☕︎
ch o5.
Team Rocket Blasted
Off!

The lofi version of Closer was playing softly through the ambient speakers as we worked. Professors Sycamore and Juniper from the Kalosian Institute for Tech Science were discussing something two tables away, their cups filled with Cubchoo Brews, topped with lemon and cinnamon respectively. 

Smiling at them, I continued chopping nutmeg for the cake I was preparing. Greninja was mixing the egg yolks and flour, while Hawlucha handled the caster sugar and egg whites. We were trying out our very first batch of baking, and it was going well so far. 

"Noi!" 

I looked up from the strawberries I was dicing to see my bat Pokémon clapping his tiny claws happily. It seemed he approved of Hawlucha and Greninja mixing their bowls. 

"Guys, the vanilla essence," I reminded them, seeing Pikachu place the vial of liquid in front of me. Hawlucha retrieved it, poured three drops as Serena had instructed, and placed the batter before me. Adding the sliced nutmeg, almonds, and walnuts, I let Greninja take over stirring it and turned my attention to Team Rocket entering the café. 

They walked in with their usual grandeur—flipping their hair and moving with an exaggerated gait. 

"Good morning. Regulars, I assume again?" I asked, wiping my hands on the hem of my Goomy apron. 

Jessie plopped down on the settee in front of me, James taking his spot beside her, and Meowth hopping onto his high seat. For some reason, they looked paler and more tired than usual. 

"Yee, capisce," Meowth answered, leaning on the counter. 

Pikachu took over setting the microwave with Greninja, while Hawlucha and I began working on the trio’s order. I grinned at the Fighting bird; we were working with the precision of a team that had been practicing for decades. 

"Work’s keeping you busy?" I asked, hoping to break their unusual silence. James was the one to answer. 

"Oh, absolutely," he remarked, smiling as I slid his Blissey Brew toward him. "The Captain's keeping us on our toes. Honestly, I can't wait to venture out and get a grand hotel of my own." 

"That doesn’t sound half as bad," I commented, finishing Meowth’s Espurr-esso. "I mean, you guys are already master chefs. All you need is capital." 

"That’s the catch twenty-two, champ," Meowth interjected, his ears twitching—a telltale sign he was frustrated. "We’ve been under Giovanni for that reason all along, but the man thinks we’re eating his salt and giving him crap. He ain’t about to hook us up with no raise, nya!" 

I nodded, passing his mug. Hawlucha slid Jessie’s cup to me to decorate. I chose clotted cream again, adding Applin’s eyes. 

"Aww, that sucks. But if you really want something, you have to fight for it." 

"It sure does! I want nothing more than for us to start our own fabulous business!" Jessie ranted, tossing her hair over her shoulder. Her eyes lit up at the extra chocolate bar I placed on her saucer. She opened her mouth to say something, but I cut her off with a toothy grin. 

"It’s all on the house. Just sip and unwind." 

"You’re too kind, my dear," James smiled, acknowledging his own bar of white chocolate. I gave a short bow and returned to the kitchen. Greninja and Pikachu were by the oven, mirroring each other as they stood with arms crossed, waiting for the cake to be done. 

"Hey, it smells great!" I complimented, breathing in the pleasant aroma of baking. It was nowhere near Serena’s level, but it was still on point. 

"Gren." 

"Pika!" 

Five more minutes, I noted. Running a hand through my hair, I leaned against the doorframe. A picture of Serena’s smiling face flashed in my mind, the sound of her laughter echoing in my ears. 

"Talonnn~!" 

Hearing my Fire bird's screech, I pushed myself off the wall and strode back to the bar. He was perched on a girl’s shoulder, and it was no ordinary person. 

My face broke into a grin at the sight of her. She was wearing her short hair down as always, her petite figure framed by formal attire. Our eyes met, and identical smiles were exchanged. 

Goodra brought an order slip, and my eyebrows shot up in surprise. I smell your cake from a mile away. Cyndaquil Chocolate again, please. ;)

My eyes glided from the paper to her, seeing her running a hand through Talonflame’s feathers. Her cheeks hinted at a light blush, and when she looked back at me, my heart skipped a beat before it kickstarted—to pump blood to my cheeks and neck. 

"He's at it again." 

I let out a silent growl at a smirking Meowth, pouring milk into a saucepan. "Why don’t ya just come clean and say it, kid? Love’s not for everyone, ya know?" 

"For the millionth time," I scowled, pouting to hide my rising blush. Focusing on cutting marshmallows, I averted my eyes from the sneering Pokémon. "Not everything’s about romance. What I have with her is clearly a relationship of business." 

"Right, if ya say so," Meowth replied, dropping the topic generously when I gave him a glare that could kill. "Thanks for the drink, mate. We better be blasting off." 

Plastering a genuine smile, I wished them well. "Have a great day!" 

"Team Rocket is blasting off again with brimming hopes to catch the generous barista tomorrow!" James winked, Jessie smirked, and they left. The café settled into silence again, letting the music finally reach my ears. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Professors Sycamore and Juniper packing up too. 

"Gren—ninja!" 

I glanced over my shoulder at Greninja bringing in the cake. Pikachu yelped, pushing my hat lopsided before jumping off the counter. I turned to protest but found myself facing Serena’s gorgeous blue eyes. 

"Hey!" she greeted, taking James’ old seat. I gave her a sheepish smile. 

"Good morning." 

"Morning. How’s your day been today?" 

My eyes widened in surprise. "That’s something I always ask," I teased, sliding the tall mug of Cyndaquil Chocolate toward her. She shrugged, propping her elbows on the counter and nodding a thanks. 

"Someone had to ask you too." 

My breath hitched, and I began wiping my clammy hands on my apron. The girl noticed, slowly sipping her beverage. 

"Well, that’s kind of you. It’s been great so far." 

She smiled softly. "That’s wonderful to hear." 

She took another sip, and I nodded my appreciation to Greninja, who handed me the cake. He returned to the kitchen to work on the dishes while Hawlucha took a seat. Noibat had gathered some fruits to decorate the cake. 

"Your apron’s really cute, but the last time I remember, it was Hawlucha-themed," Serena noted, tilting her head. 

I looked up from the strawberries I was slicing, arching an eyebrow. Realization hit a second later. 

"Oh, um," I stammered, my eyes darting away from her lips, which were the same shade as the strawberries I was cutting. "I wear a different one each day to honor my Pokémon." 

"Really?" she said, cupping her cheek, a faint blush painting her face. I bit the inside of my lip to keep myself from overthinking. "That’s so sweet of you, Ash!" 

Grinning, I went back to dicing. The sound of the tap water ceasing signaled that Greninja had finished his chore. 

"Thanks, Miss," I replied casually. 

A few heartbeats passed as I decorated the cake, carefully carving the design. It wasn’t anything grand—just her name written in cream across the vanilla-nut cake. When I finished, I placed the platter on the counter, eliciting a squeal from her. 

"Oh my goodness, this is so adorable and delicious to look at!" she gushed, looking at me with admiration—or what I hoped was admiration. "Can I take a picture of this? I’ve gotta show it to my co-host. He’ll love it!" 

My heart sank slightly at the mention of her co-host, especially since it was a he. Still, I plastered a smile on my face and nodded. "My pleasure." 

Serena quickly withdrew her phone. I looked away, focusing on tweaking the espresso machine. The thing tended to switch off randomly unless Hawlucha or I meddled with it. Perhaps I should ask Mr. Meyer, the local mechanic, to take a look. 

I felt a pang in my chest when Serena squealed a "hi" on the phone. Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t help but eavesdrop. 

"Clem, how does it look? This is perfect, right?!" 

"Yeah, the odds are against her disliking this, Ser." 

"I know, right? Oh, this is going to be an amazing party!" 

"Sure is." 

"Aight, I’ll hang up now. Let’s meet at the office." 

"Will be waiting, Ser. Stay safe. Bye." 

"Yeah, you too. Bye!" 

The call ended, but I kept tweaking the espresso machine. The pang in my chest urged me to ask who this Clem was, while my pride insisted on burying my feelings deep within the café’s foundations. 

"We’re throwing the party for... his sister. She’s in high school and aced her first semester," Serena explained softly. 

"Mhm." 

"She’s been down lately, so I thought maybe this could help her get back to being the life of the party." 

Turning to her, I cleaned the portafilter with a fresh wipe. "That’s a great initiative." 

A delicate smile graced Serena’s face. It lingered even as she left, the packed cake safely in her bag. I waved until the door closed behind her, and the chime echoed through the now-quiet café. 

I turned my back to the entrance, leaning against the counter, wiping my eyes. My Pokémon cried out in their own ways. 

"Lucha?" 

"Goodra?" 

"Noi-bat?"

"Gren." 

"Lonflaaame?!" 

And finally, there was my trusty starter—the one who’d been with me through everything. 

"Pikapi, pika?" 

"Hey," I murmured wistfully, looking up at the ceiling. A fringe of my bangs obscured my vision slightly. "I’m alright." 

The bell tinkled, and I glanced over my shoulder. There was a flurry of movement before I found myself face-to-face with an unfamiliar pair of curious blue eyes. 

"Hi! Are you the handsome barista?!" 

My eyes went wide, and I straightened up, silently thanking the counter for being a divider. "Uh? I’m sorry?" 

The girl bit her lip before breaking into laughter. I eyed her warily. Unusual customers weren’t rare, but sarcastic ones—especially youngsters—were a challenge. 

"You sure are, according to her taste!" the girl choked out, wiping imaginary tears and clutching her stomach. She eyed Greninja looming behind me, then whispered, "I’m the sister of the guy Serena talked to. Bonnie’s the name, and I have a little favor to ask, Mr. Charming!" 

I blinked, glancing at my Pokémon, who were hiding under the counter. Goodra, especially, looked out of place near the base. 

"Um, hello, Bonnie," I greeted politely. "I’ll do my best?" 

The girl jumped a few times, clapping her hands before her excitement settled down again, much like before. She leaned closer, cupping a hand to her mouth. From what Serena had described, I could already tell that this girl had the energy and charm of a potential Prom Queen. Why exactly is Serena throwing a party for her again?