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Stepping off the plane Gladion was shocked, Alola's changed quite a bit since he's left. Lillie nudged him in the shoulder, remarking about the changes.
"It appears there's quite a bit of tourism!" Lillie exclaims
"yeah.." Gladion murmurs, seriously what happened to this place? Looks more like a theme park than a city.
"We should try and find everyone again! Celene's gonna be so surprised!" At least Lillie's excited..
They walk around for a while before finding Mallow's family restaurant, she was pretty surprised to see them. She's taller now, taller than Gladion.
They chat for a bit, about the spike in tourism, how busy everyone's been, everything seems to have changed. One detail stuck out to him, some people don't have time for battling anymore. The thought seemed to shock Lillie a bit at least, but Mallow had more customers to serve so they're off again.
Kiawe was next, still busy on the farm as always. Didn't have much new information honestly. Just not having seen Hau around in a while. That's.. strange, he's normally out and about.
The same thing with Lana, and Kukui, and.. everyone. Nobody had seen him in a few months. Safe to say they were all concerned.
Lillie dragged the two of them to his house to find him, granted he was there. His walls were covered in corkboards and research papers but he was there.
He was studying something, didn't look up at them just greeted them quietly. The hells wrong with him?
"…Since when did you two get back?" Hau seemed decently shocked
Gladion grumbled as he speaks, "Since today, dumbass.."
Hau put away some of the papers on his desk and finally turned to them, Gladion was honestly taken aback by how different he looked. Hau looked so serious.. hard to believe it's the same person.
"What exactly did you need? I was studying."
"You're quite different Hau." Lillie ever so bluntly pointed out
Hau sighed "It's been six years Lillie.." Gladion's honestly shocked, since when did Hau of all people mature? Feels like everything in Alola changed.. Hau's entirely different honestly, his hair's not in that weird bun anymore, just an easy ponytail. He's taller now which, in retrospect should have been obvious considering he's 16 now and not 10. Arceus what happened to the Alolan shirts? Just plain white tees now..
"So… what have you been up to?" At least Lillie's polite enough to ask instead of just gawking like Gladion is.
"School mostly, bunch of AP classes to get through." Since when was Hau scholarly? It's one thing after another Arceus..
Gladion finally spoke, took him long enough. "…AP classes?"
"Yep, AP lit, uhh biology, psychology.. technically not an AP class but I'm taking it on a college level so.."
Arceus… that's insane. How the hell does he keep up with all of it? Kinda looks like he has time to work out or something in between, he's surprisingly fit… He's got his life together, and Gladion very much… doesn't.
They continued chatting for a bit, mostly Lillie and Hau honestly. About school, how much the regions changed, how much they've all changed.. It felt strange, Gladion's mostly stayed the same, like he didn't get the memo.
Hau's always been special, supposedly at least. His optimism was special, his will to keep going, none of that felt especially important as a kid. Felt strange now, maybe he changed too much in those 6 years, Gladion looked at him like he was a stranger, Lillie did too but at least she tried to hide it.
I mean, it's not like the rest of the world hasn't changed so its inevitable really. Still feels out of place though. Talking about his AP classes with Lillie and Gladion of all people.. He hasn't gotten out in a while so maybe its good.
Lillie and Gladion went home eventually, they still had all that Aether foundation stuff to go back to. Pretty sure Gladion didn't like that place, might be misremembering though. I mean, its not hard to dislike it there, such a sterile environment. Couldn't imagine growing up there of all things. Maybe he'll ask Gladion to go on an "all night training session" like they did once as kids.. for Gladion's sake obviously. Plus he hasn't battled in a while, sure his pokemon are pretty antsy about it.
Hau sighed as he looked back at his papers, no use in studying anymore. He can't focus anyways. He might as well go on a walk. He swore the process of getting ready was taking painstakingly long now.. he really needs to get out more. After shutting off the lights in his room and checking if his pokemon were awake, didn't want to disturb them of sleep.
The beach was always calming, the moon lit up the sky well enough that Hau could see someone sitting near the waves. Wonder who's out this late? Hau inched closer, the person was wearing dark clothes. Closer, person's decently short- 5'5 maybe? Closer, they're blonde.
Gladion?
Makes sense, Hau heard from Celene a while ago that he liked the beach. Hau waves, didn't catch his attention. Time to try shouting, "HEY!" Gladion practically jumped, Arceus he's easy to startle.
"Oh for the love of- don't startle me like that!"
"jeez you're jumpy…"
"Asshole."
"…Gladion? You alright? You're… really pale."
"It's whatever.. why you out this late anyways?"
"Oh! Well.. I couldn't really sleep so.."
"Mhm. You used to sleep like the dead ya know.."
"Used to." Hau let out this dumb awkward laugh.. ugh..
Hau sat down beside him and sighed
"So… Gladion.." Hau started, "How is it back in Alola?"
"Different."
"I get that… Has anyone else changed at all?"
"A bit.. you're.. pretty drastic though."
"Am I really? Surely I haven't changed all that much.." Right? Hau's still the same old guy.. except he hardly goes out now, doesn't do battling anymore, is an AP student of all things..
"You're different. Not that I care really.."
"Wowwwww so mean." Hau giggled a bit.. since when did he giggle?
"You're silly"
"Awww thank you"
"Idiot.."
"Wow so we're bullying people now-"
"Hau, seriously what's up with you." Oh. Guess he noticed..
"It's nothing- really I mean it!"
"Hau."
"Ugh.. it's really nothing Gladion.."
"Cut the crap. You look exhausted."
"Just… school's been stressful.."
"Yeah? Wanna talk about it?"
"You're too nice I swear.. it's really just school. Exhausted honestly.."
"You could take a nap real quick?"
"Gladion I'm not going to make you look after me are you kidding."
"Hau, just sleep for once. Arceus you're as annoying as ever.."
"Wake me up in five?"
"Five hours maybe."
Hau slept for.. not extremely long he hopes. An hour maybe, Gladion woke him up and walked him home.
"Well you're a gentleman aren't you? Walking me home and everything."
"Shut up.."
They agreed to meet up tomorrow, Hau didn't sleep very well still. Just kept replaying any conversations with his friends.