A man can be seen walking down the street and gawking at everything he sees, it was one of Jared's few joys when he came to this world.

Stopping once to check the GPS, he resumes putting feet to pavement, but just then a smiling azumarill walks up close to him from behind.

Its blue skin and long bunny ears, along with an oval body made the creature look no different from a stuffed toy, if not for his nearly one-meter tall frame.

Jared looks around and realized that the azumarills trainer was a bit further behind. He couldn't resist taking the opportunity to try to pet it.

When he reaches down with his outstretched hand, the azumarill stops smiling, and immediately slapped his hand away with a hiss. Locking eyes with him, it looked up as menacingly as its adorable face can muster, as if daring the foolish petter to do it again.

Jared's eyes widen in surprise, it didn't hurt, but that didn't stop him from instinctively cowering back anyway.

(I thought pokemon only said their name... since when can they hiss?!)

Clutching his unhurt hand, he looks bashfully over at the young sunglass-wearing pokemon trainer, but the trainer just smirks at him without turning his head and goes on his merry way, the azumarill gives one last mean look and swiftly catches up with his partner.

(Okay, Jared, note to self, don't pet other people's pokemon without permission... oh who am I kidding I'll probably do it again.)

Continuing on his way, he soon found himself on the other side of the street from the Mr.Mime Cafe. He smiled when he spots the familiar sight of the Mr. Mime happily serving customers under the shaded patio.

He intended to cross the street right then and there to get a closer look, but a few fast-moving cyclists in colorful clothing riding past made him think better of it.

Jared scratched his ear, (it's a bit strange that the only cars I've seen so far seem to be for law enforcement... oh well, I can ask my tutor about that tomorrow.)

Once the coast was clear, he did a slow jog across the wide street, and in a few breaths of time he was right before the cafe.

Examining the Mr.Mime from this closer distance had made him realize the pokemon was much taller in person, he was like a young human. The only thing he wore was a pair of embroidered shorts, so Jared wondered if he could pass for a human if he covered himself from head to toe and wore a hood.

While pondering why the Mr. Mime was wearing anything at all the answer hit him,

(Ahaha I see, having a human-like waiter in a cafe is one thing, but having that waiter serve customers with his dangling balls hanging out is another, so that's why he's wearing shorts.)

Jared cut that thought short because he wanted very much to get out of the sun. He takes a seat in one of the empty chairs and continued watching.

Having satisfied his curiosity, and now starting to feel comfortable in his new shady spot, he fishes one of his books out of the backpack and begin idly reading, but before too long he's politely asked to leave if he didn't come in and order, he complies with the request and put the book away bashfully.

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He Sighed, (all good things come to an end!)

Slinging his backpack on, he decided to begin his trek back home.

Jared grumbled in his mind, hrmph, (I was just leaving anyway, not because you asked me to leave but because I was getting thirsty! self-consciousness activates!)

On his way back, he spots the same Feraligator. He and his trainer were strolling down the street.

Crossing the street, Jared follows after them in an effort to get a better look at the towering blue bipedal alligator pokemon from up close.

At first, he tried to keep a few meters back, but since they didn't appear to notice him, he decided to get a bit closer.

As he gets nearer, he was forced to cover his nose after getting a whiff of the beast, and it was not pleasant. The smell of rotten seaweed soon forces him back to his original distance.

Noting the trainer walking just in front of his pokemon, Jared curses under his breath "Ugh, how can he take that stench? I think that pokemon needs a bath... or ten."

He carried on watching the two walk down the sidewalk, but didn't pursue, he instead decided to keep watching until they pass out of sight. He had hopes of seeing that weird pale gold glow from their last encounter.

Focusing on the creature, he sighs when nothing changes.

He watches for a minute more, but as they turned the corner at the end of the street, their figures soon become obscured behind a small building, and at that point he quickly loses interest, and he decides to carry on walking home.

After an uneventful journey, he soon finds himself nearing the alley, he then puts on his scary face to deter would-be thieves, and being only one street away he decides to jog the rest of the way home.

When he finally arrives back in the alley, he spots the twelve-year-old and eight-year-old from yesterday, they were idly sitting against the wall of one of a nearby home, chatting.

He halts his jog when they notice him, and then begins walking towards his own house at a more measured pace, but soon stops when he hears them tramp towards him.

Jared turns around to face them,

The twelve-year-old marches up to Jared confidentially, but the eight-year-old child freezes where he is when he meets the man's hardened gaze.

Breaking eye contact with the man, the child looks around, he seemed to be unsure if this was a good idea.

From this close proximity, it could be seen that while the children's clothing are dirty, it's not in too bad of shape, and while on the thin side, they don't appear as malnourished as you'd imagine street urchins to be.

The older boy has a slightly stunted appearance, with a full head of wavy yet greasy platinum blond hair that barely obscure his determined blue eyes.

Those with a keen eye might realize he'd be quite handsome with a simple wash, but it could be imagined that hygiene is not a high priority of his.

(Looking at his arms he seems quite muscular for... well for a kid.)

A small distance behind him, he examines the scared eight-year-old, white long hair awkwardly hangs over his round, lively face, but his dead green eyes tell the sad tale of the life he's lived thus far, and similar to his older protector he seems small and stunted for his age.

Noting the twelve-year-old pause his steps a couple of meters from him, Jared ceases his examination and mentally prepares himself in the event he has to defend himself.

The older boy too examines Jared for a moment, then confidently looks him in the eye.

With a hoarse voice uncharacteristic for such a young boy he asks, "Old man, I remember you from yesterday, do you know if my two friends are alright?"

Behind the taller youth, the eight-year-old child's eyes seem to gather some light, and with a little courage, he jogs his way over to the older kid. He grasps the taller child's dirty shirt in his small hands from the rear, and peers at the mean-looking man from behind the safety of the older boy.

Jared crosses his arms at the question, and his sudden movements makes the two boys flinch back.

In response, Jared's expression slowly softens, but he was not willing to put up a weak front.

He diverts from the subject temporarily to ask his own question, "I can tell you, but how about you tell me your names first, I'm Jared."

The muscular twelve-year-old squints his eyes, seeming to be uneasy about the question. He retorts with a nonanswer "What do you want our names for, you gonna report us to the cops?"

With a shrug, Jared replies in the same strong tone, "Do I look like a good samaritan to you?"

Not breaking eye contact, the boy appears to consider the words for a moment then replies in a softer, and less confident tone of voice "I'm kai and the scardy cat behind me is Kalio, can you please tell me if my friends are alright now?"

Jared lets out a long sigh, and while looking away for a moment he bluntly states as if tearing off a bandaid, "they're both dead, I'm sorry."