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Warm sunlight filtered through the sepia-toned skylight of Gingko as you made your way inside. It was a Saturday, so you had waited until later in the morning to drop by. There were a few other customers in the cafe, but none paid you any heed as you approached the counter, looking for a familiar head of blond hair.
As you approached the counter, you took out your phone, reading over the messages you’d exchanged the night before.
volo…i don’t really know how to say this, but what are we?
what do you mean?
like…i like you. a lot. and i think you like me unless i’m sorely mistaken about smthn
i only kiss people i dislike, actually <3
You laughed at his message as you continued to read.
lol anyway. i just…is this more of a casual thing or are we more than that?
He had taken a while to respond; you recalled the typing indicator popping up, then disappearing several times. Eventually, his response came:
i think this is something we should talk about in person
meet me at gingko tomorrow am?
And now, here you were.
Your heart beat wildly as you glanced over the counter, looking for Volo. You thought he would respond favorably, but you didn’t know for sure. And it was that unknown that terrified you, seeming to nullify every prior interaction you’d had with him. The idea of a long-term relationship with Volo excited you, and you hoped he felt the same.
But what would you do if he didn’t?
You didn’t have time to contemplate that as you nearly tripped over the Togekiss sitting in front of the counter.
A peep from the avian Pokemon startled you before you could accidentally kick her; you blinked in surprise, leaning down to greet her. “Hello there,” you greeted, reaching out to pat her head. “You wouldn’t happen to know where I could find a tall, blond baker, would you?”
Togekiss chirped, and it was then you noticed the envelope in her mouth.
With your name on it.
You took the envelope, frowning at it, before opening it gently. Familiar, elegant handwriting met your eyes as you slid a sheet of paper out of the envelope.
Hello, darling. If you want to find me, follow the clues I’ve set out for you. I thought about doing this a more straightforward way, but what’s life without a little mystery?
You rolled your eyes, a smile forming on your face. He would pull something like this, wouldn’t he?
Your first clue is a simple one: continue on your path from here as you would on any other day, and you’ll find your next steps among the stars.
See you soon. -V
You thought about it for a brief moment before the answer clicked in your head: the Galaxy building. You folded up the note carefully and placed it in your pocket before giving Togekiss a pat on the head. “Thanks, bud. You’re a good egg.”
Togekiss chirped, smiling brightly up at you. You waved, then turned to exit the bakery; the sound of small feet tapping against the floor brought your attention back to the Pokemon. She was hopping along behind you, acknowledging you with a peep as you looked at her.
“Are you gonna follow me?” you asked, smiling at Togekiss. She chirped affirmatively at you, hopping once. You laughed softly, then continued to lead the way out of the bakery.
The walk to the Galaxy building was uneventful; after exiting the bakery, Togekiss had taken to the air, gliding over you and occasionally chirping at things she saw on the sidewalk. It was a clear day, and both of you were enjoying the weather.
You heard the Galaxy building before you saw it; specifically, you heard your supervisor, Laventon, nervously stammering to someone else. “Please get off the steps! I need to get inside!” You turned a corner to see your supervisor facing off against a Spiritomb; the Ghost-type gave you a fright at first, but Togekiss immediately flew over to it and chirped happily.
“You must be another one of Volo’s Pokemon,” you mused, walking over to the Spiritomb. It nodded–at least, you thought it did–and its grin widened. Another letter sat underneath the keystone, and Spiritomb scooted away so you could pick it up.
Laventon exhaled behind you. “This Spiritomb belongs to that Volo fellow?” he asked, regaining his composure. “Why is it here, of all places?”
You sighed. “Volo’s sending me on a scavenger hunt. I’ll be sure to let him know for future endeavors that on the steps of my workplace isn’t a great place for his Spiritomb to hang out.”
Laventon chuckled. “He’s an eccentric fellow, that one. Give him my regards when you see him?”
“Will do,” you replied. Spiritomb shuffled its way off of the steps, and Laventon carefully stepped around it and inside the building.
You opened the envelope, smiling at the familiar handwriting.
I’m not surprised you found your way here. You’re intelligent, after all; one of many things I adore about you.
Your next clue lies where that intelligence is fostered.
-V
You read the clue over once more, turning your options over in your mind, then turned in the direction of the Trainer’s School. You took a few steps that way, then turned back; Togekiss was having no trouble keeping up with you, but Spiritomb was lagging behind. You walked up to the Ghost-type with a smile. “Would it be okay if I carried you?”
Spiritomb made an affirmative noise, then shrunk into its keystone. You picked up the stone; it was cool to the touch. With that settled, you turned back around and set off for the Trainer’s School.
The rest of your little adventure proceeded much the same way; you headed to a particular location, met a Pokemon with a note, and then repeated the process. By now, you had six Pokemon trailing behind you as you walked; Togekiss and Spiritomb had been joined by an Arcanine, a Roserade, a Lucario, and a Garchomp. You felt like you were a parade leader as you made your way down the streets.
Garchomp had given you a note instructing you to “return to where it all began.” There was only one place that fit that description, at least in the context of you and Volo. As you approached Ginkgo, you felt your heart rate rise, unsure of what you would find as you walked through the door.
You held the door for all six Pokemon, who immediately made their way to a small alcove in the corner of the cafe space. There, reading a book, was Volo; he wasn’t dressed in his uniform, instead donning a soft-looking emerald green cardigan over a black v-neck. His eyes lit up when he saw you, closing his book and smiling at you. “Hello there, darling.”
You couldn’t get a response out before Togekiss practically dive-bombed Volo; you laughed as the rest of his Pokemon followed suit, each trying to nuzzle Volo affectionately. “You’ve got quite the entourage,” you quipped, taking a seat across from Volo. “They’re adorable.”
Volo laughed. “In their own special way, yes.” He gave each Pokemon a pat before turning back to face you. “So. I suppose you’re wondering why I had you run all over creation.”
“You’re correct in supposing that,” you replied, shifting in your chair. “I’m assuming it has to do with the conversation we had last night?”
“Yes.” Volo gazed at his Togekiss, who was chirping quietly next to him. “I was thinking for a while about how best to express my feelings to you, and I figured that this is the closest we could get to introducing you to my parents.”
You blinked in surprise; whatever you were expecting him to say, it wasn’t that. “What do you mean?”
Volo closed his eyes, his face contemplative. “My home life is…complicated, to put it lightly,” he explained, reaching over and smoothing Togekiss’s feathers with his hand. “My Pokemon are practically my family, so if we want to make this official, you’d have to meet their approval first.”
Your face flushed; so he did want the same thing you did. “A-and have I met their standards?”
Volo opened his eyes, smiling at you from across the table. “They wouldn’t have followed you across Jubilife if you didn’t.”
He leaned towards you, the late afternoon sunlight pouring through the window making his visible eye glitter. “So,” he said softly. “Now you know where my Pokemon and I stand on your question. What about you? Do you want to make things official between us?”
The heat on your cheeks spread to encompass your full face. Volo’s smile had only grown, and you felt like you could melt under his gaze. “The way you’re looking at me, I think you already know the answer.”
“I want to hear you say it.”
Was it possible for you to blush more?
Somehow, you calmed your rapidly beating heart and smiled at him. “Yes, I would like to make this official,” you answered. “In fact, nothing would make me happier.”
You briefly saw Volo’s smile grow before you felt his smile against your lips; he cupped your cheek with his hand, pulling you closer as he kissed you. Your eyelids fluttered closed as you kissed him back, leaning forward and gently placing your hand on the arm holding your face. The kiss lasted for a brief moment before Volo pulled back ever so slightly.
“Then I’m all yours.”