Hitori made a mistake in what she believed her perfect plan was. Something she felt hit her multiple times from realizing that she'd have to be present at the school when her dad went to get her excused from her classes. Then again when the timing of it all was still in the morning and her walk into the school was just after the first break period started, because that meant people were still wandering the halls, and seeing her walking with her dad attracted way too much attention. Finally, when the principal she was sitting opposite of had chided her for skipping her classes, telling her that she could have gone after school both to turn in the recommendation and get excused from classes.
So Hitori sat, eyes firmly looking at the floor as she berated herself for her stupidity, mentally apologizing to her dad who was sitting next to her going over some of the details of having an incompetent daughter. Ah, she probably should be paying attention.
"While Miss Gotoh will be allowed to miss the rest of the school year, she will have to test into the high school of her choice. Of course, she will also be able to repeat the year with no demerits on her record because of her journey. It will be from the beginning of the year however, our exceptions can only go so far," The principal explained to the two.
"I see, that's good to hear that she won't be missing out on any opportunities because of this," Hitori's dad said.
Hitori despite herself already started zoning the conversation out again. Her mind drifted to one particular idea that came to mind. Visions of her walking into high school and turning everyone's heads. They'll all whisper to her about how they can't believe they have a big-shot trainer attending their school. Maybe even the newest champion. She'll take her sunglasses off and give them a confident smirk and strike a pose one she'll doubtlessly be known for like the legendary champion Leon is. Friendship, popularity, she won't even need to try to get those things! "Battling advice? Of course, it'll be easy…" She absentmindedly said
"Miss Gotoh, do you have a question?" The principal asked snapping Hitori out of her delusion and bringing her back to reality.
Immediately an embarrassed blush crept onto her face and she began to stutter "Ah- n-no, actually, how would I go to high school if I miss my classes?" She asked in a whisper. Hopefully, it was the kind of student-y question that would distract from questioning any weird expression she had on her face or what she had mumbled out.
Hitori's father gave a look of surprise and pride at her daughter possibly growing up and taking studies more seriously. Just another thing Hitori would need to apologize to her dad for when she had the confidence for it.
"Very good question Miss Gotoh. We provide a number of resources for students going on their Pokemon journies. For one your student login will remain valid for the rest of the school year so you may access the school's online textbooks whenever you may wish. As well we provide self-driven lessons and tests to allow students to continue their classes while on their journey the best they are able. If requested we also can provide physical packets with notes and worksheets that are in line with what is being taught in person," The principal explained.
That didn't seem too bad to Hitori. It didn't sound like they were expecting her to do the same amount of work as if she were attending class. Maybe she'd be the type who worked better with those lessons, Hitori thought even knowing she was the type who didn't study unless absolutely forced to. She gave a small nod to the principal to show she was listening and her dad soon chimed in and continued their talk.
It went on for a while longer, papers were signed by all of them and soon she was given a small slip of paper and a business card from the principal. Something that he told her to try and keep on her person as it'll act as evidence in case anyone like a concerned police officer thinks her to be skipping school or a runaway from home.
-
As Hitori was leaving with her dad, she considered what to do with the rest of her day. She still had quite a bit of time before she even needed to think about how she was going to go to Motostoke to attend the opening ceremony. Something she was doing her best to pretend didn't exist and happened in a nice gloomy place.
"Ah, Dad I can make my own way home?" Hitori asked for once a natural volume and tone as they were leaving the school building.
"Are you sure? Is there somewhere you want to visit? We're already out, I don't mind another stop," Her dad graciously offered. As well as politely not touching the Beedrill's nest of her friend situation by thinking she'd be wanting to say goodbyes to them. Better to continue in willful ignorance in that matter.
"No, just um. I wanted to train with Whismur. I, I'll have to work harder with her if I want to do well. I'm going to try and teach supersonic next so I'll be making a lot of noise," Hitori explained.
"Getting right to work? My daughter is growing up so fast!" He said in a bit of a teasing tone. "Alright, I'll see you back at home," He added before giving her a light pat on the shoulder. The two of them naturally split off, Hitori off towards a park she knew wasn't that far away while her dad went to his car.
-
"Hitori! Wait up!" Hitori had barely made it off school grounds when she heard her name being called. It took her a second to even realize she was being called and stopped to look towards the source of the voice. A voice that was familiar to her. Kita was running out of the school and waving to her.
Hitori flinched and sped up if only to get out of sight of anyone who may be able to see from the windows of the school. Not that she was fast enough to get out of sight of Kita who quickly caught up to her. "Hitori where are you going? I didn't see you in class, are you sick?" She asked in that cheery extrovert way that Hitori wasn't sure how to respond.
After a second Kita took a step back and let out a chuckle, "Sorry sorry, that's probably too much at once,".
"Ah, no, um, I was, getting excused from classes. F-for the Pokemon Gym Challenge," Hitori eventually whispered out.
"I see, I already have that as well. But I figured we still have a couple of weeks before it starts, so I could stay in school before then. Maybe I'm just taking this whole thing easily then?" Kita replied.
"N-no, I- I just wanted to try and get Whismur a new move or so before the start…" Hitori said, technically telling the truth even if it was hiding the other fact that she was just skipping school.
"Cool, Um unless you are really busy, would you mind having a battle with my Milcery? I wanted to get some practice in with you since we're both from the same class and going to be competing together. I was going to ask you this morning, but I didn't see you," Kita explained, fishing out a Pokeball from her bag.
Hitori wanted to say no, she wasn't mentally prepared for a battle. It took her nearly a full day to motivate herself for the few battles she had to get her placement. But saying no was much harder than simply not wanting to do something, and with Kita looking at her with those sparkling eyes. "Okay…" Hitori let out.
"Really? Thank you! So want to go to the school grounds, or a Pokemon Center or…" Kita jumped excitedly over the chance to battle, moving into a more casual tone as it wasn't as though they could just let their Pokemon out in the middle of the street for a battle.
"P-park, I w-was going to train at a park. W-we could battle there, t-there is spaces set out for that," Hitori muttered.
"Sounds good!" Kita energetically replied. Together the two began to walk towards the park, even if Hitori was lagging behind and mostly following Kita rather than leading her or going side by side. Maybe the park would be closed for cleaning? Then there'd be nothing for it but to hold it off, she could always practice in her room with its soundproofing.
The walk was awkwardly silent, though Hitori didn't mind it at all, it wasn't like she knew what a popular girl talked about anyway. As they arrived at the park, Hitori was happy to see that it was almost empty. Sure there was an old woman there feeding some Rookidees, but that was basically it. Just within the park was a portion of flat grass with posts in the corners that marked one such arena for people to have Pokemon battles.
There were even signs on the posts explaining the park rules about battles. Namely things like contacting a number if the field gets damaged and needs a ranger to fix up. Or to do things like clean up after yourselves. "H-here we are," Hitori said, as she shuffled towards one side of the field.
"Here we are! So it'll be a one vs one right? My Milcery and your Whismur? Do we go until one faints?" Kita asked suddenly seeming more nervous.
"Ah, yeah, um faints or if it's obvious one lost? Or maybe like pushed out of the arena?" Hitori offered some other conditions as examples.
"Sounds good! I don't really want to see Milcery get super beat up if that's okay," Kita said, as she held out her Pokeball. Hitori gave a nod of her own as she picked out Whismur's Pokeball as well. Without a judge or someone in that role, they both just vaguely tossed the balls out at the same time. Hitori once again weakly lobbed her ball, while Kita tossed it high into the air.
Whismur came out first and looked around for her opponent. Getting startled a second or two later when Kita's Pokeball hit the ground and released Milcery who let out a small, cute cry that only it believed to be intimidating. "S-smokescreen," Hitori called out in a quiet tone.
"You can do that to Milcery, Aromatic Mist, all around you!" Kita called out. Milcery nodded and began to spin around while letting out a cry. Wafting off the Fairy-type Pokemon's body was a pink mist. Meanwhile, Whismur had opened her mouth wide and started bellowing out the dark cloud of smoke. The two colored airs hit each other as they spread out, but rather than one overpowering the other, they created a clear distinction where one ended and the other began.
Already Whismur was well hidden within her smoke screen, while Milcery's mist wasn't dense enough to hide within. "I-icy wind," Hitori ordered now that there was enough smoke. Whismur let out a whispered cry before opening her mouth once more and blowing the frigid air. The smokescreen rolled and folded over itself as the attack blew it around. However it was there that the oddness of fairy types could be seen as while the attack pushed through the mist, it didn't seem to budge from the wind. Still not letting a puff of smoke into its area.
As for the attack itself it reached Milcery, forcing the young Pokemon to let out a cry and be blown back a bit, it's creamy body now looking stiffer from the cold. "Right, we need to get in close Milcery! Aromatic Mist once again while rushing in!" Kita called out after a second of thought.
Milcery nodded and gave another spin deepening the pink hue that surrounded Milcery before floating off towards where Whismur's attack came from. Its mist clung around her and easily forced the smokescreen away. Which in turn revealed Whismur who was in the middle of waddling over to a new spot. "E-echoed voice," Hitori called out.
With a hop Whismur stopped its attempt to move, turning towards the approaching Milcery, and began to scream forcing Kita and Hitori to cover their eyes, the force of the sound even pushing some of the mist and smoke away. "Tackle!" Kita yelled back hoping that her Pokemon would hear her.
Despite the force of the sound, Milcery didn't waver as her body was temporarily covered in a white glow before ramming into Whismur. Not that it was very effective, Whismur's body was pushed back but with how small and light Milcery was, Whismur's feet didn't budge from it's spot on the field. "Pound," Hitori said with a touch more volume.
Whismur swung back slamming its own body back into the fairy type to much greater effect. The cream Pokemon nearly burst as it splattered against the field, looking like a puddle of cream over the Pokemon it was a second ago. A moment passed and both trainers let out a surprised scream. "Ahh! Milcery are you okay?!" Kita called out running into the field. Hitori meanwhile was wondering if she'd be jailed, she'd be hated, she should have told Whismur to be more gentle!
As Kita reached the cream puddle, two white eyes opened up on the puddle looking at Kita. Then a mouth formed, and the cream shifted towards the face until the whole puddle lifted back off the ground and reformed into the recognizable shape of Milcery. "Oh thank goodness I thought you were seriously hurt! Are you okay Milcery? We can stop if you want!" Kita fretted over her Pokemon. Milcery meanwhile let out rapid-fire cries before turning to face Whismur and charging forward.
"A-ah d-do we continue?" Hitori asked feeling relieved that she didn't make Whismur into a Poke-murderer but also still feeling anxious in general.
"I think so, I think Milcery wants revenge," Kita says as she brings herself back onto her feet and hurries out of the field.
"O-o-okay, W-whism-" Hitori started but was interrupted as Milcery already tackled her Whismur this time succeeded in making the normal type take a step or two back in recoil. "A-astonish," Hitori finished.
Right away Whismur gathered the ghostly energy into her ears, unfurling them long enough to slam them down into Milcery with an accompanying loud cry. The attack caused a chunk of the cream Pokemon to distort inward. "P-pound again," Hitori called out.
Milcery had ignored her body becoming misshapen in favor of ramming into Whismur once more. All the while Kita had been watching and fretting over if she should be calling out whenever Milcery tackles or try and get her to do something else. In the end, after the latest Tackle, Whismur slammed her body back and knocked Milcery back once again causing it to lose shape and splatter against the ground.
This time Milcery was much slower to reform, with glass clinging to her cream body, swaying back and forth in clear exhaustion. "I'm calling it! Milcery return!" Kita called out. Milcery blinked and turned to look at her trainer for a moment before letting out another series of cute cries.
"No no, we've clearly lost this one!" Kita answered back. Milcery let out a final cry and slumped as she floated back to Kita. "You did well though Milcery for our first battle we held out for a while didn't we?" Kita consoled her Pokemon as she reached into her bag to pull out a potion and began to read the instructions for herself.
Hitori wasn't sure what to do here, it wasn't like the tournament where she would just have to leave the field so they could continue the next round. Should she go over to Kita and talk about the battle? Was that what friendly trainer battles were supposed to be like? A-ask for money? No no, she could never do that, that was way too much for someone like her. Maybe she could just take Whismur to another part of the park to start training with her?
Whismur at this point had shuffled over to Hitori and looked up at her, her trainer was getting distressed. Which to Whismur must mean that there was something worth being distressed over. So she handled it the only way she knew how, Whismur began to cry loudly.
"Whismur no! What's wrong are you hurt!?" Hitori suddenly cried out as she used one hand to cover her ear while she bent down to grab Whismur to pick her up. Thankfully it was enough to get Whismur to stop crying early. "Let's see, I'll get you a potion soon okay?" Hitori said as she began to look her partner over and other than some small bruise near her stomach she looked fine.
"K-k-kita, I-I'm going to h-heal Whismur okay? T-then I-I'll start training with h-her, Okay bye!" Hitori stuttered her way through telling Kita her plan. Before running off even before she was done talking.