Smoke billows down like volcanic ash, but it quickly gives away to both Blaziken and Talonflame lying limp on the ground. They pant in heavy releases of breath, and both are engulfed by punishing, crackling energy. Both grin, enveloped by a sense satisfaction that they've proven themselves to be equals.

Blaziken pushes himself to get back up, but to no avail. He overdid it, can he pull himself together?. On the flip side, Talonflame musters just enough energy to soar back up, but who knows how long he'll be able to stay in the fight.

Scratch the former, Blaziken's still got fight left in him. He grips the ground as hard as he can, his eyes as fiery as his attacks. With the force of a stomping Tyranitar, he hurls himself up and lets out a battle cry.

"I knew you wouldn't go down so easily," Wes tells Blaziken. "Use Blaze Kick."

Blaziken's right leg becomes covered in raging flames. He dashes and strikes Lycanroc before a counterattack can be launched. Talonflame is another story, for it crashes into Blaziken via Aerial Ace. Its body is covered by a white orb with red streaks.

Time for Fire Blast. Blaziken launches a phoenix formation of flames that dive into Lycanroc and Talonflame. Flames encircle and singe Lycanroc, with Froslass keeping a safe enough distance to launch her next set of moves. But Lycanroc isn't down yet.

Rui leans forward. "Rock their world with Stone Edge!"

Blaziken's able to evade the barrage of rocks, but it's unable to kick away all of them. A few careen into Froslass, but she endures it. It's her chance to strike.

"Use Hex and Thunderbolt."

Froslass booms an eerie cry, her eyes glowing a cold shade of spectral blue. An aura of the same color ensnares Lycanroc and grows in intensity. Blaziken fires a stream of swirling flames to prevent Talonflame from swooping in, then the same aura grabs the avian and pulls it down from the sky. White electricity surrounds Froslass body like a thunderous coat. She fires a lightning bolt from the top of her head. It zings and zaps and envelops Talonflame, knocking the avian backwards.

Wes crosses his arms. "Finish off Talonflame with a second Thunderbolt."

Another glow, another jolt, now Talonflame is lying down like he's on a boat. Talonflame admits that he may have overdid it a little with Brave Bird, earning a laugh from both Blaziken and Froslass. As he's recalled, Talonflame tells Lycanroc to lighten up. Competition and fun aren't separate concepts.

Here comes Heracross, the formidable bug flexing for the audience. Rui wastes no time in calling for Brick Break, his trainer commanding the same move. Their hands glow white. Both Heracross and Blaziken want to re-create their favorite kung fu movie to some extent. Heracross weaves from side to side to avoid Blaziken's attack, and Blaziken employs the same maneuver.

Froslass and Lycanroc block each other's attack like goalies. Rapid blow after blow continues to barely miss the mark, their movements akin to professional fighters. They cry respectively, their excitement spreading to their fellow Pokémon. But there's more going on here—Valen's Salamence and Gardevoir have caught on to it.

The skirmish causes Valen to flash back to the contest match with his cousin, where his Golisopod and Jacques' Greninja engaged in a battle of the blade. Heracross' ducking, Blaziken's somersault, the movements are very similar to that match. Rui was in the audience and Wes was secretly watching away from everybody else.

"Use Thunder Punch."

Fists bursting with crackling electricity, Speed Boost making him move like a bolt of lightning. Heracross falls directly onto Lycanroc, exactly what Blaziken wanted. He knows what command is coming.

"Remind them of your Close Combat."

Blaziken swoops in within a blink of the eye and unleashes a barrage of punches and kicks. Lycanroc's down for the count but Heracross manages to hang on. Blaziken tries to land one more punch Heracross intercepts it and knocks Blaziken away with his horn.

Blaziken's now on the defensive as Rui calls for Earthquake. The ground shudders in terror as a warning to him, but the warning falls on deaf ears. Blaziken notices Rosa sketching his awesome battle pose, making him smirk. Froslass happily cries because she wants a sketch too.

But Froslass has a task at hand, and it involves her Psychic attack. The air is weighed down, as if somebody called for the move Gravity. Froslass concocts a giant, pearly white wave of energy that makes the air shiver with a eerie gale.

"Cool em down, Suicune!"

Rui chucks the ball like a pitcher, and Suicune gallops out. He howls like the majestic beast he knows he is. Blaziken's rolling his eyes because he wishes he could also be absoutely fabulous. Suicune's still waiting on his armor—a famous historical human named Saladin had a Suicune who wore armor.

Suicune narrows his eyes and smirks. It's about time he got serious, isn't it? Otherwise, he can't carry on the legacy of the cool armored Suicune he admires so much.

"Extreme Speed, then Shadow Ball!"

Suicune pounces so fast that he appears to vanish. He slams into Blaziken, knocking him out of the way. He then fires a light blue and purple sphere at Froslass, flinging her behind Wes.

"Liquidation!"

Water howls around Suicune like a whirlpool, it converges onto the beast like aquatic armor. The graceful beast launches himself at the speed of light, Froslass is struck and knocked out of the fight. She was a valiant opponent overall, now she gets to rest up in her Poké Ball.

Rui furrows her brow, what's coming next is about to turn this battle up to eleven. But she ends up laughing to herself—the next one's a complete dork who forced Wes to buy model spaceships.

"Naganadel, engage."

The insectoid dragon flies into battle like a brazen warrior defending his homeland. But he hovers like a mysterious spacecraft that came from another world. Alas, poor Naganadel can't pretend to be a spacecraft whenever Wes calls for Sludge Bomb.

Globs of brown sludge with a purple glow surround Naganadel like planets orbiting a star. He fires them off like an archer firing a flurry of arrows, pelting his opponents like an unrelenting hailstorm.

Dragon Pulse time, but still no spaceship time. A sphere is fired by Naganadel, and it quickly evolves into a beam. The beam morphs into a purplish-black, serpentine-like dragon with small wings attached to the middle of its body.

The wind shrieks like a banshee, the draconic entity rocketing towards Suicune and Heracross. The force of the formation shoves them backwards, crumpling behind their trainer. Another storm of glowing sludge served as an encore, a purple aura covering Heracross' body.

"Thunder Punch and Venoshock."

Blaziken's become way too fast to counter for the recovering Suicune, not even somebody fleeing Naganadel's spaceship obsession could escape. Suicune's pushed back down by Blaziken's crackling fists. Blaziken's movement resemble that of a martial arts fighter.

Naganadel follows it up with a crackling storm of purple, slimy liquid. The ooze soaks Heracross, but it's not enough for the insectoid dragon. Give. Him. His. Spaceship. No, not a bunch of snowballs from Suicune. A spaceship. Alas, not even a spaceship can help Naganadel escape the ice it's now encased in. Heracross swoops in with a Brick Break, shattering the ice and knocking Naganadel into Blaziken.

"Poison Jab."

Naganadel's stinger glows a darker shade of purple, this one's for the spaceship. He jabs both Heracross and Suicune with remarkable precision and speed, and an aura of the same color surrounds Suicune. Suicune shuts his eyes, determined to endure this infliction. Blaziken follows it up by kicking both Heracross and Suicune two times.

This isn't good, Rui thinks. The infliction could make it harder when Raikou comes out. But this is the type to battle they all wanted, that's why Suicune's nodding "no" at her with a smile. Suicune's got this, just wait and see.

"Hit em with Scald and Throat Chop!"

Suicune launches a beam of boiling hot water, steam gushing out from all sides. Blaziken and Naganadel are swept away by the torrent like an abandoned ship at sea, the latter engulfed by a vortex of steam. Heracross is the lone combatant on an encroaching rival ship, but it lands a double blow. H Heracross falls back to allow Suicune to fire off a frost white beam in Naganadel's direction. Ice Beam hits its mark and knocks Naganadel out of the sky. Heracross charges in with a Close Combat, repeatedly punching and kicking his opponents.

Both Blaziken and Naganadel are down for the count, and Heracross is too worn out to continue. Both Rui and Suicune know this fight's about to be jolted with increased intensity. More important is whether Naganadel will get a spaceship or not and why Wes isn't saying anything about it.

"Engage. Raikou."

Raikou lunges out and snarls, to which a slightly panting Suicune grins. Suicune and Raikou stare each other down. The two valiant knights are about to engage in the most honorable of jousts, one shall win and one shall be out. Or so it seems.

"Forget trying to hide it!" Valen catches Wes and Rui off guard again. "This is awesome!"

This time, Wes and Rui aren't perplexed. They're smiling. It's only a matter of time before it finally hits Valen. His Gardevoir and Salamence seem to have gotten it, for they give thanks via a bow and a soft roar respectively. Judging by their expressions, Rosa and the others have figured it out too.

"Suicune, Calm Mind!"

"Use Charge."

Suicune closes his eyes and is enveloped by a light blue aura. Raikou's surrounded by a surge of crackling bolts. The increase in power is represented by the intensifying glow of each move, then both moves quickly scurry away.

"Ice Beam!"

Suicune launches a frost white beam, but Raikou does a backflip at the last second. He roars towards Valen's Salamence, telling the grinning dragon that he's a big fan of his tactics. He doesn't give Suicune room to counter his Thunder attack, the massive bolt startling Suicune and covering the aquatic beast's entire body.

Rui stares with her mouth gaping, but she knows who's going to be more shocked. That makes her smile, plus it wouldn't be fun without some awesome tricks.

"Liquidation!"

Two can play at this game, Suicune thinks as a torrential surge surrounds him. He does a backflip on his own to avoid a second giant lightning bolt, striking Raikou while upside down.

"Here's another Ice Beam on the house!" Rui laughs. "Don't freeze up!"

"No thanks," Wes remarks. "We're responding with Thunderbolt."

Suicune and Raikou chase each other and leap around. Chilly beam after chilly beam, big bolt after big both, narrow miss after narrow miss. Neither backs down, neither holds back.

In Valen's mind, it's like that one historically accurate movie depicting the Ishtarian ruler Suleiman the Legend riding his Zapdos into a chaotic clash. But something keeps nagging him, something about their movements. Why do their battle cries sound so…theatrical? Why does their movements remind him of the most dramatic of performance battling? Maybe he's like a modern day Caravaggio among coordinators and trainers, but when did he…rub off on people to this extent?

Both Suicune and Raikou land a blow on each other, but one isn't enough for either of them. They've backed up next to their respective trainers. He better retrieve his focus—this is getting better and better.

"Rinse and repeat, Raikou."

"You do the same, Suicune!"

The clash of elements continue with raw drama and action, but he still can't fully focus. He can't help it, not when Salamence and Gardevoir look so happy. Look at Suicune's backflip like an Olympic athlete, check out Raikou's swerving like he's auto racing. It's similar to the movements of his Salamence, and Suicune's graceful steps are similar to his Gardevoir.

Both Suicune and Raikou are starting to get worn out, but they manage to strike each other again. Time for an upgrade to Blizzard and the return of Thunder. Both the powerful surge of lightning and the relentless storm of snowballs strike their respective target.

Raikou becomes trapped in ice, whereas Suicune pants. He's still contending with the poison damage left by Naganadel. Rui has to end this battle soon, he doesn't know how much longer he can go.

"Bulldoze!"

Not a move he normally uses, but Raikou needs a little grounding. He slams his front paws onto the ground, sending a tremor with blue waves towards Raikou. The ice shatters and Raikou shuts his eyes for a brief moment, wobbling but maintaining his balance.

"Use Aura Sphere."

A yellow orb of energy careens out of Raikou's mouth and rockets towards Suicune. It slams Suicune backwards, but he smirks. Raikou roars, but then realizes he's panting too. With both Pokémon getting worn out, Wes and Rui intend to end this battle right here, right now.

"Use Giga Impact!"

"Two can play at that game, lover boy!"

A white oval with blue streaks surrounds Suicune, whereas one with yellow streaks envelops Raikou. They charge at each other like two unstoppable forces, their collision creating a traffic jam of smoke clouds.

Slowly, the smoke makes its exit. To everybody's surprise, both Pokémon are still on all fours. The panting is heavier, but their grins indicate no regrets. Which one will be victorious?

After what seems like forever, both Pokémon fall to the ground. Wes and Rui are dumbfounded, as is everybody except Silver. He merely shrugs with a lopsided smirk.

"I was expecting a draw."

"Feh, that was anticlimactic."

Rui and Wes recall their respective Pokémon. They briefly glance in Valen's direction, both sensing his increasing confidence. Even in the midst of their battle, showing his influence on them was the least they could do for him.

"Rui, I'm overdue."

Rui's legs begin to feel weak and weightless. Wes has just his arms wrapped around her, he's pressing right cheek pressed up against his upper chest. She allows her body to go limp, soaking in the warmth she hasn't felt in what seems like forever. It's these precious little moments that she missed the most.

Wes lets go and stares deep into her eyes. She cups his left hand in-between hers. Those three words? They don't need to say it to each other.

"Welcome to the present." Rui kisses him on Wes lips. "About time too."

"Feh, I got stuck in traffic." Wes shrugs. "But I still arrived."

"I think your brain got stuck in traffic, lover boy." Rui makes two peace signs and sticks out her tongue. "Get good."

"At least I have one, walking nightmare."

Rosa darts towards Wes and Rui with an inviting grin. Hilda follows suit, but she nearly trips on the grass. Valen's able to catch her, but her face reddens out of embarrassment.

"Sooooooooooooooooo, you want to come hang out with us at Pokémon Square?"

"We'll join you in a bit," Wes says. "If you want the two of us to go straight there, we need to stop by the Pokémon Center first."

"Tee-hee, I forgot!" Rosa folds her arms near her right shoulder. "Don't take too long, kay?"

Wes and Rui watch the group walk out of the sight, with Valen looking back with a smile beaming appreciation. Or rather, they watch everybody else try to keep with Rosa and Hilda. After a few moments of silence, Wes faintly smiles.

"…They're a good bunch," Wes remarks. "I'm glad that I met them."

"You see it now?" Rui asks. "You've got what it takes to make more friends."

"I wish they came into my life sooner." Wes stares up, his gaze following the puffy white clouds. "Imagine how different it would've been for me."

"Better late than never." Rui rests a hand on Wes' right shoulder. "And you'll always have me by your side."

Rui and him exchange a long, slow kiss, the world around them seemingly coming to a halt. They hold hands again, adoration dancing like Ludicolo in their eyes. Both stroll, but one question lingers.

"Say, did Valen ever tell you he can sing?" Wes asks. "I heard it recently, but he's never told us about it."

"Maybe he did and you forgot, hahahaha!"

"I'm not you."

Why does Rui think she remembers something Valen never told them? Maybe they both forgot? In any case, bantering with somebody is something he never got to do often.

No, he was too busy afraid to show weakness, so he bottled up his desire to cry. Somebody was gonna pry into how he survived to provide for the two baby Eevee he rescued from Team Rocket.

One day, while he was staring at the ceiling, he got caught up in his feelings. That evening, Rui became the first person to comfort him via a hug. Rui's always been a Flare Blitz, but there's a reason why he secretly wanted to be stuck with her.

"Wait a minute, I'm the musically talented one between us!" Rui tries to use Glare, but it doesn't affect Wes. "How come you got to hear him sing first?!"

"Because you didn't tag along with me on the day I heard it." Wes snickers. "That's what you get for rain checking me at the last minute."

"That does it, you're not going anywhere without me!" Rui places her fists on her hips. "Everybody knows all these cool details about each other, but they never tell me!"

Not going anywhere without her…she means the usual nonsense he usually has to put up with? Oh no, anything but what he's already had to endure for years. Please have mercy on him. Feh.

The widest smile Wes has had in a while charges in like a friendly Paldean Tauros. Before, it felt like he meant nothing to a lot of people. For a long time, it felt like nothing was ever done for him. He gets to finally settle down with Rui after those hectic missions and he found somewhere he belongs.

Wes looks up at the sky again. Rui won't have to drag him with her anymore because he wants this to last forever.

Is it odd to just chill and relax right after an epic battle? Valen doesn't think so. Do they care if it is odd? Nope, they're living their best life with a lovely fusion of nature and humanity around then.

The extravagance and elegance of Little Kalos sticks out in the distance, it's the same scenery that his great-grandmother saw when she painted her series of Angel City paintings in 1930. When he was a kid, she would tell him the story of each work she painted. Rest in peace, Valentina Beauchêne. He's proud to be your great-grandson.

Their Pokémon engage in joyful chatter, and it's a beautiful sight to behold. Four sculptures seem to watch them, but the reason behind Rui's Suicune attempt to talk to an original example of Rodin's Gallade in a Trance is a mystery. He's also trying to chat up a replica of Michelangelo's Trainer, it's about half the size of the towering original in Florentine City.

Suicune's moving onto to the third and fourth sculptures, Steven Stone's Tribute to Raphael and Geologist. When will he learn that sculptures don't speak verbally? Art speak silently to the hearts of both people and Pokémon.

Fittingly, a musician's Gallade performs a clarinet solo for a group of gleefully jumping Leafeon. The musician himself show his mastery of the lute to a pack of the usual Vaporeon that love to hang out and greet people and Pokémon. One of the aquatic bundles of fluff is greeting the Machop, Machoke, and Machamp on a sign advertising the Machop Line Orchestra, but it can't figure out why no music is coming out of the sign. Additional Vaporeon approach and are equally baffled.

Hm? Melanie's been asked that question by Rui. It just so happens that she's wearing the red velvet jacket he got her last holiday season.

"I'm single because I don't want no scrub!" Melanie wraps her arms around Valen's neck and yanks him closer, his placid expression morphing into a perplexed one. "A scrub is a guy who thinks he can top my bestie!"

"Unlike her exes, I'll staaaay.~" Valen closes his eyes and smirks. "And I want it that waaaay.~"

"On point, yeah!" Melanie high fives Valen, her Scizor bumping claws with his Golisopod.

"I told you they're also synchronized." Rui nudges Wes with her elbow. "I still know more about everybody than you."

"It's almost like I'm just getting to know everybody better," Wes retorts, rolling his eyes. "Next, you'll be gloating about predicting a rainless day when it's a cloudless sky."

He's not quite sure which historical figures Rui and Wes embody, much less what time period. But if Melanie and him happen to embody anyone from the Ragulian Renaissance, she's Simonetta Visconti and he's Salvator Botticelli. Almost, because that Renaissance duo went from an extremely intimate friendship to romance and marriage.

Valen blows a kiss towards Rosa and Hilda, who do the same in response. He then notices Rui looks a little annoyed at Wes and in general. If Rui wanted to hear him sing, she could've just asked. He'd be shy, but he's come around.

While the humans chat, Rosa's Milotic directs a irate glare towards the a trio of female Dragonair. They're enthralled by Valen's Salamence, and he deserve the attention. That's not her problem. He's taken by her, an absolute queen. He deserves nothing less than a queen, and those plebeians should know who she is.

Oh no, they better be joking or there's going to be a problem. She's way prettier and cooler than all three of them combined, plus she's better for Salamence than any other Pokémon in the multiverse. Whatever that means-Salamence is heading her way! Oh no, she wasn't ready! She looks silly instead of stunning!

Salamence doesn't fare much better, if better at all. One deep gaze into her eyes later and his face looks like he used Flamethrower on himself. Even though his Flamethrower is blue.

Wes' Espeon struts towards Valen's Luxray with her head up high. She purrs that "it's been a while, big boy." Luxray's perplexed expression is met by a giggle and a wink, but he's thankful that he wasn't called a kitty.

Yes, Luxray tells Espeon. He's still into the female Umbreon he told her about. She's a cutie, why wouldn't he adore her? Espeon scoffs at this, because…he's ready for a real lady Pokémon? Luxray doesn't know whether to be confused or amused. But one Pokémon knows exactly how to respond.

Hilda's Umbreon has been overhearing this conversation, and she clenches her teeth with seething fury. Jealously flares up inside of her like a Fire Blast attack. She did not just hear what she thinks she heard. Does that Espeon think she's the cuter one?! As if that'll ever happen! She's going to wallop that pompous Espeon and turn her into a Diglett! Her edgy boo will never fall for this Espeon's tricks, Luxray and her are meant for each other!

Hilda's Umbreon stomps towards Wes' Espeon, her fury now the force of one hundred Gyarados. Step away from her boo is her demand, Espeon merely waves a paw to dismiss a "silly peasant." She's more than ready to swing on this pompous Espeon, but Wes' Froslass her rolls her eyes and apologizes for Espeon's behavior. She then pulls Espeon away from Luxray, much to the glee of Umbreon. Luxray doesn't have time to ponder because said fellow specimen jumps onto his back, sending them both tumbling like bowling pins.

Or maybe the sudden appearance of Valen's towering Gardevoir with her arms folded scared them. It's certainly making them sweat to imagine her scolding everybody like an angry mother. An Alpha Pokémon can have that effect, but Gardevoir's stern expression quickly turns into a placid one. Their respective trainers witnessed the entire ordeal, but her intervention means they don't have to worry.

"I wasn't listening to the song, Aggron wanted to hear it!"

Gardevoir's smile becomes a lopsided grin, and she looks behind her. Oho, what do we have here? Silver got caught listening to the song that started Hilbert's musical career, and his Aggron was singing along! Ahahahahahaha, absolutely amazing! Ahahahaha, look at Aggron! His face is that of a Magmortar!

Only now does Silver realize that Kris and everybody else can hear it. Again. Silly broody human, she's seen many humans listening to that song.

"'Get that eight badge or they'll be over you, your league debut is long overdue. Music isn't what you're supposed to do.~'"

Kris' fondness of singing along to her favorite songs is something she's already noted. She's an expert on the humans and their mannerisms. They're so weird at times, yet they're always so amusing to watch.

Gardevoir's grin widens with devious glee, and she cackles. With Silver not looking in their direction, Valen and Rosa look at each other and smirk mischievously. Valen fakes a panicked face and pretends to drop flowers and Rosa fakes an angry face. This makes Kris giggle and Silver looks back. All Silver sees is Valen and Rosa having a casual chat with Hilda providing cover.

Deciding that they want in, Wes pretends to be grouchy, which is easy for him. Rui crosses her arms and looks away, pretending that she doesn't care. This time, Kris looks a little flustered but Silver still can't figure out what's going on. The two Umbreon and the Espeon are quietly laughing, while Luxray tries to act disinterested for edgelord reasons.

Oho, it looks like it's that time of the month again. Will Silver and Kris finally admit to the obvious?

"So, when will you ask Kris out?" Wes crosses his arms, his Froslass giggling. "Or are you too much of a Combusken?"

Silver clenches his teeth and his face burns up. "It's not that I like her or anything." He pretends Kris is invisible and that Feraligatr and Aggron aren't laughing. "I just happen to end up in the same area as her…a lot...it's extremely annoying."

"The feeling's mutual, pseudo-Gladion," Kris jabs as her face also burns up. "You're…um…you have bad fashion sense!" Meganium and Steelix aren't helping. "Horrible, like super horrible!"

"Hahahahaha, even Wes can see right through this act!" Rui sticks her tongue out and makes two peace signs. "You two big mad, big mad for real!"

Rosa clasps her hands next to her right check. "I'm going to paint you two!" Her eyes sparkle like the emerald attached to her necklace, and her Hydreigon does a happy dance. "It'll be ballroom dancing!"

Silver's eyes widen and he backs up. "No, don't!"

"Yes please!" Kris blushes and covers her mouth. "I meant no, don't do it!"

An awkward silence follows, but Silver and Kris know what they just got themselves into. Valen and Hilda are plotting at the worst possible time, hence why they're mischievously smiling at each other.

"Would you like to add something, Val-Val?" Hilda titters, her Starmie deciding to poke everybody but Valen and her. "Perhaps another form of art to coincide with Rosa's idea?

"No more feeling bitter, no more teary winters.~" Valen's tone is loud and melodic. "Your smile's like the summer, I'll be here forever.~"

Silver grunts in amusement and closes his eyes. No matter how happy he is to see his friend express himself more, no matter how beautifully his friend sings, he won't tear up. He's strong enough to do this. Yep, absolutely will not tear up. Act cool, just act cool.

A slow opening of his eyes, a big sigh of relief because Kris looks like she's in a trance. Didn't he warn her that Valen can sing? If not, whatever. Her problem…but he wouldn't mind if Valen gave him a boost in-absolutely not.

Rui and Wes haven't seen this side of Valen either. He wasn't paying attention earlier, maybe he's wrong. Hilda's Starmie has them perplexed. It leaves everyone perplexed with its poking obsession.

On a more serious note, he's gotta get it together. After seeing what happened between Wes and Rui today, he wants to try and figure out how to convey his feelings for Kris. He owes it to Kris…and to himself.

A day can't even pass with at least one thought of love in sight. All Silver's doing is staring at the computer screen, he even remembered to dim the light. It's dark purple because it was a gift, but it was most certainly not from the love of his life. Saying the opposite would create a statement so void of delight, he would brood for four days and four nights.

Silver's bungalow is located in the same neighborhood as Melanie's residence, but the area is made up of nearly two hundred different houses. Not a standout by any means in his eyes, though living in a residence built in the 1920s is neat. Mercifully, the house isn't purple on the outside nor inside. Imagine how horrible it would be to live in a small residence built decades ago, only to find one of your crush's favorite pigments on the exterior or interior.

Posters featuring the mighty heroes of classical literature and a small bookshelf made up of said literature and empire history books are arguably among the most surprising elements found inside Silver's bungalow. Atop the bookshelf lies a figurine of an Aggron sculpture that Valen and Melanie gifted Silver shortly after he accepted them as friends. The original is by Antonio del Verrocchio, Leonardo's teacher. Rosa and Hilda followed it up with a figurine of the Decentine warrior and adventurer Lucius Staurakias and his Arboliva, the original found in a relief carving by Lazzero Ghiberti.

He would read about the great conquests achieved by Alexander III of Megasos, wishing he could be equal in power. He read about the Decentine Empire's takeover of Paldea and the punishments that plagued the greedy king, wishing Lucius' ominous black Charizard would vaporize the vile Team Rocket with the Dragon Pulse described in written accounts. The Achiliad and The Pilgrimage, the most famous classical epics, reminded him the value of the honor and courage he had lost. The young Anaxilaus of Achilia venturing out into the unknown to complete eight trials, the warrior Orpheus who endured a long journey and five trials to reunite with his Pokémon, these timeless tales were his escapes from a harsh, judgmental world.

Turned out that Kris loved these tales too, but who doesn't love great stories? He realized that putting people down is a sign of weakness. She realized that because somebody's father is a terrible person doesn't mean they will go down the same path. Once they banished their pride and prejudice, they became best friends. But nowadays, even he knows when he's in over his head. His feelings for Kris are a swirling vortex of conflict, brimming in an abyss of uncertainty.

"Humph, how did he manage to do this?" Silver sighs. "He made it look so easy."

Valen has struggled to make guy friends, but the ease with which he charmed Skyla was seriously impressive. Who was gonna rag on Valen when he managed to get a date and hooked up with Skyla? They've even remained close friends—she was elated when Valen said "see you soon" after the fling ended.

He wants to ask Valen for advice on his feelings for Kris, but something's holding him back? Is it his pride, or is it nervousness. Humph, maybe it's something silly like fashion. Valen's drip game is usually on point.

"…Let's see if this helps."

Silver presses play, then he folds his hands and rests his arms on the table. Smooth and catchy beat, just the way Valen likes it. A smile flashes, for even he can't hide how proud he is of Valen's attempts to regain and cement his self-confidence.

"I don't get this logic, she's a sweetheart so why be dishonest?"

Silver blinks, and he pauses the audio. A few moments of odd silence pass, then his eyes widen. Oh no, it's that one. But it's not like he teared up or anything whenever Valen sung his heart out. Humph, he never cries…except for that one mov-shut up! This is a self-imposed not to cry challenge! Back to listening, he can overcome being hit in the feels!

"My eyes are getting wetter, but you're as amazing as ever. I think 'I'm lucky to have met her', you can tell me whatever. Consider this my love letter—you deserve someone better. What I saw was messed up, so I had to step up. I'll put your heart back together, baby I'll make it last foreveeeer.~"

"Dammit, my eyes are getting watery!"

…Humph, this is one of his closest friends. Who cares if he sheds a tear in this scenario? Time to press play again. Keep on kicking doubt's ass, buddy.

"I'll be patient for my command central, I'll do everything to show you you're special."

Footsteps and giggling make Silver frantically hit pause. He yelps with his teeth clenched, his face transforming into a Torkoal as heat rises within him.

"K-Kris, it's n-not what it looks like!" There is a swarm of Dustox in his stomach. "I was just wondering if he sounds any different!"

"I heard little Silvey reacting to his friend's voice!" Kris clasps her hands. "Awwww, how nice of you!"

"I didn't even know you were still here!" Silver tries to minimize the browser, but he accidentally maximizes it. "I thought you left!"

"I'm staying the night, remember?" Kris moves closer and looms over Silver and his low-slung chair. "Wes and Rui told me you were up to something."

…Oh…right…Kris and Rosa was discussing how Theodore Gainsborough's portraits fueled their desire to visit Galar. Moving on, should he cook for Kris? Compliment her white jacket? Entertain the scary idea of a date?

"It's not even eight, Silvey."

"I don't know you."

Should he brood to play it cool, even though it has a fifty percent failure rate? Quote Comfort & Vengeance, her favorite piece of classical literature? Quote King Rama, her favorite piece of non-Western classical literature? Quote Pride and Pokémon, her favorite novel? Put on a tune by Alfonso Vivaldi or James Dowland, her favorite historical composers/musicians?

"Wake up, silly." Kris gently knocks on his head. "Rise and shine."

"Go away, I'm busy."

… What if Kris knows he's studying how Valen handled his feelings for Rosa and Hilda to be romantic towards her?! Did she find out he borrowed a concise book on Rembrandt from Valen's library?! She didn't find the purple suit, right?! Red suit?! Blue suit?!

"I'm still here, nincompoop." Kris has her hands on her hips. "You want to tell me what's going on?"

"No." He turns back to the computer. "It's classified information."

"Too bad." Kris grabs a chair and pushes it right next to Silver. She takes a seat, remarking, "Your defect is to pretend that you hate everybody."

"Humph, your defect is to willfully misunderstand situations."

"Oh?" Kris giggles, gesturing towards his Mismagius to fetch an item. "Then explain this."

Silver's smugness is shortened by said book on Rembrandt that he's borrowing. He's got no clue how he's getting out of this one—Rembrandt van Remis is Kris' favorite painter. Big emphasis on favorite. She more than likely found the books on her next two favorites, Salvator Botticelli and Theodore Gainsborough, that he also borrowed.

"Oh look, Silvey bought himself a novel on Michelangelo." Kris leans closer to the desk, patting Silver's head. "Good boy."

Silver's left eye twitches, his face as red as his Arcanine's Fire Blast. He completely forgot that the novel was on the desk. The one time he forgot to hide it in the shelf was the day Kris was staying the night.

She better not get the wrong idea about its presence—he just wanted to read the book that got Valen into novels. He's not reading more to impress her, he's reading more because knowledge is power.

Upon feeling her lips pressed against his, Silver jolts out of his train of thought. It's different, the sensation lingers like an alluring scent trying to pull somebody in. He's not inclined to pretend he didn't like it, she's not inclined to…deny it?

"Humph, this is awkward." Silver tries to look away, but he can't stop staring into her eyes. "Great, now my eyes are moving on their own."

"There's a difference between accidental and intentional." Kris winks with a sweet smile. "Learn it."

"No means no."

He's brushing off the obvious blow to the feels. It's nothing new to Kris, or anybody else for that matter. Silver needs to work harder in trying not to cry over love songs.