"Here you go, Rowlet!" Mizuki set down a bowl in front of the cute bird Pokémon's rounded beak, feeling both happy and sad as he-as usual-gladly gobbled down every last morsel.

The black-haired girl glanced at Popplio, who sang her thanks as she-unlike her messy partner-humbly began nibbling at the pellets in her bowl, her smile a bright crescent moon as she enjoyed her meal.

Finally, there was Litten. Mizuki set down the food-filled bowl in front of the cat-like Pokémon, not at all surprised when all he did was give it a blank stare. Unable to keep herself from grinning, the smiling preteen reached out a hand and began rubbing the stubborn fire-type's chin until he surrendered in the form of a purr that rumbled deep in his throat.

Litten was a rather difficult Pokémon, one who often had to be coaxed before doing anything. Throughout the short time she'd been acquainted with the starter, Mizuki felt that they'd gotten closer. After all, she was the one who took care of him most, taking him for walks, feeding and brushing him, as well as occasionally training the Fire Cat Pokémon whenever Professor Kukui had called for it.

Quietly, her brain occupied by her thoughts, she watched the small Pokémon eat, her smile slowly fading into one of wistfulness as if the sight were being replayed from a deep pocket of her memory. She was on her fourth day, and the end of her happiness was closer than her own skin.

"Mrow?" Litten glanced up from his bowl, a rarely displayed curiosity glinting in his eyes.

Mizuki shook her head, giving his ear a couple of scratches before rising to her feet. She didn't want to say anything now-she didn't want to start a random fit of crying that would scare the Pokémon. Besides, she'd be taking Litten on their weekly walk-the last one they'd ever have together. She would speak up then.

She stood by the door, absentmindedly gazing out of the window beside it. Even on the stretch of beach away from the city, Alola was as lively as ever.

The black-haired girl watched with growing sadness as people-tourists and natives alike-filled the sandy area, all happily relishing in the peace and jubiled that was Melemele Island. I'll miss the beach, too.

"Mrow."

Mizuki started and dragged her head away from the window as she felt something soft brush against her leg. She glanced down to see Litten sitting at her feet, giving his chest fur a few impartial licks as he waited for her return to reality.

With a great effort, the black-haired girl forced her feelings away, plastering a casual smile onto her lips.

"Let's get going, then!"

✽✽✽

The sky had become awash with pleasant hues of orange and light purple, the sun taking a well-deserved rest behind the endless blanket of ocean that stretched beyond the horizon. Like the afternoon, Mizuki and Litten's walk was nearing its end, and the girl had yet to reveal her upcoming departure to the Fire Cat Pokémon.

I don't know if I want to say it just yet. She knew that time was doing what it did best-passing with no signs of stopping-but a fearsome doubt had sewn her lips shut. What if he gets mad, or sad? She didn't want to hurt the Pokémon's feelings, knowing that no matter how much he failed to show it most of the time, that he really did care.

They were now walking along Hao'oli City's beachfront, already on the way back to the lab. Not wanting to end their stroll just yet, Mizuki veered closer towards the beach, Litten seeming to instinctively follow.

"Let's walk on the beach for a little bit," Mizuki told him, doing her best to crease her lips into a believeable smile.

"Meow?" Litten was staring up at her, his head tilted to the side as if examining the preteen. Then his eyes narrowed, his pupils sharp, and she was certain that they had already managed to stab through her poorly executed facade.

Sighing, Mizuki crouched down to meet his suspicious gaze, taking a gulp before opening her mouth to speak. "Look, Litten," she began, heaving another sigh. "I've been kind of down lately, and the reason is-" And, because her luck was so great, she found herself rudely interrupted mid-sentence.

"Hey, Mizuki! What up?"

My foot up your... Irritated, Mizuki shot straight up, her eyebrow twitching in annoyance as she heard his voice.

The black-haired girl whipped around, her glare sharper than the thorns of a Toxapex's body, but the harshness of her gaze slowly softened as she stared at the boy approaching her.

"Yo!" Yo waved a friendly greeting at her, his gray eyes fixing her with his usual innocuous look. Normally Mizuki would be irritated to see him, but now she felt the same way she did when she glanced at anything else in Alola.

"Hey." Mizuki didn't mean for her tone to sound so dejected, but Yo didn't seem to mind-if he had even noticed.

"How about a battle?" Yo tipped over the side of his dark red hat, revealing a familiar blue body hiding underneath. "I was just about to finish up our walk and figured why not do some training?"

Mizuki glanced down at Litten, dissatisfied with the things she had unintentionally left unsaid. On the other hand, she could tell him later, and she wouldn't mind battling with Yo. After all, over the course of the few months they'd been in Alola, they had become somewhat of rivals.

She turned her attention back to her friend. "You're on."

Yo grinned his usual grin-the annoying one that seemed to take up half of his face whenever he did it. For some reason, Mizuki found herself cherishing it.

"Popplio!" Popplio rolled off her bed of Yo's tousled black hair, landing on the sand below with an excited clap of her wide paws.

"Mrow!" Litten jumped forward, the usually dismissive Pokémon eager as he always was when it came to battling.

Mizuki stepped back a few paces to clear space between her and her friend, taking her time in doing so to plan a few strategies in her head. She remembered the type lessons from her tours of the trainer's school, fully aware that Litten was already at a disadvantage.

Still. She gave her opponent a firm nod. This will be my last battle in Alola, and perhaps even my last battle against Yo.

Though she and the slightly younger boy had arrived in Alola as part of the same program, he, unlike her, hailed from Johto. After the week came to a close, they'd be back in their respective regions, and only fate could tell when they'd have the chance to meet again.

"Ready?" Mizuki gave him a quick nod before issuing the first command, adrenaline rushing through her palms as she extended a hand to the sandy battlefield.

"Litten, use Ember!" She steered clear of having the fire-type use Scratch for now-Litten using a close-range attack could have bad results if Popplio used a super-effective move.

"In that case, we'll use Water Gun!" Mizuki felt her hands ball up into tight fists as a medium-sized gush of water was expelled from the Sea Lion Pokémon's mouth with blinding speed. The small, glittering embers of Litten's attack didn't stand a chance.

The black-haired girl flinched as the red and black Pokémon was sent flying backwards from the blow. He landed a few paces in front of his mock trainer, hissing as he shook droplets of water from his otherwise dry pelt.

Yo chuckled, tipping up his hat. Mizuki noticed that Popplio did a similar gesture. Since when had those two become so close?

"Now let's use Pound!"

Perfect! Popplio bounced forward, her lack of legs making her movements slightly awkward as she pulled herself along the sandy flooring of the temporary battlefield.

"Dodge and use Scratch!" Litten swerved to the side, sand skidding underneath his paws as he lunged forward, aiming a pair of glinting claws for Popplio's unprotected flank. With a swift movement, he raked the blue-bodied Pokémon's side before instinctively leaping back in case Yo thought up a counter-attack.

Popplio squealed in pain, while Yo visibly flinched. The black-haired boy crossed his arms, his expression a mix of irritation and admiration. "As sharp as always, huh? But I'm not losing this time!"

Mizuki found herself smiling at the boy's determination-glad that it rivaled her own-but unfortunately for him, she had no intention of losing, either.

"We'll see about that! Litten, use Growl!"

"Oh, no you don't!" Yo stepped forward, a rush of sand underneath his feet kicked up by his sudden movement. "Popplio, you use Growl, too!"

Imagining just how the two moves would sound, Mizuki held her hands to her ears as Litten and Popplio screeched their names at each other, visible waves of sound clashing head to head in one massive cacophony, both moves seeming equally matched.

"Now use Scratch!"

"Mrow!" Once again, Litten's claws gleamed as he rushed forward, a blur of red and black as his speed sent him back to Popplio's side. Mizuki was sure the move would hit until Popplio suddenly ducked out of the way.

Yo laughed in response. "We know this technique all too well! Disarming Voice!"

"Meow!" Litten instinctively stepped back, but he was a moment too slow as Popplio stood tall on her tail, her open mouth stretched wide as she emitted a loud, almost song-like-yet horribly distorted-noise. It was so powerful that the Fire Cat Pokémon was actually sent backwards, his claws digging into the sand as means to steady himself.

That's a new one. Mizuki had to admit that she hadn't expected Yo to even have a strategy, and she couldn't help but to admire it.

Pushing that aside, she glanced down at her partner as Popplio's screech died down. "You okay, Litten?"

Litten rose to his paws, finally balanced. He turned his head to his mock trainer and gave her a fierce nod.

"Then use Scratch and then Fire Fang!" Before Popplio could react, Litten was already at her side, a swift and skillfully aimed claw destroying the water-type's formerly impeccable equilibrium.

"Arf!" Before she even had a chance to hit the sand, however, Litten pinned her down as he revealed a set of sharp fangs, fire dancing in his mouth as he aimed for the Sea Lion Pokémon's tail.

"Smack him!"

"W-what?" Mizuki's confused gasp halted in her throat as Popplio furiously lashed her tail at the fire-type's face, startling him long enough to wriggle out of his grasp.

Yo smiled, his and Popplio's chests puffed out at their clever strategy. "Told you we weren't losing!"

Mizuki shook her head-she couldn't waste time being surprised! "Litten, use Ember!"

"Water Gun!" Mizuki froze as the battle's start replayed, with Ember being completely demolished by the jutting turrent that was Popplio's Water Gun. Only this time, Litten landed in the sand right next to Mizuki, unconscious.

The black-haired girl kneeled next to the fainted starter, scooping him up into her arms. She didn't feel sad about losing-to her, knowing that she'd given the battle her all was enough.

"You did good!" Yo and Popplio headed over to the duo, both their faces forming the same wide smile.

"Thanks. You too." Looks like I can't say it now.

Mizuki carried the sleeping Litten in her arms as all four of them headed back to the lab together. When they were about halfway there, Yo opened his mouth to make an unexpected announcement.

"I'm staying," he said, his eyes gleaming.

Mizuki stopped right in her tracks, shock rooting her legs to one spot. "W-what?"

Yo halted beside her, his expression quizzical as if he'd already made the confession. "For the Island Challenge! You've heard of it, right?"

The black-haired girl nodded, but her mind was awash with confusion. "Well, yeah, but... I thought you'd be going back to Johto after this week."

Yo shook his head, giving Popplio an affectionate pat on the head. "I would have, but I found out earlier that I'm eligible to try the challenge, since my birthday's coming up! Plus my parents agreed to let me!" He then gave Popplio a light kiss on her forehead, to which the cute water-type squealed excitedly. "And this little lady will be joining me!"

"G-good for you." Mizuki tried to feign a smile, but the corners of her lips were dragged into a grimace as if she'd just eaten a piece of black sludge. Yo was staying?

The boy carried on without a care in the world, and-remembering that the fainted Litten was still in her arms-Mizuki hurried after him.

Though she tried her best to feel happy for her friend, she couldn't help but feel upset. It felt as though she didn't have enough time to get used to sudden information, but what she did know was that she'd have plenty to dwell on it, and dwelling was her least favorite thing.