☕︎
ch o6.
Let's Get The
Show On The
Road!

"Gren?"

I blinked at the ninja frog. He blinked back. 

"Huh?" 

The next thing I knew, he was walking toward me. What happened next was a bonk to my head from his webbed paw. Talonflame screeched with laughter elsewhere. 

"Gren!" he exclaimed, holding up the holly covered with leaves and pointing at it intensely. 

Then it hit. 

"Oh. Right," I mumbled sheepishly. "Why don't you put it over there? On the table over the fireplace?" 

Greninja observed me for a moment as I stood still, then nodded before walking over to complete his assigned task. He always did this when he was worried and would leave if I stood still without doing anything. 

I turned to the notes, racking my brain for a suitable alternative to Nutella cookies. The key ingredient, chocolate Nutella spread, was out of stock according to Vanillite Wholesalers. 

Ever since Bonnie's peculiar request to put up mistletoes in order to "set some of the couples in her brother's friend group up," I found my mind wandering elsewhere. 

One thing I knew for sure was that the root cause of developing the attraction I had initially felt—although it sounds terribly wrong—toward my honey-blonde customer was Team Rocket and their hopeful words of finding someone to love. 

"Goo!"

Goodra's cry brought me back to reality. He had set the tree up, and the rest of the Pokémon, except Greninja and Talonflame, gathered to admire it. I got to my feet, approaching the tree. The consignment boxes containing decorations used for every year's Christmas were off to the side. I bent low to pick up the Mawile hanging from it. 

"Let's get to work, guys!" I proposed, placing an encouraging hand on Noibat's head. "Tomorrow's the only day we've got, and we've gotta bring in as many customers as we can before the full house is booked!" 

All the Pokémon let out their enthusiastic cries, and we got to decorating the place. 

─── ⋆⋅☕⋅⋆ ─── 

All We Know was blasting through the ambient speakers, the lights shifting from a cozy yellow to various other hues. The last batch of regular customers was filing out, booming greetings of Christmas to each other and to me and my Pokémon. 

"Merry Christmas, Nurse Joy, Banette, and Wigglytuff!" I called as the lady and her two Pokémon left. It had been a great time with her Banette joking around with Officer Jenny's stoic Manectric and Journalist Alexa's timid Helioptile. Alas, the fun came to an end as the clock struck five minutes to midnight. 

"Right. Guys, let's finish up the last-minute prep," I said, giving my Pokémon a pep talk before our very first full house booking. They cried out with enthusiasm and vigor. I continued, "Talonflame, the mantle's your charge. Goodra, I trust you with hospitality. Pikachu and Noibat will be your helpers, while Hawlucha and Greninja are with me. Are you guys with me?" 

They exclaimed in unison again and slumped by the fireplace, waiting for the party to get started. My mind wandered back to Bonnie's strange request, and my hands clenched at my sides. 

I wasn't going to let unrequited, forbidden feelings bring my business down. Tonight's the night Serena wants everything to go right.

The bell chimed, indicating that they were finally here. I inhaled deeply. 

And I'll make sure it goes right.

"This is the cozy café?" An orange-haired girl walked in, her attire more suited for bright summers than the cold wrath of Christmas Eve. Behind her were two more girls. 

"I only care about the menu," the first girl, a brunette in a pastel sweater with a snowman across her chest, piped up. She seemed appropriately dressed with mittens and a matching beanie. 

"But it is cozy, you guys!" the third girl added, pulling her royal blue faux-fur coat closer. She let her blue hair serve as earmuffs, and honestly, it seemed like a good enough reason to let her hair down. 

"Quiet it down, you idiots." My eyes widened at the sound of a guy in dark, sophisticated winter wear entering. He tucked his hands into his pockets and greeted me with a curt nod. I returned the gesture. 

Is that Clem?

To prove me wrong, another guy—wearing a much more casual hoodie and a beanie—entered, Bonnie following closely behind. The young girl wore a playful cardigan adorned with a reindeer face and twirled around in her red dress when I smiled at her. 

"Hey!" My heart jolted at the familiar voice I hadn't heard in years. Then, its owner came into view, pushing the door open rather wide. "Serena said the entire house is ours for the night!" 

"Gary?!" 

The mahogany-haired boy looked at me lazily, adjusting his dark green blazer. A heartbeat passed before his features morphed into a smirk. 

"Ash-y Boy!" 

"Hey!" I protested but still shook his hand when he offered it. 

"Long time, no smell ya!" he announced, patting my shoulder. He gave Pikachu a little peace sign as a greeting before looking around my haven. "You sure have built a dynasty here." 

"Yeah, thanks," I replied, running a hand through my hair. "How've you been?" 

"Been good, been good," he answered, his smirk growing. "Heard of Oak Tech? That's mine." 

"That's a whole other dynasty," I teased, then congratulated him. 

"I guess I don't need to introduce you guys?" 

My eyes wandered to the source of the third voice. Serena stood under the fairy lights, as stunning as ever, her hands tied behind her back. Her dress was a simple red, lacy outfit that sparkled whenever she twirled. Paired with adorable mittens and a beanie, she could redefine cute in my dictionary. 

Wait, get a damned grip!

Gary laughed, placing a hand on my shoulder. "I hate to admit it, but he's a salt of the earth." 

Her lips quirked into a gentle smile, her eyes softening. "He sure is." 

I felt my cheeks heat up and let out an awkward laugh, rubbing the back of my neck. Gary, and might I add Bonnie, gave me a side-eye, and I sure as hell hoped they didn't notice. 

Was I so obvious?

"Can we get the show on the road?!" Bonnie broke the awkward moment, walking up to Serena to take her hand. She led the older girl to a table — I noted with apt interest — that had no mistletoe hanging over it. 

"Of course!" Serena cheered, oblivious to what was actually going on. She turned to me, her cheeks blossoming into a wonderful shade of red to match her attire. "Ash, can we get the menu?" 

My eyes wandered to Goodra, who nodded and set to distributing copies of the menu to everyone as they settled into tables of two. The only table with three was Serena, Bonnie, and the blonde boy Bonnie had come in with. 

Was he the Clem she talked to?