The glare of the sun had been bad but the feeling of weight that pours down my head while I try to keep a tarp afloat above me was worse. I considered letting go and just walking through the heat of the midday sun but a quick look behind me and that idea was entirely scrapped, "is this really necessary?" I said to the floating Alakazam, who, unlike me, was a good enough psychic to keep heat away in a small radius around him, "my head is starting to hurt?"

'Lionel, what you thought about just now can be effortlessly done with time and effort, you do not need to attack every single wave of heat, just keep up a barrier that will do so,' was his reply. I pretended to not know what he was talking about and continued to walk forward, making a small show of tiredness that got the tarp above me to waver. Alakazam mentally sighed, 'Lionel, you do know that there's no "waver" when it comes to psychics right? you either hold it up, or it falls back down. There's no in between,'

"there's one for me?"

He scoffed.

I made a show of rolling my eyes, "yeah, yeah, fine, how long till we reach Azalea?"

'by my estimate, approximately in another two hours, 27 minutes, and 8 seconds,'

"GREAT! LET'S GO ZUBAT!" and I started running with Zubat in tow, leaving Alakazam behind.

...

My running pace started to slow as my legs started to lose their energy. My eyes kept looking forward yet I couldn't focus.

...Route 34 has always been a place of- well, it's like a sanctuary to me. A lot of things happened to me in this very route years after I first arrived in this world; I battled my first Pokemon here, took my first breath of this world's wilderness here, celebrated a lot of things here when I was young-

"we didn't know he was such a genius!" a 5 year old Lionel watched as his parents get congratulated by their peers, their eyes were smiling, and so did their mouths but their replies of thanks sounded empty. He couldn't understand why he even knew that his parents weren't feeling anything from this but regardless, they took in the congratulations without any problems and the latest people to congratulate them were a rich couple; one was his mother's sister and the other, her husband, as well as Lionel's uncle in law. Both are a rich couple that lives somewhere in Olivine. Lionel heard that they owned a successful mining company.

His parents smiled once again as they shook hands with the couple in front of them, "Mom would be so proud Alissa," his mother, Alissa, Lionel could feel her hold back a wince but she smiled regardless, nodding in silence as her sister congratulated her again, "you have such a nice son! I hope that all of this continues as he grows up," again, Alissa held back a wince and her worried eyes moved over to him as her sister bent down and patted Lionel's head,

"ahwwww wittle guy is such a genius! I'm almost tempted to take you in!" the sudden pressure that Lionel felt must've been real because the woman in front of him flinched and moved back, "I was joking! jooking~~~~"

"Lionel, I know that you're too young but if you grow up, I know a few people that might be interested in you when you grow up-" he was pat on the head, he didn't care, "and I think that you should just focus on studying, someone as bright as you should at least deserve that much,"

- reached odd revelations as I as pushed past an existential crisis when I first came here to take a break from everything, -

a 7 year old Lionel watched the sea. He looked down, watching as the waves hit the bottom of the cliffside he was sitting on: water would surge, move, strike, and then turn into white foam that fell down to the surface of the ocean. He did all this was to make sure that he wasn't thinking about anything.

But he was. And he didn't like what he was feeling.

He felt someone rubbing his head, ruffling his hair and messing it up. He didn't try to fix it. Not anymore. He didn't even like hair gel in his old life, how did he start liking it in this one?

"it's okay you know," he heard his father say, "your Mom and I, we don't care,"

"do you think they'll stop?" Despite his actual age, he didn't like what he was experiencing. The thought of the others attacking him with words didn't seem so big right now.

And that's because he was sitting at this seaside cliff, far away from the social pressure- he didn't want to go back.

"we'll make them," his father ruffled his hair again, Lionel did his best not to cry, "you know, your mom and I are thinking of moving away from Cianwood and into Goldenrod,"

those words spilled the dam and as the pressure eased, Lionel could only think of one thing: Imposter Syndrome and Peer Pressure sucked.

- And a lot more. Route 34 is special to me so why is it being ruined by - "hey Lionel,"

Oh how can I ever place myself to hate her?

Whitney stood up and dusted herself. I tried my best to not look like I can feel her fear and I did my best to smile, she was wearing a green apron with a green bandata tied on top of her head, blocking a large part of her pink hair. She handed the Wooper she was holding to the Daycare's old man before walking over to me.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

I started to notice signs of her physical stress as she got near; large eye bags, dry skin, and unkempt hair was the first of them but the way she walked weakly, her thin hands and legs as well as the visible tremors became clear when she was directly in front of me.

"you heading somewhere?" she asked with a smile,

"Azalea Town," I answered, meeting her halfway. We started walking back toward the Daycare. I let the silence that followed after my words still for a few seconds before I spoke again, "I wanted to thank Kurt for you know... helping you"

"I... see," she smiled weakly, "tell him I gave my thanks as well,"

"I will," I didn't mention the fact that I noticed her wiping her eyes, no matter how discreet she thinks she must've done it- putting your sleeves on your face can only mean one thing after all.. "I'll also grab a specialized Pokeball, want anything specific?"

"Pokeball?" I involuntarily clicked my tongue, only to flinch when I heard the sound. She giggled, "you don't have to make me feel better, I already am,"

I stayed silent, "look..." I looked up, how do I put this?.. "-you're not,"

Her eyebrows creased in knowing and she started rubbing her right arm in discomfort, "I know that but-"

"it's, it's fine," I cut her off, "you can take your time, we're still young after all,"

She started laughing softly, "you sound like you're talking about us having a relationship or something!" she giggled and made a show of wiping her eyes, "but then again, I wouldn't exactly mind,"

Okay, what? I didn't want to walk away but I waved both my hands in front of her, "okay, no okay?" she looked hurt and I knew I had to elaborate before things became bad, "I know you're trying to cling to something and-" I stopped talking because what the hell was coming out of my mouth? I raised my hands again, "okay, no, sorry, why did I say that to you...

"but Whitney, not right now okay?"

She nodded and released a puff of air in relief, "thank you for that," she chuckled, "but let me tell you something,-" I nodded, "-did you know what Kurt said to me when I first woke up?" I shook my head, she giggled, "well he told me that it's what he expected to do after you saved him,"

"so he set this up?" I gestured to the both of us, I didn't want to mention that Kurt was meant to patrol Ilex Forest because I didn't want to ruin the littlest magic Whitney felt from being rescued,

"nope!" she chuckled again, "but I think it might've had a small influence,"

"right," I kicked a stone away, a small thing that I've liked to do recently, "so how have you been? working at the daycare for two weeks must've been hard right?"

She looked up exasperatedly and I followed her gaze to the floating tarp above me. I shrugged, "Alakazam's making me exercise my mental stamina and he thinks this is the best method for me to do it,"

'it is the best method,' the Psychic Type said sarcastically, I didn't know where he was but he's probably near. Also, he was listening!

Stop it!

"right... anyways, so have you been?"

"fine? I guess? I don't know," was her uncertain answer and as I watched her stop shivering, I thought that maybe, just with a bit more pull, the enthusiastic young girl who did her best to prepare for her journey is gonna come back, "you know?" she chuckled, I smiled in reply.

Just a little bit more pull.

'I think you're being forceful,'

I ignored Alakazam's words.

"I want to go out and see the world Lionel," Whitney said, giving me more hope, "but... I don't think I want to anymore and I feel a bit conflicted I guess?" she wiped her eyes, genuinely this time, "I moved out of my house you know? because Dad yelled at me and said that I'm being stupid for not finishing the expedition and taking the assessment test,- THAT'S ALL YOU HAD TO DO!" I flinched at the sudden yell and when I saw her start to cry, I... did not walk over to hug her for comfort, instead, I rubbed her back, staying where I am and keeping the distance, she wiped her eyes, "so I ran,"

"where are you staying right now?" I asked,

"in the daycare," she answered,

"you're always welcome to go to our house," I said bluntly, she nodded and said nothing.

"I'll go there when I need to,"

"what do I say after this?" I got a punch for that,

"maybe you should just go?" she huffed,

"hmmm...." I pretended to ignore her, "Ice... Cream?"

"take me,"

And so we ate ice cream from the same stall that we bought it from before Whitney went out for the TSAT two months ago. She didn't feel anything when we bought the ice cream nor did she look uncomfortable when we started eating it. Thank God.

"it sucks that we can't go to that cliffside," Whitney took a small break from eating her ice cream, "I thought it would have made this all better,"

I shook my head in disagreement, "eh, there's nothing to see there at this time anyway. unless you're interested in watching couples making smooching sounds to each other?.." she punched me lightly, "alright but you still see my point right? the place would be a bit too hot during this time,"

She swallowed a mouthful of ice cream, "right, first off, there are couples here," she gestured to a nearby bench where a girl and a guy were sitting right next to each other, watching a Jigglypuff play with a Bellsprout, "and second, who cares if it's hot? you have a floating tarp!" she pointed at the folded tarp on my back.

"fair," was all I said in reply.

...

"so, what now?" the way Whitney hugged the baby Wooper made her look like she was more functional than she was.

She isn't.

It migth've also made her look motherly but I ignored the part of my brain that said that.

"I'll walk to Azalea Town like I said,"

"walk?"

"we both know that if there's any danger to any of this then Alakazam would just Teleport me away," she reluctantly shrugged, I continued, "and besides, Team Rocket's starting to have problems right now, with Lance attacking and uncovering their hide outs around Johto and all that,"

"right... when did this happen?" my eyes moved to look at the Pokewatch on her wrist when she said this, she wasn't keeping it turned off was she?

'right, her Dad,' - I thought as I gave her an answer, "around two weeks ago I think? after you started working on this Daycare,"

Whitney shuddered, "can I see?"

So I did, I turned on my Pokewatch and let her read the news about the current attacks on Team Rocket's bases within Johto. And when Lance finally has leeway on Kanto? I was sure those places would get attacked too and I hoped Rocket gets wiped out eventually but for now, I'm gonna have to hope that the Region is gonna have to stick with their native Elite Fours and/or Gym Leaders to dig those criminals out and, hopefully, win against them.

"I'm pretty interested in what would happen if Cynthia decides to just let the Regional restrictions go and attack Team Rocket you know," Whitney snapped away from the Pokewatch, I continued, "I think she's pretty strong?-" she was, and that was a fact but how do I spin that into giving Whitney hope? "-and for a trainer, she's pretty brave,"

Whitney snorted, "good try," she fixed her posture then pushed me away, "but I'm not gonna go on a journey, so off you go!"

'I told you, you were being forceful,'

"sorry," she stopped pushing, "but just so you know, we're all here, Vhira, me, Mom and Dad?" she looked down and nodded, "we're here to help and if you want, we can even talk," she shoved me away with shaking hands, "and the offer to stay at our house still stands,"

I started walking away from the Daycare but I didn't leave before I waved the Old Man goodbye.

When I first saw him, the way he looked has enhanced my memory of his sprite back in the games. I guess those pixelated faces can only do so much to the detail. His attractiveness might've had something to do with the people of the Pokemon world's not being ugly as well.

I couldn't help it, my eyes looked around in search for his daughter, Lyra. She wasn't around and I briefly wondered where she was because I remembered that she was also in the anime. Her absence has given me more questions than answers and if I don't find them soon, then the plot that I'm unknowingly stepping into might just start to catch up to me.