Chapter Text
Summer had arrived at Paldea, the Sun’s hot rays smothering the entire land prompting Pokémon and human alike to seek refuge under the cool shade or indoors, the champion ranked students of Naranja and Uva academy being no exception. Sitting together in the air-conditioned cafeteria were Arven, Penny, Juliana, Florian, and Nemon-
–Wait, have anyone seen Nemona? Lunch is almost over and she has yet to show up– Arven asked noting the absence of the energetic tomboy, –We were battling earlier today in combat class, not sure where she went off to afterwards– Florian mentioned thinking back to that morning.
–Why are you worrying? Is not the first time she has skipped lunch– Penny commented offhandedly as she scrolled on her phone while petting her Glaceon which was happily sitting on her lap, –If anything doesn’t that just mean we should be worrying more about it?– Juliana pondered before taking a bite out of her food.
–Exactly! Recently she has done that a lot. But even when she does skip lunch, she comes to the table to talk with us and eat some fruit or some other snack. This is the first time she doesn’t even show up– Arven exclaimed with some worry for his friend earning an eyeroll from the red/blue head next to him –Come on, stop acting like some sort of nutrition police. If Nemona doesn’t feel like eating we should let her and not worry about it– Penny said dismissively while looking away sheepishly.
–We worry about it because unlike you Nemona is not desperately trying to lose weight from gorging on Arven’s tasty homemade food all Christmas season– Juliana teased playfully making Penny’s face match the crimson half of her hair –I-I have no idea what you’re talking about!– The shy girl stammered as she frantically checked that her oversized hoodie wasn’t clinging to her body showing off her figure.
–Oh, so that’s why you refused to be my taste tester recently– The dirty blond mentioned with a chuckle, Penny’s only response being to look away embarrassed and release a series of angry grumbles and half muttered swears which prompted her partner to lovingly pat her head to calm her down –Don’t fuss about that, I don’t care about it and I’m sure you’ll drop the extra weight in no time while training with your Veevees– Arven reassured making Penny smile despite her best attempts to suppress it –I won’t if you keep being this obscenely sweet, I might as well be eating a full tub of ice cream right now– the short girl sassed trying to hide her flustered state.
–Also, starving yourself won’t do any good, just eat normally and quit it with the soda and snacks for a while and you’ll be fine– Juliana advised while gently chucking the orange on her tray over to Penny so she would have something to eat –Whatever you say mum– groaned the nerd as she began to peel the gifted fruit.
–Hey, going back on topic, I think I have an idea to why Nemona isn’t here– Florian said grabbing the attention of the table –Go ahead then, we are all ears– Juliana assured her twin Arven and Penny giving a nod of agreement with Juliana –I mentioned earlier about us battling in combat class, but I forgot to add that we actually finished early. At the time I didn’t give it much thought I was just happy I didn’t have to bribe Nemona to stop so we could be in time for lunch, but now I believe something that happened is why she isn’t here– the young champion explained piquing the curiosity of his friends.
–I’m more surprised you didn’t think something was wrong in the moment, Nemona deciding to wrap up combat class early is pretty much unheard of– Penny commented more to herself than to the others trying and failing to remember a single time the class rep didn’t go into overtime during combat class –I know, I know, I missed breakfast today after oversleeping so I was just too hungry to pick up on it at the time– Florian sheepishly admitted.
–That explains why you were running like a jolteon to be first in line for lunch. Next time just message me and I’ll prepare you a sandwich in between classes– Arven said with a small laugh –I’ll keep that in mind– Florian thanked –Anyways, I think the heat might be affecting Nemona. She seemed a bit out of it even before we began to battle and after I summoned strong sunlight to boost my paradox Pokémon she slowly but surely became more sluggish and disperse to the point she wasn’t giving out orders to her Pokémon only switching them out for a random teammate when they gave her a signal– Florian continued retelling what happened earlier that day the worry for their friend rising after every word.
–That doesn’t sound good, maybe she was dehydrated?– Juliana pondered thinking of a possible explanation for what happened –Maybe, but we should still check on her, and knowing Nemona calling or texting her is probably a waste of time. Juliana could you go check with Miss Miriam to see if Nemona is there?– The dirty blond asked earning a nod of confirmation from the girl –Sure, but what about you?– the twin asked in return as she saw her friend stand up from the table –Me and Mabosstiff will see if we can find her– Arven explained as he picked a Pokéball from his belt and called forth his fellow companion –I’ll join you, Umbreon is a good tracker I’m sure together we’ll find Nemona before next class– Penny said as she released her dark veevee –Houndstone and I will join the tracking party, the more people the faster– Florian added as he allowed his ghostly pupper out into the world. –Alright sounds like a plan, just make sure to tell the rest if you find her– Juliana agreed as she quickly finished the food on her plate before also leaving the table, all four of them going out in separate directions to search for their friend.