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In hindsight maybe Kukui should've picked up on the signs.
Sure... they weren't served to him on a silver platter but they were there.
The way Lillie always made the blatant effort to walk at the back of the group, (Not unlike Ash which he'd... hoped to unpack later...), the way she never spoke unless someone addressed her, and obviously her crippling fear of pokemon.
It wasn't exactly the fear that concerned him, he knew plenty a dozen who couldn't even be near pokemon, it was the cause of the fear. He'd been told that Lillie, at one point, could touch pokemon.
In fact!
She thrived around them.
Her mother, always one for the theatrics, had fawned and coddled over her daughter as she blearly went to explain the tragic turn that she had taken. He was supposed to just believe that one morning...
Lillie just couldn't touch pokemon.
Normally... he would let it go. Brush it off as a subject that she maybe was too affected by to talk about. But... it was the way Lusamine had gone about it. She didn't even seem concerned in the slightest. Actually- he'd be lying if he thought that. Lusamine had seemed too concerned. One may think, 'You can never be too concerned for your child!', and he was inclined to agree with that. It's just Lusamine didn't seem concerned for Lillie at all...
She seemed concerned about something else.
Everytime the young girl had gone to speak up, maybe supply something to the conversation, maybe even give an explanation, her mother had shut her down. Why had she been so anxious? Why was she so terribly concerned about what Lillie might say? It had rang all of the wrong bells. He could still remember those downtrodden eyes that had been oh so sad.
Or was she scared..?
Kukui couldn't tell anymore.
As quickly as they'd arrived, they had gone on their way.
Kukui would never admit how the grip on Lillie's arm, seeming just a tad to tight, had made him want to jump over that desk and-
He'd shot the thought down when it happened. Though now he was definitely wishing he'd let his impulsive thoughts win.
.
The day had been going as normal as it could've been, especially when you lived with, a certain airhead. He'd made sure they had arrived early. Samson had quite the day planned and Kukui didn't think Ash being late would work out well for them. So he'd dragged, the very reluctant, Ash out of bed. The boy had complied... at some point. Kukui assumed the promise of Chocolate covered pancakes with whipped cream had been the push that had him dragging himself to the bathroom. In the process Ash had mentioned something a long the lines of ketchup and Pikachu obviously didn't need to think twice about getting up.
Ash now, was sitting at his desk, arms lazily flailing around as he tried to tell Pikachu a conversation he'd had with a clemont, a name he sadly didn't recognize. Though he could sort of infer that the guy was from kalos, if the mention of Lumious city wasn't an obvious giveaway.
The rest of the kids were chatting about at Mallows desk. He could vaguely make out the box she was holding delicately, 'Aina's kitchen', engraved neatly on the top. "Ah" He mused, "Her family restaurant... judging from that smell she's got an awfully good batch of Malasada's in there". He pitied her a bit, especially with the way her classmates were eyeing them.
He let out a fond sigh as he let his gaze drift towards his boarder once more.
He didn't like what he saw
Ash's gaze was focused solely towards the door. He would've looked faster, he was the curious type after all, but he really had to stare at him for a bit longer. His usually cheerful expression was gone, no trace of it ever having been there. He had a delicate frown in it's place. He hates to admit that, in all the time he's had Ash as his living companion, he'd never seen this type of look on his face. Of course he's seen the kid sad, worried, all of the things you would see in a 14 year old boy. But... he almost seemed a little...
Angry.
He shook himself out of his stupor, twisting his chair with him as he went to look to where Ash was focusing his attention. There, awkwardly thumbing at her cheek, was Lillie. She was in her usual attire, with the exception of a coat. (This still threw him for a loop, the weather was scorching hot that day-) She was standing Awkwardly, or maybe.. nervously (Terrified) was a better term. Her other hand was clutching onto her bag like a life line. She brought her hand down, revealing the red mark (shaped like a hand) on her cheek.
He didn't know what to say... what to think. He vaguely registered the way the class huddled around her. They pestered her a bit, most likely out of worry. He couldn't help but feel sorry for her. She seemed so... desperate, so much so, that he was about to step in. But he was a little too slow.
Correction!
He couldn't help but be slow.
As wrong as it was, he was just as curious as his students. Ash placed an arm around her shoulder, (When had he stood up?), plastering on one of his signature smiles.
"No worries Lils! I can be a major clutz as well heh!" Moving his arm from her shoulder, he gave her a light pat on the back. Although it seemed so genuine, (he won't ever admit how much that worries him), Ash's smile seemed to falter for a second. If Kukui had to guess, it's the grateful expression that Lillie shot his way. If he was in his place, Kukui doesn't think he'd be capable of smiling.
The kids scattered off to their seats. Lily stood there for a few moments longer, probably relishing in her relief. (he could understand- explaining things you don't want to talk about can be hard- screw adulting-) She settled herself down a moment later, seemingly a bit more content then before. (He REALLY has to stop zoning out- some role model he was-)
With a sigh he lifted himself from his chair. Sparing Lillie just one more glance, he plastered on a small smile.
"Alola Class! Today we're-"
He'd decided later on that the things Samson laid out for them were.. inherently dumb. Soooo like the responsible adult he was...
He completely abandoned the schedule!
Insteaaaad! He let the kids run about in the courtyard! He'd soon realized he wasn't the only one who had decided on let their kids roam. Almost every other class was out there. (An ounce of pride built up inside of him in acknowledgement of his self restraint).
He'd been impressively tuned in on Lana and Kiawes argument. Just the average stuff, like how Water is better than fire and vice versa. In all his honesty he never understood the conflict. It's better if water and fire just worked in harmony. Probably the professor in him talking. Poplio and Turtanator got into rather interesting fighting stances. We're they going to wrestle? How adorable. Mallow planted herself between Kiawe and lana, Bounsweet mimicking her actions.
Like trainer like pokemon he'd always say.
"Lillie Aether!"
To put it in perspective. The shout wasn't that loud. In fact he was sure only their half of the courtyard could really make out exactly what was said. Though it was definitely enough to shatter his already fragile chance at a peaceful day.
He took in a sharp breath before turning to face the commotion.
Honestly he wasn't really expecting what he saw.
He knew it was Lusamine. That much was blatantly obvious. Even if he hadn't recognized her voice, the immediately child like rant she'd started to drawl out about a specific blonde emo, would have definitely clued him in. But no. It was how she looked that had him taking a step back.
Lusamine Aether had always prided herself in looking her best no matter what. Flawless hair, clear skin, yknow... the works. So to see her, eyes blown wide and lost, hair disheveled, dress wrinkled to all hell, it was well...
Unsettling...
As Lusamine continued her rant he looked toward Lillie, And-
Arceus have mercy, he was going to punch someone-something.
Lillie, bless her soul was,
Terrified..
Her eyes were wide and slowly accumulating a number of tears. Not unlike before, she was clutching her bag tightly in her hand. (he'd come to wonder if it was a nervous tick of hers?) The thing that really got on his nerves was that Lillie didn't seem the slightest bit suprised. She only seemed scared. He could come up with a number of reasons why.
They all raised red flags.
As Lillie had gotten up to defend herself (AN: Go off queen!!!), he'd began to ponder whether Lillie had always frozen up around her mother.
And..
Not that he was surprised, But... he couldn't come up with a single instance where Lillie was happy with even the mention of her mother.
He could've probably hyperfixated on that. Let the thought of Lillie, for a lack of better terms, hate the thought of her own mother fester in his brain. If the situation had let him, no doubt, he would've done just that. But he couldn't, especially so after seeing Lusamine get so close to her daughter that they almost collided, screaming god awful insults to her face in the process.
He'd had enough
He couldn't stand one of his kids getting treated like this. What in the world gave her the right. He'd always known Lusamine had the emotional stability of a child but this?
Really..!?
Then Lusamine put her arm into the air preparing for a precise, swift, moti-
He'd broken into a full on sprint.
The slap reverberated through the yard.
Kukui froze.
Staring at the ground for a moment, he didn't know if he could stop himself from doing something he'd regret.
(Hah! That's a lie he'd never regret what he's considering-)
With a deep breath he slowly glanced upwards.
And yeah...
Regional professor of Alola, The Masked Royal, whatever it was the news would probably refer to him as in a few day's..
Was going to murder Lusamine Aether
Because standing there, head in an entirely different direction, most likely from the force of the slap-
Was Ash
A handshaped mark of white started to bloom on his face
And for a moment.. Kukui saw red
Walking over, each step filled with restraint, he placed himself in between her and his kids .
Apparently he'd expressed some of his keen hatred towards Lusamine out loud. Lana, if he was remembering right, had mentioned it. It definitely explained all that yelling he'd heard.
Because...
In all his confusion, he hadn't realized...
He'd been the one yelling.
Exactly how long he went on for, he wasn't sure, but he let himself spare a glance towards Ash, and..
For mews sake...
It shut him up reallll fast
(Later on Ash would ask why Kukui stopped yelling
"I've never seen you so angry before kid!" He'd 'express', paired with a chuckle.
And he would be partially honest with that statement...
It was true he'd never seen the kid so...
Mad
But thats not what got kukui frozen up.)
Ash's face was...
Empty...
"You" He said, looking so very small, "Should leave"
Kukui knew that he should focus on Lusamine. Focus on ushering her out of the silent courtyard-
(when did everyone leave...??)
But all his focus remained on Ash.
After a few moments he would know that Lusamine had left.
Because just a little bit of light shined in Ash's eyes, letting out a strong sigh that Kukui could just tell he'd been holding in.
He pulled Ash into a hug, wincing at how the boy flinched. He gestured towards Lillie, an invitation for her to join the embrace.
He'd never seen her move so fast.