Pokémon Trainer Hero
Chapter 58: Christmas Special (Non-Canon)
The day was Dec 18th, the last day before the week-long Christmas break! A full week of relaxation for the students and just a bit more downtime for the heroes. Everyone was happy and excited, chattering to one another with excitement about their plans or gift wishes. The whole school was abuzz with excitement! All except for one person who looked like the pure definition of a gloomy, stormy, miserable day. It was like a constant cloud hung over his head as he skunked around and moped in silence. Even if he was silent, the feelings coming off him were strong enough to draw the attention of anyone nearby.
This person was none other than the normally bright and happy Gar. Who didn't look so holly or jolly….just…..down. Even Mimikyu looked gloomy as it tried and failed to cheer Gear up, stroking his face with no results. The whole thing was just depressing to look at or even be near
This was quickly noticed by the students of 1-A after classes had ended, and not one of them could ignore the sad expression and negative aura that surrounded him like a sheet. Unanimously it was decided by the class for Izuku to confront him about this. The teen worked up his courage and tried to put on his best smile and tried to talk to him.
"Hey, Gar. How ya doing?", Gar only replied with a grunt. "Cause ya know, you don't look so good. Is everything okay?", Again another grunt in reply. Izuku had to change tactics. "Uh well, how about we change that! It's the Holidays after all, so I want you to join us for this-."
Before he could finish, Gar cut him off, actually speaking this time, and declined the offer saying, "That's okay. Just count me out for this one or anyone you got. I'll see you after the new year."
With that, Gar rose from his seat and sloshed his way to the door with Mimikyu pathetically waving goodbye to the class.
"Gar.", Izuku tried to call out to him, only to revive a slamming door to the face.
Once gone, the gloomy atmosphere dissipated to a more neutral feeling as everyone stared and wondered what just happened?
"What's his problem? I've never seen him so gloomy.", Mina asked with concern.
"Maybe he doesn't celebrate Christmas?", Mineta offered.
"That's stupid. Why would he be sad about that? Wouldn't he still be happy to celebrate his holiday?", Shoji retorted, making the small teen think it over before begrudgingly nodding in agreement.
"Something most dark is definitely amidst here. It's as if the mere mention of this normally joyful time has left his heart blacked with grief and strife.", Tokoyami added in, getting weird stares from everyone.
"So we can all agree that Gar is being a downer for some reason, right?", Tsuyu stated more plainly.
"Agreed.", Everyone said in unison.
"We should help him get his holiday spirit back!", Tour announced while jumping up.
"We?! If it involves the Purple Fucker, then count me out too!", Bakugou yelled at the group.
Kirishima came to the rescue this time, and throwing his arm over his shoulder he proclaimed exuberantly, "Oh come on Baku-bro, at least help us get this plan together. It's for a good cause."
Bakugou only narrowed his eyes and growled at the offer.
"You don't have to be directly a part of it, just chip in with your hands.", Jiro clarified and offered to him, making the teen click his tongue and look away, a sign of acceptance.
"Everyone listen up! I think I may have a plan!", Iida announced while everyone crowded around him to hear the idea and add more to it. A perfect plan is in the works.
Dec 23rd (UA Dormitory)
Gar sat somewhat alone in his room, moping about and letting out a sad sigh now and again. The only time he left was for the bathroom or food, apart from that he just sat there in a slum. The only other living things with him are Rotom, Mimikyu, and Houndoom. Gar was laying on his bed with Mimikyu by his head and Houndoom laying on his chest, while Rotom floated around the room. Now and again Houndoom would wine and Gar would stroke his fur to calm him down, while Mimikyu tried to snuggle itself in-between his shoulder and neck.
Rotom looked down at the young man with a concerned look and said, "Hey Gar. Buzzt. You know moping around isn't good for anyone. I know your…..predicament is unfortunate, but you know what'll get you right back into the mood!? Buzzt. Music!"
The Pokémon then turned on Christmas theme music on its highest volume, only for Gar to immediately snatch up the Pokémon and shut the music off only a few seconds after it played. Gar sighed as the music cut off abruptly and he let the Pokémon lay on his chest.
Turning the Pokémon over, he said to it, "I appreciate it Rotom, but music isn't going to change me. I'm just not in the jolly mood this year. I know I seem like a downer, so why don't you go off and have fun. See the town or hang out with the Power Loader. He likes you."
Rotom looked conflicted at first, but made up his mind and firmly stated, "No! I'd rather stay here with you, and that's final! Buzzt."
Gar shrugged apathetically and replied, "Suit yourself."
Though things didn't stay quiet after that, soon after Rotom submitted, Houndoom raised his head and barked at the door. Gar looked over and heard someone knock, causing Houndoom to jump up to the door and bark more! Gar eventually rose and shuffled his way to the door where he unlocked it and opened it enough to peak out.
He almost fell back from what he saw and heard all at once from his previously quiet setting! All of class 1-A standing in front of his door in different Christmas-themed attire and shouting, "SURPRISE! MERRY-!"
But they all were cut off when Gar abruptly slammed the door on them, causing their proclamation to die out into a fading hum. Everyone looked at one another awkwardly and shook their heads or shrugged at one another in confusion. Izuku shook his head and knocked a little more firmly. This time when Gar opened the door a peak, he was the one to speak before he could.
"Listen guys I appreciate what you've done for me, and I'm sure it was a lot to do, but it's not needed. So why don't you guys enjoy the time you have with your….families and loved ones ….and just leave me out of it. Go have fun and don't ruin this special day at my expense.", With that, he closed the door and locked it once more.
Gar thought that was the end of it and sulked back to bed where he threw the covers over his body and curled up into a ball. Houndoom, Mimikyu, and Rotom all surrounded him as he curled up in silence. All the Pokemon stared at Rotom, who knew he had to talk to him….. considering he was the only one that could.
He took a breath and said, "Gar. Buzzt."
"Not now Rotom.", Gar immediately interjected.
"Oh come on! Buzzt. At least give them a chance. They're trying to help you. Buzzt. They don't wanna see you so gloomy. Buzzt.", Rotom told him while Houndoom and Mimikyu nudged him.
"As I said to them, it's appreciated but not wanted. They'll get by without me.", Gar told him without budging.
The Pokémon seemed to give up when something knocked on the window, drawing all their attention, and making Houndoom bark wildly. Gar peaked from under his covers and saw Izuku standing in the window! He immediately tore off the covers and bounded to the window before throwing it open and staring at the teen with a perplexed expression! After opening, he could tell it was him and not a trick of the light.
"Izuku? What is the name of The Lake Guardians you are doing here?", He asked the teen.
"I came to talk to you directly about-.", He began to explain before he was cut off by Gar.
"No no no! I mean how are you here? I'm on the fourth floor! And last I checked, you can't fly or cling to walls.", He exclaims while motioning to the nothing around them.
"Uraraka.", Izuku answered briefly.
Gar looked down and saw the entirety of class 1-A standing on the ground surrounding the area of his dorm window. Under his breath, Gar commented, "You guys sure move quickly.", He looked back at Izuku and said with an aggravated sigh. "Okay, since you've gone through this much I might as well talk. So go on, ask me your question but only you."
"Why are you so against celebrating Christmas? Do you not like it?", Izuku immediately asked him.
Gar slapped his forehead and waving his hand he answered, "No, no! It's not that at all! It's just-wait are you wearing a wire.", He stopped himself while seeing something poke around the teen's chest.
"No.", Momo's voice sounded off from the ground, in a soft and nervous tone.
"Did they specifically send you up here cause we're closer and I wouldn't suspect?"
"No."
"Did you all do this so you all could have closure on my decision, despite the rule of privacy in conversations?"
"No."
"Is there a reason to keep denying this!?", He yelled at the teens from above.
"No….", She deflated.
"Okay look I'll tell you if it'll mean you leave me be.", He asked with an exasperated sigh, to which they all nodded. Gar took a breath and explained, "I do love celebrating Christmas. I do! It's the one time of the year I look forward to the most apart from my birthday day. It's just that this year I can't celebrate it with my family."
"I thought you only had your mom?", Izuku asked innocently.
"Of course I do! My mom is my only family!", Gar snapped at him, making his retreat. Gar immediately deflated at his outburst and apologetically said, "I'm sorry, it's just….when I was little, Christmas was the one day of the year that was the best for me. We didn't have much, and during Christmas, mom would make the best of it all! We were all we had for one another. No matter where I was or what I was off doing, I'd fly back home just to celebrate with her and her only. But now…..I can't."
Everyone looked confused by this statement and Izuku was the one to ask the glaring question. "What do you mean? Of course, you can. You have a Pokemon to take you home, right?"
Gar nods in confirmation and tells him in a sad tone, "I do, but this time it's different. I can't just return home after so long and expect everything to be fine, celebrate the holidays, and then suddenly leave to another universe! Besides, what if it's a one-way stop? Your universe is outside the normal Ultra Wormhole stream. What if I get stuck and can't come back? You know I can't leave till I've taken care of Bayo. If I'm gone he could take the chance to strike!", He exclaimed, getting more and more panicked by the word.
Team Freak Hideout
"What!? Is he serious!? Why would I do that?", Bayo exclaimed with an insulted and furious tone, popping his head up from a mountain of half-made presents, Christmas-themed wrapping paper, tape, and ribbons.
He shuffles his way out of the sea of festivities and makes his way over to a small tv screen that was playing live feed of Gar's bedroom. He stares angrily at the screen showing a side view of Gar, and exclaimed, "I'm making gifts for my whole team! I've been planning since September, why would I strike at this time? I may be a villain, but I know when to take a Bebarriel damn break!"
"Uh, boss?", A Grunt, dressed like a Shuppet, nervously asked from the background.
"What?!", Bayo snapped at him.
The grunt jumped and asked, "Why did you place a hidden camera in your greatest enemy's room?"
Bay rolled his eyes while putting his hands on his hips and telling him like it was simple, "Surveillance and recon of course! How else am I supposed to plan by the actions of my enemy?"
"Are you sure your hidden camera is very….hidden?", The Grunt asked again while looking at the screen
"Of course, why wouldn't it be?", Bayo asked back, genuinely confused by his question.
"Cause I think they just found it.", He told him while pointing, making the young teens heckle stand up and he whipped his head towards the tv!
"Hey when did you get that plushie?", Izuku asked while pointing to the hidden camera
"I don't remember getting one like that?", Gar answered, getting suspicious while moving towards it.
"Oh, Binnacle.", Bayo cursed before taking a mic and yelling, "Abort. Abort!"
Back in Gar's dorm room, both boys were looking closely at a self-filled to bursting with Pokemon plushies. All of them looked normal apart from one. A Kecleon plushie that looked too real with a small camera around its neck. The two boys stared critically at the toy, only to watch it suddenly turn invisible! Both boys blinked and shook their heads trying to make sure they said what they saw.
"Did you….?", Izuku trailed off nervously.
"Let's worry about that later.", Gar waves it off for now. He sighs while turning back to him and says, "But my point stands. I can't celebrate Christmas cause...it's just not the same without her. So I'm sorry but I can't, I just can't bring myself to have a good time without my mom. You guys go and enjoy yourself. I'll just sour the mood."
Gar then lightly pushes Izuku away from his window and then locks it shut while drawing the blinds. Izuku, alongside the rest of the class, looks disheartened by this and Uraraka releases her quirk, allowing Izuku to land. Once on the ground the whole class exchanges sad looks and sad sighs with one another at their failed plan and Gar's situation.
"Poor Gar.", Tour moans sadly while wiping her invisible eyes.
"It must be hard to be so far away from the people you love.", Tsuyu says while thinking of her own family.
"It makes sense why he can just go back for a visit.", Sato says animatedly.
As they all chatted, expressing their pity and sadness for Gar, Bakugou was silently stewing in the back and getting ready to blow! At which point….he did.
"Are you all shitting me right now!?", He screamed at them all, grabbing the whole group's attention. "Poor Gar, poor Gar, poor Gar! BLECK!", He mocked the class before sticking out his tongue and making a grossed noise, earning some ire. "You all forced me into doing this carp and now we're gonna stand around feeling moody as the Purple Fucker!? Hell no!", He yelled in rejection.
Iida stepped in before anyone else and scolded him, exclaiming, "Bakugou, please calm down and try to be respectful, since none of us were! Gar wasn't engaged in the holiday and now we've gone through all this trouble just to remind and upset him even more, without even finding any sort of previous information as to why!"
"Fuck that!", He yelled while throwing his Santa hat on the ground, then proceeding to stomp off.
"Wait Kacchan! Where are you going!?", Izuku called out.
"Shut up! Go and get your asses into the classroom, make sure the party is ready, and wait!", He snapped and commanded the whole class while trudging around the building.
"Why?", Kaminari asked, just before he left shouting distance.
"Just do what I say!", He yelled loud enough to sound nearby.
The class shrugged at one another and made their way to their classroom where the party was being held. Unsure of what their explosive classmate had planned, and hoping it didn't result in any damages.
Several Minutes Later
All the young heroes of 1-A were meandering about the extravagantly decorated, thanks in big part to both Momo, Iida, and Todoroki, having long finished up any last-minute changes or plans for the party. They all had been waiting for Bakugou to return from….whatever he was doing, and not wanting to gain his scorn but getting properly board with waiting. It had even gotten to the point that any hot food was getting cold, and ice was starting to melt.
It was, surprisingly, Kirishima who was the first to openly complain. Banding his head on the wall and exclaimed, "Geeze, what the heck is Baku-bro doing?"
"Yeah I know, it's getting boring.", Mina agreed while swinging her legs with Kaminari on a few desks made into mock tables.
"What do you think he's doing Midoriya?", Todoroki asked the green-haired teen.
Izuku places a finger to his chin and thinks deeply before honestly replying, "I'm not sure, but Kacchan was determined to do something. I could see it in his eyes."
Before anyone else could voice their complaint, Uraraka suddenly shouted excitedly, "Hey! Here he comes now! And he's….wait what is he carrying?"
Almost immediately all the students crowd around the outside viewing window and see none other than the man himself, carrying something very wiggly on his shoulder. Leading to the confusion of all viewing as they tried to focus on the cloudy cold glass.
"Is that….no idea way!", Sero suddenly said with surprise.
Within a few moments, the sound of struggling could be heard down the dead quiet hallway. Bakugou was grunting with anger as he was trying to keep his catch from struggling free, while whoever he was hauling was very vocal about their predicament.
"Put me down! Put me down right now Katskui Bakugou so help me or I'll feed you to Gyarados right after I tenderize you with Machamp and cook you on Volcarona wings!", The voice yelled at him, no doubt belonging to Gar.
Within another moment the door was slammed open with a frazzled Bakugou lugging a furious Gar over his shoulder! With one last angry grunt, he lifted him and threw him to the ground while yelling out in a huff, "There! I put you down, happy!?"
"You're playing with fire, Katskui. FIRE!", Gar snapped at Bakugou from the ground while his eyes ignited in flames.
"Bakugou! What the heck is this!? Did you break down Gar's door and drag him here? Are you nuts!?", Uraraka shrieks in surprised fright at seeing Gar get suplexed onto the tile floor?
"Technically he blasted down my door and then carried me here.", Gar non jokingly corrected her while lifting off his stomach.
"Bakugou, you can't simply force someone to do something they don't want to do!", Iida yelled at him while waving his arms.
"Of course, you can! That's how people grow dip shit.", Bakugou fought back like he was right.
"He's not some five-year-old refusing to swim cause it looks scary!", Jiro yelled at him, ready to plug her jacks into him.
While this scolding back and forth went on, Izuku and Shoji had helped peel Gar from the ground. After he was standing on his Momo profusely apologized, saying shamefully, "Gar I'm so sorry about this. Had we'd known he'd do something like this, we would've stopped him."
"I don't blame you guys, it's not your fault.", Gar huffed out while massaging his sore parts and dusting himself off. He cleared his throat and moved to the door while trying to say calmly, "Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be heading back to my room…..nice decorations by the way."
Before he could take another step further, Bakugou grabbed his wrist and yelled defiantly, "Oh no you don't!"
"Bakugou.", Gar said his last name with a deadly tone, making everyone freeze in fear at his single word. Even making Bakugou falter a bit. He then glared down at the teen and said with Barre teeth and gleaming eyes, "I'm willing to let this slide right now if you leave me alone. But if you continue this, I can't guarantee your life exceeding the end of today."
"You. Not. Going. Anywhere!", Bakugou doubled down with immovable resolve.
A tack mark appeared on his cheek and he tried to pull away while exclaiming, "Katskui let me go! I don't wanna celebrate! I'd just sour the mood!"
"You're souring the mood by not celebrating! They did all this for you, idiot!", Bakugou pulled back.
"Well, I don't want it! I never asked for it! Now let me go!", Gar demanded while pulling hard enough to drag Bakugou, leading him to pull himself back into his original spot.
This back and forth game went on for a while until the rest of the class tried to intervene without getting physical to provoke Bakugou.
"Bakugou, please stop!", Iida commanded him.
"Bro! This is super unmanly!", Kirishima attempted to demoralize him.
"Kacchan, please!", Izuku begged.
"Shut up! All of you!", Bakugou snapped at all of them, making them go quiet for the time.
At this distraction, Gar attempted to break free, but Bakugou held on! Then the young man did something that shocked the whole class and he would be the captor! He lifted his arm up and thus lifted Bakugou right off his feet! Leaving him dangling! The teen struggled to bring himself down but only ended up looking like a flipping fish. He eventually ran out of steam as Gar furiously stared Bakugou's in his eyes!
Bakugou stared back, showing no weakness, and yelled into his face, "You said you celebrate with your family, right?!"
"So!?", Gar asked back with an equal bite.
"Then Amare they not like your fucking family or even friends!", He motioned with his foot to the rest of the class.
Gar growler in Bakugou's face and attempted to proclaim, "I!", He then faulted as an epiphany struck him, and he slightly deflated at his previous statement, saying with less courage, "I….", But he got tongue-tied again, growing quiet before fully admitting, "I….never thought of it."
He loosened his arm, allowing Bakugou to touch the ground, and he let go of Gar's arm, knowing he wouldn't try and run. Meanwhile, the whole class looked on with mixed expressions of confusion, surprise, and hurt. Gar saw their reaction to his answer and decided to at least attempt to explain himself.
He took a shaky breath and told them, "Look guys, it's not that I don't think of you as my friends, I do. I just….don't think you'll be my friends for very long."
"What? What are you saying?", Uraraka inquired with the same semblance as everyone else.
Gar sadly looked out towards the window with clenched fists and explained further, "Whenever I started any journey, I'd start it alone, and then I'd end it alone. Sure I'd make friends along the way….but they never lasted. More of a passing fade. Just people I was friendly with, instead of close to. I tried to make connections or stay in contact, but nothing ever lasted.", A small smile formed on his lips as old memories surfaced in perfect clarity, nearly making him tear up. He then reminiscently told the teens, "My mom was the only constant. I'd make memories with her, but it wouldn't just fade away cause she would never leave. Everyone else I knew would. I'd make memories and then feel hurt knowing I can never have more, cause I'd never see them again.", He deflated himself while hugging his own body and looked at the ground while saying exhausted, "I guess….I just….don't wanna keep repeating history. I'm tired of it."
The whole room was dead silent as all eyes were on Gar or one another. Even the vocal Bakugou was quiet with a neutral expression and pose. Then the energy in the room returned to normal when someone suddenly rushed towards Gar and practically glomped him!
"GAR!", Mina shouted with tears on her face, practically knocking him over in the process.
"M-Mina.", Gar stumbled over his feet and words but managed to catch both before falling over.
Once they were in the situation, Mina buried her face into his chest and mumbled something incoherent, leading Gar to ask for a repeat.
Once the girl had calmed down a bit, she pulled her face away and proclaimed, "You don't have to worry about such things!", This made Gar confused by her words as she followed up, exclaiming, "Cause-Cause! I'll be your friend no matter what! Even if you are a universe away!"
Gar's expression changed from surprise to a mix of joy and sadness, as he cooed back while stumbling over his words, "Mina...I."
"I'll be your permanent friend!", Proclaimed Kirishima.
"So will I!", Exclaimed Iida.
"Me too!", Izuku added.
"Me three!", Uraraka cheerfully stated.
"You'll never forget about me!", Aoyama flamboyantly told him with a fabulous pose.
Gar looked at every teen who announced their unfailing friendship to him, getting more and more overwhelmed and teary-eyed in the process. He wiped his eyes as Mina hugged him and Tsuyu patted his head.
Once he calmed down enough, he told the young heroes with an uncertain and shaky voice, "Guys I-I…. appreciate it, but how can you be so sure? As Mina said, once I leave I'll be a universe away and may not be able to come back. How can you be so sure that things won't go back to the way they were? And we end up drifting apart till we can't remember."
Before any of them could hope to think of a response, a new voice gave Gar his answer, saying with a wise voice, "The past is behind us. The future is a mystery. But today is a gift. That's why it's called the present."
All heads turned to see UA's principal standing in the back behind the back classroom door.
"Principal Nezu!", Everyone shouted in unison.
"What are you doing here?", Iida asked with surprise.
"Did you get that from the Kung Fu Pancham movie?", Gar asked him with a deadpan tone.
Nezu chuckled before moving to the door, flinging it open and correcting them. "I think you should say, what are we doing here?"
When the door flew open, behind it were all the UA staff with a small gift in hand or some kind of Christmas theme added to their outfit. Surprising everyone further!
"What are all of you doing here?!", Izuku exclaimed with shock.
"We overheard your little plan through the grapevine to cheer up Garfield with a little surprise. So we decided to secretly join in. Hope you don't mind.", Midnight, who is dressed like a sexy female Santa, admitted with a somewhat apologetic tone.
"How'd you know?", Kirishima asked.
"Just because my eyes are closed, doesn't mean I'm asleep.", Aizawa, who wore a sweater with a fruit cake on it, told them with a serious glare.
"Oh yeah, you were still in the classroom.", Mineta remembered seeing their teacher supposedly sleeping.
"What about your patrol?", Izuku asked with a bit of panic.
Recovery Girl, looking like Mrs. Clause, waved off the stressed question and said nonchalantly, "There are plenty of heroes patrolling, even today. It's not gonna hurt that we're absent for an hour or three.", Putting the teen somewhat at ease.
All Might then stepped forward, dawning an oversized reindeer onesie, and said to Gar, "Still, you should listen to young Garfield and Nezu's words. Although the future when you leave might look hazy, is it better to make no memories with those who care, instead of never having tried in the first place?", The huge man walked in front of Gar and placed a hand on his shoulder, telling him, "I've been where you are. I've had many friends who I've lost in one sense or another. But with every person I'd lose, I'd fill that empty feeling with others. I'd continued to surround myself with people I love, and I never look back at the memories of the past to feel saddened by them but to strengthen my resolve, and use them to bring a smile to my face. Knowing things were good, and they will continue to be good. I hope you understand what I'm trying to say.", He asked the young man with a hopeful smile.
Gar sniff's back a bit and rubbed the moisture from his eyes before nodding his head and replying, "I-I….I think I do All Might.", He took a calming breath and turned to the young heroes. He tried to apologize to them but always fell over his words, "I'm...I'm sorry you guys. I just-I didn't-I wasn't-."
It was Mina who cut him off, placing a finger over his lips and telling him, "Hush. You don't have to explain yourself. I think I can speak for all of us when I say: we understand."
Gar could help but smile at the kind words and allow tears to drop off his face, while also feeling a kind of lightness in his chest. Though before any more of this could continue onward, Present Mic, adorned with multicolored Christmas lights, jumped in and loudly announced, "Alright, alright! Enough of the mushy stuff! Let's party!"
Everyone cheered loudly in agreement for several seconds and soon they were all up and around the makeshift party room and beginning to start the many activities or began to enjoy the food. It was only a few minutes in and everything was already up in holiday cheer!
That is until someone asked the whole room, "Hey, where are Houndoom, Mimikyu, and Rotom?"
This made all the students briefly stop and wonder the same thing. The three Pokemon Gar had with him were in his room, but when Bakugou brought him in, they weren't with him. So where were the Pokémon?
Then Tokoyami, who was looking out the window, answered as he told them, "If I had to take a guess. I'd say they're on their way for Bakugou's blood."
Before anyone could start to crowd around the windows, a large object suddenly broke through the window while being closely followed by two smaller objects! As the frigid air poured in, all people present were surprised to see the sight of a very pissed-off Houndoom who was glowing red, Mimikyu who was enveloped in darkness with several sharp hands emerging, and Rotom who just looked angry.
"HOW DARE YOU BLAST US WITH A DOOR AND KIDNAP GARFIELD! BUZZT!", Rotom yelled at Bakugou while discharging massive amounts of electricity.
The three Pokemon then lunged for Bakugou, truly starting the party.
After the Pokémon are pulled away from Bakugou, keeping the boy from being torn to shreds and closing up the broken window. The young blond was given a brief healing session and patch up from Recovery Girl, then the party continued as it was before. Festivities, food, fun, and presents were in full swing throughout the hours. Almost everyone present had gotten the interdimensional young man a gift that didn't exceed $20. The teens had given Gar all sorts of small odds and end gifts, while adults gave adult gifts like booze to Gar. While Nezu and Chiyo gave him something more practical, and Midnight gave him the only 'adult' present. A present that he showed no one else and put off to the side, simultaneously cursing and thanking the R-rated heroin.
After things had settled down a bit and soft Christmas music played over the casual conversation and eating in the crowd of heroes, Gar broke away briefly from it all to get some brain breathing time and quickly caught sight of Bakugou standing in the back corner, looking out the window at the dark snowy school.
Gar walked over to him with a sáke glass in hand, on a slightly fiddly wobble, and called out in an unnecessarily loud voice, "Hey Katsuki.", The blond teen said nothing in reply except growl while continuing to stare out. "Listen, uh, thanks for forcing me to this party. I do not think I would've been able to alter my view on some things if you hadn't. Soooooo thanks.", He awkwardly thanked him.
Bakugou clicked his tongue and waved him off while saying in a usually calm tone, "Yeah yeah, whatever."
Gar took another sip of his drink and leaned against the window, near the teen, and said with his reef cheeked face, "I couldn't help but notice earlier that you said them instead of we. Do you not consider yourself a friend to me?"
This time the teen glanced over at him and said with an aggravated tone, "No more than you do. Shouldn't you be in that drinking game with adults?", Bakugou told him, trying to make him leave.
Gar snorted at his answer and roughly rubbed his head, nearly driving his head into the ground from his strength, while saying, "Oh Katsuki! Don't be such a Magikarp. Of course, I think of you as a friend. I just hate your attitude, which, amongst many other things, needs work. Plus I'm already tipsy, and Shota has already drunk Yamada, Ken, and All Might under."
The two boys looked over and saw Aizawa standing over the intoxicated and unconscious bodies of the three pro heroes, raising a sake glass over his head while Midnight and a few other staff members clapped and laughed, while the younger heroes looked at them awkwardly. Bakugou rolled his eyes and returned to his position, staring out into the darkness. Gar saw that Bakugou was at his speaking limit with him and decided to leave him be for the time being.
"Well, I'll just leave you to your brooding. Don't stew too hard, or the coal you'll get will turn into diamonds.", Gar laughed at his joke, nearly spilling his drink, and making Bakugou growl at him. He playfully flicked the side of his head and told him before walking off, "Merry Christmas."
Just before Gar left in earshot of the teen, before getting swallowed by the merry noises of celebration, he could just vaguely hear Bakugou reply to him with a low, "Merry Christmas to you too.", Putting a small smile on the tipsy young man's face.
Fun fact: Humans from the Pokémon universe are naturally superior to that normal human from the My Hero Academia universe. By age 10 they're already considered mentally and physically mature enough to be self-sufficient. Garfield alone, despite his medium build, is strong as a male silverback gorilla, just as fast as a miniature pony, and durable enough to take a direct blow from Kirishima's hardened form or Kaminari's electricity without having any internal damage or lasting side effects.
Merry Christmas.