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Night fell and enveloped every inch of the Unova Region. Despite being an urban capital in almost every area, some of the places were quiet at night, but Castelia City was an exemption.
N wandered around the city, trying to distract himself. The bright lights and the people bussing in every corner should be enough to keep him occupied, especially the Pokemon's voices with those humans, but it didn't seem to be working.
He took a deep breath and stopped in his tracks. He looked around, hoping to find a local Pokemon he could talk to but instead, he caught an eye of the city's Pokemon Centre.
He frowned, staring idly at the building. He had mixed feelings when it came to that. On one hand, the Pokemon Centre helped an injured Pokemon. But, in another, it would just encourage more trainers to let their Pokemon fight for their own selfish needs.
He breathed, breaking his gaze from the structure. He thought going outside to get some fresh air would ease his mind, but it didn't seem to be working. He had been...worried—sidetracked, in fact.
Ever since Sree told him to 'stay away', he grew anxious and perplexed. Why was he even feeling them in the first place? The Sages reassured he didn't do anything wrong, yet he still felt unpleasant.
He shook his head, turning around to get rid of the horrid sight. However, he halted, sensing a familiar presence. He opted to stay put and waited. To his surprise, it was Sree's Greninja. He smiled.
"What brings you here, friend?" he asked. He was relieved to see the Pokemon. His elated aura was captivating and it gave him hope about the friendship between people and Pokemon.
Birthdays were supposed to be fun—a worry-free day to anyone who was having or celebrating it, yet, Sree was feeling the exact opposite.
Even though her friends from Kalos greeted her, she still felt a bit empty. And as she tried to shut her eyes to get some sleep, her mind couldn't help but wonder at her previous encounter with N.
Just the thought of it was enough to infuriate her, yet sad at the same time. She moved around the bed but shifting positions didn't seem to be working. She grumbled, hopping off the bed.
Maybe walking around the city could help. After all, she hasn't explored Castelia City that much, and she heard about this street food area from the locals. Sources stated they were only open at night, and this could be a good diversion.
She grabbed her three Poke Balls but stopped noticing one wasn't in it. Her eyes widened, as she stormed outside to find her Greninja. She could stay and report it to the nearby police station, but panic was clouding her mind.
Castelia City didn't have much aside from the streets and alleyways. Maybe she could find Greninja somewhere in the docks. Though, she couldn't understand why he ran off on his own; he could've alarmed her. She was growing more worried every second.
She scoured every dock the city had but so far, she couldn't find the Water-Dark type. She stopped in her tracks upon reaching the Liberty Pier. Placing both hands on her knees, she gasped for breath.
Where could Greninja have gone to?
She shook her head, standing upright. Her eyes widened, however, noticing her Greninja and N of all people right beside him.
Though her mind was at ease knowing Greninja was safe, she couldn't fathom at the sight of N. Even if she did miss him, she still didn't want to see him. She gulped, as she tried controlling her breathing. She clenched her fists and tried to glare at the man standing beside her Pokemon.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, yet her tone didn't sound as firm or resentful as she thought it would be.
N was quiet. He lowered his head, as one hand held the brim of his cap.
"Why didn't you come to see me?" Sree continued. She didn't want to see him, especially on her birthday. She was supposed to be happy, yet she felt miserable.
N took a deep breath, lifting his head to make eye contact. "You said I should stay away," he replied. "And I did to respect your wishes."
Sree looked down and bit her lip. She didn't know what to say. At least he respected her wishes. Despite being obsessed with his 'formulas', he was still a polite person underneath.
N cleared his throat, gently approaching the girl. "I heard it was your b'day."
She looked up, staring at him. Who told him that?
"Greninja informed me," he responded with an innocent smile. "He also suggested I should buy you a gift."
Sree's cheeks heated up. "Greninja!" she exclaimed, her words spluttering all over the place. Why did he have to go through all that trouble?
Nevertheless, she cleared her throat and gave the frog ninja a disapproving look. She could talk to him later. "I'm sorry. He shouldn't have done that."
N chuckled. "But he did. He was worried about you and he loves you."
She was silent; she knew he wasn't lying.
"Sree, the love your Pokemon have for you is immeasurable. Even I should admit you are a great trainer," N continued and she already had enough.
"Stop it!" she hissed, glaring at him. N blinked and was surprised to see her reaction. "It seems like you only approach me and think highly of me for one reason! And that's because...I—I pose a mystery to your equation!" she bit her lip and shut her eyes. "Or something. And I hate it! Don't you get it?!"
"I am uncertain," N said. It was his turn to look down, but he lifted his head to gaze at her. "Why would you think otherwise? Sree, you are a remarkable trainer. You love your Pokemon and—"
"I'm so much more than that!" she yelled, still looking away from him. "I'm a trainer who loves her Pokemon, yes, but I'm not just that! It's just one part of me!" she sniffled, looking. "And here I thought..." she stopped. She didn't want to continue. She might say something she might regret.
N frowned, tilting his head. "Thought of what?"
She released a breath. "I thought...I thought you actually enjoyed my company," her voice was almost inaudible and uncertain. She really thought they were having a genuine connection but was it all a lie? "...that you loved talking to me. But it seems you only like one aspect of me. I'm not just a trainer who loves her Pokemon. I'm more than that. That shouldn't be the sole basis of your interest in me."
She sniffled and wiped some small tears off her eyes. "N, if you open your heart, you can find so many people who are just like that. I'm not special."
"You are special," he answered without any hesitation.
"No! I'm not!"
He shook his head. He moved closer but made sure there was enough space between them. He cracked a smile, and she thought it was pure and genuine. She was hoping she wasn't falling for it, but she couldn't help herself.
"Sree, you are wonderful. I truly and genuinely enjoy your company, and I know you're not the only one who loves Pokemon. I have seen it with my own eyes and I'd be lying if it didn't make me question things," he paused for a bit. He leaned onto the handrails and she could only stare at him. "But I just feel drawn to you. I feel a connection."
She could only blush, but she tried controlling it. Luckily, it was nighttime but she was hoping he wouldn't notice it.
"Oh," N chuckled, as dug his right hand in his pocket. "I almost forgot," he took out a small box from his pocket. "Birthdays are special occasions, and it is customary to give a person a gift. However," he cackled once again. "I was confused as to what to give you."
She could only stare blankly at the box, before gazing at him.
"So I asked the grunts what an ideal gift would be," he blushed a bit and handed her the box. "I hope you like it."
She was reluctant, yet at the same time, she didn't want to waste his effort. She hesitantly grabbed the box and opened it. It revealed a ring adorned with a sapphire stone sparkling like the stars in the sky. Her mouth hung open and she could only utter softly, "It's beautiful."
He smiled genuinely. For some reason, his chest felt a tad lighter and his stomach twisted into knots. It was an odd sensation, but it was pleasant. "Really? I'm glad."
"N, I was so horrible to you," she sobbed once more. "Why would you do this?!"
"You were not horrible," he reassured with a hand on her shoulder. "You were hurt. Besides, Greninja told me you've been crying about what happened between us."
Sree shot another look at Greninja. The latter just shrugged.
N could only laugh. "I'm glad he did, though. It was good knowing you missed me just as much as I missed you."
She blinked and raised an eyebrow. "You...missed me?"
He nodded, not realizing the weight of his words. "Of course."
She smiled and placed the box in her pocket. "I missed you too, N. Are we..." she looked down to take a deep breath. She made sure to look directly into his eyes. They were cold yet warm at the same time. It was peculiar, but she had a strong feeling this was real. "Are we still friends?"
"I have..." his spark in his eyes faltered. "only been friends with Pokemon."
"Oh," she broke her gaze from him. Why was she even expecting something else? She knew his goal and she should know better.
"But," he continued, smiling slightly. "I feel a strong affection towards you. Is that friendship?"
She laughed. That was so...N. "I guess that's good enough for now."
N laughed with her. He was always comfortable with her. Maybe this strong affection wasn't so bad as Ghetsis pointed out to be.
They stayed there for a moment, just laughing and enjoying each other's company. When their laughter died down, Sree worked up the courage to continue their conversation.
"Hey, N," she called, as he hummed in response. "Would you like to spend the rest of the day with me?"
He chuckled. "It is nighttime."
Her cheeks flushed from embarrassment. She completely forgot about that.
Her reaction was quite endearing. His chest felt a bit light and it seemed he could soar through the sky if he wanted. "But since it is your birthday and I missed most of it," he smiled. "I'll spend the rest of the night with you."
She was beaming with joy and grabbed his hand. They went out of Liberty Pier and to Castelia City's night market. It was close to the park and just like what she heard from the locals, it was definitely filled with food vendors and they were almost in every inch of the area.
Kalos would always be her home and would always have a special place in her heart, but Unova definitely kept on surprising her. "Let's go there!" she called, grabbing his head and he let her take the lead.
N wasn't exactly familiar with this particular area, nor the laughter emanating through it. Yet, he opted to ignore it and follow Sree.
It was her birthday and she deserved to be happy on this special day; he could worry about this new environment later.
Sree checked every food stall and made sure there were enough seats for two people and three Pokemon. When they found one, they sat down. It was a dessert food stall and the chef was making different treats like waffles, pancakes, doughnuts, and even milkshakes.
N thought it was quite amusing seeing the chef juggle through many different ingredients and keep an eye on the food. He caught an eye on a Darmanitan, as the little guy cackled and helped the chef cook the food. The Pokemon saw him and smiled. He returned the same gesture with a nod.
Cooking wasn't a strange thing for humans, but seeing this Darmanitan happy whilst cooking was making him cheerful as well.
"What do you want to eat?" Sree asked and N blinked.
"I'm not sure."
She raised an eyebrow. He smiled. "I have never been to this area before. It's fascinating yet loud."
She smiled. "I haven't either, but the locals say this is the real city experience and I want to see it for myself with a friend," she giggled. "And here we are."
He smiled. Her laughter was always adorable. It could be contagious even if he wasn't cackling himself. "We can try the best sellers. My friend, Darmanitan, just told me."
She furrowed her eyebrows to look at the Darmanitan. They were helping the chef cook the meal with their flames. She knew N could speak and understand Pokemon, and she didn't think about his opinion before taking him here. She was a fool.
"Darmanitan says he enjoys cooking," N said. He saw her worried face and he was hoping this could make her feel better. "He said he wanted to tell a funny story from work, but he didn't want to interrupt our date."
Sree could only blush. They were certainly not a couple! "H-He meant a friendly date, right?"
N was confused. "Are there any other types of dates?"
Sree could only shake her head. "Never mind."
Greninja popped from behind and raised his arms. Darmanitan could only chortle and gave the Water-Dark type a thumbs up. The former was glad N didn't notice his little mischievous plan, but it seemed to have worked; his trainer was cheerful than before and that was all that mattered.
Their order came in several minutes later. N and Sree had some pancakes whilst Greninja and the rest of Sree's team, Zebstrika and Druddigon, had some waffles. N could only stare at the food and Sree was puzzled at his reaction.
"Are you okay?"
N could only giggle. "I am," he reassured. "But I never knew food can be this...colourful."
Sree slowly bobbed her head. "Do you eat plain food all the time?"
His giggle converted into laughter. "Maybe. Ghetsis and the Sages always make sure I eat healthily. They always have simple meals like steak, but since I'm vegetarian, I only eat fruits and vegetables."
Sree nodded. It made sense. She doesn't even want to know where food like sausages came from. Slowpoke tails being edible were already...unpleasant for her. "Well, at least you can enjoy food now. There are berries and even some syrup for you to have."
N smiled. "You're right. I'm happy to enjoy my first exciting meal with you, Sree."
Her cheeks heated up but she hid it and looked at her Pokemon. They were happily eating his waffles and berries. "Y-You're welcome."
They spent the rest of the night eating and talking. Sree thought this birthday could be the worst one she'd get, but it turned out to be an amazing birthday. She got to spend the rest of the night with her Pokemon and with N.
It felt great spending more time with him and learning more about him. N being a vegetarian was something she'd expected, but she still thought it suited him perfectly.
Once they finished and paid for their midnight snack, they explored the city. It was a quiet one but she appreciated it.
"Hey," she asked, as N hummed. "Do you want to go shopping with me?"
N smiled. "I would love to, but it's almost morning."
"Oh," she answered whilst frowning. She didn't even notice it; time certainly flew quickly when one was enjoying it.
"I'll take you back to the Pokemon Centre. You need to rest," he offered his hand but she shook her head. He raised an eyebrow.
"I thought you didn't like them."
He nodded. "I do," he answered truthfully. "But it is only polite that I should take you there. Though," he added with a smile. "I am aware you can take care of yourself."
Sree took a deep breath. She understood his intentions and she had a feeling he would just keep on insisting despite her polite rejections. She eventually nodded.
N smiled, as he waved goodbye at Sree. He made sure she went inside the Pokemon Centre, before turning around and walking away from it. He couldn't help but smile and recall his time with Sree. It was, indeed, a fascinating day and he hoped he could spend more time with her.
He couldn't help but chuckle, as his hand reached for his chest and gripped his shirt. It was quite peculiar his chest felt lighter every time he thought about her and maybe this was because he felt a strong connection with her.
"So," a voice called and N stopped in his tracks. His elated sensation dissipated in a blink of an eye. "This is where you've been."
N remained silent and lowered his head. He dropped his arm and clenched both fists. He could already tell from his tone that the man who took him in and raised him, Ghetsis, didn't seem happy. He didn't even know what to say.
"You're getting too close to the enemy," Ghetsis began scolding the boy. N could only endure his words.
"The Shadow Triad told me everything," the older man sighed and shook his head disapprovingly. "Sree is corrupting you. Have you forgotten what your mission is, N?!"
N took a deep breath. "Father, it had nothing to do with my mission. I—"
"It absolutely has!" Ghetsis interrupted. "From now on, I'll assign a grunt to keep you in check," he sighed, rubbing his head, and turned around. "You know how important you are to Team Plasma—to the Sages, to Anthea, Concordia, the Shadow Triad," he paused for a moment. "To me."
N swallowed a lump in his throat. "I know, and I am grateful to have you and Team Plasma by my side."
Ghetsis smiled. Though one could see the malice behind it, N couldn't. His pure heart and innocence couldn't fathom Ghetsis' twisted intentions. "You should go and rest for now. Let's go home, N."
N bit his lip and later followed his father. Yet, his mind wandered off to Sree. He didn't know how he should tell her this, but maybe it was for the best. He just hoped she would understand.