This fucking slowpoke.

Forget a week. At this pace, they’ll need two. It was not two hours walking through Route one that he said that he needed a break. And an hour after that. And the hour after as well. All they were doing were talking fucking breaks.

“Sorry about making you walk so much,” she said. “Everyone else is just miles ahead of us and I’m just kind of stressed about making up that distance… Sorry!”

“Wait… Just five more minutes.”

“Of course. Take your break. It’s almost lunch as well.”

Letting her backpack down, she tore open a jelly-filled donut and began devouring. What a dumbass. When she first saw this kid, she could only think of how stupid someone must be to leave on the last day. Especially someone who actually wants to be here. If he cared so much, you’d think he’d be able to put his feet on the ground and fucking walk.

She should leave him behind, she thought as she took a swing of water. He would definitely leave her behind if she was dragging him down. Everyone always left her behind in the end. Her parents sure did. She shuddered at their gazes, looking down at her as she asked for their signatures. They didn’t really care though… No one did.

‘Alright. Let’s go.”

She wanted to punch that smile off his face. She almost wished she took that battle now. If only she had, either win or lose, she could mutter something about being uncomfortable and just leave. Actually, she could leave right now couldn’t she? He wouldn’t be able to catch her… But then she would be stuck in the city and he would catch her and it would just be awkward. And at the end, she knew that all this deliberation was pointless.

She could never leave him. Never in a million years.

That was just the type of girl she was.

-.-.-

Route one was practically a straight line, it being the beginner route meaning that it was very well protected and trodden upon, a dirt path wide enough for twelve if you really wanted it too. Trees stood alongside it, like little, loyal knights humbly looking over in orderly lines, none of its branches even daring to hang overhead. Even the grass seemed greener than usual, like it was one large playground, specifically made for children to play in, safely and adventurously. What fun.

Nonetheless, Yuewen could sense the presence of wild Pokemon scurrying about, the type of feeling that she almost thought she imagined. She was so tense… She leaned back onto her oversized backpack. What was the point of it all… She had almost forgotten. She pulled out Pidove Pokeball, gazing as she caressed it. Technically, it was more efficient to get to Striaton as fast as possible and make use of the Gym’s facilities as fast as possible to level up.

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Yet, that almost felt sad somehow. Like going to her desk job. And punching in those numbers. Again and again and again.

Yuewen put the Pokeball away. She wouldn’t cry here. Not in front of him.

Helmet… What a stupid fucking name. And she hated her name. She wondered how much he hated his own parents. She couldn’t believe her ears when she heard the Official call his name out. In that setting, so formal too. It was hilarious. She wondered what she would call him when they began talking again. Would she really be forced to call him Helmet? Or will he have a nickname? A hilarious, humiliating nickname.

Too many breaks man… She pulled out her Pokeball again, staring into the abyss. At this point, she could pull out Pidove and not hurt her efficiency at all. Yet, why would she? If she pulled Pidove and it turned out she imagined the whole connection. If all those warm feelings and that, that finally feeling of belonging, that once-in-a lifetime feeling, was all just that. A once in a lifetime feeling. What would she even do? What was she even doing all this for? What was the fucking point?

She was alone with her thoughts again. This was bad. Sometimes it felt like she was the one dragging him down. Gloomy girl… She wasted her whole life before this so… what was she doing now?

She really thought she could change, didn’t see?

“I’m sorry…”

“Hm?”

“I’m sorry for dragging us down,” he said, as they trotted, side-by-side. “I really am sorry. We might not make it at this rate.”

She laughed. It was the first time he’d hear her laugh, she supposed. “No. I’m sorry for dragging us down. I’m just so… pointless. I only think about pointless things.”

He frowned at her laughter. “Really? You really don’t think that, do you? I’m just so weak… I didn’t know I was this weak. I’m sorry.”

Yuewen stood around awkwardly. She heard tears in that voice, that voice that she realized all so well. Yet, she had no idea what to do in this situation. No idea at all.

It was what made her, her, afterall.

“Um… Are you okay?” she asked, her hand hovering, like it was going to do something. Hilarious.

“You know, my nurse asked that very same question.”

“Oh really? You sick?” She thought back to Nurse Joy. She could hardly remember what was said, but could remember the hot, sticky tears streaming down her face. She blushed in embarrassment.

‘Yeah. It’s ridiculous. Got attacked by a Pikachu. She thought that I would be traumatized or something. That I would just give up. Be afraid of Pokemon. Yet here I am. Weak, broken… But still standing. Taking breaks but not broken. Hm?” He turned towards her and smiled. At that moment, Yuewen thought he was kinda short. She smiled back.

“Yeah. We’re still standing,” she said, her hand finding its way to pat his back.

It was nice to be on the receiving side of this kinda shit. Looking down on others suited her better, she thought.

“Dumbass,” she said.

“Dumbasses?”

She shuddered. “Annoying. And cringe.”

It was a full moon that night. A beautiful white, lonely in the night sky, constantly revolving around, a mathematical beauty. In two weeks time, they should be able to arrive at the gym. The moon will be full then as well. And in another two weeks, they’ll be out of the gym and onto the next. Under the moon again, until the next two weeks and the next. Full, then empty. Full, then empty.

That’s all she ever wanted. To feel full for once.