The morning sun slowly rose above the horizon in Pallet Town. The bright rays helped dispel some of the chill in the air as winter drew ever nearer. Kiawe sat on the grassy field in front of the main building, eyes closed, in silent meditation. His legs were crossed and his hands rested atop his knees. He liked to start every day out like this; calm, quiet and mindful.
He breathed in and slowly breathed out. His thoughts drifted to what he needed to do this day. He hoped to work a little more on the preparing the area where Ash planned to build the retaining wall. After that, he hoped to convince some of the flying types to help deliver berries across the reserve. It would be such a time-saving idea if he could make it happen.
The man from Alola arched his back and enjoyed the feeling of warm sun on his dark skin. He smiled faintly and then he felt a shadow fall over him. Something was standing right in front of him, blocking out the sun. Kiawe tensed slightly and hoped the Pokémon hadn't decided to try another unfunny prank on him. With a small grimace, he opened his eyes and stared straight into the piercing blue eyes of Lana, standing just a step away from him. She was slightly leaning toward him and had her arms folded behind her back.
Kiawe flinched in surprise and recoiled slightly. "LANA!" he exclaimed.
Lana's lips turned upwards in a small, amused smirk. "Kiawe…" she replied in her usual, deadpan tone.
Kiawe was momentarily at a loss for words. He worked his mouth and then finally responded.
"What, are you doing here?!" he demanded.
Lana straightened up and let her arms fall to her sides. "I heard you needed some help taking care of this place," she said dryly.
Kiawe felt indignation rise up inside him. "What! I don't need any help!" he said sharply.
"Oh yes you do, big brother!" a very familiar voice said from behind Lana. A moment later, Mimo leaned out to the side of the older, blue haired girl, sending Kiawe a critical look.
"MIMO!" Kiawe exclaimed in surprise.
Mimo and Lana grinned and exchanged mischievous looks. They turned their gaze on Kiawe and waited for him to respond.
Kiawe finally shook off his shock and spoke in an animated tone. "How did you get here?!"
Mimo chuckled and spoke in a cynical manner. "So, there's this thing called an airplane…"
Kiawe growled and cut her off. "You know what I mean!" he said.
Mimo sniggered and then replied. "After I watched you getting eaten by that Victreebel , I called up Lana and she agreed that you need some help. You're in over-your-head big brother!"
Kiawe clinched his fists and his teeth. "I am not in over my head, Mimo!" he bit back.
Mimo made a skeptical chortle before she planted her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes. "You are sooo stubborn!" she said in a low voice. "You wouldn't say there was a problem even if the place was literally falling apart."
"There isn't a problem!" Kiawe insisted.
Mimo shrugged and held up her arms as if she was out of ideas. She looked at Lana and spoke in a condescending tone.
"Denial," the brown and yellow haired girl said.
"It's the first stage," Lana replied in an equally condescending tone.
Kiawe growled again and spoke in an annoyed voice. "Look, I don't need you two flying halfway across the world to give me a hard time!"
Lana and Mimo both giggled and glanced at each other. "Who said it was just the two of us…" Mimo said with a devilish grin.
Kiawe barely had time to raise an eyebrow before a joyful, melodic chuckle rang out to his left. He recognized the sound all-to-well and his eyes widened in dismay and surprise. His head snapped around and he took in the sight of the gorgeous, green haired, shapely form of Mallow. The sprightly woman had just emerged from around the side of the main building. She looked around in wonder and directed her gaze at the three of them. With a giggle, she spoke in her uplifting, bubbly voice.
"Not much has changed from when we came to visit. Has it?" she said, striding towards the trio from Alola.
Kiawe abruptly rose to a standing position. "MALLOW!" he shrieked in surprise. He rapidly glanced between the green haired girl and his little sister, not quite believing what was happening.
Mimo sniggered and waited until Mallow was within earshot to speak. "We decided to invite Mallow along to help out. We figured that if the Pokémon didn't kill you, your cooking probably would. Plus, she knows a lot about Pokémon!"
Kiawe glowered at his little sister. "I know how to cook, Mimo!" he hissed under his breath.
Mallow came to a stop and smiled broadly. "Yeah, they asked me to come along. It was really short notice but, since you're always helping me out with deliveries, I figured it was the least I could do."
Kiawe swallowed and looked bashful. "Uh, but who'll be taking care of the restaurant, if you're here?" he said in an uncertain voice.
Mallow laughed and waved her right hand dismissively. "Oh, I left my brother in charge. He's been wanting to try running the place for a while, so I figured, why not give him the chance."
Kiawe laughed nervously and nodded in acknowledgement. "Sounds great," he managed in a tense voice.
At that moment, a Rapidash and two Ponyta came trotting into view, some distance away. Mallow looked at them and gasped in happy delight.
"Oh, I've been wanting to get a good look at Rapidash!" she said excitedly. She turned to Kiawe and beamed. "It's so cool to think of a ride Pokémon that's actually on fire!"
Kiawe swallowed again. "Uh, well, if you wanna go say 'hi' to them, go right ahead," he replied in a wavering voice. "Just don't move too fast and spook them."
Mallow tensed up excitedly and then started striding toward the trio of horse Pokémon. Kiawe watched her for a moment and then quickly added.
"Uh, also, they have to get used to you before you can ride them. Otherwise you'll get burned!"
Mallow looked surprised and then thankful. "Oh! Thanks!" she said, casting a grateful glance over her shoulder.
Kiawe managed an awkward smile and a half wave. "Yeah, sure, no problem…" he said, fumbling for words.
Once Mallow was out of earshot, Lana and Mimo started sniggering. "Nice move, big brother!" the younger girl said under her breath.
Kiawe gritted his teeth and whirled around on the two, conniving friends. "I can't believe you brought Mallow along!" he said in a low, harsh voice.
The two girls didn't even flinch. Lana chuckled and spoke first.
"I don't know why you're so unhappy, Kiawe. We figured you'd be glad to see a familiar face."
Kiawe made a consternated sound and then replied in a tense voice. "I know what you're trying to do!" He shook his fists in the air for emphasis. "Just let me take care of things on my own!"
Mimo blew out an exasperated breath and spoke in a critical voice. "Yeah, your way involves lots of doing nothing. How long have you had the hots for Mallow? Two years?"
Kiawe growled and stared at his little sister. "I'm trying to become a Kahuna, Mimo!" he said sharply.
Mimo rolled her eyes. "Ha! That's just an excuse."
"It is not!" Kiawe shot back.
Mimo planted her hands on her hips. "Oh, please! You haven't got the balls to ask her out and you know it!"
Lana sniggered and Kiawe blanched at his younger sibling's choice of words. "Mimo, don't talk like that!" he hissed.
Mimo smirked and replied in an innocent sounding tone. "Talk like what, big brother?"
Kiawe narrowed his eyes and looked frustrated. "You know what I mean! Don't use those words!"
Mimo folded her arms and a smug expression spread across her face. "What, BALLS!?" she said in an overly dramatic voice. "What's wrong with saying BALLS!?"
Kiawe struggled to keep his emotions in-check. "It's not appropriate, and you know it!"
Mimo scoffed. "You know what's not appropriate, you letting a babe like Mallow just pass by without doing a thing about it!"
Kiawe clinched his hands into fists and growled in frustration again. "Ever since you turned thirteen, you've been a menace!" he steamed.
Mimo made a face and mockingly mouthed Kiawe's words back at him. Kiawe glowered and Mimo finally spoke in a sarcastic and defiant voice.
"Well, sorry for trying to help you get laid with a supermodel!"
Kiawe's eyes bugged out. "MIMO!" he screeched.
Mimo and Lana sniggered for a few seconds before Lana stepped forward to speak. "I think we'll go check on what Mallow's doing," she said in a casual voice.
Mimo grinned sneakily. "Yeah, and then we'll help you out with whatever!"
Kiawe didn't have any words to reply with. He merely remained tensed up as the two girls walked away sniggering and whispering to each other. Once they had walked out of sight, Kiawe groaned and his shoulders sagged. He could use some help taking care of things. Unfortunately, it seemed that's not what had arrived on his doorstep.
Ash slowed his pace to a stop as he reached the campsite he'd set out from earlier that morning. He stretched his arms and back and let out a loud, happy sigh. Next to him, Pikachu did the same before settling down on all-fours. They'd just finished an invigorating morning run and now they were ready for a busy day of training.
Ash wiped a bit of sweat from his brow and ran his fingers through his hair. He then turned around to face the kids who'd gone along with him.
"Okay, it's time for some training!" he said in an enthusiastic voice.
His announcement was met by gasping breaths and labored wheezes. Terence was doubled over, hands on knees, panting hard. Cyril was laying flat on his back and Gwyn was leaning against a tree, looking like she might faint. Turtee was lying on her stomach gulping in air and moaning weakly. Bulbasaur and Charmander were also lying nearby, looking utterly spent.
"We… need….. *gasp* to….. do…. *wheeze* more…" Gwyn managed, looking dismayed.
Ash frowned and eyed the kids' condition. He'd expected that after a couple days of light training, they'd be ready for a real workout.
"Well, yeah," Ash began. "You don't win league battles unless you're really strong! They don't go easy on you if you're not ready."
Terence wobbled on his feet and then levered himself to a standing position. "Okay!" he exclaimed in a lightheaded voice. "Cyril… let's have a battle!"
Terence took a step and nearly fell over. Cyril, meanwhile, just groaned and weakly shifted his limbs.
Ash put his hands on his hips and pondered the situation. This wasn't going the way he'd expected. These kids weren't nearly as fit as he had been at their age. He suspected it was because of them spending so much time staring at their phones rather than being up and about, exploring and adventuring.
Pikachu let out a downcast utterance and Ash glanced at his buddy. "Yeah, looks like we've still got some work to do," he said.
Ash scratched at his chin with his right hand and an idea quickly occurred to him. He clapped his hands together and spoke in a loud voice.
"Okay, you all rest up! I'll be back in a few minutes!"
The kids weakly groaned in reply while Ash turned and dashed into the forest. During the minutes while he was away, Terence, Cyril and Gwyn slowly made their way to the campsite and sat down heavily on the logs they'd arranged around the fire. Their Pokémon sprawled out nearby, nearly immobile after the exhausting run.
A few minutes passed and Ash returned, carrying his backpack. He was grinning from ear to ear as he approached the campsite.
"Okay, here's something that will give you all a boost!" he said energetically. A moment later, he set the backpack down, revealing that it was filled with Oran, Pecha, and Sitrus berries.
Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle all let out grateful cries and crawled to the backpack. They promptly began chomping down on the collection of berries. Ash grinned and then reached into the backpack for a handful of the small fruits.
"Here you go," he said, offering the berries to the kids. "This will help you get your energy back."
The kids took the berries in-hand and stared at them with perplexed expressions.
"What are we supposed to do with these?" Cyril asked.
Ash held a Sitrus in his right hand and looked puzzled. "Well, eat them, of course."
All three kids blanched.
"Eat them raw!" Terence exclaimed.
"Without washing them!" Cyril added.
"That's, like, really unhygienic!" Gwyn finished.
Ash now looked even more puzzled. "Uh, eating berries is totally fine," he said. He held up the Sitrus berry. "See!"
With that, he chomped down the berry in one bite, chewed and smiled at the kids. "See, it's tasty," he said, his words slightly garbled because of his mouth being full.
The boys made disgusted noises and Gwyn stuck her tongue out.
Ash swallowed and continued to look puzzled. "What, your Pokémon are loving them," he said, gesturing to Pikachu and the kids' creatures who were all happily munching away on the bounty.
Gwyn continued to look repulsed. "Yeah, but, they're Pokémon! They eat all kinds of stuff we don't."
Ash planted his hands on his hips. "Are you telling me you guys have never eaten berries before?" he said in a cynical voice.
The kids hesitated for a moment and then replied.
"Well," Terence began. "My mom likes to make this pie out of Pecha and Aspear berries."
"Yeah, Cyril said. "And my dad loves juicing the Sitrus berries to make a drink."
Gwyn nodded. "My mom cuts up Oran berries and gives them to me as a snack."
Ash frowned. "So, you guys don't just eat berries off the trees?"
All three kids shook their heads.
"No, way!" Cyril said.
"Who knows where they've been!" Gywn squawked. "Anything could have been crawling all over them!"
Ash canted his head to the side and sent the kids a perplexed look. "Okay. So, what do you guys survive on when you're out here in the wild?"
The kids promptly rummaged around in their packs and pulled out various objects.
"These bars," Terence said holding up a small, plastic-covered breakfast bar.
"Snacks," Cyril said, flourishing a plastic bag of chips.
"Bottled drinks," Gwyn added, presenting a sealed, plastic bottle of red colored something.
Ash glanced between the kids and their source of food. Things sure were different from when he'd been traveling around. He didn't know about the snacks and drinks, but he did know what had helped him become the top trainer in the world.
Ash grinned and clapped his hands together. "Okay, starting today, as part of your training, you guys need to learn how to eat the berries of the forest!"
The kids' faces promptly fell.
"Do we have to?" Terence groaned.
Ash hesitated for a moment and then continued grinning. "Well, you wanted me to train you, right?"
The kids looked at each other.
"Well, technically, we kinda got roped into this," Gwyn muttered under her breath.
Ash smiled kindly. "Come on. I promise you guys will be fine. Berries are tasty and nutritious. They'll help you get strong!"
The kids stared at the berries and scrunched up their mouths in apprehension.
"Ehh, okay…." Cyril said uncertainly. A moment later, he slowly opened his mouth and gingerly took a bite of an Oran berry. He started to chew and looked mildly disgusted. He finally swallowed and a shiver went through his body.
"Ugh, that was different," he groaned.
Ash grinned. "Good, right?!" he said enthusiastically.
Cyril didn't reply.
Terence and Gwyn glanced at each other. They shrugged, swallowed nervously and took bites of their berries. They reacted much like Cyril had and struggled to down the forest fruit.
Gwyn turned a little green. "I really hope a Caterpie hasn't been crawling all over this?" she whined.
Terence nodded and took another bite. He chewed for a moment and then a thoughtful expression crossed his face.
"You know, this isn't all that bad," he commented.
Cyril nodded. "Yeah, it's about the same as the ones we get from the store."
The kids munched away in silence for a minute before Gwyn spoke up. "So, are these things really gonna help us get stronger?" she asked.
Ash nodded. "Yeah, those are way better for you than those snacks and stuff!"
Gwyn chewed on the berry and eyed Terence and Cyril. Once she finished eating her third berry, she grabbed her thermos and went to drink out of it. A moment later she held it upside-down, realizing that she was out of water.
"Eh, looks like I'm out," she said. She reached over and grabbed the plastic bottle of red liquid she'd showed Ash earlier.
Ash looked over in surprise. "Really, you're out of water?" he said.
Gwyn nodded. "Yeah, we've been out here two days already."
Terence and Cyril nodded along with her. "Yep, I'm out as well," Terence said.
Ash scratched his head in puzzlement. "But we've got the stream right over there?" he said gesturing to the small stream of water near their campsite.
The kids looked at the stream and then back at Ash.
"Wait, you're saying we ought to drink out of that?!" Gwyn exclaimed.
Ash nodded. "Yeah, that's what I do," he said simply.
All three kids gagged and writhed in response.
Ash frowned and folded his arms. Teaching the kids was turning out to be a bit harder than he'd thought.
Kiawe grunted and struggled to haul the fifth bag of food out to where Lana and Mimo were feeding the gathered Pokémon. He set the sack down with a groan and slowly straightened back up. The two girls had more than two dozen Pokémon of various types surrounding them. There were Pidgey, Nidoran, Vulpix, Marill and a few others. Lana seemed to be especially interested in Marill, having never gotten to spend much time with the water type.
Mimo giggled and held out a handful of food to the Pokémon. "Okay, eat up!" she said in a very friendly tone.
The Pokémon happily complied and began munching the food out of her hand. Mimo chuckled a little as the creatures tickled her palm with their movements.
Kiawe wheezed for breath a couple of times and then took a few steps toward his little sister. "You know, there are thousands of Pokémon here. You're never gonna feed them all doing it like that," he said in a critical tone.
Mimo rolled her eyes and sighed. "My brother, always the stick-in-the-mud."
Lana sniggered a little and then spoke. "I think a lot of the Pokémon can take of themselves. They seem really independent, not like Pokémon on a farm."
A few of the Pokémon nodded and sent Kiawe pretentious looks before continuing eating.
Kiawe grimaced and continued on. "There's so much work that needs to get done. You can't be goofing off."
The Pokémon finished eating the last of the food out of Mimo's palm. She slapped her hands together a few times to shake away the crumbs and then turned around to face her brother.
"You know, Kiawe, I really don't know how you do your morning stretching exercises…" she said in a teasing tone.
Kiawe narrowed his gaze and replied in a demanding voice. "What do you mean?"
Mimo sniggered and then answered. "Cause you've got that broomstick so far up your butt, there's no way you should be able to bend over!"
Lana and the Pokémon all began guffawing while Kiawe gritted his teeth and glowered at his younger sibling.
"You shouldn't make jokes like that‑" he grumbled in an intense voice.
Any further discussion was cut short by the pounding of approaching hoofs. The trio turned and saw a Rapidash running up with Mallow riding atop its back. Kiawe swallowed as he took in the joyfully laughing, almond skinned woman of his dreams. Her green hair snapped through the air as her pair of lengthy pony tails trailed behind her head.
The top chief and restaurant owner hadn't changed all that much from her younger self, other than her body had grown and her feminine features had fully matured. Kiawe wasn't sure when the transition had happened, but one day, during a delivery of supplies to her restaurant, the young woman who'd come out to meet him had been the most gorgeous creature on the planet.
Her green eyes sparkled, with a love of life. Her smile was efficacious and invigorating. No matter what the situation was, Mallow was a source of happiness and encouragement. She laughed, she giggled and she always seemed able to lift someone up. She could be a little clumsy at times, but her easygoing personality made the quirk humorously fitting.
As the girl from Alola dismounted from the flaming horse, Kiawe blushed a little as he took in her outfit. Mallow's clothing was very similar to what she'd worn while they'd been in school. She'd switched to wearing pale blue shortalls instead of her old, grey clothing, but the look was much the same. She still wore a dark pink cami underneath the shortalls, however, there was one very noticeable difference from her younger appearance. This, older, Mallow featured an above average bust.
Kiawe still couldn't believe Mallow didn't make more of an effort to cover her torso. While the cami offered reasonable protection of her modesty, it still showed off most of her chest and displayed a fair amount of cleavage. It also wasn't the tightest fitting article to ever be worn and in the past, Kiawe had found himself having to look away from his long-time friend when she bent over, lest he see a lot more of her breasts than he was comfortable with. He loved how she looked but at the same time part of him wished her outfit wasn't so alluring.
"Wow! That's so much fun!" Mallow said in a melodic voice. She gently rubbed the neck of the Rapidash with her hands and nuzzled her nose against its head. "Thank you for that gallop. You're so fast!"
The fire type looked very flattered and neighed happily.
Mallow giggled and spoke in a sweet voice. "I'll bet you like Tamato berries. I'll see if I can make something that's sweet and spicy for you."
Rapidash nodded several times and then turned to go. Mallow stepped back and watched as the fiery horse sped away. She sighed happily and turned to face her friends.
"I wish we had Rapidash in Alola! Could you just imagine riding around on one of those?!"
The question hung in the air. Lana and Mimo turned toward Kiawe with subtle smirks, making it clear they weren't going to say anything.
Kiawe swallowed again and opened his mouth. "Uh, yeah. They sure run a lot faster than Tauros do," he said in a tense voice.
Mallow smiled and nodded. She hummed briefly and looked at the gathering of Pokémon Mimo had been feeding.
"Aw, you all are so cute!" she said cheerfully.
Mimo grinned and held out a small container of Pokémon food she was carrying. "Here, they really like this."
Mallow took the container, grabbed a handful of food and bent over so she could reach the Pokémon. She chuckled as she watched the different creatures start chowing down. Kiawe, meanwhile, made a consternated noise and diverted his gaze toward the nearby hills. With her torso bent over, Mallow's shortalls and cami were practically hanging loose from her body, offering only the barest protection of her modesty.
As much as he loved looking at Mallow's dazzling body, he didn't want to gawk at her. Kiawe tensely kept his focus elsewhere, a move Lana and Mimo took note of. The two girls silently exchanged mischievous glances, each understanding what was going on.
Mimo waited for the right moment and then spoke up. "Hey, Mallow! Do you think you could cook us all dinner tonight?" she said in an enthusiastic voice.
The green haired girl looked up and pondered the request for a moment. "Well, I guess I could. I'd need to see what all we have first."
Mimo grinned and nudged Kiawe with her elbow. "You hear that, big brother! Mallow's gonna cook dinner!" she chided. "You always love her cooking!"
Kiawe stole a quick glance back at Mallow, finding to his distress that his eyes immediately tracked to the large gap between her half-exposed breasts. "Oh, uh, great!" he said with a sheepish smile. He quickly tried to look anywhere but at the woman he adored, however his eyes kept being drawn back to the sumptuous sight of Mallow's feminine beauty.
Mimo and Lana grinned and struggled to keep from sniggering as they watched Kiawe squirm. Just as Mallow finished feeding the Pokémon, Ash's Totodile came trotting up, interested in the new visitors.
Lana's eyes widened. "A Totodile!" she exclaimed.
Kiawe glanced over, grateful to have a distraction from Mallow's alluring appearance. "Oh, uh, yeah! That's Ash's Pokémon," he said awkwardly.
Mallow straightened up and looked at the water type. She'd seen pictures of Totodile and briefly encountered one once, but seeing one up-close was a new, exciting experience.
"Awwww! You're so cute!" she sang in a sweet voice. She clasped her hands together and chuckled happily. "You're like a tiny Salazzle but really adorable!"
Totodile blushed slightly and looked embarrassed at the unexpected praise. He bashfully croaked a few times and Mallow giggled again. She held out her arms in a welcoming gesture and smiled broadly.
"Come here!" she said with joy and caring.
Totodile wasn't one to refuse affection and he croaked eagerly before dashing toward Mallow. The tiny gator leapt up, straight into her arms. She laughed and cradled the water type against her chest, giving it a wonderful hug.
"I'll bet you're one of Ash's favorite Pokémon!" she said playfully.
Totodile chortled and croaked, loving the new friend he'd just made. As the little gator squirmed and nuzzled against Mallow, Mimo grinned devilishly and sniggered. Kiawe's younger sister elbowed him a couple of times and then spoke in a hushed voice.
"I bet you wish you were Totodile right now!" she said in a sneaky voice.
Kiawe raised an eyebrow in puzzlement and looked at the water type. He instantly realized what his mischievous sibling was implying. Mallow was cradling Totodile against her chest and the small creature's head was partially enveloped by her bosom. The man from Alola made a perturbed face at being needled yet again while Mimo and Lana struggled to keep from laughing.
"They're soft like pillows, you know," Lana whispered seductively.
Kiawe gritted his teeth and glared at the blue haired girl. "How would you know?!" he hissed.
Lana grinned. "I'm her best friend. We've snuggled together more than a few times."
Kiawe grimaced and looked at Mallow. He quickly looked away and struggled to find somewhere else to direct his gaze. Lana and Mimo giggled all the while.
Bulbasaur dodged to the side, barely avoiding Hoothoot's Peck attack. The owl Pokémon slammed its beak into the ground but quickly recovered. A tense expression was fixed on Terence's face as he watched the two Pokémon reorient themselves and prepare for another go.
"Man, this is hard!" the young boy whined.
Ash eyed the situation and glanced at Terence. "You're gonna face tough situations in battle. You can't always expect to have an advantage. That's why you need to practice."
Cyril made a flourish with his right arm. "Use Peck again!" he commanded.
Hoothoot performed a small loop and then, with a cry, began to dive at Bulbasaur.
Terence gritted his teeth. "Okay, quick, use Razor Leaf!" he shouted.
Bulbasaur obeyed and let out a growl before unleashing a series of sharp, green leaves. The attack flew toward Cyril's oncoming Pokémon and several of the missiles struck the owl, causing little damage. Hoothoot continued on and Terence let out a sudden cry of dismay.
"OH NO!" he yelled, clutching at the sides of his head.
Hoothoot slammed into Bulbasaur, kicking up a cloud of dust. A few moments later the air cleared, revealing Terence's Pokémon lying unconscious.
Terence's shoulders slumped. "Ah, man!" he groaned.
Hoothoot returned to Cyril's side where he congratulated the flying Pokémon and tossed it an Oran berry as a treat.
Terence walked over to Bulbasaur and knelt down next to his unmoving Pokémon. He gently rubbed its head until the grass type groaned and opened its eyes.
"Sorry we lost," Terence said, offering his Pokémon a Sitrus berry.
Bulbasaur moaned and then ate the berry in one bite. While the Pokémon chewed, Ash walked up to Terence and looked down at the boy with a critical expression.
"So, what was your plan?" he asked in a direct tone.
Terence looked up at Ash with a dejected expression. "I was trying to avoid Hoothoot's attacks and then hit back with some of my own," he replied.
Ash nodded. "So, why'd you choose Razor Leaf?"
Terence shrugged. "Well, it was just as good an attack as any," he said.
Ash raised an eyebrow. "So, you didn't think about how the attack would work out?"
Terence looked helpless. "Well, pretty much all my attacks are ineffective, so, what else am I supposed to do?"
A small smiled formed on Ash's lips. "An attack is more than just what type it is, Terence," he said with barely contained eagerness.
Terence looked puzzled and didn't reply.
The smile expanded into a full-fledged grin and Ash continued. "Bulbasaur knows Razor Leaf, Vine Whip, Sleep Powder and Leech Seed, right?"
Terence nodded. "Yeah."
Ash clinched a fist and spoke in an energetic voice. "So, think about what those attacks can do. Don't only focus on what type the attack is."
Terence looked at a loss for words.
Ash glanced over at Cyril's Pokémon. "Hoothoot kept diving down at you, doing the same thing over and over again."
Terence nodded.
Ash looked over at Bulbasaur. "So, you could use Sleep Powder against Hoothoot, real easily!" he said.
Terence looked skeptical. "But, it would just move out of the way or blow the powder away with its wings."
Ash clinched both his fists, feeling like he was back on the tournament circuit, planning for a big battle. "Not if you wait until the last second. You wait until Hoothoot is about to hit and then you have Bulbasaur deploy a cloud of Sleep Powder around itself. Bulbasaur can then get out of the way and Hoothoot will WHAM! right into the cloud," he said, punching the air for extra emphasis.
Terence's eyes widened and he looked amazed. "WOW, that might actually work!" he said in a surprised tone.
Across the field, Cyril frowned. "Hey, don't give him ideas!" he said disapprovingly.
Ash chuckled and turned to address Cyril. "I'm here to help all of you get stronger. Don't worry, I'll give you advice too."
Cyril's frown turned into a smile and he glanced over at his Hoothoot. "Hear that. You're gonna get taught by the world champion."
The flying type hooted in approval but then closed its eyes and let out a tired sigh.
Cyril looked crestfallen. "Hey, not again," he groaned.
Ash chuckled. "Yeah, Hoothoot prefer to be awake during the night. You'll have to do some training so it's used to being up during the day."
Cyril pulled out Hoothoot's Pokéball and recalled the flying type. He then glanced at Terence and spoke in an eager voice.
"So, do you wanna try battling Geodude with Magnemite?!"
Terence groaned once more. "You'll have the advantage again!" he whined.
Ash caught Terence's eye and sent the young boy an expectant stare. Terence quickly straightened up and looked more enthused.
"Okay, I'll just have to figure out how to win!" he said eagerly.
Ash smiled and watched at the two boys sent out their Pokémon. He spent a moment watching the start of the new battle before turning to look at Gwyn's progress. The girl was currently having Turtee practice dodging along with Pikachu. Confident that the boys were on the right track, Ash headed over to his other student.
Gwyn was tensed up as she watched her Squirtle repeatedly jump out of the way of Pikachu's tackle attempts. She'd always planned to compete in contests and put on a show. Battling wasn't something she'd ever focused on despite it being a feature of contests in Kanto.
"Okay, Turtee, try jumping up this time," she commanded.
Her Squirtle was breathing hard but it let out a grunt and stared at Pikachu in anticipation. Ash's Pokémon stared back for a moment and then leapt forward toward the water type. Squirtle sprang upward and just managed to avoid the weak attack.
Gwyn let out an excited squeak of success as Turtee landed on the ground. "Yes! Good job!" she celebrated.
Squirtle let out a tired cry and then she returned to sizing Pikachu up.
Ash walked over so he was standing near Gwyn and watched the exercise for a few moments. "Looks like you're getting the hang of dodging," he commented.
Gwyn nodded, not looking away from the action. "Yeah, Pikachu is really tough but we're doing okay."
As she finished speaking, Pikachu charged toward Turtee yet again. The small turtle tried to roll to the side but wasn't quite able to get out of the way. Pikachu slammed into the water type's side and sent it spinning before the Pokémon collapsed to the ground.
Gwyn gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. "Agh! Oh no!" she exclaimed. She quickly dashed to her Pokémon and knelt down next to it. "Are you okay?" she asked in a concerned voice.
Squirtle was lying on its back and let out a disoriented cry before sitting up. Gwyn gently ran her hands over her Pokémon before picking it up and cradling it against her chest.
"That's enough for today. You did really good," she said in a quiet voice.
Pikachu looked surprised at the move and Ash raised an eyebrow. "So, you're gonna quit on training that early?" he posed.
Gwyn looked at Ash. "We've been working really hard. Turtee is tired."
Squirtle nodded and let out a small groan.
Ash frowned and placed his hands on his hips. "Sorry to tell you this, Gwyn, but you haven't been training that hard," he said.
Gwyn's eyes widened. "Huh, what do you mean? We've been at this for half an hour?!"
Ash pursed his lips before answering. "Well, it may seem like you're doing a lot, but if you wanna get good enough to battle gyms and the Indigo League, you're gonna need to work a lot harder."
Gwyn's mouth hung half-open. It took her a second to reply, and when she spoke, her voice was a little desperate.
"But… Turtee is hurt! She needs to rest!"
Pikachu glanced between Ash and Gwyn. Ash, meanwhile, put on a sympathetic expression and spoke in a compassionate voice.
"I know it might be hard, but you're gonna have to learn how to push past your Pokemon getting hurt."
Gwyn let out a soft whine and glanced at her Pokémon. "But she needs some attention?"
Ash nodded. "And you can give it to her, just after you're done with the battle."
Gwyn looked at the ground and became introspective for several long moments. She finally raised her gaze and glanced at Squirtle and Ash respectively.
"I guess we're gonna keep training for a little longer," she said softly.
Turtee's gaze hardened and she gave a determined nod.
Gwyn let go of her Pokemon and the water type dropped to the ground, looking ready for more action. The young girl took a few steps back and looked toward Ash.
"Okay, what's next?" she asked.
Ash grinned and glanced at Pikachu. "Let's start with how to use Water Gun," he said in an eager voice.
With her right hand, Mallow flipped a frying pan, skillfully tossing the ingredients into the air before flawlessly catching all of them. She repeated the tossing several times while she used wooden spoon in her left hand to poke at a batch of dumplings floating in a pot of boiling water. The girl from Alola smiled and hummed a happy tune while she worked.
Kiawe sat nearby at the kitchen table. He stared at Mallow as she moved here and there, utilizing skills she'd spend years mastering. He tried to keep his emotions contained but he was unable to prevent a small, dreamy smile from forming on his lips. Mallow abruptly turned around to retrieve some spices and Kiawe quickly looked away, embarrassed to be caught staring.
The man from Alola idly drummed his fingers on the table, pretending to be minding his own business. Lana and Mimo were sitting opposite him at the table. He glanced at them and immediately wished he hadn't. Mimo grinned deviously at him and bounced her eyebrows while Lana merely covered her mouth and sniggered. Their obsession with his feelings toward Mallow was becoming infuriating. Why couldn't they just leave him to take care of things on his own?!
Mallow's melodic voice sounded from the kitchen. "Okay, dinner's ready!"
Kiawe swallowed, partially because he loved Mallow's cooking and his mouth was watering; partially because he had a feeling that Mimo and Lana had something planned. He and the two girls rose from the table and made their way into the kitchen to prepare their plates.
Mallow was standing next to the stove, smiling and waiting for everyone else to serve themselves. "I hope you like it!" she said in a pleasant voice.
Kiawe blushed and managed to croak out a reply. "Oh, I'm sure it will be tasty like usual," he said.
Mallow chuckled and Kiawe felt like curling into a ball. The man from Alola was brave and bold in all things he took on, except for Mallow. The green haired goddess he cared for so intensely caused his confidence to vaporize and his stomach to twist into knots. He was constantly terrified of saying or doing the wrong thing around her. He didn't want to ruin the one shot he had at courting the most incredible woman on earth.
Kiawe scooped up some of the noodle stir-fry and retrieved a couple of dumplings. As he stepped away from the stove, Mimo moved forward and spoke up.
"Boy, Mallow, this looks terrific!" she said in a flattering tone.
Mallow chuckled again. "Thanks!" she beamed.
"I sure wished you cooked at our house!" Mimo added in a jovial voice.
Mallow laughed and Kiawe tensed up. What was his little sister thinking?!
Kiawe made his way to the table and sat down so that Mallow would be on the opposite side of the table, between Mimo and Lana. He didn't want it to seem like he was purposefully sitting next to her.
Mimo and Lana returned from the kitchen a few moments later and eyed the table. Mimo nudged Lana with her right elbow and the two girls grinned. Quick as a flash, they switched their seating locations and made it so Mallow would be sitting next to Kiawe when she came in.
Kiawe's eyes widened and he sent the two meddlesome girls a vicious look. Mimo stuck her tongue out in response before putting on a happy expression as Mallow approached.
"Boy, I didn't think I'd be cooking in Kanto, tonight," Mallow commented as she sat down next to Kiawe.
Kiawe swallowed and spoke in a tense voice. "Well, we're all glad you could make it."
"Let's eat!" Lana said eagerly.
The four of them did just that and, just as everyone had predicted, the meal was delicious. Lana and Mimo heaped praise on Mallow, while Kiawe tactfully complimented her skill at cooking. Mallow blushed a bit and waved off most of the praise. She said that she didn't really have all the right ingredients and there were several flavors missing.
Things were going really well….. and then Lana made her move. With a sneaky glance at Kiawe, the blue haired busybody spoke in her signature, unassuming voice.
"So, Mallow, have you heard back from that talent agency about the beauty shoot you did?"
Mallow stopped halfway between bites. She shook her head, looking amazingly cute as she did so.
"No, nothing yet," she replied. "I don't even know if they're gonna use me in that article they're doing."
Without missing a beat, Mimo spoke up in what was clearly a preplanned double-team. "They're definitely gonna use you, Mallow," she said in a chiding voice. "You're the most beautiful restaurant owner in all of Alola!"
Kiawe grimaced but refrained from saying anything.
Mallow laughed and waved off Mimo's comment. "Oh, Mimo, really, you're so silly!"
Lana leaned toward her best friend and spoke in a low voice. "She's right, you know. You're drop-dead gorgeous, especially in that skimpy bikini you wore for that shoot!"
Mallow's face flushed red and a small squeak escaped her throat. "Lana!" she giggled, elbowing her friend away.
Lana sniggered and continued. "I'll bet you'll have all kinds of eligible, young men stopping by your restaurant once that article runs."
Mallow made a dismissive noise and tried to take another bite. She was still blushing deeply, however.
"I'll bet you'll finally get a boyfriend," Mimo said in an excited voice.
At this, Mallow rolled her eyes and shook her head. "That's the last thing I need right now!" she said flatly.
Kiawe felt his heart both rise and fall. He was glad that Mallow wasn't interested in other guys, however, he also really hoped that one day she would take an interest in him.
Lana leaned in close again. "I bet you'll have to beat them off with a broom," she said in a mischievous tone.
Mallow playfully pushed Lana away and chortled a reply. "Maybe in a few years, when I've got the restaurant all up and running. I'm too busy now and you know it!"
Lana made an exaggerated sad expression and spoke in a mournful tone. "It's so sad," she said. "So much beauty and it's all unused."
Mallow was about to reply when Mimo suddenly spoke up. "It's too bad you're not my big sister. I'd set you up with a guy in no time!"
Mallow laughed and pointed a finger at the yellow and brown haired girl. "You're a handful!" she said sharply. "I know because Kiawe tells me!"
Mimo giggled and smirked. "Yeah, when he comes by to drop off supplies, right!"
Kiawe ground his teeth and struggled to keep from shouting.
Mallow nodded. "Mmm, hmm. He tells me how you're all crazy about boys." Mallow folded her hands and looked thoughtful. "You need to be careful about all that. You don't want to get into trouble."
Mimo waved her hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah, I know all about sex and all that!"
Kiawe groaned, slumped in his chair and covered his face. Mallow's eyes widened a bit and she chuckled before replying.
"You weren't kidding," she said under her breath, directing the comment toward Kiawe.
The man from Alola shook his head, keeping his face covered.
The rest of the conversation proceeded mostly without incident. Mimo made another attempt to bring up relationships but Kiawe sharply shut her down. Soon the meal was finished and the clean up began. Mallow started washing dishes and Kiawe found himself cajoled into doing the drying duties. Lana and Mimo quickly found an excuse to disappear, leaving the Kiawe alone with his heart's desire.
Kiawe used a damp towel to wipe away the water from the dishes before stacking them into the cabinet. He watched Mallow work, feeling such admiration and attraction for her. How he wished she was interested in him.
"Hey, Kiawe," Mallow spoke up suddenly. "Do you think I could try making some specific meals for the Pokémon, tomorrow?" she said in a sweet voice.
Kiawe swallowed and worked his mouth before tensely reply. "Yeah, sure! That sounds great!"
Mallow nodded and hummed happily. "Great, there are a bunch of Pokémon here I've never served before."
Kiawe smiled but said nothing. He listened as Mallow hummed while she worked, enjoying the beautiful sound of her voice. As he listened, his desire for her only increased. How was it possible for a woman to be so beautiful, wonderful, talented and caring?!
Finally, he could stand it no longer. He had to say something. The Kahuna in training summoned up his courage and girded himself. If he was ever going to make something happen with Mallow, he had to make a move. He took a tense breath and spoke his words. He hoped the bold move wouldn't end in disaster.
"You know, Mallow, you really are one of the best cooks in Alola. I bet they use you in that article."
Mallow smiled and shrugged. "Maybe, I don't know." She blushed a little and continued in an embarrassed voice. "I'm kind of wishing I hadn't worn that bikini. They said I looked great in it, but I prefer being a cook, not a supermodel."
Kiawe knew this was his chance to compliment Mallow on her appearance. The opportunity was right there for the taking. She'd set it all up. All he had to do was tell her that she would make a great supermodel. It would be the first step in sparking Mallow's interest in him!
With his throat tight and sweat starting to bead on his forehead, Kiawe… said nothing. Soon the dishes were all clean and put away. Mallow thanked Kiawe for his help and he smiled politely. Once she turned her back, the man from Alola slumped and inwardly groaned in defeat.
Lana swung open the door of what Kiawe had told them was Mallow's room. After some fumbling, she switched on the light, illuminating a small, grungy alcove, barely wide enough for the mattress lying on the floor.
Mimo folded her arms and spoke in a disapproving tone. "Seriously, big brother?! You're gonna stick Mallow in here!?"
Lana glanced around. "This looks like a broom closet!" she commented.
Mimo reached to the side and picked up a broom leaning against the wall. "I think this is a broom closet!"
The two girls exchanged looks and sighed.
"So, useless," Lana breathed.
"Yep," Mimo added.
The girls looked on for a moment longer before turning out the light and shutting the door.
"Let's go check out our room," Mimo said.
They headed upstairs; passed by the off-limits room, Kiawe's room and reached their assigned sleeping quarters. They pushed open the door and were greeted by a sparsely furnished, but much more accommodating room. There was plenty of space and a proper bed. There were even curtains on the window.
"Well, this is way nicer," Mimo commented. "Nothing says 'I love you' like sticking your girl in the worst possible room!" she added sarcastically.
Lana nodded. "Kiawe sure is interesting," she said.
The two girls stood contemplating the situation for several long seconds. Slowly, sneaky smiles began to spread across their faces. They exchanged whispered comments and a plan was quickly devised. With barely contained giggles and sniggers, they left their room and started to retrace their steps.
As they passed the off-limits room, curiosity got the better of the two busybodies.
"What's in here?" Mimo commented, turning the unlocked doorknob and peeking inside. The room was clearly someone's. There were some decorations, furnishings and a desk with papers on it. After a few seconds, the girls realized it was Ash's room.
"Oh, cool," Lana whispered, respect evident in her tone.
Mimo grinned and slipped forward, past the door. "Let's check it out!" she whispered.
Lana hesitated for a second and then followed. Despite her sisters' constant kidding, she'd never fancied Ash. She did admire him greatly, however, and felt a little uncomfortable tiptoeing into his room. Mimo on the other hand, showed no such hesitation. She stepped around the bed looking at all there was to offer.
"Wow, Ash sure has a lot of Pokémon," Mimo said, looking at a picture of him surround by his many friends.
"He really loves them," Lana commented, looking at the desk.
A second passed and Mimo inhaled sharply. She dashed to the nightstand next to the bed and picked up a framed picture. Grinning from ear-to-ear, the horny teenager turned around and showed the picture to Lana.
"That's not all Ash loves!" she said with barely contained excitement.
Lana bent closer and took in the sight of a golden haired, fair skinned girl in a revealing bandini. She was holding her hands behind her back and was posed in a mildly sensual way. It was immediately clear what this girl meant to Ash!
Lana joined Mimo in grinning. Both of them started to snigger and blush.
"Ash," Lana began. "Who knew you had a supermodel of your own!"
Mimo chuckled and spoke in a mischievous voice. "I can't wait to meet her!"
They exchanged another sneaky glance. This was the sort of stuff they lived for!
Kiawe stepped through the door of his room and let out a sigh. He closed his eyes and rubbed at his temples to try and relieve the stress of the day. The surprise arrival of his friends from Alola seemed to have brought more trouble than they had solved. He let his hands drop to his sides and moved to the side of the bed so he could start getting things ready for sleep. A few seconds later, the distinct, happy humming of Mallow sounded through the open door. Kiawe turned around and was surprised to see the green haired girl walk into view.
"Mallow!" he said abruptly.
Mallow stopped and smiled. She was holding her backpack in her right hand. "Hey, Kiawe. The room over there is Lana and Mimo's, right?" she said, pointing at the next room down the walkway.
Kiawe looked baffled by the question. "Uh, yeah…" he said guardedly.
Mallow nodded and smiled gratefully. "Okay, great!" she replied. "They said they wanted to switch rooms, so, now I'm up here."
Kiawe flinched in surprise. He'd specifically assigned the rooms to avoid this exact thing.
"Oh, uh, great!" Kiawe managed in a tense voice.
Mallow looked pleased. "Well, goodnight!" she said happily. With that, she stepped out of sight. A second later, her voice sounded again. "Goodnight, Lana, Mimo!"
The two girls stepped into view at the doorway and waved at Mallow. "Goodnight, Mallow!" they said in reply. A few more seconds passed and there was the sound of Mallow's door opening and closing. Lana and Mimo promptly turned to Kiawe and grinned deviously.
Kiawe clinched his fists and stepped up to the two girls so he could speak in a hushed voice. "What did you two do?!" he hissed.
Mimo began in an innocent voice. "We really liked the look of that storage room you stuffed Mallow into. We thought it'd be great for telling ghost stories in."
Kiawe growled at the response. "I can't believe you two! I'm trying to keep things appropriate!"
Mimo sniggered. "What's inappropriate about being in the next room?"
Kiawe huffed. "Look, Mallow's not interested in me, so I shouldn't be in the next room!"
This time, Lana spoke up. "Seems kind of romantic, actually. Maybe that's just what she needs; having a guy she trusts next door."
Kiawe was incensed. "Will you two stop trying to set her up with me!"
Lana scoffed and Mimo rolled her eyes. "Look big brother," she said flatly. "When it comes to relationships, you're useless and she's clueless."
"True, story," Lana added.
Mimo nodded. "You need our help, or both of you are gonna be miserable forever!"
Kiawe gritted his teeth. "Will you just let me take care of things," he fumed.
Mimo and Lana glanced at each other and shrugged in indifference. "Alright, fine," Mimo said. "Have it your way."
The two girls started to walk away. Lana glanced back and gave a small wave.
"Goodnight, Kiawe," she said in a teasing tone.
Kiawe cautiously waved in reply, not trusting that their meddling was over. A second later, he was proven correct.
Mimo abruptly leaned back into view and loudly whispered her words. "Oh! By the way, Kiawe! You should know that Mallow likes to sleep naked!"
Kiawe clinched every part of him which could be clinched and he responded in the loudest whisper ever uttered. "MIMO! DON'T SAY STUFF LIKE THAT ABOUT MALLOW !"
Mimo sniggered for a second and then replied. "But it's true, big brother!"
"SHE DOES NOT!" Kiawe yelled.
Mimo grinned mischievously and spoke in a low voice. "Well, if you don't believe me, you could always go next door and check."
Kiawe shook with indignation. Before the man from Alola could form a reply, the brown and yellow haired teenager giggled and ducked out of sight. Kiawe ground his teeth for several seconds before slowly turning back toward his bed. He'd just taken a step when Lana leaned into view.
"She's telling the truth, you know!" the older girl said in a needling whisper. "She prefers to sleep in the buff!"
Kiawe whirled around and angrily shook his fists at Lana. "AND HOW WOULD YOU KNOW THAT!?" he bellowed.
Lana grinned and spoke in a sneaky voice. "I'm her best friend. Do you know how many sleepovers we've had?"
Once again, before Kiawe could respond, Lana ducked out of sight and he was left, breathing hard, with no one to yell at. He waited for the better part of a minute until he was sure the meddlesome girls wouldn't be returning. Kiawe shut and locked his door. He turned out the light and made his way over to his bed. It was a relief to finally lie down.
Kiawe let out a long sigh and tried to banish the thoughts Lana and Mimo had stuffed in his head. He hated objectifying Mallow. She was such a wonderful, sweet and caring woman. She deserved much better than to have men gawking at her curvaceous body and thinking inappropriate thoughts about her. With a rueful shake of his head, the man from Alola closed his eyes and started to fall asleep.
A few moments later, the silence of the night was interrupted by muffled, melodic humming coming from the next room. Kiawe's eyes snapped open as he was brought fully awake by the sound of Mallow's beautiful voice. Apparently she liked to hum a little before she lay down to sleep. He could hear her clearly as the head of both their beds were against the same wall. At this moment, Mallow was barely an arm's length away from him.
Kaiwe smiled and began to wonder if Mallow was reading a book. Perhaps she was thinking about recipes for her restaurant. Maybe she was remembering the events of the day. He wondered if she had good thoughts about him!
Mallow hummed again and Kiawe envisioned her lying in her bed; the bed he had originally made for Lana and Mimo. His smile broadened as he thought of the woman he cared about relaxing after a busy day. He could picture her loose green hair, her sparkling green eyes, her gorgeous naked body…
Kiawe's eyes widened and his lips twisted into a conflicted frown as Mimo and Lana's comment about Mallow's sleeping habits returned to his mind. He shook his head, trying to banish the fantastic, sensual image from his mind. Mallow hummed again and Kiawe suddenly felt his manly desires awaken. Was the woman he adored really just inches away and completely butt naked?!
Mallow's humming went on for a while, as did Kiawe's inability to sleep, or think of anything else but bare, almond skin and lovely feminine curves. Kiawe finally let out a groan and the humming suddenly stopped.
"Oops! Kiawe, can you hear me?!" Mallow suddenly whispered through the wall.
Kiawe felt awful. Even though her humming was driving him mad, he didn't want to interrupt Mallow.
"Uhhhh, yeah, I can," he replied in a soft, sheepish voice.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," Mallow said apologetically. "I didn't mean to bother you."
Kiawe weighed his options and decided to take the chivalrous route. "You're not bothering me. I like your humming."
Kiawe felt a sudden rush of embarrassment and angst over uttering so flattering a comment. He heard Mallow chuckle and reply in a happy voice.
"Well, okay. I'm glad it's not bothering you," she said.
Kiawe's face felt hot. Being bold like that was so risky. What if Mallow didn't appreciate being flirted with?! Kiawe gnawed on his lower lip and then decided to brave one more question.
"So, Mallow," he began, he voice nearly cracking from nervousness. "Are you warm enough over there? I know Kanto is a lot colder than Alola, especially this time of year."
"Oh, yeah. I'm plenty warm," Mallow said sweetly. "It is a little chilly, but I have the covers, so I'm okay!"
Kiawe nodded. "Okay good," he replied. He paused for a moment and a thought popped into his head. Perhaps he could put the specter of Mallow's bedtime habits to rest with a clever question. The Kahuna in training steeled himself and spoke yet again.
"So, are your pajamas warm enough for you?" he asked, managing to keep the trembling he felt out of his voice.
Mallow chuckled a few times and then spoke in a jovial voice. "Yep, they are!" she sang.
Kiawe's face twisted up into a conflicted expression. He'd hoped to get a definite answer. Instead, Mallow's reply had only raised more questions. Her answer hadn't been direct. If she was wearing pajamas, he guessed that she'd have given a simple reply, not chuckled first. Obviously, she wouldn't say say she wasn't wearing pajamas, but did her answer really mean the woman he loved was currently covered by bed sheets and nothing else?
"Okay, great?" Kiawe squeaked, not knowing what to think.
Mallow chuckled again and then spoke in a tired voice. "Well, goodnight, Kiawe."
"Goodnight!" he replied tensely.
With that, Mallow turned over in her bed and let her head sink into her soft pillow. The master chef closed her eyes and was soon asleep, lulled peacefully by the blissful feeling of warm bed sheets wrapped around her.
Kiawe, meanwhile, stared up at the ceiling, feverously trying to determine from Mallow's comment whether she was wearing pajamas or not. Why in the world would Mallow not wear clothes to bed?! It seemed so risky and risqué. On the other hand, wouldn't it be the greatest thing ever to marry a girl who had such inclinations?!
The thoughts went round and round inside Kiawe's head long into the night. He finally passed out, still not sure as to whether his heart's desire was totally nude, just a short distance away.