"Okay, everyone!" You say with a chipper grin as you spin to face the small horde of Pokémon, impatiently waiting for the picnic to begin, "Sandwiches are almost done!"

"Ack- get your heads out of the way you oversized Cyclizars!" Arven grumbles as he shoves Koraidon's and Miraidon's head away from the pile of sandwiches, glaring at the legendary Pokemon.

Carmine chuckles, "Wow. You really didn't lie when you told Kiki and I those two love sandwiches, huh Y/N?"

Kieran grumbles at Carmine using his nickname, standing directly beside you as he helps you place the bread on top of the sandwiches and put the toothpicks in, "Carmine... I asked you to stop calling me that..."

You grin at Kieran, "Well, you don't seem to mind when I call you that, right Kiki?" You tease him playfully, containing your giggle when his face flushes red in embarrassment.

"Don't call me that Y/N..." Kieran mumbles sheepishly, glancing away from you.

You chuckle a bit and nod, "Alright, I won't."

"Are you sure you don't have siblings?" Penny asks, glancing up from her phone as she brushes some of her half red and half blue hair from her face, "Because you're pretty good at pestering people, Y/N..."

You put your hand on your chest in mock hurt, "I'm just play-teasing my friends! You do that too, Penny."

Penny shrugs and looks back at her phone.

"C'mon amiga!" Nemona says, an even bigger grin on her face as she looks over at Penny from her competitive focus on putting sandwiches together, "Help us set up these sandwiches for the picnic!"

Penny grimaces, wrinkling her nose, "Love too, but... no thanks."

You roll your eyes and smile at Nemona, "You shouldn't bother her. Penny's already worked enough bothering to tutor you in math, give her a break."

Nemona playfully rolls her eyes as she impales a sandwich with a toothpick a little harshly, "You're never gonna let my poor math skills go, huh amiga?"

You click your tongue as you nod, "Nope!"

Nemona grins a little more, "Well... I'll just beat you in a battle then!"

You shake your head, "Even now, during sandwich-making, all you think about are battles?"

Nemona nods, and Arven scoffs from where he stands to your other side, his eyebrows furrowed in concentration.

"Less chatting, more cooking," He quips, "Or cook while chatting."

Everyone goes silent for a moment outside of whines from Pokémon and tapping of Penny's phone.

"...hey, Y/N. Thank you for inviting Kiki and I on your little picnic with your friends." Carmine says after a moment, looking at you with a gentle smile.

"No issue!" You say in a chipper tone, "Just happy to see you and Kieran again! It's awesome that you two could come to Paldea on a trip to Pomelo Academy!"

Pomelo Academy, or 'Grapefruit' Academy... the Academy you, Penny, Nemona, and Arven attend. Light orange and dark purple on the also white outfits, and the largest (and only) major Academy in all of Paldea.

This year's Treasure Hunt has recently begun, and this year, several students from Blueberry Academy came to attend, which included Kieran and Carmine! It's awesome seeing your friends from Kitakami here, and you spent your time taking all of them on tours all over the region and even into Area Zero!

It's been... almost five months now since the Pecharunt incident, six since the Terapagos one, eight since the Ogerpon kerfuffle, and a full year since you went down to Area Zero to destroy the waring Time Machine, ripping a hole between the past and future, built by the late Professor Sada and Turo.

You steal a glance at Arven, who's working furiously. A pang of sympathy wracks your thoughts at one of your best friends cooking furiously to ignore the fact that today's the anniversary of since he discovered his parents were dead and watched as the robot-versions of them left.

You glance down at Mabosstiff, who's laying diligently by your and Arven's feet. You know the Boss Pokémon knows that its trainer is trying to ignore the feelings of sorrow, hence why Arven's being more snappy than normal. And he's usually pretty snappy...

"Heh, yeah..." Carmine says with a smile, giving you a slightly inquisitive look with her eyes. Despite everything you seven have gone through together, you haven't told Carmine nor Kieran about the Area Zero incident beyond subtle hints. Why ruin the mostly cheerful mood right now by explaining it? Area Zero isn't your story to tell. It's Arven who had to deal with the loss of both parents at once, and so he can share it whenever he's ready.

He glances at you, and you give him a comforting smile he soon reciprocates.

You look back at the half-made sandwich, shaking off the more sullen mood as you finish it.

"And..." You start to say eagerly.

"We're done!" You, Carmine, and Nemona say in a cheerful tone. Kieran says this is a slightly quieter tone, while Penny and Arven just nod.

"Allllrighty then!" You say with an excited grin, "Now is it time to eat?"

Arven hesitates for a moment before making a single nod, "Yes."

No one can manage to stop when Miraidon and Koraidon lunge at the table, desperate for their favorite food.

____________________________________________________________________

You hop off the embarrassed looking Koraidon with a sigh, Miraidon close behind with Penny, Carmine, and Nemona on their back.

Arven makes an annoyed grumble, and Kieran rubs the back of his head. You don't blame the awkward aura, considering Koraidon and Miraidon ate almost half of the sandwiches just by themselves.

And you decided to be nice and give your own sandwich to Kieran's Hydrapple, who was left with no sandwich after Koraidon ate its. And this seemingly upset Arven, who hates it when you give your food he spends so hard making to the two legendary Pokemon.

He knows you love his food, yet your care over others before yourself was worrying to the Pokémon trainer.

"Heh... sorry for these two," You say as you gesture to the Pokémon, "I promise they're usually better behaved... I'll have a word with them."

You tilt your head, "You guys wanna hang out with me in my room? I got this new game..."

Penny thinks for a moment before looking away, "Sorry. I have to go tutor a few students."

Penny recently decided to join the Student Tutors at the Academy, so you don't blame her for having to go do that. She may actually be a bit late considering she bothered to stay behind to help clean up when you offered to let Koraidon or Miraidon get her back a bit early.

Nemona frowns, "Think I promised someone I'd battle them tonight... gotta set up for that. You and I can battle later, amiga!"

Ah yes. Nemona's battle obsession... always amused you.

Carmine and Kieran shake their heads. "We're gonna go wander around Mesagoza for a bit, we'll see you tonight Y/N!"

Heh, if you were in their shoes, you'd also want to explore Mesagoza for an entire day. It's their first time being here after all, you just seen it al since you live here every day.

Arven sighs, "Sorry, Y/N. I have to go clean up the last of the stuff. Maybe tonight?"

Yep, Arven does have to clean up the last of the tools and things... you offered to help on the ride back if he wanted it later, and he declined.

Guess you can't blame everyone for being busy... it's nice they bothered to go on this picnic you set up, though!

"Alrighty! Understandable! See you all tonight. You're welcome to come by my room whenever, even if it may be in the middle of the night!"

You snap your fingers and point finger-guns at them playfully as they wave bye to you, and you quickly return Ko and Mi to their Pokéballs and run up the stairs into the Academy to get back to your room.

Well, guess you just have to start that game yourself! No biggie!

____________________________________________________________________

You open the door to your room, humming as you pull off your hat and hang it on the stand by the door.

You pull your hair-tie out of your H/C hair, letting the strands fall down to rest against your neck and upper back, snapping the hair-tie onto your wrist.

Today was a great day! It's a little disappointing your friends couldn't come up to play your game with you, but it's fine! You'll see 'em tonight anyways.

Toto (Your Rotom Phone) slips out of your bag with a ding, a large grin on it's little face.

"Beep boop! Y/N, you have a notification from, 'Kieran,' open it?"

You smile at the Rotom Phone you had since you were twelve, making a custom case for it yourself. The Rotom living in your phone adored it, and has always just been a good friend of yours, depsite it being a mischievous Pokémon.

"Yes please! Thanks, Toto."

Toto beeps excitedly and opens your text message app, showing you your conversation between you and Kieran.

Kiki💙: Hey

Kiki💙: Uh

Kiki💙: I found jhis

Kiki💙: *this, sorry

He sends you a picture of a t-shirt on a mannequin with an Applin on the front of it.

You: OMA that is ADORABLE

You: You need to get it

You: Or at least get it for Carmine

You: Holy eevee fluff I love it

Kiki💙: (゜゜;)

Kiki💙: Wow

Kiki💙: You

Kiki💙: Uh

Kiki💙: Really like it, huh?

You: Yeah, lol

You: I think it's cute! ＼(^^)／

Kiki💙: ...

Kiki💙: I can get it for you

Kiki💙: If you want

You: Uhhhh

You: IDK

You: Wouldn't it be pricey?

You: Don't wanna waste your money... ！Σ(×_×;)!

Kiki💙: You won't be! ( 'ﾟдﾟ)

Kiki💙: Look

Kiki💙: I'll get it for you and give it to you tonight

Kiki💙: No buts!

You: Seriously, dontttt

You: You should spend your money on something more important

You: Pls

You: Kieran?

You: Kiki?

You: Hello?

You sigh a bit in amusement as Kieran stops responding, probably going to buy that shirt. Toto immediately goes back in your bag, already being almost completely charged and unneeded to go waste more electricity when they're not hungry.

He's stubborn. You'll give him that. But it's nice to see he cares and how much you two mended your friendship.

Heck, you tried to trade him Ogerpon when he wanted to trade Pokémon. And yet he insisted no. You still remember what he said...

____

"Ogerpon's happier with you than she ever seemed around me... as much as I want her on my team, I don't think she'll ever want to be with me as much as she likes being with you... You're a good trainer like that, Y/N, and it's not my place to make decisions for Ogerpon..."

____

You tried to insist, but he firmly denied. So you relented and traded him a Scream Tail you caught and trained. He seemed happy when he gave you that Applin...

You shrug a bit as you stroll up to your console, ready to set your bag down and let your Pokémon have some much needed rest in their Pokeball's after the picnic fiasco, but pause when you see your mirror... rippling?

Your mom gave you that mirror last week... it was full-body, with elegant and ornate black carvings along the edge of strange and unfamiliar things...

She has a knack for collecting strange things, that's for sure. And you thought the mirror was pretty cool, and were excited when she offered to let you bring it back to Pomelo Academy to spice up the place a bit.

You take a hesitant step to it, slowly growing closer as you reach a hand out. You know it's stupid to touch a mirror that's rippling like water, but you don't care.

You saved the world twice. What's the worst a rippling mirror's gonna do to you?

Oh... the way you'd look back and regret saying that, as the moment you touch the mirror, it drags you in with all your Pokemon and all.

You can't do anything beyond making a panicked screech as you go in, being pulled from any world you've recognized.

Oh... Arceus save your poor soul...