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Coach Cos never really liked Gerber.
She tried to be friendly with him before, back when the team was smaller and things were quieter — she tried — but as if that could work? The only thing that they had in common is that they were both electric types, and even that was insulting!
Her distaste for the magnet was often excused as just that they were both naturally competitive — but in reality,
She loathed him. Especially after crossing the line of Volt-Switching her letter — the letter that her aunt gave her, the letter that was the only thing she had left of her aunt, the aunt that she hasn’t seen in – who knows how long?
Small, bitter, teardrops started to sting her eyes.
She’s never getting that letter back. If only she had left the letter back at camp, then maybe she wouldn’t have lost it. If only she never went in that tower, if only she never met Gerber, if only she hadn’t agreed to be caught… !
This was stupid. So stupid. Such a stupid thing to cry and get upset and angry about. It’s just paper, right? Her aunt could easily just write her another one, couldn’t she? She could! —
— “Coach cos… ?” Sara mumbled from behind, quietly padding up to the Luxio. Cos’ tail flicked and she straightened up, quickly wiping her tears off her face and whipped her head around to look at Sara,
“Oh, hey dude!” She called out, Sara sat down on the grass next to her. “Um…” Sara muttered, looking up at Cos with worry in her eyes.
“… I’m sorry about your letter,” The Stunktank whispered with remorse laced in their voice, “Gerber shouldn’t have done that…” Coach Cos heftily sighed — a frown being painted onto her face once again,
“Well – It’s… What’s done is done, right? It's too late now.” Cos chuckled lightly towards the end, but there was still sorrow that could be felt in her tone.
Sara picked and fidgeted at the flowers on the ground, “… Do you want to talk about it?” She started to neatly weave the stems — quietly, patiently, waiting for Cos’ response.
Cos exhaustedly exhaled, “That letter was the only thing I had of my Auntie. I…” She trailed off, her throat tightening as she silently held back sobs, “I haven’t seen her in a while… a few years, I think… That – That letter meant… So… So much to me…” She clenched her paws into a fist,
“I don’t… I – I just don’t understand how someone could be so… so cruel! Why did…” Cos’ words began to waver and shake, as if she was about to break down at any given moment. “Why did Gerber do that? It… It was MY letter!” Cos’ breath hitched.
Sara quietly handed Cos their handkerchief, finishing up her flower crown and gently placing it on top of Cos’ head. “There, there…” Sara murmured. Coach Cos briefly dried her tears, then adjusted the arrangement of beautiful flowers on her head. “…Thanks.”
The two Pokemon shared a nice, brief moment of silence. It wasn’t awkward, no, just simply enjoying one another’s presence. Sara shifted in their spot, opening her mouth to speak,
“Back… Back then – I um… had a crush on someone on the team.” Sara softly started, Cos’ ears perked up in interest, “Ooh? Who was he?”
Sara’s face flushed a light tint of red, “Um… She,” They corrected quietly, “She was a Manetric… with the prettiest eyes I’ve ever seen…” She smiled, looking up at Cos, “She was strong and brave… and… I guess it was pretty much love at first sight…”
Cos smiled back at Sara, “Aw!” She tilted her head slightly, “Wait, but you said you ‘back then’… What happened?” Sara dropped her gaze to her feet, when she answered, her voice became solemn,
“She… She died.” They paused, tears quickly welled up in her eyes, “I’m not sure how… I was never told the details but… I never got to tell her that I liked her…”
Their eyes glimmered with tiny droplets falling down her face, she took a deep breath before speaking again, “I… I didn’t even get to talk to her at all, even, I didn’t get to know her…” Their voice cracked, “I – I wish I did.”
Her words lingered heavy in the air, creating an awkward moment of quiet between the two.
Coach Cos’ showed a face of sympathy, she gently ran her paw down Sara’s back. “I never got to meet her, but,” Her mouth curled up into a soft, reassuring, smile, “I’m sure she’s proud of you for making it this far.”
Sara slumped onto the Luxio’s shoulder. “…Thank you.”