Chapter Text
Would it be okay to ask Hoseok to go to Pokémon Forest with him again?
He was pretty sure Hoseok would happily say yes.
But if Hoseok was only going along with him because he didn’t want to disappoint him, then he’d feel bad—for both Hoseok and Pokémon.
The other day, he’d worked up the courage to ask Hoseok if he wanted to watch Neon Genesis Evangelion with him.
“Sounds complicated. I’ll pass.”
Hoseok had turned him down without a second thought.
But apparently, Hoseok liked Pokémon.
Because they were cute, he’d said.
Namjoon had almost told him, You’re cute, too.
He definitely would’ve freaked Hoseok out if he had.
Hoseok’s favorite Pokémon used to be Farfetch’d.
“Used to be” because, apparently, his current favorite was Cubone.
While he was on the North American tour, Namjoon had bought Pokémon cards in bulk everywhere he went.
One of the perks of being an adult, he supposed.
And among all those cards were two Cubone cards.
He gave them to Hoseok with the same feeling he imagined someone might have when giving their fiancée an engagement ring.
“Whoa! Cubone! Wait, you’re giving me both of them?”
“You like Cubone, right?”
“Yay! I’m so happy! Thank you, Namjoon!”
That dazzling smile he loved so much.
He’d keep the tiny bit of ulterior motive behind the gift to himself.
“Did you know Cubone’s backstory is actually really sad?”
“Yeah…”
“That’s why I like him!”
I wish you’d say something like that about me, too.
But that wasn’t the point.
Pokémon Forest.
And, in Namjoon’s mind, it was basically a date.
“Oh, right! Namjoon, there’s a Pokémon Forest in Chicago, right? I wanna go!”
…What?
What did he just say?
Had he imagined that?
“Namjoon?”
“Whoa!”
“Take me with you.”
At some point, Hoseok had appeared right beside him, looking up at him with sparkling eyes.
“Y-Yeah. Of course. I already got your ticket, too.”
Good thing he’d bought it just in case.
“You really are the Pokémon Master! I’m so excited!”
“Yeah. Me too.”
That was all Namjoon could manage to say through his happiness.
He loved Pokémon.
And he loved Hoseok.
No. Wait.
He loved Hoseok.
When he looked up again, Hoseok was already gone.
He was as quick as Pikachu, and just like an electric shock, he’d sent Namjoon’s heart into a little jolt.
Pretty good comparison, if he said so himself.
He stood there for a while, clutching his chest and basking in the afterglow, until Yoongi happened to walk by and gave him a deeply suspicious look.
Jimin, walking beside him, quietly shook with laughter and turned his face away.