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"Eefo, Eefo, Eefo."
The boy looked up as his name was called, unsurprised to see his neighbor, the boy he basically grew up beside, running to him. His brown hair was a mess, the same Starly nested on his head.
Etho rolled his eyes as Joel stopped in front of him, Starly rearranging on his head, "Hi, Joel."
Joel tilted his head, Starly tilting too, even sliding down a little. "What's that?"
Etho looked at him, then down at the pokemon he was on a walk with—or, well, currently taking a break on the grass with. He smiled, placing a hand on its little head, reassuring it of the 'stranger'.
"Happiny. It hatched this morning."
Joel crouched down, pouting as he crossed his arms with a little huff. "Why didn't you call me over? I wanted to see."
"You wouldn't have woken up anyways."
"I would have if I had known!"
Happiny let out a little cry at the raised voice, hurriedly running behind Etho, holding onto his shirt as it trembled. Etho gave Joel an unimpressed look, and the other boy replied with a sheepish look. Joel sat down and Starly flapped down, landing in between them, carefully tucking its wings close as it trilled.
"Hi, Starly," Etho greeted as the little bird walked over, stretching its neck to meet his hand. He noticed its feathers were a little messy, but looking over at a disheveled Joel soothed his worries. "Training?"
"Hm?" Joel startled, almost surprised to be acknowledged again, which did make Etho laugh at his expense. That made Joel fluster, a little annoyed now.
"I asked if you went training."
He shook his head, "Just played a bit in the forest."
"I don't think your parents would be happy to hear."
"And you won't tell them, of course," Joel said, with such vindication Etho almost went to agree. Except Etho did not, and Joel continued. "Not like we fought any pokemon. We saw some, though."
At that, Joel hurriedly got up to sit beside him, now shoulder to shoulder as he pulled his camera out of his pocket. He clicked it on then began showing the photos he had taken. They were from different angles—some from bushes, at the base of trees, looking up, looking down, distantly in the river, all the spots they knew like the back of their hands.
"Is that a Kakuna?" Etho asked, pushing into Joel's side at one particular photo. Joel pressed the back button, zooming in a little.
"Yeah. It was empty."
"How do you know it was empty?"
Joel looked sheepish again as Starly chirped, something proud that gave Joel away. Etho looked at him unamused again, watching Joel look down, a light pink growing on his cheeks. He rolled his eyes, then they hunkered down to look at more photos until they reached ones they had taken together.
In the meantime, Happiny had relaxed a little, now that the only loud thing was their laughter and occasional bickering, enough that it got the courage to walk around, climbing onto Etho's lap. Starly did the same once Joel put the camera down, nesting in his crossed legs as it began to groom itself.
"One more year," Joel blurted suddenly.
It took a couple seconds, then Etho grinned when it clicked. He looked up, blue skies and white clouds, the sun bright as ever.
"One more year," he repeated.
Joel was practically buzzing with excitement beside him. And Etho could not lie, he was just as excited. In a year's time, they would both wake up and rush to the Professor's lab, pushing each other and giggling all the way there. They would pick their starters, get their very own Pokedex, and soon enough, their adventure would begin. All across the region, visiting countless places and encountering new people and new pokemon.
They could not wait.
Though they had to.
"I'm going to be stronger than you," Joel claimed, an air of certainty and confidence in his voice. Starly chirped after him, determination in its little body too.
"You wish," Etho huffed.
He watched him watching the clouds for a moment, then dropped his gaze to Happiny. The newborn looked up at him, then smiled. Bright and warm, and that only reignited the fire in him. Blazing—
Starly flapped its wings as Joel got up, settling in his head once again. Etho got up too, cradling Happiny in his arms.
"That's settled, then," Joel stated, giving him a fiery look with a familiar smile.
"What is?" Etho question, raising a brow in confusion.
Joel smiled wider. "We will be rivals."
Etho's eyes went wide for a second, then he returned that same look. Rivalry. Competition in their eyes.
They had their goal, now they just needed to wait a while longer.