Haru messaged him back with a smiley face, which with Haru could mean a lot of things. Ryo sighed, wondering about so many things yet never putting a finger on them.

When the limo arrived home, he packed up his suitcase, and his agent watched nearby. "You're going on vacation, not a work assignment," his agent said, shaking his head. "Ryo, really. You've got no job assignments until we settle things between you and Keith, or you at the very least get a restful vacation so you can progress towards that goal if it turns out he's not there."

"He's there," Ryo said. "Haru wouldn't lie." He paused, picking up a pair of sandals and tossing them in on top. "And she wouldn't be mistaken. She was always one of the few people to be able to tell us apart, although she never..." He let out a laugh, shaking his head. "Haru always called him Not-Ryo, much to his irritation."

"I'm just worried you'll get your hopes up for nothing, Ryo."

"Nothing?" Ryo said. "You're the one whose idea this trip was." He paused, holding up a swimsuit, one of many because of his job as a pop idol.

"Yes, you've got to take a swimsuit," his agent said. "Because you're on vacation to a beach resort, it would be odd if you didn't go swimming at some point, but it would also be good to pack sunglasses and sunscreen. Oh, and pick a swimsuit that we're comfortable in rather than something that will..." His agent let out a laugh. "Actually, go back through everything."

"What?"

"You're incognito, for one thing," his agent said. "And you don't need to worry about dressing in a manner that draws the female gaze." His agent tilted his head. "But pack an outfit you'd want to take a girl..."

"I'm not supposed to date anybody," Ryo said.

"Only if your agent, aka manager, doesn't approve, aka me," his agent said. "You've got a little more leeway than other pop idols. Otherwise, you'd get the right time for not making something recently."

"I can get away with it because I'm a Shirogane," Ryo said. "Don't even have to hold down a job, but had Takashi..." He closed his eyes. "Can't think like that. Keith will kill me."

"You mean thinking about Takashi not having the job that got him killed," his agent sighed. "I got that, and yes, be careful what you say to your remaining brother. We'd better get going soon, as we've got a limo ride out to the boats and then a boat ride over." He froze. "Well, the missing cadets are there. And you may not be able to go as incognito as you want." His agent sucked in his breath. "And the paparazzi don't realize that Not-Ryo is Not-Ryo."

Ryo paused, turning his head. "The paparazzi are there? Why? I thought the Garrison—they kept things under wraps, so why is it that they're..." He let out a sigh, holding out his hand. "Double-check so we can go."

His agent came over, nodding his head. "Looks good."

"And you?"

"I'm still on the clock, Ryo. I'm an agent, manager, and bodyguard."

"You'll look less conspicuous if you're not wearing a suit."

"And I'll also do better not wearing a suit in a tropical climate. Haven't you noticed that I change when we're in warmer areas, although I still dress up? And I have a suitcase if you ever want to go incognito."

"Good," Ryo said. "I want to get there before they cause any more damage. I can't trust—yeah—I don't trust the paparazzi not to make Keith's life hell."

He scooped up his Oshawott while his agent got the suitcase, heading out following the man back to the limo he'd just left, riding to the docks so they could load their luggage onto the next boat heading out to the Pokemon resort. Ryo took a deep breath, petting the top of Oshawott's head, placing a hat on his head, and wearing sunglasses to hide his eyes.

"Going incognito is impossible now, with them identifying Not-Ryo, as you said."

"You're not there to please your fans, so stop worrying."

"They'll be there," Ryo groaned, touching his forehead. "Shoot. Haru will be inundated with those chasing the missing cadets and the fanbase that likes to chase me."

"Oh. Yes. That." The agent let out a deep breath. "The resort's owner is already predicting whether something like that happened."

"Haru just, she's easily overwhelmed when things get crazy, and she likes her new job," Ryo said, taking a seat on the deck, frowning as he pulled his hat down lower, hoping nobody noticed who he was. "This really stinks, you know."

"I know, I know," his agent said. "I'll be the one checking you in, so try laying low as I do that." His agent looked at the Oshawott. "And since your fans know you've got an Oshawott?"

Ryo sighed. "Sorry, Oshawott," he said, making the Pokemon get back into the Pokeball. "Why couldn't you have mentioned that sooner?"

"Because," his agent said.

"Because is not an answer," Ryo said.

"Just stick to me like glue," his agent said. "And yes, I know this isn't the most ideal situation." They stopped talking, eventually disembarking. Ryo became more nervous as they did so, but when they arrived, Ryo started.

"Wait," Ryo took a deep breath. "Where's Haru?"

"Don't know. She might be off doing other things," his agent said. "They do seem busy."

The young woman with dark skin looked somewhat flustered. "Look, if you've not made a reservation, I can't help you as we're already booked up and had a whole slew of people coming to the Pokemon resort for who knows what reason. Though we are getting tents ready for when there is an overload of guests, again, there aren't that many tents, and there is a definite risk that the Pokemon might not be amenable to the tents. We have had flying Pokemon crash into them."

"Crash into them," one of the girls said. "Ugh."

"Come on," the other said, tugging her arm. "I really, really want to see Ryo Shirogane."

Ryo sucked in his breath, pulling on his hat brim, hoping the girls wouldn't turn around, but the girl behind the counter—one of her eyebrows shot up. "You know what. Come along this way. You can wait for the owner to get back in the seating area, right? And she can tell you if tents are available because sometimes guests make reservations to use the tents."

"Despite flying Pokemon crashing into them?" the girl asked.

"Despite flying Pokemon crashing into them," the person behind the desk said. She then raised her hand. "Actually, anybody who doesn't have a reservation, please step out of line and follow me to the sitting area. For those who do, I'll be right back."

Ryo watched the girl step away, feeling slightly nauseous, glancing around, hoping to see Haru or another familiar face, the one he really wanted to see, almost dropping his hat as his agent tugged on his arm to step forward. The young woman returned, got the next person sorted, and said, "Hi. My name is Alisa. How can I help you today?"

Ryo glanced up, not liking how she smiled, as if she'd not noticed him, and craftily moved his fans away. "Where's Haru?"

His agent tugged his sleeve, shaking his head. Alisa sighed. "Sorry. Don't know where your cousin is, though busy doing something with the sudden influx."

"So sorry," Ryo muttered.

"Better..." Alisa sucked in her breath. "No worries!" Yet it was apparent she didn't like the overflow. "Just..." She glanced back over. "Some of the Pokemon are a little sensitive, and that's why some of our long-time guests love bringing them out here."

"Yeah. It is nice," Ryo said, keeping his voice low.

"She is around, so I'm sure you'll see her, but I saw the picture," Alisa said. "If it helps, I think she's right, but I'll go ahead and get you to your rooms."

"Yeah, that..."

"Ryo?"

Ryo groaned, having turned in time for a fan to notice him as he did.

"Ryo Shirogane!" the girl squealed, and then the two girls who'd been sent to the seating area along with a few others hurried over.

"Uh, hi."

"I thought you'd already checked in. I mean, I saw the picture."

"Wasn't his hair longer?"

"Great. Keith's still being Keith, isn't he," Ryo thought.

"Hi," his agent said. "If you don't mind, I'd like to get Ryo settled into his hotel room."

"Yes, yes!" Alisa said, going and grabbing the suitcases while placing a key between her teeth, muttering in an almost inaudible fashion. "Here we go. Hurry, hurry."