Chapter Text
“Any questions?” my professor, Professor Willow, asked.
One of my classmates held up her hand. “Can we leave? My next class is in 10 minutes.”
Professor Willow chuckled as he put the cap back on his dry erase marker. “Yes, you may. As a reminder, your papers on this unit are due by midnight on Monday. They’re your exam for this unit, so put some effort into them. And check your emails! I sent out the full itinerary for our trip to Alola to start off the modern era!”
I sighed, but closed my notebook and started packing up my supplies. It’s been almost 8 months since my journeys with Rayne ended. When Lee and I got back to Galar, Victor and Aunt Maya helped me move in with Lee, which ended up taking a week. We took a break for me to take the entrance exam for Wyndon University, and I passed with a perfect score. I’m the first person to do that in 19 years, early enrollment or not. They let me in right away, and I’m in my second semester now.
Attending university has been… interesting though. Especially since I enrolled 3 years under the age limit, haven’t hit puberty yet, missed orientation and just showed up on the first day back, am best friends with the biggest celebrity in the world, saved Galar, have an older brother who runs the region, and was a finalist in the last Challenger Cup. I… wasn’t well received at first. Since I missed orientation, I didn’t get to meet my peers and get a chance to explain… well, anything. The first 2 weeks were… rough.
College students and professors are tough. They expect everyone to be dedicated to their school work and college life. Everyone who spends their time on college was either never invested in Pokemon battles to begin with or just had a phase. The only Pokemon battles this school does is for the Metronome League Club, which is a school club that holds monthly tournaments with Pokemon that only know Metronome. It’s actually pretty cool. I went to a few matches. But when a former Gym Challenger who looked serious about battles in the public eye 4 months prior just popped up… They hated me. Turns out, no one except the Journalism kids care if you have connections. To them, if you have connections, you got in through those connections, and I have three giant ones. My first day alone was hell. Well, first day-s. I have some classes on Mondays and Wednesdays and others on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Fridays are sort of make-up days where students can visit a professor’s office to ask about a missed lecture or get help on assignments. Still, Monday and Tuesday were bad. All of my professors asked how I got an ID, since we use them for attendance and swipe them through card readers by the door. When I told them I was a student, they didn’t believe me and checked their role sheets. All of them did not like me.
For those 2 weeks, no one thought I was there legitimately. They thought Leon or Rayne bought my way in or Professor Magnolia forced the headmaster to let me in. Everyone thought I was there as some kind of publicity stunt. To show that anyone could get in. Rumors spread, other students messed with me, professors singled me out, and no one would help me! Then outside of school, reporters tried swarming me with questions about Rayne’s new status as Pokemon Master. It got so bad that Leon had to start picking me up a week in so Charizard could scare the reporters away. That, and Rayne and I decided before I started classes that keeping our relationship a secret would be better. Personally, I don’t care if our relationship’s public, but she knows the media will hunt me down. News reporters are already chasing me down for knowing her. If they knew I was dating her, I’d never get a break. She didn’t want me to get any more unwanted attention, so I agreed. No matter how much I hate it. Then the literal cherry on top came in the form of Darkrai’s endless assault in nightmares. However, because Rayne wasn’t here to calm me down, they were so much worse. The nightmares that made me feel nothing left me feeling empty until noon. The ones that made me go crazy had me destroying my entire room out of pure panic and rage. The ones that made me break down in tears had me crying until nothing else came out. I could call Rayne all I wanted. It didn’t make the pain stop. And I felt more tired than ever. I just wanted to sleep, but I couldn’t stay asleep. It was driving me insane!
All of it piled up by the 15th. I kept telling myself that Rayne would be here in 2 days, but I couldn’t take it. That nightmare made me hysterical too. I tore my room apart yet again, and all I could think was how this was my life now. Being swarmed by news reporters whenever I left the house, being called out by professors assuming I didn’t know anything, being belittled by people who were supposed to be my peers. How no one took me seriously. How I was just an information source, or some kid attending college as a joke. That I was a joke. So, I ran out of the house. I ran blindly around Wyndon before stopping in the middle of a street, fully planning to just get hit. And I would’ve gotten hit if one of my own classmates didn’t save me.
Xavier is an upperclassman I met in my Kanto History class. He’s a Med Major and a grade above me. While he’s never mocked me, he’s also never spoken to me. There was a seat next to him on the first day, and we said our hellos and nothing else. Based on what I heard around campus, he didn’t talk to anyone. He was just focused on getting his degree. So the fact that he had his Arcanine tackle me out of the way of an oncoming car… It made me break. I barely knew this guy, and he saved my life. I broke down in front of him, spilling my guts about how I couldn’t take the bullying or nightmares or being without Rayne. Which revealed to him that I’m dating her, but he didn’t say anything about it. He just took me to the hospital, since he was shadowing that night and making a coffee run. My doctor took it from there, and while Xavier actually got the coffee, my doctor called Leon. When he arrived, he told me to take a week off and relax, along with signing me up for therapy. I thought I could hold it together between the weeks Rayne wasn’t there, so I refused to get mental help, but that night was when our doctor made it mandatory. Ever since, I’ve gone to see a therapist once a week, and Victor comes up to spend weekends with us. He’s always been able to hold me up, so Leon forced the Battle Cafe he worked at to let him have weekends off.
That night was when Xavier and I started becoming friends. I first thought it was out of pity, but we’ve grown closer over the months. He promised not to tell anyone about my nightmares or Rayne, but did say that my personal doctor made him sign an NDA. League doctors can never be too safe with our medical information. It’s all good though. Xavier and I get coffee every morning, since I’m now addicted.
After that night though, Rayne came over a day early. And that week she was here and that I took off, puberty hit us like a truck. At the exact same time. The night of the 16th, Ray got her period, kicking off our start to puberty. I got a giant growth spurt over the week and grew to be mere centimeters shorter than Leon (he checked), and felt like my voice dropped like five octaves even though it was probably like two. Rayne grew about a foot taller, but her growth came in the form of curves. She made a joke back in Paldea after I saw Owen’s Blue Hero painting that she saw the Red Hero painting, and joked about how she would get good boobs. That week we hit puberty made me realize she was not joking. The fact that she’s a foodie is a bit more obvious now too, but most of that weight went to muscle mass. It’s more obvious in her legs than anything else. She has to try to show off the muscle in her arms. It’s honestly impressive. Arceus, I love her body. And she loves mine. I quickly realized her crush on Julian came from appearance alone, and since I grew out my hair to be about shoulder length, I sort of match his appearance. Which she loves. She also loves how she’s shorter than me now.
My doctor was concerned about our sudden growth, but his best explanation for this rapid-out of nowhere puberty was stress. Ray thinks it’s also tied to our soulmate bond and the fact that we’ve been stressed since April, which could be possible. Who knows?
By the time she left though, I was ready to go back and face the hell at Wyndon U. Victor told me that in order to keep my mental health from going out the window again, something has to change. I can’t stop the media or Rayne’s job, so Wyndon U was my target. My first 2 weeks, I tried staying on the down low. Don’t show off, don’t upset people more. Just fit in. However, that didn’t work, so when I went back, I showed off. My first week back, I made sure my classmates knew how smart I really was. I solved the problems in my Intro To Math class as my professor was writing the first step, I corrected my two History and Intro To Pokemon Bio professors multiple times, and I solved and corrected every problem from my Intro To Engineering class. Some of my peers and professors hated me, but I didn’t care. If they tried pulling some smartass response, I just fired back by reminding them that I got a perfect score on the entrance exam. No one could stop me either. I got perfect scores on every assignment, asked what I could do better on assignments they clearly gave me less points on for no reason, and just shocked them. I went from being known as the kid with connections to the walking genius. People talked to me, asking for help on assignments, to complain about classwork, or to just test their own knowledge. When Xavier found out, he was so excited for me, and… It felt nice. He always checked on me too, but asked for help on a few Biology assignments. People or Pokemon Biology. He reminded me of Arven, in a way. Just… smarter. And Galarian.
One of my Intro To Engineering classmates saw me help Xavier though, and begged for help. His name is Austin, and he’s an Engineering Major. Who sucks at math. It’s honestly hilarious. He first said he was scared to talk to me since I wasn’t afraid to prove professors wrong, but he was desperate since midterms were coming up, and he was a few points from failing his Math class. Since I only get about 3-5 hours of sleep and do nothing but schoolwork to prove my status, I agreed to tutor him, and we became good friends by the end of the semester. I did learn that Austin is more science smart but also pretty dense. He’s seen Xavier check in on me, but my poor mental health does not click with him. He figures I’m just a tired college student and that Xavier’s just being a Med Major and checking in on me. Neither of us have told him. I did eventually tell him I was dating Rayne though, and he was oddly calm about it. He was less shocked than Xavier.
Austin and Xavier weren’t my only new friends though, but my last friendship started off heated. Alyssa was the first classmate I ever met. We both had Intro to Pokemon Biology as our first class on Mondays and Wednesdays last semester. She’s a fellow early entry, but tried getting in 2 years prior. She barely passed her third attempt with a 90. Because I was also an early entry, our professor stuck us together, and we were forced into being lab partners. In our Science classes, the first half is a lecture and the second half is a lab. I tried breaking the ice during our first lab, but Alyssa shut me down and told me to fill out the lab packet while she did the work, since she knew more about biology than me as a Biology Major. She then made a mistake and I corrected her, which pissed her off. When we left class, I tried apologizing, but she demanded that I tell her what score I got on the entrance exam. When I caved and told her, she blew up and yelled at me that she failed two times and has been working her whole life to get into this university. That I had a guaranteed spot as a league worker because of my performance at the league and because of my connections and had no reason to even be in college, yet I got in with a perfect score. She was so angry and disgusted by the fact that I was better than her by ‘not even trying’ that she refused to even look at me. Not going to lie; her rant did add to my pile of stress, but when I came back, I made her furious.
She pulled me aside when our lab started on Monday and asked what the hell I was doing and called me out for making her do the last two labs alone. I apologized but said I was proving that I’m serious about this. She called me out, saying I was a wannabe and a cheater, so we did that lab alone and had our professor compare them. We got the same score, but she was oddly invested in our petty rivalry, so she had us do a pop quiz on the chalkboard in front of the whole class. Which I obviously got the better score on since I’m the genius child of Arceus himself. Alyssa’s pride crumbled in front of me, and she left early. On Wednesday when things had cooled down, I gave her a peace offering in the form of an oran berry scone from the school cafe. We both apologized for being so mean to each other and decided to be friends since we’re still the only early entries on campus. Call it our egos, but we think we’re better than the rest of our class. Alyssa knows the least about my personal life though. I haven’t even told her about Rayne because of… someone else in her life.
Lexi Springs. The only person at Wyndon U that I actually hate. She’s part of Alyssa’s sorority (which she’s only in because her mom made her join a sorority [and the more I learn about Alyssa, the more I realize that her mom is borderline controlling her, but I digress]), and is a total bitch. She’s a Journalism Major and is obsessed with celebrities and gossip. She chased me down the second she knew I was on campus and asked for interviews with Leon and Rayne for the school newspaper. Then when I took a week off, she wrote a fake article about me saying I dropped out. Sonia found it, since she started checking it to see what’s going on while I’m there, and demanded that the article be taken down or else she’d get Leon involved. The newspaper team apologized to me and kicked Lexi off the team until next semester. She’s despised me ever since, but I don’t care. Posting fake articles about celebrities will get you blacklisted. Better learn that here and not from the real world. She’s why I haven’t told Alyssa about Rayne though. Alyssa will inevitably tell Lexi, she’ll spread the word, and Rayne will be upset about the media swarming me. These aren’t the reasons I hate Lexi though. I don’t even care about that article. Why I hate her is because she’s a colossal bitch to everyone.
On Valentines Day (which was a week ago), their sorority went out to a club. Including Alyssa, who’s a minor. Lexi tried hooking her up with someone but called her a baby when she decided to leave. She asked Lexi to take her back to the sorority house, but Lexi refused and left her. Alyssa left her only Pokemon at the house and had no means of self defense, so she called me for help. Leon and I picked her up, scared some drunks away from her, and Lee actually let her stay at our place so she wouldn’t be alone in a sorority house on Valentines Day. Sonia claims if any of her sisters came back, they were coming back with someone and having sex. So, she stayed over and crashed on the couch. We were out before Rayne arrived, since her week off here started on the 15th. She and Leon have been doing league prep ever since.
I stood up and slipped my messenger bag around my shoulder before heading down the steps of the lecture hall to the door. I’m taking Alolan History this semester, and while Professor Willow is more lively than my last History professors, his way of teaching us about modern Alola is to literally take us there. I’ve been dreading the trip ever since I saw it on the syllabus. I just hope he changed the time frame because I have not gone more than 3 weeks away from Rayne. The initial date from the syllabus said we’ll be there for the entire month of the league. If I don’t die of a heat stroke, I’ll die of insanity.
I glanced down at Dubwool, making sure he was still beside me as we stepped into the hallway. “Do you want anything before we leave?”
“Nah,” Dubwool replied before looking up at me. “Do you want more coffee though?”
“No. I am getting hungry though. I should’ve gotten a snack after that Engineering exam,” I replied before looking up in thought. “I wonder if he put the grades in.”
“Wouldn’t Austin be blowing up your phone if he did?” Dubwool asked.
“Yeah…” I breathed out before someone called my name. We looked behind us, seeing Alyssa running towards me. “Hey.”
She slowed to our pace before waving at Dubwool, only to look back at me. “Lexi is taking the sorority out to dinner before midterms start and said we could invite a few mates. Penelope invited Austin, so since you know the bloke, do you wanna join us?”
“Doesn’t Lexi hate me?” I asked.
“She still holds that grudge, but said she’ll forgive you for helping me last week,” Alyssa replied as she reached down to pet Dubwool. Yeah, because I need forgiveness. “Are you up for it though?”
“Thanks, but no thanks. It sounds like too many people for my liking. Plus, Sonia needs my help with Power Spot tests. Leon wants to get them done ASAP, and Sonia says she doesn’t trust herself to check them alone.”
“Ah. So that’s why you’re in Engineering.”
“Yeah. Totally not because it’s required for my degree.”
Alyssa snorted. “At least it’s not a waste of time.” Her expression dropped to an annoyed look. “Unlike my required math credits. I’m going into biology! Why do I need to learn the quadratic formula!?”
“Science and math are similar. Just like history and literature.”
Alyssa rolled her eyes. “Whatever. You aren’t making that Power Spot thing up to avoid Lexi though, right?”
“No, but I’ll happily avoid her,” I sweetly replied. I’m making this up so they don’t know Rayne’s here. Sonia and Lee are checking Power Spots over the weekend, and I’m staying home. The media has no idea when Rayne will get here, and she wants to make a grand entrance, so I can’t let anyone here know. They’ll post it and spread the word.
Alyssa sighed at my comment. “It was one mistake. She’s not always that bad. She’s my roommate for Arceus’ sake. I think I’d know if she’s a wanker by now.”
“If you say so,” I simply replied.
Alyssa rolled her eyes as we turned to go down the stairs. “So what type did you draw for the Bio project?”
“Grass. Again,” I complained, making Alyssa snort. “It’s not funny!”
“Yes, it is.”
“This is the third time I have to do a project on grass types. First was the final last semester over a non-Galarian Pokemon, then our presentation over the typical body structure of a certain type, and now this? A project over a grass type legendary?” Alyssa just threw her head back as she laughed. “I only have like… three options! Virizion, Tapu Bulu, and Wo-Chien!”
“Oh my Arceus…” Alyssa laughed out.
I sighed, but smiled and shook my head. I guess getting a report over a legendary I don’t know is a good thing. Minus Wo-Chien. I can learn about them like my peers do. No one knows I’m the Hero of Blue because Galar is uncultured and because my four missions haven’t even started. Nothing has happened. No criminals, no gods in danger, nothing. It’s almost been a year. I know Suicune told me to take a break, but isn’t this a little much?
Once Alyssa and I reached the Classroom Center lobby, I saw four girls from her sorority by the doors. Including Lexi. Other than Lexi, I have no idea who any of them are. I know a few names, but I haven’t matched them to faces. I couldn’t stop myself from glaring at Lexi when I saw her though.
Lexi looked up from her phone and smiled. “Lyssa! Come on! The others already have a table!” She looked at me before her smile dropped. “Oh. Did you invite him?”
“Yeah, but I’m busy,” I replied before waving to Alyssa and leading Dubwool to the doors.
“With what?” Lexi asked.
“League prep. My brother runs this place, remember?”
“Oh! Does that mean you know when The Master will be arriving for the league!?” one of the other girls asked.
“I thought you guys didn’t care about the league,” I reminded.
“We don’t, but we do care about The Master,” Lexi replied.
I stopped in my tracks and gave the four of them a confused look. “Why?”
“Uh, because she’s like the biggest celeb ever? Rags to riches story, Champion of every region by age 15, all powerful trainer who destroys everyone in her way, but is also shy and adorable, literally nicknamed a queen. Like, she is a queen, and she’s so cute, and I love her. I need to meet her. So when will she be here?” Lexi sweetly asked.
I couldn't help but snort as I gave her an amused look. “You’re funny.”
“Oh, come on!” Lexi complained as I started walking again. “She’s your friend, isn’t she?”
“What about it?”
“So, you could introduce us.” I froze in my tracks again. “You know, since Alyssa is also your friend, and she’s our sister, so we’re basically your friends too-”
“Oh, so you want to be my friend now?” I asked as I shot her a bitter smile. “That’s so nice of you to let go of a grudge. Will you leave me at a bar too?”
Her expression dropped to an annoyed look. “Let it go. That was last week, and Lyssa forgave me.”
I rolled my eyes and turned away from her, aiming for the door once again. “Either way, I’m not your friend.”
“So does that mean we can’t meet her?” another girl asked.
“Not through me.”
Lexi scoffed. “Come on, junior genius. It’s not like you can spend so much time with her. You’re going to Alola next week.”
“So are you,” Alyssa reminded.
I froze, my eyes widening in horror. She’s going too!? She’s in one of Professor Willow’s classes!? Oh, I am dying of insanity. Prepare my spot in the resting realm, Arceus.
“Exactly. You guys will be leaving, so what if we threw a party this weekend?” one of the other girls offered. “We could send you guys off, and The Master can join us before league season kicks off. We can all meet her and just have a fun time before you lot leave.”
I gripped onto the strap of my bag. “No.”
“Excuse me?” Lexi asked.
I turned to look at them. “This is the first time she’ll be home in a year. She’ll want to spend her time off with her friends and family. Not with more strangers.”
As I turned around, Lexi scoffed. “Wow. Ok. Rude.” Oh, I’m so rude for not introducing strangers to my celebrity girlfriend on her time off. Arceus, strike me down for I am a sinner. “Just don’t forget to lend Zacian to Alyssa for her Bio project!”
I froze once again, my eyes widening before I slowly turned around. “What?”
Alyssa ran her hands over her face as Lexi nodded. “She has to choose a steel legendary, and you have one, so may as well be a good friend and lend the little pup to her.”
“I told you I’m not doing Zacian!” Alyssa barked as she looked at Lexi. “Our professor doesn’t want Galar native legendaries. I’m doing Solgaleo.”
“But he owns Zacian!” Lexi began, motioning to me. “He can just lend it to you and-”
“No!” Alyssa yelled.
I rolled my eyes and turned around. “Have fun at dinner.”
“Hop,” Alyssa began, but I just pushed the doors open.
I saw Leon waiting by the fountain as usual, Charizard by his side. My annoyed look rose to a smile before I picked up my pace. “Lee!”
He looked up from the packet in his hands before smiling. “Hey, Hopscotch. Change of plans. I have a ton of paperwork to do, so Sonia’s picking up dinner and we’ll eat at home.”
“Sweet. But why are you swamped with paperwork?” I asked as he stood up.
“League’s in 2 weeks,” he began as we started walking. “Preparation started today, and Rayne’s kind of losing her mind over what team to use.”
“Still?” I asked. She was doing that when I left.
Leon nodded. “Either way, this is the first time in a decade where there’s been a new Chairman and Champion, so we need to make it big.” He gave me one of his usual cheeky smiles. “Maybe we’ll make it as grand as ‘93.”
“Even though neither of us know what happened?” I reminded, smiling with him.
“All we know is that it was flashy and insane, so that’s what we’re aiming for! Rayne wants to pull out all four gimmicks but can’t figure out how to make a balanced team with it.”
Charizard nudged his snout against my shoulder. “She’ll need help from her genius partner.”
My smile rose as I reached up to rub his head. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“You’ll come up with something,” Leon began before patting my shoulder. “You always do.”
~
My eyes widened the second I stepped into the house. There was a giant whiteboard with notes and papers scattered around it where the coffee table used to be. Rayne sat on the couch with her back to us, staring at the white board. Primarina laid on the other side of the couch while Gardevoir sat beside her. Blaziken stood beside Rayne, and Eevee was laying on her head as always. Well, at least she picked out four teammates. I guess the last two spots are giving her trouble.
“Oh, little Champion,” Leon sang as he closed the door. “Boyfriend’s home.”
Rayne snapped her head around before giving me a pleading look. Her arms snapped up as she flung her upper body back against the couch, causing Eevee to fall onto the floor as she reached for me. “Hoppy!”
I chuckled at her actions as I approached her, taking off my bag. “What’s wrong, love?”
“I need help,” she whined.
I put my bag down before grabbing her gloved hands. She’s gotten into a habit of wearing them every day, even when she doesn’t leave the house. I started lightly tugging them off as I looked at the board. The type chart and a few stat charts were printed out and pinned to the board, every type was listed in the center of the board and had a Pokemon to counter almost all of them, a bracket was written to the left with the four Pokemon currently here, and a list of names were on the right.
“‘Meowscarada, Boltund, Donphan, Nidoqueen, Kilowattrel, Corviknight, Ampharos, any legendary really, Lucario, Lurantis, Serperior, Roserade, and Avia',” I read as I tossed her gloves aside to clasp our hands together, feeling her warm skin against mine. I looked down at her. “What’s this?”
“A list of potential teammates,” she grumbled before looking back at the board. “I want to make an ultimate team since Blue won’t shut up about it. These four are already on it. Blaziken and Gardevoir for two different Megas, Eevee for the G-Max, and Primarina for the Z-Move. I still don’t know who to use for the Terastal stuff, and I have another slot open for like… coverage or something.”
I looked back at the board, scanning over the coverage chart she made. “Well, you just need someone for electric and fairy.”
“Yeah, which makes Nidoqueen the perfect option, but I don’t think her attitude will match well with these four. Eevee has enough sass for this,” Rayne began.
“And I’m way better than her,” Eevee added.
“That, and I learned electric types are a necessity back in Kalos, but I don’t know who to bring in. I love Boltund, but Kilowattrel also has a unique Tera Type, and she would give me a flying type too. She still doesn’t cover electric or fairy though, and I thought Donphan could do it since she knows Poison Jab, and maybe I could give her the Poison Tera Type for stab boost, but… I love her too, but it doesn't feel right for an ultimate team, and…” She groaned and shook our hands. “I just wanna add Boltund, but she doesn’t cover the types I need!”
I scanned over the coverage chart. “Can Boltund learn a ground, poison, or steel move?”
“Yeah. Dig. Why?” Leon asked.
I lifted Ray’s hand and leaned down to kiss the back of it. “Teach Boltund Dig and give her the Ground Tera Type. Problem solved.”
Rayne gasped as I let go of her hands, only for her to flail around just to face me and push herself up on her knees. She cupped my face and pulled me down into a kiss. “You genius. You’re a lifesaver!”
I smiled as she let me go and rolled off the couch. “It’s what I’m here for.”
“So, all that’s left is coverage for fairy?” Leon asked as Rayne grabbed a dry erase marker and started writing stuff down.
“Yep. With Boltund, Blaziken’s got normal, grass, bug, ice, and steel, Gardevoir’s got fighting, dark, poison, and dragon, Primarina’s got fire, rock, and ground, Eevee can take care of psychic and ghost types, and Boltund’s got water, electric, and flying.” Rayne tapped her marker against ‘fairy’ on the coverage chart. “I just need a steel or poison type.”
“But she also doesn’t want to use too many Pokemon from one team. She thinks it’s unfair,” Blaziken added.
“Because it is! All of you have helped me so much, and Tinkaton alone will beat me up for not picking her. I honestly would if it wouldn’t put a third fairy type on this team, and I am not sacrificing Gardevoir or Primarina,” Rayne explained.
“Sparkling Aria is too broken,” Eevee added.
Rayne pointed at her. “Exactly.” She looked back at me. “What would you advise?”
I looked back at her list of potential Pokemon. “I’d say Corviknight, honestly. Sure, he’d be a second Galar teammate, but he’s a strong steel type and would give you that flying coverage you mentioned with Kilowattrel.”
She hummed, looking back at the list. “When considering coverage… He probably is the best option. I could whip out a legendary, but it would either be Solgaleo or Eternatus, and I’d rather not use Eternatus.”
I smiled and patted her head. “You’ll figure it out. I need to check my email.”
“Why?” Rayne asked as I picked up my bag.
“My professor sent out the official schedule for that Alola trip. I’m hoping it won’t be for the entire league,” I replied before sitting where she once was.
“Oh, yeah. I forgot you were going there,” she replied before scanning over the words on the white board. “You can visit Eleanor.”
“Yeah, but I’ll have classmates around, so it’ll probably be in the middle of the night,” I replied as I took out my laptop.
Silence fell between us as I signed onto my student account on the Wyndon U online portal. I went to my email, and once it loaded, I saw a few emails. Most of them were campus news and midterm prep, but Professor Willow’s email was there. I took a deep breath and opened the email.
Attention Alola History students! As I’ve told you in class, we’ll spend the first part of our Modern Alola Unit in Alola. This trip is for all of you to immerse yourself in the culture and get to know this beautiful region we’ve been studying.
Attached below is the itinerary, role sheet, and recommended packing list. Read through them and see if you know anyone. To keep yourselves out of trouble, you’ll be put in teams of 5 that you can mutually agree on. If you don’t have a team by the time we arrive, you’ll be put in one. This trip will also have a 20+ page report about a topic of your choosing about your trip. Details are in one of the attached documents. I’ll see you Monday at the airport at 5:00 A.M SHARP! The plane leaves at 7 and will leave without you if you’re late. See you all soon! - Shawn Willow.
“Shoot…” I muttered before scrolling down and opening the itinerary. It started on Monday. February 29th. If the syllabus was right and this takes a month…
Alola History, Course WDHT1007-5 and 9 Alola Trip! February 29th-March 29th.
“Are you fucking serious…” I breathed out.
Rayne sat beside me to look at the screen. “Oh, shit.”
“What?” Leon asked.
“I’ll be in Alola for a whole month,” I said.
“When I’m stuck here,” Rayne added, looking at Leon.
He stayed silent, so I looked over at him. He stared at us in horror and tried saying something, but nothing came out. He then took out his phone and started typing away as he turned for the kitchen.
I sighed but looked back at my computer. I scrolled through the document, scanning the itinerary. We’d land by 2:30, meet Professor Kukui, then get a late lunch of our choosing in Hau’Oli City. We’d meet up at 5:00 by the Pokemon School, go to Professor Kukui’s lab, and get a starter of our choosing. We’d then visit Iki Town to meet Hala and officially form our groups before getting a late dinner and heading back to Hau’Oli to stay at the Pokemon Centers. The next day, our teams would split up and spend 5 days on each island, including Aether, with a tour guide, but also to do some group exploring. The order would be determined by Professor Willow the morning of March 1st. We’d spend the last 3 days having an actual vacation and doing what we want. Within legal limits, at least. As long as we were back at the Hau’Oli airport by 7:00 on the morning of the 29th.
“At least it sounds fun?” Rayne asked as she read it with me.
“I’m going to die…” I muttered before clicking out of the schedule.
“Of a heat stroke, maybe. It’s hot there,” she replied before hugging my arm and shifting closer to me. “I know it’ll suck, and I would kill to go with you, but… Try to look on the bright side. You can get your Alola legendaries!”
“Yeah, when I’m stuck in a group of five,” I muttered as I clicked on the roll sheet. I scanned over the names and perked up. Austin, Xavier, and Alyssa were all going. I forgot we all took Alolan History this semester.
Ray rested her head on my shoulder. “Recognize some names?”
I nodded. “All of my friends are going.”
“That’s a good thing, right?”
I nodded, scanning over the remaining names. We have to be in teams of five. If I team up with Austin, Xavier, and Alyssa, we’d still need one more person. Which Lexi would probably bring upon herself to be with Alyssa. Even if I opt out, I would be with two strangers. Maybe Austin knows some of these kids. I know Xavier doesn’t.
“Is one of them that Xavier kid?” Leon asked.
“Yeah,” I replied before we looked back at him. “Why do you ask?”
Leon looked back at his phone as he leaned against the kitchen doorway. “I asked Dr. Rashtick what he would advise, and since Xavier is shadowing one of his coworkers, he said if you agree to it, Xavier can help monitor you.” He flicked his gaze back to mine. “You know, so you don’t run in front of a car again.”
“Why?” I asked.
“You’ll be missing 5 weeks of therapy and be away from that one,” he pointed to Ray, “for an entire month. You will need a doctor of some sort. So, unless you want the Alola League doctor to force you to stop by once a week, you may want to shoot your friend a text.”
I rolled my eyes but looked back at my laptop. “Fine. He already knows most of my bullshit anyway.”
“Do you want me to be there until the league officially starts?” Rayne softly asked. I turned my head, giving her a confused look. She lowered her gaze to my neck. “You’ll be away from people who can keep you stable for a month. The latter part of the trip will be hell either way, but…” She squeezed my arm. “I don’t want you to suffer too much.”
My expression softened before I laid my head against hers. “Don’t say that like I’m the only one suffering here.”
“We both may hate ourselves when we’re apart, but you also have nightmares. You have it worse, and we both know it.”
I lowered my gaze as I laced our fingers together. “I just… need to keep you in mind. Knowing the second I see you again… The pain will stop. For both of us.” I squeezed her hand. “I’ll be ok. I’ll have some friends around. One of them knows about my issues too, so… I think I can manage. Plus, this is your first league as Champion. You need to stay focused.”
She lightly scoffed. “Yeah, because my Dual Hero brain will stay focused when we’re apart. I’m as motivated as you are sane.”
I pressed a kiss against her head. “I know…”
“You can’t go even if you wanted to,” Leon said, making us look at him. He gave us an apologetic look. “Since most of her Master work is for the league, I need to teach her everything there is to it. As much as I want you two to stay sane, Rayne is a hands-on learner and won’t get another chance to properly learn this stuff for another year if she leaves.”
I frowned as Rayne huffed. “You suck.”
“I’m doing my job! The league is always cut short anyway, so we can go to Alola once it ends!” Leon defended.
Rayne shot him an annoyed look, which only made me smile. “You two are ridiculous.”
“Your brother is more ridiculous than me,” Rayne grumbled.
Leon rolled his eyes before someone started frantically knocking on the door. “Leon! Open the door!”
“And there’s Sonia. Time for food!” Leon called before running to the front door.
As he unlocked the door, Rayne squeezed my hand. “I hate this as much as you do, but… Try to enjoy it. Alola is really fun.”
“Yeah, for someone who loves the heat,” I fired back as I closed my laptop.
“It’s the home of your senior,” she reminded. “At the very least, you can get to know her better. I’m part of my Red Hero cult, but you’ve barely spoken to other Blue Heroes. Take this chance to get to know them.”
My expression softened before I nodded. She smiled before leaning over to peck my lips before standing up and releasing my hand. I watched as she went back over to the white board and looked between the papers and words.
I’m going to a region I haven’t been to for a month without Rayne. My break is over. The second I land in Alola, my first solo mission begins.