Kira's POV 🫧

Shortly after we arrived and returned to the lab, I immediately remembered something that I happened to have brought along with me, in case one of us needed it.

"Well, then...Time to get back to working on the research." Sada began as she stretched a little.

"Ah...Hold on a second, Sada." I went.

"What is it?" She asked while turning to look at me.

"I brought these along with us before we left to take a break at Medali, in case one of us needed it. But, they weren't put to use while we were out..." I began before pulling out two mini water bottles from my pants pocket and giving it to her.

"Oh, water. Thanks, but, you should keep them." She replies.

"No, it's okay. I still have some in my left pocket. Just use these in case you get thirsty here." I said before setting them down on her desk.

"Alright...Take it easy and don't push yourself too hard, okay?"

"Okay, Sada...And the same goes to you too."

"Thanks."

Then we resumed on with the progress.

- - -

For a while, ever since the day Sada and I left the lab to take a break together before heading to Medali, I felt refreshed and started hanging out with her a lot more during our breaks.

At the same time in return, Sada did the same to me.

Because of this, I realized that from where I was so cooped up in helping Sada out with her research, I had almost completely forgotten how fun and nice it felt when I took a long break with her.

I was so grateful she dragged me out of the lab that day.

Currently, right now, the day I first joined and started working for Sada is slowly starting to draw closer and closer within every hour.

And soon, it'll be my first anniversary of joining and working for Sada.

"I know they probably don't and it really isn't necessary to, but, I wonder if Sada-chan celebrates the new member's anniversary in joining and helping out with the research?" I thought to myself as I stared at the napkin and zoned out a little for a moment, while me and my pokémon team ate salisbury steak together, along with Sada.

Speaking of pokémon, just by looking at Sada's, they actually catch my interest a lot.

Slither Wing, Screaming Tail, Brute Bonnet, Flutter Mane, Sandy Shocks, and Roaring Moon....

I still find it a bit odd they resemble very much like the pokémon I know, but are actually the ancient paradox versions of them.

Just by even mentioning this makes me remember that time when I asked and talked to Sada about them, as I find it a very interesting but an enjoyable subject to discuss with her, relating to our interests.

"Who would've thought the past would carry so many mysteries to both people and pokémon alike?" I thought before smiling to myself.

"So, Kira..." I heard Sada begin, making me look at her directly by her pretty, sharp cyan eyes.

"I've been meaning to ask you this earlier, but, which past paradox pokémon did you like?" She asked.

"Other than Koraidon...I like Flutter Mane and Roaring Moon. They both look really cool!" I answered as I smiled at her.

"I see...In that case, when we return to the lab again, there's something I want to give you as a gift. It's nothing special or anything, but, I want to give it to you in private...And I think you'll really like it." She said next before she resumed eating.

"I wonder what it is?" I thought to myself as I tilted my head a little curiously, before I just resumed eating too.

When we finished eating all of our food and left after paying for it, I just happened to notice Sada was looking over at me and my Hisuian zorua, in which I'm currently carrying around in my arms right now.

"Hm?" I went as I looked at her.

"It's nothing..." She went before looking away.

"Muan!" My zorua spoke up as she looked at me.

"Aww...What is it, Sakura?" I asked as I looked at her and smiled in adore over how cute she is, before petting her.

In response, Sakura looked at me again before looking at Sada, giving me a clear message on what it is she wants.

"I think she wants to be held in your arms for a bit." I went as I chuckled a little.

"Sakura, you're too kind, but - " Sada began, before she was suddenly interrupted by Sakura leaping out of my arms and onto her face, nearly scaring the living shit out of her for a moment.

Just seeing that made me laugh hard a little at Sakura being naive and cute, while Sada's reaction was priceless.

"Hold still, Sada..." I choked out between laughs before removing Sakura from her face and gently setting her down in Sada's arms.

After doing that, Sada just stood there for a moment, trying to recover herself from the sudden scare that just happened, before looking over at Sakura.

"Looks like she won't take 'No' for an answer from you." I chuckled.

"If I were to guess it right, I'd say she's grown fond of you, right to the point where she likes and accepts you as a friend."

"Oh, alright. I'll hold you for a little bit, Sakura." Sada went as she sighed in defeat and smiled at her a little.

In response, Sakura made a happy zorua cry before she snuggled and curled up into a ball in Sada's arms.

"Hehe...Sorry she scared you like that." I said, as my laughing had died down enough for me to talk more.

"It's okay. She is half-ghost and half-normal type after all. And we all know ghost types like to scare or pull pranks on us, just out for fun." She replies, before looking over and petting Sakura.

"Of course. You're a professor after all..." I chuckled.

Afterwards, we both returned and went inside the lab as always, before Sakura leapt out from Sada's arms and landed into mine.

Just for a moment, Sada looked around, seemingly checking on something mentally, before I heard her say, "Good. Seems like they've all had already returned home and went to bed for the night..." to herself.

Hearing her say that, made me feel a little confused on the inside, and start to wonder what the hell she's talking about.

Before I could ask, Sada nodded and then turned back around to look at me.

"Wait in your room for me. I'll be over there in a little bit to give you your gift..." She says.

"Uhm...Okay?" I said in response, just before she quickly left.

Just after she left, I just stood there, still wondering what's going on and why is she suddenly acting a little odd.

Looking over and seeing that Sakura had already fallen asleep in my arms, I gently set her down on the floor, and returned her to her pokéball, so she could sleep in there, peacefully and undisturbed.

Seeing I don't really have much of an option on doing something while I wait for Sada to return, I went to my room like she asked me to do for her, and just waited in there.

Normally, I would've gone snooping, just to see what's up, but I didn't want to ruin anything by mistake.

So, I just sat down on my bed and waited.

After what felt like 2 or 3 hours, I started to feel sleepy and before I even knew it, I had already dozed off into my own dream world.