All right! Alola readers again! We're back for the second present-day intermittent chapter. Like the previous one, it's going to be significantly shorter than the regular diary entries, in which we will get back to next time!

Lots of setups here and hints at what's to come! As always, enjoy everyone.

Lillie found herself at peace.

The room she laid in was dark with a faint rhythmic sound of water lapping against a structure in the background. The air was pleasantly cool, just the way she liked it. She was in a bed that had simple, but cozy décor from a flat screen television to a lamp that sat on the top of a nightstand on either side.

Blankets draped over her body and she sensed another presence.

Normally she would've been alarmed if it was anyone other than her family. When she was a little girl, Lillie had her moments of nightmares and frights, begging her parents or brother to lie down with her or within sight.

Gladion wasn't too keen on having his little sister jump into his bed, so she instead went to her parents'. They were more than happy to have her climb and sleep in between them throughout the night.

Those were the nights where she felt as safe as she could possibly be.

None of her family were here with her now…so why did she feel that same safe and secure sensation?

Lillie now discovered that the other person had their arms wrapped around her stomach, comfortably spooning her as he continued to slumber. She still found herself flustered at the sight of Elio without a shirt on, but couldn't help admiring his lean, lithe frame.

His eyes and mouth remained shut with his own breathing at a steady pace, synched perfectly to the rising and falling of his bare chest.

Lillie stared at him, amazed at how well he could sleep with everything that had happened in the past couple of days. He snoozed on as if there was no other worry.

"E-Elio." She whispered.

He didn't move. Almost as if he couldn't hear her at all.

"Y-you didn't have to do this. You didn't have to come with me to help my mother. I know you didn't want to."

Tears began to pool in her eyes. Amongst the entirety of the chaos, the fighting and the fear of not only her and Nebby's safety, but his as well. Gladion and Hau were right with him in the thick of it, but she had seen firsthand of the pain he had gone through in trusting her.

She had abused his trust and he made sure she knew it.

"But thank you. Thank you so much for coming to stand by me. Thank you for being the only one I can count on, even when it seems like everyone else has turned their back to us."

She took a deep breath. "I know there is still a lot for us to do in bringing back Mother. I can't do it alone…I don't want to do it alone. I need you. I know we can do anything if we face it together. We've always done it. I need you."

In truth, she didn't need him. Elio always reminded her that she did have the skill and capability to do everything he did. She just needed to see it in herself.

But for some reason, she didn't want to do it alone. She needed him.

"I want to need you."

Lillie looked at Elio's sleeping form again before putting a hand on the back of his head. She brought herself closer and closer.

All until their foreheads and noses made gentle contact with one another. She felt the cool air from his exhales breeze across her skin, lightly tickling it.

Another inch forward and she'd be kissing him. And she wanted to so badly.

"When this is over Elio…I promise I'll tell my mother how I feel…and you too."

Stupid.

Stupid. Stupid. Gah!

Lillie rubbed her temples, clenching her teeth as she sat up in the bed. It felt strangely empty now that he was no longer beside her, unknowingly wrapping his arms around the girl's waist.

How can I be so stupid?!

She had been on the ship for five days now with them set to dock in Vermillion City in Kanto by tomorrow evening. Their accommodations were luxurious enough to make their journey comfortable, however she was more than ready to be back on solid ground. It was a good thing she didn't get seasick easily.

Her thoughts continued to drift back to Elio and what he said to her. At first, her thought was to give him a place in Kanto to return and stay with her. Under any other circumstances, he would've agreed.

And then he became the champion with an obligation to stay in the region, throwing that entire plan out the window.

Translating his small phrase through the database she couldn't believe it.

He was in love with her. And she never upheld that promise.

I never got to say I loved him back. And I'll probably never see him again.

She still wondered how he was doing or if he would call and profess his love. With everything going on at once, it was so confusing on how such a powerful emotion had to have the biggest effects. Elio had provided a sense of direction in her life from single-handedly rescuing her mother from her ultra beast obsession to finally giving her the confidence and openness to finally become a trainer of her own. He had told her numerous times that she had the ability to do everything he did. She just had to see it in herself…for herself.

I just want him here! I want to tell Elio how I feel!

A fresh wave of tears made their way down her face, falling off her cheeks onto the floor. It completely crushed her to know how he felt and her reaction. Would he hate her for leaving so abruptly?

"I'm so sorry Elio." Lillie whispered to herself, putting her face in her hands while seated at the desk in her cabin. "I love you too."

Lillie had fallen into a routine while staying on the ship. The passenger liner wasn't exactly like some of those mega-ships she had seen in movies and documentaries where they were the equivalent height of a tall city building. Those monstrous machines dwarfed some of the already large freighter ships that occasionally visited the Paradise. She remembered her and Gladion running to the top floor of their mansion whenever one of the huge vessels visited. It would pass by leaving both kids starting in awe at its gargantuan size.

Then she had seen the even bigger ships, but sadly Alola was not a place where many of the big cruise liners were coming. She'd have to settle for something else.

There were many other people here. Some needed to get from Alola to Kanto because they didn't want to fly. Others were here for business, using up the many office spaces for meetings. Even a charter group was using some of the rooms, participating in the many activities that were posted on the billboards in various areas.

Dining options were decent, where she could go and grab a bite to eat at simple cafes or at elaborate restaurants with multiple courses in a meal. Even with her mother's deep pockets and free to spend it on whichever she chose, Lillie opted to just go for whatever she had the strength or heart to eat. Most of it was casual takeout.

I miss all the home cooking that Burnet and Kukui used to do. Same with Elio's mother.

She woke up in the morning, spending a half hour to jog two laps around the ship's entire upper deck, following along a makeshift track was paved along its perimeter. Jogging in the morning was the perfect time to clear her head and just think about what was going to happen on the road that lay before her. From what she had seen with Elio and Hau, going on a journey through Kanto was going to involve a lot of feet. While she knew that it wouldn't condition her to the feat overnight, it would be less of a drag when the real thing came along.

I guess Elio's morning run has gotten to me. She smiled to herself. I wouldn't be surprised if I find myself in the basketball court trying to shoot.

After her morning run was over, she'd grab a quick breakfast and head back to her stateroom where her mother was lying in bed. Lusamine had drifted in and out of consciousness, barely staying awake to eat and use the bathroom before struggling back to the bed in order to rest some more. Lillie could tell that it frustrated her to no end in that she couldn't do anything to help herself. She was simply too fatigued and tired to do anything else.

Once she was checked over and the prognosis was good through the support machine readings attached to her body, she'd then conduct more research on the Kanto region and her own journey. The only breaks she would take would be for meals and food was taken right back into her cabin so that she could eat and watch over mother.

Gladion exchanged emails with her once a day and they were brief but supportive. Having taken over as the interim President of the Aether Foundation had brought a lot onto his plate and he had constantly griped to her on how stressful his job had become. Right in an organization that dealt with pokemon, he hardly got to see any of them since he got buried in paperwork, attending meetings and other logistical stuff. Thankfully for him, Wicke was more than happy to assist "young master" and ease him into his new role.

Lillie could sense that he wanted to go back to being a trainer and strategize on battling.

I want to hear from Sun.

The thought swirled in her head and she wanted it more than anything else in the world.

But I left so suddenly. I didn't even give him a way to contact me and I don't know how to find him.

I don't know…he said to find him when it was all over. I will Elio…I will find you and tell you how much you mean to me!

She glanced back at her mother. Lusamine had been the number one reason she had left.

There was a man named Bill who lived north of Cerulean City who had once made headlines in an incident where he had fused himself with a pokemon years ago. She had managed to get in contact with him for his expertise in hopes that the last of nihilego's poisons could safely be removed from her mother's body. Bill had obliged, stating he was more than happy to help, but did say that he wasn't entirely sure he could be of much use. Nevertheless he was still her best hope of finding a cure and she didn't want to lose it.

"Mother." Lillie whispered to her unconscious mother. She wasn't sure if she could be heard or not. "Mother I will make you get better. We're almost to Kanto where everything is going to be okay. And then I will do something I've been wanting to do since…since…well. Since he gave me the courage and inspiration."

She sighed, now feeling tears well back up in her eyes. "Mother I had to say goodbye to a lot of people. A lot of people who treated me like family…like ohana."

Sniffles started and the blonde took a moment to wipe her tears away. It did little since there were plenty more eager to replace them. Lillie glanced down at the golden Tapu Koko pendant dangling around her neck. She remembered Elio when he took it off himself and gently brought it to his lips before handing it over into her closed hands.

"He's done so much for me. When everything happened and went bad and it seemed like everyone was against me…It really wasn't. He was right there with me to face the world when everyone turned their back on me. Elio did that even when he had all the right in the world to ignore us. I was so scared. Everything dark surrounded me and Elio…Elio was this big bright light and that knight in shiny armor to scoop me up and save me from everything evil."

She shook her head. "Mother…you hurt him! You give him pain that nobody should ever experience! And now I made it even worse by leaving him!"

Yet I made this choice. I decided to leave Alola.

"I have to make things right." She breathed in slowly. "I have to go back to Alola and see him again. And I will. I will see you again Elio. I promise."

Her monologue was interrupted when her mother stirred. Lusamine was rarely ever awake for long and she had made it clear that she be paged on her phone as soon as she was conscious every day.

"Mother." It was now a habit for the seventeen year old to embrace her frail figure. The response was always shaky at best as Lusamine's muscles were significantly trembling, yet she always succeeded in returning the affection.

"Lillie." Lusamine rasped, a weak smile gracing her smooth features.

"How are you feeling?" She got right to business, doing a check over the supporting machines. An IV bag needed to be replaced and she quickly saw to it before sitting in the chair next to the bed.

"Still…very tired…what about you?"

"I'm alright." Her mother could still remember all of her daughter's habits and by the way she kept her eyes downcast meant that something was clearly troubling her.

The blonde picked up a folder on the stateroom's dresser, more than ready to change the subject. "Are you hungry mother? I can order some room service."

"I'm okay for now."

"Okay. But remember that I want you to eat something. It's not good to run on an empty stomach."

A light laugh escaped Lusamine's lips. "I suppose so. You've got a long face there. What's wrong love?"

"It's nothing mother."

"I may be bedridden, but I know that look." Lusamine smiled faintly again. "I know that I don't deserve your attention through what I've done, but I want to be there to make things right. Please Lillie…tell your mother what's wrong."

Seeing just how vulnerable she looked, Lillie felt her eyes water up and she couldn't stop the pained wail that came right from her soul like it was being ripped apart. She flung her arms around Lusamine, not caring that she had done all the horrible things of endangering Alola, her, Nebby and her best friend. Lillie just needed a shoulder to cry on and seek comfort.

"M-mother…I…I…I had to say goodbye to the boy I fell…fell in love with. Elio was there for me…that one light through all the darkness…and I just couldn't help it after all we've both been through. Mother…I love him. And…and I made the choice to leave him behind."

Lusamine's breath stopped short. Never had she seen Lillie become so passionate about something before. She had to almost physically restrain herself from tearing up as well because it was crystal clear that accompanying her to Kanto in order to seek treatment meant that it separated her own daughter from someone she deeply cared about.

And I did all of this. I ripped apart my children's lives because why? For these ultra beasts?!

"You didn't have to come with me love." Lusamine quietly reassured her sobbing daughter. "You could have stayed in Alola with Elio. Gladion would have made sure everything would work out."

"Mother, I can't just leave you by yourself." Lillie protested. "I don't know what to do and I don't know what to say. I can't go back to Alola, not after I made it seem like we'll never see each other again. You hate Elio anyways."

"Wha? Lillie…I." She was about to dismiss it, but stopped herself short.

Everything I did. I hurt my own daughter and the boy she loved for my own selfish reasons. And now both of them are paying the price to something neither deserved.

"Lillie." Lusamine started again. "I honestly don't know what to say that could console you or ease the pain and even if I did; it wouldn't hold much merit coming from me. But…I know you won't ever forget him." She gestured to the pendant hanging loosely around her daughter's neck. "I presume that's his that he gave to you?" She got a slow nod in response. "Tapu Koko must be watching over you with him. He clearly thinks a lot about you too. So make sure you do return to Alola to see him again."

"I will mother." Lillie fingered the object in question. "I promised I would go and see him again and tell him how I feel."

"My my." Her mother chuckled to herself before her throat dried up and she started coughing in a rumbling that sounded as if gravel was being shifted and crunched around inside her body. Lillie reacted instantly, grabbing a small plastic dish at her bedside. Automatically, Lusamine leaned over and spat a long stream of clear fluid that pooled inside. Mixed within was a stream of a dark blackish mixture that looked viscous in the saliva as if it were paint.

"I'm alright." Lusamine said after taking a few deep breaths and clearing her throat after settling back on the bed. Lillie went over to the sink to rinse the dish again. "But it looks like my little flower has a crush. And such a talented trainer…the champion of the Alola region." She let out a longing sigh. "I owe him so much. An apology and thanks at the least. I truly am in his debt."

"Mother."

"You're right in that…he…I mean Elio…Elio probably hates me right now." She sadly said, rightly avoiding her gaze. "I hurt him again and again by what had happened at the Paradise and then taking you away. I think that I permanently damaged our relationship with my actions. I don't blame him if he decides to never see or speak to me again."

"Mother you…"

"It's fine Lillie. He has every right to shun, hate or curse me out. I wish I could go back and make things right but…but it can't be undone and I'm truly sorry and regretful for ruining all of your lives for my own selfish ends. I know now is not the time to do it, but I would like to formally apologize to him for everything." She sighed wistfully. "Elio has such a pure heart just like you and I hope that he can forgive me in time."

I have nobody but to blame for myself for all of this. Lillie had a spark of happiness with this boy and by coming with me as a consequence, I snuffed it out. Please Tapu Koko, make sure the two of them are reunited so that they can be happy once more.

"I'm so proud of you both. Remember what I used to tell you and your brother. Follow your heart."

"Yes mother." Lillie reached over and gave her a hug. "I love you."

"I love you too little flower." Lusamine said, a couple of tears pooling in her own eyes. "I promise that I will do whatever it takes to earn the trust and love back from you, your brother and Elio. I will never ever do what I did to anyone else again."

"I know Mother. And we will get through this together…as a family."

A stomach gurgling caught her daughter's attention and she decided to appease her. Fatigue was beginning to set back in when her eyes started feeling heavy.

"I think I would like something to eat." She gently smiled at her daughter next to her and gently took her hand, kissing it lightly. "Room service sounds wonderful. How about you tell me what you think is good?"

The next few days after Lillie leaving passed by pretty quickly for the Northstars. Elaine was called right back into work, returning in time every day to cook dinner. Elio was now more comfortable with handling a few additional things thanks to Mallow's teachings on how to cut vegetables and measure ingredients. So he aimed to help her out as best he could, especially when she stumbled through the front door completely exhausted. She left around the same time in the morning Elio went out for his morning jog.

He had a good routine that was established early on during his move. It had been almost a year, closing in on his seventeenth birthday that he had moved into his new home.

Moving on from Lillie's departure wasn't easy. Elaine tried not to bring her up as a subject, but at the same time she had gotten increasingly worried since her son didn't say much else. His attitude became more stoic and his answers came out half-hearted, snippy and curt.

Of course his answers are like that half-heartedness. The other part of his heart is with the girl he loves.

Elio's morning jog consisted of him leaving the house and cutting through the neighborhood of Waimanalo. He'd don a pair of wireless headphones, sunglasses and running gear of his favorite Maple Outfitters, part of the clothing line that was part of one of his idols from the Hoenn League.

Looping through Waimanalo, he would go through the city, edging into the touristy Jookiba and Malihini districts where the long strips of hotels, shops were located. Traffic had started to pick up, lining the streets closest to the beach with multiple cars and ride pokemon. There were some open roofed buses with tacky tourist designs on its side, carrying foreigners…haoles around to differing parts along with their pokemon.

Don't make fun of other people being a haole. Elio had to constantly remind through thoughts to himself. Remember I was one once.

Since attaining the title of champion, his status had gone up significantly. Having a Festival Plaza account when he started had only a couple dozen followers. Now he was getting an average of two thousand new ones every day and it was steadily closing on one million total.

That's a lot of followers. Never would I imagine having this much support from everyone.

Several companies based in Alola had already reached out to him, giving invitations for endorsements with potential payouts that made his eyes widen. Just one of them was enough to buy a penthouse in downtown Hau'oli and was going to be nearly more than his mother would make in her entire lifetime.

He wasn't sure what exactly to do when placed in the spotlight. It was a dream come true. One day to see himself on the top of billboards advertising all kinds of things while every post he made on the Festival Plaza immediately garnered so much attention and approval from all who subscribed. Even some of the other champions such as Cynthia Shirona, Steven Stone and his very own idol; Brendan Maple.

It actually feels a little strange being famous. Elio thought to himself. People just come up to me like: Hey there Mister Champion! Could I get an autograph? A selfie?

There wasn't a single time he had gone out on his morning jog where someone didn't recognize him and wave a friendly "Alola! Mister Champion!"

"Alola koa!"

Sun didn't know many of these people, but he was grateful that people had a genuine liking opinion to the newly coronate strongest trainer in their region. People even came up to him randomly and asked if they could take their picture with him or sign autographs. It wasn't just with local Alolans either, he had been quickly known as a famous person to the tourists as well.

One teenage fan even put a picture post on his Festival Plaza account holding up a sign with a hand-drawn ring, asking him to marry her. He had been quite the popular person with the young female fanbase when word got out that the champion of the paradise region was single as a bachelor.

Flattering. I'm three years away from the legal marriage age …sorry babe.

Of course we can still date.

Nowadays, Sun rarely ever finished his jog within his estimated time since he got stopped so much by passerbys. He still remembered when he had spoken to his friend Edmund Dahm. Now a rising star rookie in the FBC League, many were hyping up the two as being cut from the same cloth of greatness. After all it was pretty cool to have a future star basketball player and pokemon champion of a region having known one another for a long time as childhood friends.

All the offers from everyone were flattering and he admired their generosity, but he just needed some time…some time away from everything to think deeply.

Should I meditate? He thought to himself. Completing my island challenge showed me the purpose I can have in life. Now that I'm the strongest trainer of the Alola region, where do I go from here?

Do I look at college? Find a job?

Or do I just keep on being the Alolan champion? So far it seems to be paying pretty well. My first paycheck just about paid off our house.

The island challenge gave him some answers, but in turn left him with more questions and a piece of him that remained empty.

I miss you Lillie.

He chuckled when he browsed Festival Plaza again and saw that Leilani had shared with him a post from Top Coordinator May Maple. She had just married his idol Brendan and it seemed that the couple were already expecting a baby.

The grin didn't leave his face as he read the post, headed by a picture of May glancing down at her slightly swollen belly. Brendan was right behind her, with his hands over her stomach.

"Looks like our family is growing already!"

Leilani was ecstatic about it too. Elio counted four OMGs in her shared post.

Elaine was home six hours later and found her son in their backyard, overseeing more training between his pokemon. Many of them were standing on the sidelines as he put two in a mock battle against one another in the center.

Meowth was napping in his favorite chair and the television was on, with the news anchor in the middle of a report about the notorious Raijin still on the loose and sighted somewhere in Kalos. Other than the practice session Elio was having in the backyard, it seemed like this was going to be another quiet Alolan evening.

She couldn't help the surge of pride at seeing how enthusiastic and passionate her boy was at battling. He had an electronic tablet in one hand using the other to explain something to the large milotic at his side. The device's display showed film and clips of them battling as he used it to explain a tactic to his pokemon. Both participants were listening intently.

"And what happened there was Morgaine freezing your water attacks with two different purposes. It gives her better angles from above. This could draw your opponent's attention off one of you. And then that's the prime opportunity to attack! Chances are they'll be focusing on you Morgaine…so Nani, hit them with your hydro pump, dragon pulse or whatever. We'll make it work."

They went through similar drills and Elio made sure that each of his pokemon had a chance to help work out and improve their battling prowess. Elaine was thoroughly impressed as he never gave any single pokemon his favoritism.

They really are his family.

Elio and his pokemon practiced for a few more minutes until his Rotom 'Dex floated over, buzzing that he had an incoming call. She watched as he excitedly chatted with Hau on the screen before he jumped up and started for the door.

Elaine went back to taking things out of the fridge of their kitchen, pouring a bowl of milk for Meowth as he came back inside.

"Hi Mom." He smiled. "Sorry I didn't see you come in."

"That's alright sweetheart. How was your day today?"

"Ah can't complain. More strategy practice and all. We're learning new things and everyone's catching on."

"You battle so much like I did when I was your age. Yet you've made your own unique style."

"Thanks Mom. I have a title to uphold after all!" He turned to his room. "Hau and Leilani want me to go to the beach and surf with them. I'll be gone for about an hour."

"Okay sweetie." Elaine said. "What do you want for dinner?"

"Garlic bread?"

The woman gave him a quizzical look and put her hands on her hips. "You can't just have carbs y'know."

"I know, but I really don't care. Just make sure garlic bread is one of those things. You make the best ever."

"And don't you forget it." That caused both mother and son to laugh.

"Hey Mom? I think you should know this but,"

"But what?"

"While I was out on my journey, I got a call from Dad."

Elaine's breath stopped short and she felt anger well up inside her. She was about to ask if he hurt him when the boy continued. One notable thing was that he said it with a hint of sadness over anger or indifference.

"Dad sounded different, almost like he was remorseful and changed. And it didn't sound forced either. He wanted to make things right."

"And?"

"I shot him down. Just hearing his voice made me angry that he was now coming and begging for us to forget all of his things he did. I can't forgive him…but why does it feel strange not to? I feel like I'm doing the wrong thing."

I thought Cal would try to call me first before Elio. "Elio, I miss your father greatly. I really do. But we all have choices to make in life…unfortunately your father made a lot of wrong ones."

"I just didn't want him to ruin the life we've rebuilt here in Alola Mom. I thought that it would undo everything if I said yes and called it water under the bridge. I was just afraid that you would be angry at me for making the wrong decision."

"Never." Elaine said sharply. "Honestly, I would've likely done the same thing and not allowed him back into our lives. I feel incredibly sorry and guilty for what happened to your father. Every day I ask myself if I could have done anything differently to change something. I did the same thing I'll tell you now."

She took a deep breath.

"It was clear that anything I did would do nothing. Your father was in complete control of his choices and no compromise could be made. The decision of divorce I had to make was hard for me…and it was hard for you too. Just remember; follow your heart."

Elio nodded, his expression as if her words were among the most important thing he ever heard.

"But I have to keep on striving forward without him. For myself. For you."

"And if I make those same mistakes he did?"

"You won't." Elaine shook her head. "You are not your father. The things he did with his life are his own choices and they do not define who you are as a person. You've already carved that out for yourself. When you do have children of your own, I know for a fact that you will do the right thing in raising them the best you can. There's a lot of things I can be proud of in my life…but you're my greatest accomplishment k'ou wahi anela." She brought him in for a hug and rubbed his back in an attempt to comfort him. "And always remember that while your father may not be around anymore, deep down, I still believe that he loves you very much and if he's heard anything on the news of you being champion…I think he'd be proud of what his own son has achieved."

"Mahalo Mom." I hope when I do have kids of my own, I won't make the same mistakes my father did.

Huh…having a son of my own actually sounds nice. What should I name him?

"Now go." She pushed him towards his room. "Go and get changed. Don't keep your friends waiting."

"About damn time you showed up." Hau said as Elio stuck onto his own board into the sand at the edge of the beach. His personal one was a white and blue trim design with that was a gift from the Surf Association. "And a good one too. Swells are coming from the south."

"Yeah, don't listen to him." Sun was caught off guard as a pair of arms wrapped around him from behind. Leilani lifted him into the air. "Our fearless champion is back!"

"Hi Leilani." Elio returned her hug. "What is with this sudden display of affection?"

"Hau and your mother have said you've been in the dumps since Lillie left. That just makes me so excited! You're in love with Lillie!"

"I am not!"

"Keep denying it."

"Yeah, what she said." Hau had the same shit eating grin in his face. "Brah, it's like everyone knows it, except you two!"

Elio shot them an irritated indignant look. "Are we here to surf or talk about my love life?"

"Both!" They shouted in unison.

"E hoʻokuʻu iāʻoe." Which caused them to burst out laughing in response.

"Alright, but this isn't over! C'mon boys! Let's go before we lose the swells!"

And so all three friends took off into the water, paddling on their boards a good distance out before resting on them and glancing back to shore. Elio was still a bit worried seeing Leilani on a board again, but she still kept her confidence and caught a particularly large wave before falling down into the water and coming right back out. She never stopped smiling, even when paddling to where he and Hau sat idly chatting on their fiberglass boards.

It's a relief for sure seeing her up again after the tournament. Yet it still makes me nervous every time.

He really did feel at peace this far out from the shore. Nothing else could be heard at this distance except for his friends and the roar of the waves that surged towards land.

The sun was setting in the west, turning the entirety of the sky dull amber glow, darkening the clouds in between. Elio had seen the sunset so many times ever since he had moved to Alola. It was something he would never tire of seeing.

Just like in her post to him on Festival Plaza; Leilani was ecstatic about the celebrity couple of Brendan and May having a baby. They weren't sure about the gender just yet, but she had still affirmed her aspiration to meet all three of them soon, especially since both had expressed interest in visiting Alola with their child as soon as it was born.

I wonder…is Lillie looking at the same sunset?

He had wanted to sit and think about everything that happened, as Hau and Leilani took turns catching waves and bringing their boards back out to where he idly sat. Their multiple attempts to have him try and catch one of the waves failed, as he was busy considering his journey. Many months ago, he was whisked away from his home in Kanto to a tiny chain of islands set in the center of the ocean that was pretty much nowhere. He had achieved his dream of becoming a trainer, went through Alola's right of passage in the island challenge and conquered Alola's newly founded league to become the very first champion of the region.

And this not an ending. It's a new beginning.

At their urging, Elio finally snapped out of his saw his chance and his wave that rapidly approached and began to pick up.

He wasn't a proficient surfer like his two friends, but for some reason; this particular wave seemed to be calling his name.

Paddling rapidly towards the shore, he felt the wave automatically wrest control from his grasp and began to pick up speed and power.

This is the one. Just like she taught…Find your balance.

There was going to be no couple of moments where the longboard would stabilize, so he had to detect the pattern of shifting and choose the exact opportunity so that he would remain upright.

Instead of the traditional surfer stance of bringing their feet up closer to their bodies; Sun rolled backwards where his curled toes allowed him to slowly rise and stand upright. He spread his arms out to the equilibrium as he cut to the right.

The wave was beginning to crash down and he rocketed straight through the tunnel, feeling as free as a soaring bird and reveling in the immense raw power that the wave was carrying.

Elio had seen it on bodycams of surfers who blazed through the tunnel, but he never thought he would ever get to see it for himself, especially with someone as little skill in the sport. It was just incredible how an entire wall of water seemed to be held up straight in midair, growing up on his right and falling down on his left. His eyes and mouth went wide in amazement.

The wonder was just enough for the wave's growing power to suddenly overtake the board and he felt it get wrenched from under his feet.

Elio slammed into the water, instinctively curling up into a ball to protect his head from injury. The water tugged sharply at his body and he felt his left leg lash out.

Leilani's teachings told him to stay calm, regardless of the abruptness of the wave's sudden shift. He remained underwater, careful not to panic as it held him down. Little by little, the pressure began to peter out and he stroked up, breaking the surface in an explosive whoosh of air.

Salt burned within his throat and eyes, forcing him to rub them furiously while throwing a coughing fit. His foot dashed part of the smooth sandbar and he found just enough grip to stand chin-deep in the water.

"Yeah! Brah!"

Elio looked over to see Leilani smoothly riding out the wave right behind him and cruising to a stop close by. She hopped off and waded towards him with another huge smile on his face.

"Look at you! You looked just like Duke out there!"

His exhaustion from catching just one wave so far had gotten the best of him and there was no avoiding her larger frame as she clamped down on top of him in a hug with double the affection from before.

"You're a real kele now!"

"That tunnel!" Elio grinned, already feeling a thrilling adrenaline rush through him. He suddenly wanted to go back out and glide through it again. "That was just so amazing and incredible!"

"I know right! You were so excited you broke your leash!"

Sun glanced down, seeing that the loop around his left ankle had a short length of cord still attached. The leash was attached to the end of his surfboard to help prevent separation when the surfer fell as well as a tether so that he could pull himself back onto the buoyant if necessary.

In surf culture, he had found out that breaking the leash was the step from a novice waverider to someone more seasoned.

"Tackle!" They heard Hau yell as he approached the duo.

"No wait!" Their protests were cut off as the third member crashed right into them, flinging all three down at the sand. As the wave began to pull away, Elio, Hau and Leilani were lying down on the wet sand, laughing at their friend's antics.

I love this. Alola's champion thought to himself. I love this carefree life and get to hang out with not just other people…but my friends. And they're more than friends. They're ohana.

Elio scooped up his board and threw it on the beach. Sure enough, the other end of the leash was still attached to the underside and there was yet another ding on the front left side from a collision with something out there.

"Another notch eh brah?" Hau held up his hang-loose sign, which the other boy returned. The kahuna's grandson had his own board with twice as many marks. "Just means you're getting better and more used to your board!"

"I suppose so. I still can't get over that tunnel!" Elio looked back to see that the swells incoming were breaking much quicker than the one he had caught. "I just want to see it again!"

"Me too." Leilani followed his gaze, observing the fast-breaking waves. "But it seems that Tapu Fini is telling us playtime is over." She made to say something else, but was interrupted by her cell phone ringing inside her bag.

Both boys watched her talk for a couple of minutes before walking over and picking up their towels to dry themselves off.

"Everything alright?" Elio asked.

"Oh yeah, it's all fine. That was actually Professor Kukui. He just wanted to let us know that everyone's going to his place for dinner tonight."

"Really?" Hau asked. "What's the occasion?"

"They didn't say. Just that food was involved."

"We're in."

"Oh and Elio, your mother said she put some dry clothes on the couch for you and to put your swimsuit in the wash. Garlic bread is in the oven."

Wonder what Kukui wants everyone there for. At least garlic bread is involved. Sun laughed at that thought. "That's a huge mistake. I thought my own mother would know better to-"

"And it better all be there otherwise you'll be the last person to get the plate."

Garlic bread is the one way to get Elio's attention for sure! That and his waifu of course...

Back to the diary entries next time! We've got a surfing tournament, kahuna battle and a visit to a sanctuary owned by the Aether Foundation in the coming chapters. And of course, more Elio and Lillie fluff!

A few important characters will be making their formal debuts and I did leave some teasers this chapter about new faces and things that will eventually make their way into this story very soon. I'm actually quite excited, we're nearly done with the Akala arc!

Translations:

E hoʻokuʻu iāʻoe - Screw you

Kele - Surfer

E Hahai i Kou Puʻuwai - Follow your heart

Mahalo for reading and reviewing, you give my writing purpose.

Brav