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ch o7.
A Fairylight Countdown!

The only table that had three was Serena, Bonnie, and the blond boy the younger girl came in with.

Was he the Clem she talked to?

I didn’t quite have a lot of time to ponder how close the two were. Goodra was getting orders after orders in, forcing even Greninja to help with preparing the beverages requested.

Pikachu was helping with serving the other snacks asked by the customers, including the pizzas Serena had brought from The Rocket’s Pizzeria. The familiar scent of Team Rocket’s handiwork filled the café, mixing with the natural coffee aroma wafting about.

A few minutes in, the group stopped ordering. The busy chatters still buzzed around, and I slumped onto the chair, scrolling through my phone instead. The Pokémon each had their own job.

Pikachu was mingling with the brunette and the green-haired boy’s table — who I later realized were May and Drew when they complimented my Roserade Tea and Torchicookies.

Goodra was curled up near the fireplace with Gary and the carrothead, named Misty. He wasn’t actively into their conversation but hummed here and there.

Noibat was with the bluette, Dawn, and her emo partner, Paul, happily echoing.

Talonflame, needless to say, was always at Serena’s side, waiting to be stroked by her hand. Who knew I could get jealous because of my fire bird?

Greninja was tweaking the espresso machine, trying to clean its portafilter and group head. Hawlucha, on the other hand, was, like me, sitting by my feet, almost nodding to sleep. I didn’t wake him; he had worked so hard.

My eyelids started growing heavy, and I was about to fall asleep on the counter when there was an exaggerated squeal. The barista’s chair toppled to the floor as I bolted to my feet, eyes wide for any danger that might have come.

Only to realize...

I was one of the fortunate ones (more likely, cursed) to witness the mistletoe kiss of May and Drew. The trend followed when the other couples realized what was lurking above them, with the exception of the table containing three.

I exchanged a weary, awkward look with Serena, who, in return, smiled uncomfortably. The little devil beside her was smirking, her hands covering her face. Nonetheless, it was very much visible how much she was enjoying what was going on.

The tension was cut abruptly when Hawlucha yelped, running to Noibat to cover his eyes and ears. The couples broke it off, some laughing, others frowning. I couldn’t help but snigger at how my Pokémon had turned into third-wheelers.

“Hey, it’s almost time!” Dawn sang, flashing her wristwatch and tapping it twice. I quickly toned down the ambient speaker volume and dimmed the lights. The entire café fell dark, except for the one central ceiling light that Mr. Meyer, the technician, had made as an inverter bulb to turn on when the café plunged into darkness due to blackouts.

I felt the air stir beside me but didn’t move. Perhaps it was Greninja or Pikachu.

“Three!” Dawn started.

“Two!” The rest of them echoed behind her.

“One!” I looked at my phone, and the number rolled to midnight.

“Merry Christmas!” I shouted, joining in with the others. All the Pokémon gave out their own distinct cries, falling into laughter. I fumbled with my phone for a while before the café lit up with the fairy lights that my Pokémon and I had worked so hard to put up.

“You guys did great,” I whispered, leaning to the side where Greninja was standing. To my surprise, the pleasing aroma of vanilla mixed with cherry and chocolate greeted my nostrils. I had never turned so sharply in my entire life that, for a brief moment, I hoped my spinal cord wouldn’t break a bone or two.

Serena giggled, looping her arm through mine. I froze. “Unfortunately, I’m not Pikachu or Greninja, but I must hand it to you guys. This is breathtaking!”

I felt the familiar — one that was getting more and more so — heat creep up my neck and cheeks. “Um, t-thanks.”

To my fortune, none of her friends seemed to have taken any note of what their host was up to. But that didn’t exclude Greninja shaking his head or Hawlucha covering Noibat’s innocent eyes.

“Get the music high, it’s time to blast!” I heard someone shout. Awkwardly shifting to handle my phone, I turned the volume up. She didn’t budge. If anything, Serena leaned her head on my shoulder, her golden hair knocking the air out of my lungs and setting my heart into a race.

Whether it was sheer coincidence or Spotify was playing with my life, I had no idea. For the sound systems started booming Dandelions. There was a loud cheer, and I briefly wondered if I was entertaining more than just one teenager.

“Your café has turned into a latibule for me, Ash,” I heard Serena whisper. Her breath tickled the helm of my hood. What would that Clem think?!

“G–glad to hear that,” I stammered, my voice rather thick. Noibat was, by now, protesting the darkness he was plunged into because of Hawlucha hugging him.

“I’ve been...”

My attention snapped back to the honey-blonde-haired girl clinging to my arm. She inhaled deeply, and I felt the hair on the back of my neck erupt into a flustered little dance of their own.

“You’ve been?” I pressed, craning my neck to look at her, but I couldn’t see anything except for her head. Time stilled, and the backdrop faded into a blur, decorated by the passing bokehs that the fairy lights threw. I had no idea if it was my imagination or if Spotify had Closer actually playing.

Serena inhaled again, and I felt her shiver and clutch my arm tighter. “I’ve been meaning to tell you... something.”

I swear to Arceus, I might as well collapse!

“Yeah?” I asked calmly, despite my heart throwing itself against my ribcage. It worsened, sending a horde of warmth through my chest when the girl looked up, her ocean eyes glinting off the fairy lights.

“I think...”