"Oi, don't you bloody kids dare start wi'out me!" Leon shouted, barrelling into the room as if he was somebody important. What an imp!

"Well, we wouldn't be starting without your pathetic hide if you hadn't found every way possible to come late here, even though you knew where the both of us were. What a pathetic excuse of a Chairman," Bede ranted, angry. His tirade continued when Leon gave him a pathetic expression. "Don't give me that look, you're twenty-six years old and you should know better."

"You're startin' ta sound like me mum," I muttered, staring at the cloud-haired boy.

"You know that I have full power to make Opal withdraw from her position of authority over Ballonlea. So, if I were you, I would watch how you speak to the new Chairman of Galar," Leon hissed, glaring at him. The male's eyes were piercing through Bede as the boy started crawling with indignation.

"If you're going about this thinking I'd apologise..." Bede then looked at him, the gravity of the Chairman's words starting to sink in. "Oh, alright. I'm sorry, sir. I won't do it again, even if I do think ill of you, sir," Bede apologised, looking at him with what seemed like a genuinely apologetic face.

Leon then backed out of the protective dignity of the Chairman when he said: "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that."

Hop stared at his brother, mystified as to how he could go from being a corrupt politician to an apologetic third-former within the space of a minute. "Jeez, Lee. You really can get harsh when you feel like it, can't you?" he huffed, looking at Bede apologetically. "I really wasn' aware tha' you were the type to let the power get to your head."

"I-It was just a sudden rush. Sonia told me yesterday that I should act a little more brash when I'm in trouble," Leon apologised. When he said Sonia's name, there was a blush on his cheeks.

"Lee, you're actin' stupid because of a girl?" Hop teased, looking at his brother in annoyance. "Just confess already, big bro!"

"Why is everybody teasin' me?" Leon whined pathetically, looking over at us with a begging expression. He wanted us to reassure him, probably. "Come on... som'body here has to be understanding!"

"You're twenty-six and you should know better," I mimicked what Bede had said earlier — probably not the reassuring words that he was wanting at a time like this.

Ori just ran off to the buffet table, and gestured towards it. She stuffed her face with curry and rice, staring at us.

"I think you bampots migh' wan' ta eat something before she eats everythin'," I stated, flicking my arm at Ori to demonstrate what I meant.

"I'll take your word for it, Marnie," the Chairman murmured, slightly subdued by previous events. His Charizard walked in front of him to lead the way.

Hop stroked his Dubwool. "Okay, I guess I might go and see what the fuss is all about. Ori isn't thick when it comes to food," Hop told us, and walked over to the buffet table, Dubwool plodding after him.

Bede was the final one left to convince. "Fine." He sighed, defeated. "It better be worth the walk," he huffed, his Hatterene slapping him. "Ow! What was that for, Hatterene?!" His Hatterene glared at him, slapping him again. "Arceus!" He cursed, before heading to the table with the fairy-type Pokemon.

I was the only one without a Pokemon that wished to enjoy the buffet table. This was the only time I would ever wish to look after my Morpeko. My Liepard awakened from its slumber, stretching. It came up to me and I petted it, going to the table with the Pokemon.

Ani was sat with Ori, both trainer and Pokemon having the time of their lives. They were eating good food and talking to others, seeming to enjoy themselves. I hid in a corner, petting Liepard and grabbing the occasional fistful of food. Ori was humming contentedly. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to confess to her. Wait, no. That was a stupid idea. Leon was here and he was embarrassing enough, having a crush of his own. The atmosphere would be perfect if Leon and Bede were out of the equation, since Bede would make it about him and Leon would be Leon — an embarrassing dad-like figure. I sighed. Maybe today wasn't the best day to confess.

Leon was brushing his hair at the table, using his Rotom phone as a mirror to see if it was still messy or not. After a while, he was done and he ate some food from the table, picking the finger foods like chicken strips and hash browns. Leon frowned when he noticed the tense atmosphere. Hatterene slapped Bede again with her hair tentacle, resulting in him stroking his face. How vain.

I just returned to my usual blank-faced state of being, glancing over the room, surveying it. To tell them or not to tell them? That was the question. They would find out eventually. They didn't know what happened at the sleepover when they were asked to go play video games in Piers' room. I couldn't bear to even think of telling them we'd set them up. Sure, they'd find out eventually, but I'd like to be the one that let them know.

Hop blinked at me, and I nodded. I was blushing and Ori was flapping her arms about like a madwoman. I closed my eyes and tried to relax myself. I didn't need to confess now.

Before I had a chance to notice what was happening, Ori was on the floor, an arm slightly limp. I scanned the room to find the perpetrator, and then noticed Hatterene. She was sitting serenely. Her tentacle was covered in Ori's blood. I then noticed there was a cut on her face. Hatterene had obviously smacked the poor girl in the face for feeling strong emotions. And, most likely, all over her body.

I gritted my teeth, ready to lunge at Bede.

"HATTERENE!" Bede hollered, running in front of the Pokemon before it could smack me. "Arceus almighty," he blasphemed, looking the Pokemon up and down, then observed Ori quickly. "It got her nicely. By Arceus, right on the arm."

Hatterene prepared her hair tentacle for attacking Bede.

"No. I am your trainer. I am your trainer. Have been ever since you were a Hatenna. You must be off your trolley if you even consider hurting my friends. I'm here, looking after your pathetic hide whilst you go and injure my... friends. Hatterene, you're going back inside your Pokeball until you learn your lesson," he lectured, glaring at the Pokemon. "No, don't injure them."

"Hatterene, Hatterene!" the Pokemon chanted, staring blankly at its trainer.

"Shut your gob," Bede muttered, staring at his Pokemon and grabbing its Pokeball. "No second chances for you, pathetic scum."

Hatterene walked into the ray of light escaping from the Pokeball and was consumed by it. The Pokeball closed up, making a clicking sound — this meant that Hatterene was inside the Pokeball and in a stable condition. Hatteren was making sounds of complaint, but Bede just stuffed the Ball in his bag, annoyed at the Pokemon within.

Bede frowned. "I humbly apologise for what Hatterene did to you, Ori. It was uncalled for, and I promise to keep her under more control next time," he apologised, looking over at Ori.

"No, no. No need to apologise," Ori dismissed him as I grabbed her arm to lift her off the floor. "These things happen. Pokemon's smarts aren't shared equally amongst all species."

Hop gestured for Bede to come to him.

"Bede, no need to worry. Okay, mate?" Hop whispered, Dubwool stroking his leg.

"All right," Bede murmured.

Leon was only half aware of what had transpired in the past few minutes, and he gave us all quizzical looks. He looked Ori up and down, smiling, and then looked over to me. He nodded and gestured for us to come over.

He ran his hand through his purple locks, looking at the two of us again. He had an expression of awe on his face, like a child would when they looked up at a parent.

"This... isn't exactly my cup of tea... so, don't make fun of me. I know this may sound pathetic, but how do you confess to a girl?" the Chairman asked, glancing at us hopefully.

Dear Arceus.

Both Ori and I blushed a deep red ad moved our arms about in a panicky fashion. How are you to give advice to someone on something you have yet to do yourself? Now I was forced to confess.