By plane, the students of Rainbow Wing Academy gathered at the airport in Hau'oli City.
[Hau'oli City]:A coastal city on Melemele Island in the Alola region—and the region's largest city. It's divided into the Beachfront, Shopping District, and Harbor District.
Satoshi, boxed in by five girls, ended up sitting on a bench, bracing himself to listen to a whole list of announcements.
Not far away, a female teacher named Yamanaka Sawako was going over the details—nothing complicated.
This was the Pokémon world. Even with a certain degree of overlap with modern reality, kids their age were perfectly capable of traveling alone, so the teacher was pretty laid-back—more like a college advisor than a strict chaperone. She wasn't going to micromanage.
And this was Alola—friendly, easygoing. There really wasn't much to worry about.
The only trouble Satoshi could think of was Team Skull. Sometimes those guys were even more annoying than Team Rocket.
Hopefully we won't run into them. And if we do… well, I'll just have to disband Team Skull.
While he was thinking, Satoshi's attention drifted to the girl sprawled across his lap. Anon was asleep there, worn out, her cheek pressed to his thigh.
"Anon… she's not faking it, is she?" Soyo tilted her head, lacing her fingers through Satoshi's hand while staring at Anon with a suspicious look.
In truth, she'd known from the start that Anon was pretending.
She's openly hinting at Satoshi right now!
Ehehehehe~ Satoshi's thigh is so warm. Lying here is seriously comfy.
Lately, Anon's acting had gotten way better—she'd been learning from Soyo—so she enjoyed herself without a hint of guilt.
"Probably not," Satoshi said, shaking his head. "She was half-asleep on the plane too—she leaned on my shoulder the whole time."
My adorable boyfriend~~ That was acting too!
Soyo had no comeback. Fine. If she got Tauros'd, she got Tauros'd—Anon couldn't stir up that much trouble anyway.
The teacher said, "That's all for the important notes. Now, everyone—do your best and obtain Z-Moves! See you in ten days!"
Student A: "Let's gooo! I'm gonna be the first to clear a Grand Trial!"
Student B: "Don't start the arms race~ Let's take it easy~"
"Alola~~!"
The moment the teacher finished, the students sprinted off, beginning their race-to-the-bottom grindfest.
For Satoshi and the girls, though, it didn't matter. There was no need to rush—opportunities weren't going anywhere, and most trials took only a day or two. As long as you weren't trying to speedrun every single one, you'd be fine.
More importantly—this was a trip. Rest came first.
"Come on out, everyone." Satoshi tossed his Poké Balls.
"Raichu~" "Koga~" "Rillaboom~" "Combusken~"
In an instant, four Pokémon stood on the ground. The other girls released theirs too—
Except for the Hydreigon that tended to jump-scare people.
Hydreigon: Nagasaki Soyo, why is it you again?! Switch Whimsicott in!
Whimsicott: I'm Fairy-type. What are you again…?
Hydreigon: Sorry! I—I'm terribly sorry for offending the invincible Lady Whimsicott.
A Hydreigon that was four-times weak to Fairy… honestly, it was just tragic. You could only call it the weakest pseudo-legend.
"Alola~! If there's anywhere you want to go, just say the word."
Satoshi's gaze swept over the girls and Pokémon alike. The corner of his mouth lifted into a small smile.
The atmosphere of Alola seeped into him, settling his mind.
On a rare vacation like this, why would he go grind himself into dust? Pokémon battles were fun, sure—but right now, he wanted to be with them.
Battling after sightseeing would be even more fun!
Totem Pokémon. The island kahuna. Ultra Beasts. Necrozma.
Those were absolutely on his list.
"Really?" Soyo clapped her hands. "Then I want to check out a fashion store. Satoshi, you'll come with me, right?"
As she spoke, she naturally caught his hand again, drawn to its warmth.
"No problem~!" Satoshi agreed without hesitation.
And without thinking, he gave her hand a little squeeze—soft and pliant—sending a jolt through her that made her clamp her thighs together.
"Me too! Me too!" Anon "accidentally" grabbed Satoshi's other hand, barging into the shuraba.
"Ah… a fashion store?" Taki turned and asked, "Tomori, are you going too?"
"Mm." Tomori nodded.
Only Raana tilted her head, puzzled.
"I want to go eat Alola's matcha pudding. Can I?" she asked.
"No!" ×4
Other than Tomori and Taki having fairly ordinary family backgrounds, everyone else was pretty well-off—and Taki had her own savings from part-time work.
Money wasn't the issue. They were all rich girls. But a trip like this—an opportunity to deepen bonds—how could they just let it slip away?
[Satocchi, you're in a shuraba~ Run while you still can~!]
We're just bonding as friends, okay?
"Here—eat up~"
Satoshi bought dozens of Berries and fed his Pokémon.
"Raichu raichu~ (Honestly, Satoshi, you should be thinking about how to survive this shuraba. But these berries are good… whatever. Not my problem~)"
"Koga. (Tasty.)"
"Rillaboom. (Relationship issues? Pass.)"
"Combusken~! (Mago Berry is the best in the world~!)"
Raichu and the others happily munched away, showing zero interest in helping their Trainer untangle his romantic disaster.
They could only say one thing:
Nope. Can't save you.
This blockhead was beyond treatment.
With no warnings at all, Satoshi walked into the fashion store with the girls.
"Satoshi, I think these shoes don't fit quite right. Can you help me put them on?"
The first to strike was the super love-heavy girl—Nagasaki Soyo!
She handed him a pair of little leather shoes.
"Huh? Why not ask Anon?" Satoshi glanced toward Anon, who was browsing clothes a short distance away.
"Ah… Anon's looking at outfits! She can't come over, obviously!"
As she spoke, Soyo's hand shot into her pocket at lightning speed, thumbs flying over her phone.
Soyo: I'll give you assists these next few days, so help me this time.
Soyo: Please. You know how to do it!
"Mm?"
Buzz.
Anon lifted her phone, a flicker passing through her gray eyes.
Last time I checked, you personally declared I "wasn't needed," okay?!
Two-faced Soyo, don't push it!
And now you're saying you'll assist me…?
Anon: No problem!
With an assist on the table, Anon backed down instantly. Meanwhile, Taki was helping Tomori pick clothes, and Raana sat quietly on a bench eating candy.
Which left only Satoshi.
"Okay. I'm putting them on for you."
"Mhm. Do as you like~"
Satoshi took the shoes. Meeting Soyo's shy gaze, a small warmth bloomed in his chest.
Standing in front of her, he gently took her foot and slowly helped her into the shoe.
[Uweh~ Soyo stock is already way too high… Next up should be Anon~]
"Mm…"
Husband…
Soyo sat there, a flush spreading over her face as she watched him without blinking. Satoshi's fingers brushed lightly against her foot; the warmth made her whole body go soft.
At last, he eased the shoe fully into place. Her feet, wrapped neatly inside, looked small and delicate. Soyo lowered her head, too embarrassed to meet his eyes.
She'd never done anything like this before.
This was the closest she'd ever been to Satoshi.
And she had to admit—she was unbearably shy. Even something as simple as putting on shoes made her heart race again and again.
But Soyo was satisfied.
For Satoshi, though, it was only the beginning.
"Satoshi… what do you think of this? Does it suit me?"
Tomori held up a hoodie, cheeks tinted pink like a flower in bloom as she lowered her eyes shyly.
"Yeah," Satoshi said. "Looks good."
"Satoshi, I tried on this casual jacket. What do you think?"
Taki slipped into a casual jacket, her voice trembling slightly as she asked.
"Yeah," Satoshi said. "It's really nice."
He didn't even get a moment to breathe—next came Anon!
"Satoshi, what about these thigh-highs?"
Anon's lips curved into a smile as she held up a pair of argyle over-the-knee socks, asking as naturally as if she were discussing the weather.
I think Anon's sense of style needs saving!
"Looks… good," Satoshi said, nodding lightly, a strained smile tugging at his mouth as he fumbled for words.
Once, ten times, thirty times—the endless questions slowly numbed his mind.
Forget it. I want a Pokémon battle already—let me out of here!
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