thinking about some things lately."
"So, you're not overwhelmed from all the Trainer responsibilities, studies, and traveling between Naranja and Blueberry?" Arven asked succinctly.
"Not to mention your possible and unspoken solo excursions to Kitakami in between?" Penny added thoughtfully.
"You guys are hilarious," Florian grinned. "No. I'm not tired with everything. But it is kind of related to our more recent escapade."
"You mean our trip to Kitakami?" Nemona asked, brightening up. "I'm up to go again with you guys for a proper trip if you want. It'd be nice to also visit Kieran and Carmine again!"
"Knowing Nemona's actual definition of 'visit' aside, we have seen those two now and then while visiting Blueberry Academy," Penny reminded. "Although, it was as Florian's special coaches, and sometimes not all of us are there at the same time on certain days. So, it really isn't a complete hangout as we'd hope."
"Not to mention finishing our own classes back in Naranja Academy when we're not at Blueberry Academy, though at least we got credit for accepting Florian's invite to teach Blueberry students," Arven grumbled before perking up his mood. "But luckily, we've reached a break in the school year! Studies, school projects, and exams are done! If that isn't cause for celebration, I don't know what is."
"And we were just discussing our plans for break, with mine being to battle Florian to make up for lost time, before noticing our querido amigo spacing out," Nemona explained, orange eyes widening upon realization. "Wait a segundo… Florian!" She seized his hands into hers again to hold in front of her before anyone noticed. "You've been thinking ahead of time as usual, haven't you? You've had that same look for a while now. It can't just be coincidence!"
Both Arven and Penny exchanged blank looks before facing Florian expectantly for his response. Florian himself seemed stunned before relaxing into his warm characteristic smile.
"Perceptive as always, Nemona," Florian praised.
"What did she figure out, little buddy?" Arven questioned.
"Let him cook, let him cook," Penny waved her hand to quiet Arven.
"I was trying to figure out how to go about doing this," Florian began, placing a hand under his chin pensively. A cool breeze blew through his brown bangs and mildly tousled the short tuft on top of his head. "But I was thinking about how you guys, my first friends from Paldea, instantly clicked with the new friends I made in Kitakami."
"I… uh, wouldn't say… instantly," Arven muttered, looking away in shame while Penny patted his shoulder consolingly and knowingly.
"Kieran and Carmine are great people," Nemona agreed, nodding her head enthusiastically along the statement. "Strong battlers too!"
"I really liked seeing you guys getting along with each other despite how different each of you are," Florian continued. "It just made me, well, really happy. And it made me wish we could make more memories like that together."
"Florian, if anything really matters to me in this world, seeing you happy makes me happy," Arven declared with a tightened fist to his chest.
"Seconded!" Nemona chirped in. "I know battling keeps you happy because it makes me happy to battle you!"
"… I'm… not even going to try to make sense out that one," Penny sighed before softening her expression toward Florian. "But you know you can also count on me, especially with the making of good happy memories." She suddenly broke into a mirthful grin. "I'm ultra-mega happy we're friends, Florian!"
"Guys, that's enough now," Florian laughed, holding his hands up. Much as he did enjoy receiving the affirmation and love from his friends, even he had his limits. He understood over time what he meant to each one of his friends, and he was grateful for being the change that helped them grow, but he also did not want to feel like they were eternally indebted to him because of how he seemed to have made their lives better and brighter. "But that said, I was wondering how we would go about spending part of our school break with Kieran and Carmine since Blueberry Academy is also starting its school break at the same time. That is, if they're also interested in a reunion."
"With you involved, I have no doubt they will accept anything you ask, little buddy," Arven assured.
"So, are we really planning another trip to Kitakami?" Nemona asked eagerly.
"That is an option," Florian answered, glancing into the clear blue sky to see a small flock of colorful Squawkabilly soar to the west. "But… I was thinking…"
"You want to invite them to Paldea instead to return the favor?" Penny caught on.
"Exactly!" Florian nodded. "You got it, Penny."
"Then, we get to play the gracious hosts this time and show Kieran and Carmine how we live it up in the Paldea region!" Arven enthusiastically raised his fists close to his chest. "I like that idea. Good call there, Florian!"
"There's so much Paldean culture to share, it'll be tough where to start first," Nemona pondered. "And that's not getting to setting aside time for battling during their stay."
"We should contact them first to make sure they already haven't made plans for their break," Penny suggested. "Florian, you have Carmine's contact on your Rotom Phone, right? Since Kieran still doesn't have a smartphone to his name?" She looked away with a grimace. Gotta get that poor boy a smartphone!
"I do," Florian demonstrated by having his Rotom Phone levitate out of his pocket and in front of him. It was equipped with a Black Blueberry Case. "Funny enough, Kieran gave me this new phone case to try out not too long ago."
"Kieran's technological tragedy aside, it'd be a safe assumption that they'll say yes to visit, especially if it's you the one who's asking," Penny continued. "Florian, go ahead and call Carmine now so that we'd know their answer. We can also foot the flight tickets for two people between us."
"Koraidon and I can fly them over to save on expenses," Florian offered casually, raising a hand.
"Wait, what?!" Arven gasped.
"That's very nice of you, Florian, but you're in charge of first calling them," Penny dismissed with a nonchalant wave, to which Florian simply shrugged and turned to face his active Rotom Phone.
"Uh, buds, you know what he just said, right…?" Arven futilely steered the conversation back to Florian's comment about him and Koraidon flying.
"I have no problem covering the total flight costs," Nemona raised her hand next, cutting Arven off.
"Thanks, Nemona, but guys, reminder that this is a team effort," Penny shook her head and pushed her glasses back up. "Besides, with your 'resources,' Nemona, it'd be more prudent to use them at a more appropriate time, like as a place for them to stay for the nights or something, if your family is cool with it. It'll save them the time of finding a hotel."
"Hmm, should be fine as long as I keep the housekeeper up to date," Nemona grinned.
"Look at you, taking charge like a solo planning committee," Arven grinned, crossing his arms. "Then again, it shouldn't be surprising since you did build up Team Star and all."
"What kind of compliment is that supposed to be?" Penny arched a skeptic brow at him.
"Oh, come on!" Arven huffed. "I'm just saying that your big brain is really shining, and it's not involved around machines or hacking."
"Then why not just say that instead?"
"Why are you misconstruing my words again?! You just wanted me to say that you're shining without context?!"
"You bet your precious cooking board that I'm shining!" Penny smirked. "I can shine like no one's business, even brighter than the twinkling stars on the heavens above!"
"Oye, amigos!" Nemona interrupted, waving her hands widely to break their attention apart. "I don't understand what all this has got to do with planning for our Kitakami friends' arrival while Florian is calling Carmine."
Both Penny and Arven blinked blankly before looking straight at each other in the eye and lowering their heads at the same time. If there was any sincere mutual agreement between them, they both knew and agreed that if Nemona was calling them out for their arguments, then they have royally messed up this time.
Meanwhile, at Blueberry Academy…
"A breath of fresh ocean air really does wonders after what seemed to be a never-ending class, eh, Kiki?" Carmine stretched her gangly arms high.
"Y-Yeah, it's nice to be finally free, Sis," Kieran smiled back.
Both Kitakami siblings had just stepped out of the elevator leading to the Academy entrance, having finished what felt like the longest final hour before break. Interestingly enough, it was early in the afternoon, but as luck had it, the majority of Blueberry classes had finished before lunch while some finished after.
A multitude of Blueberry Academy students flowed passed them, eager to fly home or away the isolated school in the Unovan ocean to enjoy the peace from the intense battle studies and, interestingly enough, trial course incorporations inspired from Naranja Academy representatives into the curriculum as means to try them out before setting something more solid for the next school year.
"It's kinda funny," Carmine remarked, looking into the unending blue sky above. "It seems like we just returned from our break after the whole thing with Area Zero, followed by that fiasco with Pecharunt. And now, we're going into another break. This time, school-scheduled!"
"I bet even Naranja Academy finished just like we did, Sis," Kieran nodded before appearing thoughtful. "They must've finished already relative to us. Paldea is hours ahead of Unova, right?"
"Correct, Kiki!" Carmine grinned. "No surprise that you figured that out quick, given the hustle you put in to catch up with all your classes. I'm proud of you, little bro!"
"Shucks, Sis, I didn't want to fall behind… and I had to make up for everything I did," Kieran admitted, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.
As an older sister who was working on her empathy for a while now, Carmine sensed that something was a bit off with her younger brother's attitude. At least, she wanted to think that, but she was certain that Kieran was being overly self-deprecating again. Either way, it was bringing her mood down.
"Though honestly, I actually enjoyed the classes and extra curriculars this time around," Carmine continued, tilting her head up and closing her eyes with a fond smile. "Can't help but think that it might've been all thanks to Florian's involvement."
"It's been exciting, to say the least," Kieran looked away briefly, to which Carmine quickly homed in on.
"Come off now, Kiki," Carmine frowned. "I thought we've been over this. Everyone's finally let it go. You can let go yourself now."
"Aw, man, sorry," Kieran shook his head low. "Just can't help it."
"Do I need to stroke your ego or something?!" Carmine pulled her shaking fists close to her chest and expressed her characteristic grimace. "Or should I call in Florian to set ya straight again?!"
"Ack! N-Not necessary!" Kieran yelped, briefly taken aback by his older sister's fury. Fortunately, she calmed down quickly after an exhale. "T-There's no need to bother Florian. He's back in Paldea, no doubt wanting to spend his break hanging out with his friends."
"Hmph, well, we're his friends, too," Carmine folded her arms and pouted. "Though to be fair, we've also hogged most of his time here in Blueberry Academy while his friends came and went as special coaches during different days."
"Florian made many things possible," Kieran concurred cheerily before slowly looking away. "He really brought out the best in the BB League Club… after I initially tanked the club as the BB League Champion…"
"Oi! What did I just say about that stinkin' thinkin'?!" Carmine fumed again, startling Kieran back before Carmine's ringtone resounded from her person, surprising the both of them. "Oh? Who's calling now?"
At her command, her Rotom Phone floated before the two of them and flipped horizontally for a video call. Speaking of the devil caused him to call upon mention as Florian's face appeared onscreen, with the natural Paldean eventide outdoors as his background.
"Wowzers! It's Florian!" Kieran perked up. "Uh, wonder he could want?"
"Florian, hi~!" Carmine greeted enthusiastically. "It's been far too long!"
"Has it though?" Kieran considered.
"Hush, Kiki!" Carmine growled to the side before resuming her happy face for her Paldean friend. "Well, look who's finally showing the initiative to call! You're falling a bit behind on the number of times you have to call me per day. As an apology, you must write me a five-hundred-word essay on why Carmine is great, how pretty she is, and…" She had been performing different poses for each point, much to Kieran's growing mortification. "… how talented she is to rival the BB League Champion without being an official Elite Four member."
"…" Florian simply blinked in confusion.
"Don't mind Sis, Florian," Kieran intervened after a few uncomfortable seconds of watching Carmine promote her vanity by stepping in front of her to seize her Rotom Phone, much to her indignation. "How've you been, by the way?"
"Kieran, Carmine, hi, guys!" Florian formally waved. "I'm glad you guys were available to answer. I've been well, thanks for asking. Hope you guys are doing great. Have you just finished your classes too?"
"Ugh, you have no idea how long it took to finally be free!" Carmine groaned, leaning closer from behind Kieran to fit within her Rotom Phone's camera. "Same goes for you, no doubt."
"We were just talking about you, funny enough," Kieran chuckled. "But how can we help?"
"'Help'?" Carmine repeated with a pout. "So, you're not calling just to say hi and tell me how much you admire me?"
"Well, there's that," Florian grinned. "I was going to ask if you two have plans for your school break."
"Plans?" Kieran and Carmine parroted, glancing at each other with growing smiles.
"We actually haven't thought that far ahead," Carmine began. "N-Not that we had absolutely nothing to do once we get home, don't get me wrong!"
"We were going home to Kitakami and help our grandparents out with chores, but nothing too urgent," Kieran explained. "Then… maybe… just relax, train a bit, and enjoy the outdoors and the Kitakami Hall in between."
"Yeah! What Kiki said!" Carmine interjected excitedly. "W-Why do you ask?! You've got something, don't 'cha!"
"You guys catch on fast," Florian laughed. "It kind of involves you and my friends here in Paldea. You already know Nemona, Arven, and Penny."
"Hola!"
"Hey!"
"Hiya!"
The aforementioned Paldean three popped in from the sides of the background and waved upon name call before Florian's Rotom Phone camera zoomed out to include them in the shot. Carmine and Kieran were already smiling brightly, getting closer before their own camera so that their Paldean friends could see them clearer.
"Ah, a reunion!" Carmine squealed. "I love it!"
"Wowzers! Are you guys coming to visit Kitakami again?" Kieran asked, yellow eyes sparkling over the prospect.
"Not exactly~!" Nemona winked.
"But… you are right on the money that there's going to be a reunion," Arven grinned.
"This time, you two get to be special guests to the Paldea region!" Penny clapped ecstatically.
"… That is, if you want to," Florian brought up as a reminder for consent.
"A chance to actually explore and enjoy the Paldea region freely with good friends and hopefully not involve Area Zero?!" Carmine responded. "I'm so in!"
"Me too!" Kieran exclaimed. "We just need to let Grandpa and Grandma know. They should be fine with it, I'm sure!"
"I'm gonna show you how a real courteous guest honors a foreign land's culture!" Carmine smirked. "Better take notes, Florian! Especially when, not if, you visit Kitakami again!"
"Oye, before you guys ask, we'll cover the costs for travel and all that," Nemona added. "We'll also handle your accommodations while in Paldea, so don't you worry! Just pack up all you need at home, and we'll guide you from there!"
"There's lots of fun to be had here in Paldea," Penny said, holding up her Eevee Cased-Rotom Phone. "We're figuring out plans on where to start!"
"Are… Are we going to ignore that Carmine brought up Area Zero?" Arven announced hesitantly.
"We can ask them more about that when they get here!" Penny hissed quietly to him. "No sense to make it awkward bringing that up."
"I know the first thing you can do once you touch Paldea soil!" Nemona chimed in, predictably holding up a Poké Ball as emphasis. "Your first Paldean Trainer battle! Right? Since you mentioned having visited Area Zero, you must not have had enough time to battle anyone here, so we can break that streak for you once you arrive!"
Penny and Arven immediately facepalmed while Florian worriedly glanced back and forth between his friends and his Rotom Phone screen. While he did anticipate that there would be tangents here and there amidst the catching up, there were certain moments to discuss at a different time and place, particularly the mentioned Area Zero situation that Arven caught on from Carmine.
"The Area Zero thing…," Carmine looked at Kieran, clearly struggling for an answer to share without divulging too much or anything sensitive.
"… It's a long story, we'll say that for now," Kieran responded, holding his hands up to demonstrate nothing more to share. "But I'm kind of surprised. Florian, did you not tell them about our assignment with Ms. Briar to investigate Area Zero? You said you went down to Area Zero previously with them, right?"
The blank looks that the three Paldean friends surrounding Florian soon answered his question.
"Uh, whoops…?" Florian shrugged with a bashful grin.
"Ugh, way to spill the beans on that one, Kiki," Carmine sighed, placing a hand on her forehead.
"I-I didn't know it was supposed to be kept a secret!" Kieran stuttered. "I didn't tell anyone else though! I… Ah… Aw, man… I'm so sorry, Florian!"
"Little buddy… why didn't you tell us that you went back to Area Zero?!" Arven was the first to break the awkward silence.
"Even if it was an official assignment compared to our last excursion to Area Zero, did you already forget those dangerous Paradox Pokémon lurking about?!" Penny reminded. "Or how I almost had my face torn off by that vicious ancient Jigglypuff lookalike?!"
"Can we talk about this another time?" Florian pleaded, clasping his hands in a futile prayer for mercy in front of his face. "… Please?"
"Eso no me va, Florian!" Nemona chastised, whose expression was slightly leaning towards more sad than angry like Arven and Penny. "No matter how strong you are, you should've had me to join you battling those crazy strong Pokémon. At least battling together would've been more enjoyable knowing that we can watch each other's backs from the danger!" Arven and Penny wound up faceplanting in the background. The timing of learning Nemona's supposed priorities struck again. "When was this, anyway?"
"Hold up there, Nemona!" Carmine intervened. "If anything, Florian was safe with me and Kiki watching his back as he watched ours and Ms. Briar's."
"Oh, right!" Nemona remembered. "This was within the time that Kieran was the BB League Champion?"
"Um, actually, I had lost my title to Florian by then," Kieran corrected meekly.
"But he was still super strong and capable of protecting Florian when needed!" Carmine argued.
"I see," Nemona nodded before looking back down to Florian with a bright smile. "No worries then, Florian! I forgive you for risking your life down in Area Zero and for battling all those strong Pokémon without me. That would explain how you've gotten much, much stronger than before in such a short time!"
"… I can't stay mad at my little buddy, but I do want the whole story," Arven sighed. "Though it'd be more appropriate to wait until Carmine and Kieran get over here to Paldea for the complete story."
"Honestly, the kinds of adventures you've been having sound like a great pitch for a Shonen anime," Penny mused. I wonder if I can't get this idea greenlit and would have to resort to writing a series of fanfics about Florian's adventures instead. Maybe paint myself in a cooler light, heh heh…
"Thanks, guys, I promise to share the story of the Area Zero return once Kieran and Carmine are here with us," Florian smiled before facing his phone with the Kitakami siblings watching expectantly. "Speaking of which, I'm so glad we were able to make this reunion happening! Thanks for being free and willing to spend time with us!"
"Ha! Well, it's no surprise that you missed my company and would've probably done anything to make sure I was free to visit," Carmine responded with her haughty air, flapping her hand by her face as emphasis. "Think of my magnanimous decision to spend my break time with you as the greatest good you'll ever get. Oh ho ho ho ho ho~!"
Wow, she pulls off the noblewoman's laugh pretty well, Penny thought with a rising blush.
"Thanks so much for inviting us, Florian!" Kieran interrupted. "What Sis is actually saying in her own 'special way' is that you saved her from boredom and lonely desperation in Kitakami."
"KIKI! YOU TRAITOR!" Carmine immediately hissed with the complete package of teeth grinding, nostrils flaring, and fists shaking directly upon him.
"…!" Kieran wordlessly yelped, jumping back as his older sister attempted to lunge at him, all while their Paldean friends watched in amusement over classic Carmine over the Rotom Phone.
Though while Carmine did manage to grasp her little brother by his BB League Club shirt, she, too, had been laughing along with everyone else, mixing her laughter with heavy panting from her over-the-top exertions at pursuit. She even released her grip from Kieran's tank-top and pulled him into a hug instead, to which he reciprocated amidst his own laughter over the situation.
"Ah, we'll see you guys in a few days," Florian decided to wrap up the call for everyone's sake. "We'll keep you updated and likely send the flight tickets electronically to Carmine's phone soon. Have a safe trip to Kitakami!"
"Bye!" Nemona, Arven, and Penny echoed their sentiments, to which the Kitakami siblings waved back before the screen went black upon the call's end.
The Rotom Phone straightened itself in the air before floating back to Carmine's possession.
"Wowzers… Now we know what we'll be doing for the next few days, Sis," Kieran grinned, freeing himself from Carmine's embrace as his sister pocketed her phone.
"Get our grandparents' permission, pack up the essentials, educate ourselves to Paldean customs, and finally take flight to Paldea!" Carmine exclaimed, pumping a fist into the air. "Nothing can possibly ruin this moment, Kiki!"
And of course, tempting fate with such a statement…
"Room for four more in your flight to Paldea?" a familiar voice with a unique combination of laidback condescension provoked the Kitakami siblings. "Carmine? Ex-Champion?"
"Aw, man," Kieran balked.
"Y-YOU!" Carmine hissed as she also turned to face the perpetrator, her fists held up and shaking as she bared her furiously grinding teeth. "Just once I'd like my good mood uninterrupted by the likes of you, Drayton! Were you eavesdropping on us the whole time?! That's a new low, even for you! Don't you know a private conversation when you see one?!"
"'Private'?" Drayton repeated with a careless grin. "Everyone within a ten-mile radius down to the Terarium can hear you, Carmine."
"Ah, geez," Kieran gulped, watching his enraged sister literally exude steam from her head due to Drayton's goading.
"I warned you not to do this, Drayton!" Lacey scolded from behind Drayton, her arms already crossing to form her X of disapproval. She was exceptionally adamant, compared to the remaining BB League Elite Four with her. Although at one side of her, Amarys had furrowed brows standing out from her otherwise robotic posture. On Lacey's other side, Crispin appeared just as fired up, but was just matching the mood the only way he knew how otherwise. "It's just not right!"
"Improper etiquette against Kieran and Carmine will not be overlooked," Amarys stated matter-of-factly.
"The tensions are so hot here that you can fry meats in record time!" Crispin remarked, making his point with flourishes of his frying pan.
"Not now, Crispin!" Lacey reprimanded, startling the Fire specialist before resuming her glare at Drayton. "Well?! What do you have to say for yourself, Drayton?"
"Hey now, fellow classmates!" Drayton held up his hands jovially. "Believe it or not, I didn't intend to listen in on the phone conversation the whole time. As it happened, I wanted to say my good-byes to my dear BB League Club members before we went our separate ways for the break." He glanced at Kieran and Carmine, in particular. "And as it happened, you two were the last ones left on my list to say good-bye to."
"I'm sure we were," Carmine scoffed.
"Eavesdropping is still a rude thing to do," Kieran underlined, shaking his head.
"I know, and I am so, so sorry," Drayton continued with a look that showed anything but sincere remorse. "But could you blame me for being enraptured by hearing our missing League Club Champion's voice after so long?"
"First of all, the League Club hierarchy is still in review, taking into consideration that Florian is back in Paldea, so the title dropping is really unnecessary," Lacey intervened. "Unless that was meant as another slight against Kieran, which adds another misconduct to your name on top of eavesdropping! That's not right!"
"Look, if you miss Florian that much, why don't you call him yourself?!" Carmine countered before a look of astonishment befell her. "Actually, I take that back. You don't deserve his time, so don't even bother, Drayton!"
"In all fairness, how can anyone call him if you're hogging his attention 24/7?" Drayton added with a wink, causing Carmine's face to turn nearly as red as her scarlet hair highlights.
"Sis, don't let him get to you," Kieran advised, to which he physically held her back.
"That's enough, Drayton!" Lacey rebuked, suddenly appearing next to the Dragon specialist and yanking him down by the ear, much to everyone's surprise. "If you are going to continue acting like a bad child, you will be punished like a bad child!"
"Brutal!" Crispin gasped, nearly dropping his treasured frying pan.
"Rather unnecessary, but it did cause Drayton to cease his inappropriate behavior," Amarys noted, taking out her pocket watch to observe the current time. "Expected consequences will be discussed and reviewed shortly."
"OW! Easy there, that's my good ear!" Drayton did not drop his easygoing smile once, even with a swiftly painful ear-pull in Lacey's grip.
"I bet he wanted that to happen… freak!" Carmine fumed, calming somewhat down, but was clearly not in a good mood.
"Sis, we should get going," Kieran spoke up. "We still need to prepare for our flight home."
"Whew… you're right, Kiki," Carmine exhaled, releasing all the remaining tension from her body. "Let's go already."
"Wait!" Drayton yelled, grabbing their attention one last time as Lacey released her grip on his ear. The Fairy specialist could tell that he was being serious and sincere now, moving her hands behind her to observe. "I really am sorry for listening in like that, and I did want to see you two off for your flight home." "
"… Go on," Kieran urged, seeing as Drayton had a bit more to say.
"Hah, and obviously, I was joking about the rest of us joining your trip to Paldea," Drayton reminded. "I didn't even bother joining you guys to Paldea the first time around with the whole assignment with Ms. Briar, so you already remember my reason why. Anyway, it also sounded like Florian and his friends have already covered costs for the two of you. Any more friends flying with you to Paldea, and we'd be straight up robbing them, ha ha!"
"Hmph, well," Carmine grumbled, muttering inaudibly that the apology was accepted, but only for Kieran to pick up. "If you dare take advantage of my friends' generosity, especially Florian's, I will personally throw you far into the waters outside of Blueberry Academy."
"Duly noted!" Drayton saluted before hearing a disgruntled growl from Lacey next to him. "Oh yeah! And give Florian and his friends our best when you see them."
"The Meowth's already out of the bag, Sis," Kieran shrugged. "I don't see any harm granting his request."
"You're being too forgiving, Kiki," Carmine shook her head before sighing as well. "… Fine, but I will expose to Florian on how horrible you really are, Drayton!"
"All I heard was you're saying hi to him for me, and that's good enough for me," Drayton smirked lightheartedly.
"We're really sorry about this, Carmine!" Lacey squeaked, pulling Drayton aside. "We did try to stop him."
"Wait, I'm confused," Crispin spoke up. "I thought Drayton saying bye to Carmine and Kieran was a good thing? Isn't that why we followed to say our good-byes too?"
"Not while Carmine was in the middle of a private phone call," Amarys answered, mechanically shaking her head. "Though the probability of Drayton causing a form of grief to either Carmine or Kieran was still predictably high, measures could've been taken to uphold proper social etiquette and mitigate the impact of undesirable consequences."
"I… am not entirely sure what you just said there, Amarys, but I'm guessing it's safe to assume that Drayton caused this fiery outbreak among members again," Crispin surmised.
"… That is one way to describe it," Amarys slightly nodded, her turquoise eyes focused on the Kitakami siblings. "Kieran… Carmine… please travel safely." Carmine smiled and showed her the hand-heart gesture as confirmation while Kieran merely grinned widely back. Only Crispin was close enough to see a bit of warm color fill up Amarys's otherwise dark complexion when she took in Kieran's response, but he opted to say nothing on it, given previous experience. "Also, if you do not mind an additional selfish request to please share stories of your adventures in Paldea when you return to Blueberry Academy."
"You got it, girl!" Carmine changed her hand-heart to an extra-assuring double thumbs up.
"Oh! And tell me how spicy Paldean cuisine can get!" Crispin added hastily, inspired by Amarys's request. "If it's anything close to the super spicy sandwich Florian made me for my trial, then I'm really going to burn in jealousy, you lucky fellows!"
"Alright! Alright!" Carmine laughed, waving her hands to calm everyone down. "We'll share everything we encounter. Good enough for you all?"
"That'd be really sweet if you did!" Lacey responded, clasping her hands together. "Ooh! We can all share stories from over the break once we resume school!"
"Not a bad idea, Lacey," Drayton nodded. "Though I have a feeling that Kieran and Carmine's eventual story from visiting Paldea will blow the rest of ours out of the water. I'm cool with it, though. Nothing too exciting for this 'old' man to share with the youth of today, after all."
"Ugh, seriously, Drayton, you could still put in an effort, even if we are going into break," Lacey frowned, crossing her arms into an X again, much to Drayton's continued amusement. "That's not right!"
"Never thought I'd agree on something with Drayton, of all people," Carmine remarked, glancing at her younger brother.
"With Florian organizing the whole thing with Nemona, Arven, and Penny, I'm already beyond psyched!" Kieran added. "I'm sure we'll have tales to share when we return."
And with that…
"Bye~!" the six high-ranking Blueberry Academy students bid each other with a final wave.
Kieran and Carmine moved on forward, walking down the long runway away from the Blueberry Academy entrance. Soon enough, they would be boarding the next flight to Kitakami, and finally, prepare for what promises to be an exciting excursion with close friends in the Paldea region.
Having played through the entirety of Pokémon Scarlet and finished the Mochi Mayhem epilogue, saying how much I love all the dorks the player gets to befriend would be an understatement. So much so, it's gotten me into attempting to write one slice-of-life mini fic as I'm starving for more friend interaction content, whether from fan art or from fan fics. And since I can't draw, the best way I can contribute would be with the latter.
The friendship dynamic is so incredible to me. I don't think I can even set a ship with the player character (who will be Florian here representing Scarlet in this case with Naranja Academy, Koraidon, etc.), compared to previous SwSh works. It seems to be a given that everyone loves Florian/Juliana in their own special way.
I've also gotten an AO3 account, so that I can share this fic among a few other previous works for those that prefer that site. I've also come to like their tagging infrastructure a lot more. I also enjoy the fact that images can be posted within chapters on AO3. Makes it much more fun and engaging, in my opinion.
Anyway, what do you think of my attempt at getting the friends together once more? I'm hoping to remain motivated enough to finish this through, as I'm getting most of my energy and inspiration for this from the BB League Club conversations between special coaches.