Chapter Text
"You guys have the absolute worst timing." Winter briefly pouted and hid her face behind her hair as usual. Though her face remains hidden, there was surely a hint of loneliness in her voice.
"Don't worry, we can send messages online through our PokéNavs." Marie held up her yellow device in the air, and with that, a screen of her contact list reflected on her hazel eyes.
"It'll be fine, Winter. I mean, at least you get to stay in the main hub. The wireless connection is so much better here in Mauville. Besides, Slateport City and Verdanturf Town aren’t even that far." Aya fiddled with her cap for a bit then took it off while trying to maintain her signature ponytail.
"Still, it won't be the same. You’re right though, visiting won’t be much of a problem at least." Winter scratched the back of her head with her eyes glued to the ground. The dark redhead paused as she finally looked up towards the dusk sky. The brunette switches off her device and a plum haired girl with a cap stares up as well.
"Well, Aya, since you're gonna be at coastal area, that means we can have a beach day. And Marie, we can have a picnic in the flower fields too." Winter spoke up with a small smile.
The two fell silent but returned warm reassuring smiles to their friend. "I can't believe our time at the academy is almost done. I'm so glad we finally get to show what we can do with our pokémon." Aya grinned and tossed her pokeball, releasing her surprisingly cheerful Mimikyu. Though Marie was not too fond of the ghost fairy being’s spooky pranks and antics at first, she eventually came to care for it as well.
Marie then did the same and cradled her little newly hatched Togepi in her arms. Winter stared at the heal ball in her hands, inside was a Dratini she had somehow rescued a year back while she was on a field trip with her friends and classmates. She threw it into the air and out came a creature with a scar wrapped around its tail. Dratini coiled itself around her owner's arm.
"They are all so cute I could just squish em'. Ugh." Marie cooed at the trio of baby pokémon that were out and about.
Winter felt the tears forming in her eyes but quickly wiped them away. They were all thirteen now, and once the season would end, they'll all be finally allowed by their parents to leave for their very own adventure with their own trainer licences. But also by that time, both her friends Aya and Marie will have moved in at their new places as well.
In most cases, a bunch of kids would have left by the age of ten to eleven in the Kanto or Johto region, but some get sent to a trainer's school or academy for another year or so until the age for extra precautions.
"We should head back home. Video call later?" Winter petted her pokémon one more time before returning it to its heal ball.
"Yep. Probably should." Aya sighed then placed Mimikyu atop her shoulder. The tiny pokémon nuzzled into her cheek.
"Togepi kind of needs his rest soon, yeah." Marie put back the sleepy baby pokémon in its cozy nest ball. The girls had linked their arms like they used to when they were much younger and began to make their way back to the residential area in Mauville City.
Three kids walked peacefully along the aged marble slated sidewalks in a comfortable silence as the sun was setting. All of them were hoping for the best since they’ll soon part ways for a while to begin preparations for their long journey as a team, after their final summer as non-trainers would come to an end. It was a dream they had all been chasing, ever since the age of six, when they first became friends. The summer was fleeting, yes, but they managed to fill in the gaps with beach days, afternoon picnics, and wishes for a bright future.