Too Many Troublesomes
"Paul goes on separate dates with Dawn, Platinum, and Salvia, thinking they're all the same person. His inability to tell them apart lands him in a hilariously disastrous situation."
Based on fullmoonisle's chat that spurred a funny conversation in the ikarishipping Discord from 2018: "AU where Paul goes on separate dates with Dawn, Platinum and Salvia thinking they're all the same person."
Yeah, I've had this sitting around in my drafts for 6 years now, but thanks to the Ikarishipping Discord once again, I felt inspired to pick this up again and finally complete it. So, this one goes out to the Discord group! 3
Enjoy!
Paul wasn't the type to date. He barely liked talking to people, let alone spending time with them. So when his brother nudged him into social outings, he begrudgingly agreed. What he didn't expect was for those dates to spiral into a confusing mess that he would later come to regret.
It started with that troublesome girl - well, he thought it started with her. The blue-haired girl with the bright eyes and endless energy had been pestering him to hang out. And so, in a moment of weakness, he agreed.
But things quickly spiraled out of control.
.
Paul sat at a table in the restaurant, scowling at the menu in front of him. The place was too fancy for his liking, with soft music, expensive decor, and people wearing clothes that screamed "I'm rich and important." He couldn't understand why the troublesome girl - or whatever her name was - had chosen this place.
When she finally arrived, Paul barely glanced up. "You finally showed up. Took you long enough," he answered, not bothering to look at her. He figured she'd be wearing something similar to her usual outfit, but instead, she was dressed in an elegant blouse that shimmered under the soft light.
"I hope I'm not too late, Paul," she said, motioning to her outfit. "It took me some time to find something suitable for this occasion."
Paul raised an eyebrow. "Why are you talking like that?"
The girl just smiled and sat down. "Such a gentleman," she huffed, though her eyes sparkled with amusement.
Paul frowned but didn't push it. Maybe she was just being weird - troublesome, as he usually called her. He went back to the menu, half-listening as she started talking about her family and travels. He wasn't particularly interested. To him, it was just another strange phase she was going through.
Later, when she suggested a visit to the Resort Area, Paul's confusion deepened.
"You've been hanging out with rich people too much," he said, squinting at her. "Since when do you care about that kind of stuff?"
"I've always cared about it!" she replied, her smile bright. "You've just never asked."
Paul grumbled under his breath and continued with the evening. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, but he chalked it up to her being difficult, as usual.
.
A few days later, Paul found himself waiting outside a lavish theater, grumbling to himself as the minutes ticked by. When the troublesome girl finally arrived, she looked even more elaborately dressed than before, now wearing a flowing, royal gown.
"Paul!" she greeted him with a radiant smile. "I'm so glad you could make it!"
"Yeah, yeah," Paul replied, rolling his eyes. "Let's just get this over with."
"I thought we could watch the performance first," she said, practically beaming, "and then take a walk in the gardens afterward. Doesn't that sound wonderful?"
Paul stared at her, incredulous. "Since when do you care about plays? And why are you dressed like that?"
"What do you mean, Paul?" she asked, frowning slightly. "I've always dressed this way."
Paul shrugged and sighed. "Whatever. Let's just go in."
They took their seats inside the theater, but Paul couldn't focus on the performance. He kept glancing at her, wondering why she was acting so out of character. First the fancy restaurant, now a theater. And that gown - he couldn't remember the last time she'd ever worn something like that. Still, he didn't say anything. Maybe she was going through some sort of phase.
She's troublesome, that's for sure, he thought, crossing his arms and slumping in his seat.
.
Several days later, Paul and the troublesome girl were sitting together in Amity Square, finally having what he hoped would be a normal outing. After all the fancy restaurants and theaters she'd dragged him to, he was ready for something simple. But the strangeness of the past week had been gnawing at him.
What's her name again? Paul could have sworn that her name had been different than he thought every time he had seen her.
"Well, at least this is more relaxed than that fancy restaurant you dragged me to the other night," he stated, leaning back against the bench.
She blinked and looked at him, confused. "What restaurant?"
Paul frowned. "You know, the one in Jubilife City? You showed up wearing that ridiculous gown."
She shook her head, clearly baffled. "Paul, I don't know what you're talking about. I haven't been to Jubilife with you. And a gown? What gown?"
Paul sat up straighter, his frown deepening. "The gown you wore to the theater. Remember? You made me sit through that awful play afterward."
The girl's expression only grew more confused. "Paul, I've never been to a play with you! What are you talking about?"
Paul's mind began to race. If it wasn't Dawn - ah, that was her name - at the restaurant, and it wasn't Dawn at the theater . . . then who? He stared at her, his eyes widening slightly as the truth dawned on him.
"There are . . . more than one of you?" he breathed, disbelief washing over him.
Dawn looked at him in utter confusion, still not understanding. "What are you talking about?"
Paul rubbed his forehead. "I think . . . I've been going out with two other girls this week. I thought they were you."
Dawn's eyes widened in shock. "WHAT?!"
Before Paul could say anything more, he heard another voice call out. "Paul! I've been looking for you!" A second troublesome girl, dressed in classy clothing, walked toward them with a smile. "I wanted to talk to you about the Hearthome Ball! We should go together!"
Paul groaned, rubbing his temples as his headache intensified. Dawn stood up, crossing her arms, her eyes fixed on him with fury.
"So you've been going out with her too?" she asked, her voice dangerously low.
Before Paul could answer, yet another voice joined the conversation.
"Paul! I'm so glad to see you again!" The third troublesome girl, dressed in a regal gown, walked up, looking as cheerful as ever.
Troublesome #2 turned to Troublesome #3, clearly confused, while Troublesome #1 - which, at this point, he was certain she was the real Dawn - looked on with a twitching eye. "Wait . . . what's going on?"
Paul was trapped. All three girls - Dawn, Platinum, and Salvia, as their names would be burned into his memory later - stood in front of him, each one staring at him with different expressions. Dawn was fuming, Platinum looked puzzled, and Salvia was still blissfully unaware of the situation. Paul could feel the walls closing in.
Dawn took a step closer, glaring at him. "So, Paul, are you going to explain why you've been dating all three of us?"
Platinum crossed her arms. "Yes, I'd like to hear that, too."
Salvia blinked, looking between them, confused. "Dating?"
Paul sighed, knowing there was no way out of this. "I didn't realize you were different people. You all look the same."
Dawn's anger flared. "We DO NOT look the same!" she practically shouted.
Platinum frowned. "We're nothing alike!"
"You really couldn't tell us apart?" Salvia wonders, looking genuinely hurt.
Paul crossed his arms defensively. "You all have blue hair. And you all kept showing up. I don't have time to figure out who's who."
The girls exchanged looks, a mix of disbelief and anger on their faces.
"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard," Dawn muttered, rolling her eyes.
Paul sighed. "It's not like I was trying to confuse you."
Platinum huffed. "You couldn't tell that I'm clearly more sophisticated?"
Salvia added, "And I'm a princess! You think I could be confused for anyone else?"
Dawn crossed her arms tightly. "I don't even like going to fancy restaurants or plays! How could you not notice?"
Paul threw up his hands in frustration. "Look, I'm sorry! I didn't mean for this to happen. I just didn't realize . . . and I was trying to go along with whatever each of you wanted."
The girls went quiet for a moment, still angry but softening slightly. Dawn shot him one last glare before muttering, "You're an idiot."
"Yeah," Paul sighed. "I get that."
The girls exchanged glances again, and while they were still frustrated, they seemed to be cooling off slightly.
Platinum sighed, looking more exasperated than angry now. "I suppose you're just hopeless, aren't you?"
"He did try, at least," Salvia said softly. "And to be fair, we all might look similar at first glance."
Dawn crossed her arms over her chest. "I still think he's an idiot," she grumbled.
.
The three girls eventually left, though they each gave him one final glare before walking away. Paul sat back down on the bench, rubbing his forehead as he replayed the chaotic scene in his mind.
"Next time . . . I'll pay attention." Though he doubted there would be a next time. How was he going to explain this to Reggie?
With a sigh, Paul closed his eyes, resigning himself to his fate. He had learned one important lesson that day - never assume there's only one Troublesome.