Chapter Text
Kieran's notebooks had been nothing but his little sketches of Juliana whenever he was distracted in class. It's been a while since the entire Pecharunt incident back in Kitakami.
He thinks back to the first day he met her... Juliana, to him, was this girl who didn't fear anything. He's seen her battle multiple times with his own eyes. He remembered the first time she brought out her own Pokémon, a Sprigatito she mentioned to have gotten from the principal of her own school.
"It's been that long, huh... Today is mail day, isn't it?" Kieran whispers to himself as he held his pencil while looking down at the notebook with a sketch of Juliana on his desk. It was her smiling... Her cute little braid flowing in the breeze as she held the hat on her head with one hand while she was giving commands to Sprigatito on his first battle with her.
Class soon ended and Crispin runs a little bit to catch up to his friend.
"Hey! Something on your mind? I thought of a totally fire new recipe while listening to the Prof!" Despite saying that though, Crispin didn't really listen... It was more like he caught the mention of a Scovillain in a lesson, making his mind run wild with recipe ideas.
"Oh! Um... Not much. Just thinking of new battle strategies, you know... So... Did ya' see that new Agent Inteleon episode?" Kieran tried to change the topic to something else.
"Yup! It was pretty great, wasn't it? He figured out how to save the day even after becoming a little Sobble!" Crispin laughed along with his friend until Lacey came up to them.
"There you two are! Come on, Juliana sent us a parcel!" Lacey seemed to be keeping her excitement hidden but the two could tell that she missed Juliana too.
The three soon reached the League Club room, wanting to open the parcel together only to be greeted by the remaining Elite Four and Carmine in the room.
“Yo, ex-champ!” Drayton gave a little wave from his usual seat in the clubroom. “Crispin!” He smiled at the mentioned member of the Elite Four who gave a thumbs up back. Amarys acknowledged the three and nodded at them as greeting while Carmine gave her own wave with two hands that she usually did, sitting next to Amarys.
Kieran’s face soured a little, letting out a huff at that nickname by Drayton. When will he stop that?! Ugh…
Drayton seemed to laugh at Kieran’s expression until Lacey bonked him gently on the head with a roll of paper and gave him her usual cross armed gesture. “Drayton, teasing Kieran like that is just not right!”
There seemed to be others Kieran didn't recognize that were in the clubroom. It seems like everyone is interested in what their League Club president had to say… Juliana had that type of charisma after all. She would always charm everyone without even trying… but especially Kieran.
The time came when they opened the parcel she sent all the way from Paldea. Looks like Juliana sent almost everyone gifts on her travels…
Kieran received his own share of the gifts she sent. He didn't notice that he had the most out of everyone though.
Lacey read out the letter Juliana just sent.
Dear everyone,
I hope you're all doing well right now! I'm having fun right now with the continuation of my Treasure Hunt! I'm having all sorts of battles! I hope to battle everyone again soon, especially Kieran!
Speaking of him… I'm counting on everyone there to take care of him! He has to be resting and eating properly! I'm counting on you all, you know? And for Kieran… that sketch you made for me was really pretty… I have it all framed and stuff! I even got it customized to fit the paper size.
Anyway… I better tell you guys what else I'm up to, huh… Well, I got invited to different parties and photoshoots for magazines and stuff due to my Champion rank title in Paldea. They were pretty cool! They should be on the net soon… Look forward to them, okay?
Please take care of yourselves always… I'm gonna be visiting next week with Penny, Nemona and Arven. How about we plan a party since it's break next week? It'll be super fun!
Hope to see you all soon!
With love, Juliana
Everyone seemed to be happy with that letter, talking excitedly about the party for next week due to it being a school break. Carmine was talking to Amarys about a new Rotom phone case Juliana sent over for her, customized into Morpeko. Amarys looked to be smiling and listening to her girlfriend’s excited speech and held her own gift from Juliana which were new paintbrushes.
Drayton was looking at new shades Juliana sent to him she apparently bought from Levincia City as he nodded in approval. Crispin got sent new spicy Paldean snacks to try out and Lacey got a new backpack.
Kieran smiles at everyone and opens his own gift from Juliana. It was a small box containing different things. He looked in amazement at a letter on top of the stacked objects inside, putting it to the side for now to read later.
One of the things she got him was an Applin hair tie after he explained why he put his hair up to match with the Applin hairclip he gave her before she left Blueberry Academy. He blushed at this and Drayton grinned, seemingly catching on.
Drayton sent a text to Kieran’s new Rotom phone. He got it after passing all his exams last time from his grandparents as a gift.
Drayton [nickname: Stupidfacedie]: Someone’s in loooooooove.
Me: stfu
Kieran sent one of his death glares to the man himself from across the room while everyone else was chatting up each other.
Drayton [nickname: Stupidfacedie]: ): Aw come on ex-champ, I can tell that your beloved Julibear likes you right back.
Me: first of all, dont call her that
Drayton [nickname: Stupidfacedie]: Why not?
Me: ugh……
Drayton [nickname: Stupidfacedie]: okay back to topic
Drayton [nickname: Stupidfacedie]: you need to rizz her up at the party next week
Me: what even is Rizzoli
Me: Rip
Me: Rizz
Me: …shut up
Drayton [nickname: Stupidfacedie]: wasn't even gonna say anything about it
Drayton [nickname: Stupidfacedie]: Lacey was talking earlier about how the Coastal Biome is the best place to hold that party
Drayton [nickname: Stupidfacedie]: soooo maybe… you can get julibear alone with you for some time during that
Drayton [nickname: Stupidfacedie]: you can't go wrong with a confession on the beach
Me: why is that actually a good idea
Me: who are you and what did you do to drayton
Drayton [nickname: Stupidfacedie]: wtf
Drayton [nickname: Stupidfacedie]: Anyway… you did drawings of her right
Me: yeah?
Drayton [nickname: Stupidfacedie]: Well, maybe it's time to show her the rest of it
Drayton [nickname: Stupidfacedie]: You're pretty good btw. That notebook of yours is filled with drawings of Juli, yeah?
Me: HOW DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THE NOTEBOOK.
Me: WHAT THE FUCL
Drayton [nickname: Stupidfacedie]: Language!
Kieran looked across the clubroom again to see Drayton snickering at that.
Me: STFU I SEE YOU SNICKERING
Drayton [nickname: Stupidfacedie]: you see nothing
Drayton [nickname: Stupidfacedie]: i am but an illusion
Drayton [nickname: Stupidfacedie]: you don't perceive me
Me: I'M ABOUT TO BLOCK YOU
Drayton [nickname: Stupidfacedie]: NOOOO DON'T BLOCK ME
Drayton [nickname: Stupidfacedie]: anyway, my idea was that… Why don't you show her those drawings? she clearly loves and appreciates you for them
Drayton [nickname: Stupidfacedie]: she'd love the pretty view of a beach + your sketches of her
Me: …you're safe from the block list
Drayton [nickname: Stupidfacedie]: yay! :D
Me: …for now
Drayton [nickname: Stupidfacedie]: that works
Kieran looks across the room again to see Drayton grinning at him. He sighs and takes his bag to his dorm room once the “meeting” had ended.
Well, it's time for Operation: Confession… No edgy phases this time.
On that night, Kieran seemed to have a peaceful sleep. No tears shed this time and only good dreams of him and Juliana together.