Idealistic Dreams . . .

Cheren grimaced at being reminded of how he used to act. How riled up Team Plasma had made him. He’d be lying if he said he couldn’t easily see his younger self getting into trouble this way. So much for having matured since then.

Touya stayed quiet for a moment, trying to gather his thoughts on how to properly reply to his friend. “Isn’t it just as bad to punch a gym leader as it is to punch a champion? Besides what did he even do to provoke you like that while you’re at an official league gathering?”

“Yeah, well, you probably never expected me to punch the Champion of Hoenn in the face in front of the entire international Pokemon League, either.”

“Ok...just a few questions. Why did you punch the Champion of Hoenn in the face? What even drove you to the point of punching someone? You haven’t acted like that since team Plasma, and how long are you on probation for?”

“…You couldn’t have hidden in my closet or something and jumped out at me like a normal person? Why my bed?”

“Not the whole time. I was in town and decided to visit, since it has been a while since we’ve seen each other. Besides, I know where you hide the spare key to your place and decided to let myself in wait for you to come back.”

“Just the two of us… I… suppose I could handle something like that.”

“I, uh… You know I’m garbage at that kind of thing… I’m not at my most comfortable during parties, even if it is just a small gathering…”

“The girls if they’re free, maybe a few of your students if they’re old enough and you like them enough. A few of your friends from the league maybe? Any other people you get along with? You know those kind of people.”

“…Oh, yeah! She always has one of those! That’s when she, uh– Never mind. Point is, that might not be such a bad idea…”

“Well it doesn’t have to be a big party, just something small with a bunch of close friends and family, how does that sound? Nothing too crazy, no horrible disaster happening to anyone. Just something nice.”

“Figures, you’re still a ‘work first, people later’ person, but you wouldn’t be Cheren if you weren’t like that.”

Cheren suddenly realized his uncharacteristic sentimentalism and pulled out of the hug as quickly as he initiated it. He cleared his throat, embarrassed.

Touya gave out a slight chuckle, “It’s fine to be happy, it’s good to see you too.”

“Close my eyes? What does that have to–”

     Without a response Touya immediately walked up to his friend. He pulled out his friend’s pants then took a picture of his friends boxers before pulling them back up and returning his friend’s Xtransceiver.

     “I should.” He took a second to look over the message displayed on the Xtransceiver’s screen. It seemed like a simple thing to do despite how...uncomfortable it might be. Still, he knew a way to help Cheren through this.

“A best friend would’ve answered my texts.”

     “I told you, places. More importantly though, you did miss me huh?”