An eventful day behind her, Lillie stood outside the classroom doors holding a white little ball of fluff. Snowy continually nuzzled it's cheek against Lillie's chest, content. The girl herself was content, just earlier that very same day having watched a new life pop into the world. It was indeed a lot to register, becoming the guardian of something so fragile and new. The fact Snowy was so shy made her even more concerned, yet, it made her feel a bit closer to it. The Pokémon was similar to her, that was apparent even in its first minute of life. It shared her reserved nature.

Lillie couldn't wait to tell Hobbs all about it. She wanted to tell him all about how she will be a good caretaker to the small creature, and all about how wonderful Snowy is. Despite her excitement, she forced herself to take a moment before rushing back home. She needed to keep herself calm, she needed to keep herself collected. So much happening at once could overwhelm her, and she would prevent that if she could.

As Lillie reflected, she was startled by the sudden opening of the door behind her. She thought the rest of the class has already one their separate ways for the day, but to her surprise that was false. Mallow exited the classroom, who also jumped a little due to her unanticipated sight of Lillie.

"Oh! Lillie, wasn't expecting you here still. How's the baby treating you?" Mallow kindly stopped her course of action to chat with Lillie, a friendly attitude accompanying her words. It almost seemed that Mallow had no concern for anything, lighthearted in every sense.

"Snowy? It's treating me well. It's cute, and it's soft, and it's so lovey dovie. Yes you are." Lillie coddled the Pokémon closer as she spoke in a higher pitch. She used the same voice a person would use to speak to a toddler smiling up at them. Within seconds, she caught herself in her sweet tone. Her cheeks reddened in embarrassment to have spoken with that voice in front of Mallow.

Mallow caught on to Lillie's embarrassment, and laughed. She dismissed the timidness Lillie carried with a wave of her hand. "I like your baby voice," Mallow said. "I think Snowy does too."

"Koo." Snowy hid its face in Lillie's arms.

"Sorry..." Lillie said with her gaze avoiding Mallow. "Snowy appears to be quite the shy thing..."

"I took note," Mallow said while continuing to sound bubbly in spirits. "Anyways, you think Principal Oak went back to his office?"

"Oak? I'm not sure," Lillie confessed. "Why? Not that I... not that you have to tell me if you don't want."

"Oh it's no secret or anything. I just want to talk to him about something," Mallow explained. "I'm gonna go and check his office. You got a ride home, right?"

Lillie answered with a nod. "Yes, I'm sure my ride is waiting outside for me as we speak."

"Alright! I'll trust you on that!" Mallow gave the girl a final wave, before beginning to walk past her. "Have a good day, Lillie."

"You... you too!" Lillie shouts in the direction of the exiting Mallow. 

After taking her leave and having a short walk, Mallow arrived at Samson's office door. Already open, she popped her head in opposed to properly knocking. The man was stroking his newly born Vulpix, who seemed rather content sleeping on top of his desk in a curled up position. A little uncomfortable about arriving to speak on a less than pleasant subject, she was hesitant to make an effort to snatch his attention. Like a interference of fate, it turned out she wouldn't have to make that effort. Samson's eyes moved away from the fluffy red creature, lifting to lock with Mallow's. He welcomed her with a goofy, toothy grin and gestured for her to come in.

"Alola, Mallow! Need something? Need assistance? Or do you just want to have a little Chatot?" With a typical original Poképun, Samson spoke in a lighthearted fashion. He chuckled a tad, but his chipper energy fell in an instant when he noticed the forlorn glimmer shining in Mallow's green eyes.  "Are you alright? Have a seat, we can talk."

Samson gestured to one of the chairs in front of his desk, a clear worry striking him and crawling up his spine. Mallow wordlessly agreed to sit, as she sat herself down in a cushioned chair. The chair was velvety to touch, surprisingly comfortable, a fact Mallow didn't concern herself with. The minor detail of her surroundings was pushed aside within her mind, her focus completely engulfed in her plan of approach.

All of her previous considerations and thought through strategies seemed to vanish from her head at the snap of a pair of fingers. There was no going back, whether she wished to or not, so she knew had to improvise. "Thanks for taking time to talk to me," Mallow said. "I'm alright! It's just there is someone I'm concerned about..."

Mallow paused, watching for the man's reaction. Samson folded his hand, carrying himself with a collected disposition. "Go on," he said to her, urging her to elaborate.

"It's, uh, a classmate of mine. You met her... well you met my whole class, but that's beside the point." Mallow at first took a roundabout approach to her explanation, but she caught herself. Taking a single deep gulp of air, she breathed out the tension welling up inside her and attempted to return to a more calm temperament. Her back straightened as the girl's usual confidence came back to her with ease. "It's Saki. She seems to be rather troubled. I mean, you've seen she has some... well. How do I phrase this? Violent tendencies?"

The scene of Saki threatening a boy in the middle of the hallways, gaining an audience in the process, replayed in both of their minds. It was fresh, too, happening earlier that same day. Samson didn't have long to fully digest the incident, but he already had his mind set on helping all the students in his school as much as he can. "I have noticed that she does seem to be rather troubled, as you have said," Samson noted. "I-"

"She super closed off, and super grumpy too! She's not a bad person... I could tell! But she is so easily angered... I watched her pound a girl and get banned from a mall! And... and she said something about starving and not being able to pay for food! And... and!" Mallow began to spat out all the information that was previously haunting her mind, finally granting it exit. Going over Saki's behaviors, her confessions, her words, Mallow vented while Samson simply listened with nods of his head.

Finally having expelled everything from her throat, Mallow was left with a question. "I really don't know how to help her Principal Oak, I really don't. What do you think we should do? I should do?"

Samson sat still, closing his eyes and sinking into ponderment. "Don't put this responsibility on yourself, and only yourself, Mallow. You could only do so much. I myself would like to get to know her a little better, get a better read on her. The more I understand her, the more easily I could come up with a way to help her. I would really like to help her with whatever problems she may be facing, and I would really like to help you begin to relax."

Mallow took those words to heart, realizing she was currently incapable of handling the situation all on her own. It would probably do her good to take some time and de-escalate. Despite this, she knew she couldn't just drop her care for the girl like a candy wrapper. It came across to her that she has already made a compromise when it came to these issues. She was seeking assistance. And she really did hope Samson could find a way to help her.

"I think you getting to know Saki would be a start in the very least, maybe you could make a connection with her. I tried to really find a connection with her by taking her on a girl's day but... well, she ended up getting banned from a mall. What a scene that became... maybe you could do something with her away from other people. A one on one type of thing?" Mallow recommended an idea that she thought would work well, learning from her past experience.

"One on one? Hm.." Samson leaned back in his chair, considering Mallow's proposition. "That doesn't sound like a bad idea. Actually, I think I have an idea myself!"

"What would that be?" Mallow asked.

"Well, not to long ago, I contacted a boat rental. I was going to set out into the sea and go on a little fishing trip! The boat could fit up to three people, so, why go on my lonesome? Why not invite her along?" Samson's face lifted into a smile, the positive Alolan air overtaking him. Mallow indeed liked Samson's idea, nodding her head and beginning to smile herself. However, that smile dropped once she had a realization.

"She... might not exactly be... quick to agree." Mallow chewed on her lip, a downtrodden sound in her voice. "She might be... extremely resistant to the offering. I... think it's only fair to warn you."

Samson quietly took in Mallow's words, understanding the situation. "It's okay," Samson said with optimism. "The least I could do is try."

"I... really appreciate you trying. And hearing me out," Mallow said with gratitude.

"It's no problem. Now, you should probably go home and give your mind a little bit of rest. Get your mind of things," Samson said.

"...Okay," Mallow agreed. Her agreement was half hearted, however, since the choking sound of hesitation was audible in her voice.

That day passes, and the hours continued to pass. Soon enough, it was a bright Wednesday morning. The previous day, Samson went through with extending his invitation to Saki. To no one's surprise, she initially rejected without a second thought. The man then mentioned to her that the boating trip would get her out of the school for a day, and that he could make it so it wouldn't count against her attendance. Even then, she was uncertain, but when he mentioned it would be a good opportunity to meet new Pokémon, she found herself voicing an unanticipated and reluctant "yes".

So there they were, on Melemele's dock. The ocean air was fairly crisp, also having an abundant salty scent. As normal for a Wednesday, it was far from crowded to the pair's delight. The boat Samson had rented was petite and simply designed, charming in a sense. At least it was charming to the man who had rented it, Saki on the other hand wasn't impressed. She was never the type to stop and admire the pleasantness of little things. That required at least a somewhat bright attitude.

"Nothing better than a day at Seadra! Don't you agree, Saki?" Samson's playful nature lightened the air to the best of its ability. As usual, he made silly faces to accompany his puns, a habit he had no intention on breaking.

Saki was not amused, her expression flatter than an iron board. She tilted her head back with her disinterest, and gave Samson a lukewarm response. "Sure," she mumbled.

The girl's tepid energy did not diminish the enthusiasm Samson carried for the bright day ahead, as he hopped into the boat. Saki lowered herself into the boat as well, slumping down into the seat and folding her arms. Akemi, at her side like always, leaped in after her. It sat at the girl's side, keeping the distance between them short. With the fishing equipment already set, and the three of them on board, they were ready to head out to the sea.

As the small fishing boat slowly left the dock, Saki leaned towards its side and watched the waves pass them by. The deep color of blue the ocean possessed was enticing, alluring, and its motion could only be described as hypnotizing. In a rare display of relaxation, Saki's shoulders slouched forward as she continued to simply watch. Her trance was interrupted by Samson's voice calling out to her:

"We're ready to Lileep into action! I'm turning on the motor, get ready to hold on! We're about to go faster than a Rapidash!"

As promised, the boat began to increase in speed. Saki held onto the boat's side as she looked back, the dock in the distance growing smaller and smaller. Akemi, startled at the sudden rapid pace, leaped into her lap with a heavy sweat. Saki used her free arm to grip onto the mimikyu and keep it secure.

Once the docks left their views, the boat began to deteriorate in its speed before coming to a complete halt. Standing up, Samson gripped onto the two fishing poles he brought along. He handed one to Saki, before dropping back into his seat, an action accompanied with a long sigh that released any potential stress he may have had. "I don't know about you, but there is just something I Luvdisc about the ocean air! Isn't it Goodra? It sucks all my worry away," Samson said while leaning back into his seat.

Although she found the constant puns irritating, and although she was still very much closed off, she couldn't find herself snapping back with agitation. She couldn't find her hot head beginning to heat up as the cool ocean mist filled her nostrils, all the while a serene scene surrounded her. Although she couldn't recognize it on a conscious level, her environment was bringing her ease. "It's alright, I guess," she said with a false ring of apathy.

"I'll take that! It's alright? It's alright, that's the Spiritomb!" Samson continued to grin as he spoke. The cheery voice the man kept flustered Saki, but she was pulled out of her puzzlement by the flawless casting Samson performed. The line was casted a good distance, the bobber landing into the water several feet away. He let out a short, loud laugh in his pride and his success. "Old man still has some strength in these arms, huh?"

He once again turned his head to Saki. She refused to respond to the jokeful question, as she glared at the fishing pole in her hands. Akemi, still in her lap, tilted it's Pikachu head at her, curious on why she seemed so fixated on the pole. Her lips were closed shut, yet they quivered, as if she were containing her frustration from escaping due to the object she heavily focused on. Finally, she spat out a rash question with no prior warning. "What the hell am I supposed to do with this thing?"

"What do you mean? Oh, do you not know how to cast it?" Samson asked.

Saki turned her head away from Samson, her grip on the fishing pole tightening. Her cheeks felt heated as they turned a bright red rosy color. "No," she admitted.

"Well, there's nothing to Fearow, my friend! I'll just teach you how," Samson said merrily. Saki recoiled at the offering of assistance, and at his choice of words. Aside from the expected pun, there was also the word friend. People around her were so strange, considering themselves her friends despite everything. Again and again, she was asking the same question. Their answers... they should rid her of the constant pain of not understanding. But she didn't understand still, their explanations didn't help her find satisfaction.

Samson leaned his own fishing pole on the boat's side, ready to aid Saki. Before she could place a rebuttal on the table, Samson took the fishing pole from her hands, and began a short demonstration. "See first thing you gotta do is align the line roller with your rod-"

Samson's explanation was concrete and easy to understand, even to the utterly blank Saki. Once he finished, and he knew the girl has properly grasped the concept, he handed the pole right back to her. She gently nudged Akemi off her lap, so she could cast the rod properly. "Now, give it your best shot!" Samson encouraged. "Show them who's the Machamp of the sea!"

Meanwhile, all the way back at the Pokémon school, Lana suddenly sneezed.

Back at the fishing trip, Saki brought back the rod over her head, and then thrusted it forward with a heavy might. The line went quite the length, the bobber landing a much farther distance from the boat than Samson's. The man was quite impressed, as he clapped his hands for Saki's performance.

"Excellent! What a Beautifly throw!" Samson complimented her in his signature goofy style. He patted her shoulder a couple of times to show his support, which made her body quickly tense. She did not react crudely, regardless, as she did not swat at him or even say a word. "You are quite the strong girl, aren't you?" Samson asked thoughtlessly.

"Well, when you get in fights all the time, yeah. You gotta have a little strength in your arms," Saki mumbled.

Samson's wide eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of sadness striking across his face. "Strength is a really good thing to have, but not if you use it for the wrong reasons. Why don't you use it for something more enjoyable? A sport, perhaps?"

Saki rudely let out a loud snort, mocking the suggestion. "A sport? You think I have time for that?"

"Well, you have the time for fighting, don't you?" Samson remarks.

"... What do you know?" Saki said in an attempt to remain on the top of the conversation.

"What do I know? Not too much, I can't lie. The world is full of knowledge, and I'm just one fellow," Samson admits with a chuckle. "So please, Saki. If you don't think I know anything, then educate me a bit?"

"About what?" Saki snapped.

"Yourself," Samson said.

"And why would I do that?" Saki asked.

"Well," Samson said with a calm composure. "Why not?"

"..." Saki looked back out to the sea, watching the bobbers drift. "Actually, I want you to educate me on something. You are supposed to be the principal of a school, you know."

"Well, you've got me there." Samson once again chuckled. "What do you want me to educate you about?"

"Why you all are so weird," Saki muttered. Her grip on the fishing pole once again
tightened, but her gaze remained on the scenery. "Takin' me out on a girl's day...  takin' me out fishing. Savin' me from some group of clowns... saying I'm a 'friend.' Hugging me. And I'm a bitch."

"Oh Saki," Samson spoke, shaking his head. "That's no way to talk about yourself-"

"I'm only saying the truth," Saki interrupted with a gruff voice. She thought back to the words of a girl who showed her nothing but kindness.  "I don't know why you all are trying to make it seem like I have some potential sweetness in me. Y'all are idiots! Y'all are such idiots! Idiots like I never met..."

Saki's voice began to trail off, as if she began to dive deep into regrets as she spoke. Samson sat in stillness, allowing the girl a moment to collect her thoughts and compose her untamed feelings.

"...Why are you doing this?" Saki asked. "I'm not your problem. Why would you bother with some girl that isn't your responsibility."

"I don't see things that way," Samson said. His eyes were gentle, he smile was sweet and gentle. In a way, it caused the girl to feel alienated. The warm look the man had was almost foreign to her. He continued to speak. "I am a Principal, as you've said. So in a way, I'm responsible for all the students that go to the school. And besides, I would love to befriend them all! I love getting to know people, I love being open to people, and if I could, I love to help people. It's who I am."

Saki raised her eyebrow at the man, as if he were speaking to her in French. "Open to people? People are horrible! Have you not realized this?"

"Do you think your classmates are horrible?" Samson asked.

"I-" Saki choked on the words she tried to say. She closed and opened her mouth, sounds escaping but never forming a thought. Saying yes, though it would keep up a facade, was a gigantic lie. And somehow, it was a lie that made her feel incredibly disgusting. Calling the people who've done so much for her horrible. It was unfathomable.

"No," Saki finally muttered. "My classmates are... nice. But... I treat them like shit. And they still... smile at me everyday."

"Why not open yourself up to them?" Samson asked gently, noticing the girl's posture beginning to crumble. Reflecting like this seemed to be causing her stress, and it showed with how she carried herself. In an attempt of comfort, Samson took his free hand that was not gripping his fishing pole, and laid it on her back. This time, she did not recoil.

"Well," Saki began. With the atmosphere reducing her usually bitter and angry state, the girl found herself a little more honest with both the man and herself. "You never know. The way a person acts on the surface is one thing but... they could always end up hurting you. So it's better to stay away..."

She turns her head and takes a look at Akemi, its eyes glimmering with concern under its cloth. She smiled a knowing smile. "But... Pokémon never hurt you. I don't know what I would do...without..."

Saki's voice trailed off once again, before she let out a deep sigh. Samson thought over what the girl said, analyzing it like a tricky crossword puzzle. The way this girl thinks became more apparent, as did a possible reason for her tough act. It was a sad way of thinking, at least to the man.

"You can't go through life so distrusting," Samson softly spoke. "It hurts you more than you think. It makes you lonely, it gives you less support when you're going through hard times. It makes the people around you sad. Not everyone is out to hurt others, and some people are really, really sweet at heart."

That last sentence made Saki think of Mallow, the girl who was so sweet to her in every way. The girl she pushed away so harshly. The girl she made cry, because she was such a bitch...

As if he read her mind, Samson tried to bring up her spirits with kind words. "I get where you're coming from," he said. "Your fear does not make you a terrible person. You aren't a terrible person. But you might feel a little better about yourself if you try to be a kinder person. Work to be a kind person you would rather be."

In a rare moment, Saki turned her heads upwards and looked at Samson straight in the eye. She slowly nodded her head, as if unsure, or certain she was unsure, but at the same time certain. "Yeah," she said with but a whisper.

It was at that moment Saki felt the tug of her fishing line.

"O-oh! Uh...Oak? Oak? Samson?! Er... What do I do?! What do I do?!" Saki began to sweat, panicked to have been chucked into a situation where she lacked knowledge on the proper way to handle it. "Do I reel it in... like on T.V?! Or is there an extra step?! W-what do I do?!"

Samson couldn't help but to crack a smile at Saki's silly flustered expression. "Reel er' in!" He told her. "I wish you the best of Luxio!"

Following his instruction, Saki reeled in the line using her strength to aid her. Soon enough, popping out of the water, a purple creature with sharp teeth let out a long cry. "Maaaaaaaaaaaa!" It had a toothy grin, beaming, as if it were anticipating that moment.

"Oh ho ho!" Samson called out. "Looks like you caught yourself a Mareanie!"

Saki's face was bright with an admiration for the creature she took from the sea, continuing to reel it in closer. Soon enough, the Mareanie, still biting on the hook, was reeled in to the top of the fishing pole. With a playful glimmer in it's eye, the brutal star Pokémon jumped from the fishing line and onto the boat. It hopped up and down, up and down, positioned right between Saki and Samson. Its energy made Akemi a little uncomfortable, who made sure to scoot a little closer to Saki.

"Hey buddy! I'm Saki. It's nice to meet you," Saki greeted, slowly extending her hand out to the purple creature. When she touched its cheek, it let out a short "marrri" to make a proper greeting itself.

The Mareanie then tilted its head at the girl, before baring its teeth with a makeshift aggressive face. Samson actually began to sweat when he saw the Pokémon's sudden shift. Akemi was even more so startled, burrowing into Saki's side.

Saki however, didn't bat an eye. She looked down at the Mareanie with a relaxed look, before baring her own teeth with apparent aggression. "Grrrrrrr," she growled.

The Mareanine didn't back down, narrowing its eyes further in an attempt to look more menacing. "Maaaaaaaaaaa!"

Saki did the exact same thing once again, leaning closer to the Mareanine. "Grrrrrrr," she repeated.

Then, the Mareanie's face lightened. It hopped up and down in it's spot, just like before, making a laughing sound. "Ieieieieie!"

Samson's face was close to blank. "Was that-"

"Playing." Saki answered his question before he could ask it, a hint of pride in her face. She laughed a little alongside the Pokémon, a lighthearted air she normally never carried around other people.

The Mareanie smile grew larger and larger, beginning to hop all around the boat like a rubber ball. When it found its way to the edge of the boat, it hopped back into the water. That is only to hop right back onto the boat, and continuing laughing while doing so. Soon enough, the little creature decided to hop to Saki's side, then to jump upon her head. On top of her head is where it decided to sit, with a content look.

Samson had a cheerful look on his face, watching the rambunctious Pokémon bring a happy look to the usually deadpan girl. Once the Pokémon sat on her head, he reached into his pocket, and tossed a blue, netted Pokéball in Saki's direction. "Look out," he warned with a playful sound.

"Huh? Oh!" Saki noticed the Pokéball and caught it within her hands. She observed it closely, before a look of surprise struck her. "This... is a net ball! You're... not giving this to me are you? They're... not the cheapest!"

"Don't fret over that," Samson said with a wave of his hand. "Consider it a thank you! For coming along with me on this trip! Now, why not give your cute new friend a cute new Pokéball to stay in?"

Saki had a doubtful look to her, yet she still agreed without a word of arguing. Carefully raising her arm, she nudged the Pokéball against the Pokémon that was still sitting on her head. Per usual, the Mareanie was sucket in. After one shake, two shakes, three shakes, the ball clicked. Mareanie was officially caught!

Lowering the Pokéball into her lap, she at first looked down to it with a feeling of debt. But when she looked at Samson, she saw the same jolly look he always had. If not... he was even happier.

"Look," Saki said. "I really need to thank you...for everything. For the ball... for your kindness... for this trip. I've never done anything like this. It was nice..."

"You're more than welcome Saki," Samson said, every word genuine. "It was a really fun time, kiddo!"

"Yeah..." Saki lightly said. To show here appreciation, Saki tried to do something that wasn't easy for her to force. She tried to lift her mouth into a smile, but the result was a crooked grin that could only be described as painful and discomforting.

"... You're not used to smiling like that, are you?" Samson asked.

Saki allowed her mouth to drop, as she sighed in self pity. "No... at least, not at other people."

Samson put a hand on her shoulder, and once again, gently smiled. "I'm sure you'll get used to it."

The next day, a energetic Mareanie, now named Aito, bounced down the hallway. It was ahead of both it's trainer and her Mimikyu, the former continuing to call it's name.

"Aito! Class is over here! Come on!" Saki shouted. Finally listening to it's trainer's shouts, Aito scooted it's way back to it's trainers side. It cheerfully laughed, giving the girl a small smile.

"You're so silly. Welp, time to meet my class, buddy," Saki said to the peppy creature. She was extremely apprehensive, her left eyebrow continuously twitching. Regardless, she opened her classroom door, all of her classmates already chatting. They paused when they noticed Saki standing at the doorway, shaking in her boots, as they all turned their heads with curious faces.

They couldn't have guessed what she would say in that moment if they tried.

"Alola...." Saki croaked out.

Several of her peers jaws dropped to the floor, as she was never one to greet others first. Especially not with the cheeriest greeting possible, 'alola.'

Everyone was speechless, except for one girl.

"Alola!" Mallow greeted back. She waved her hand in a welcoming greeting, which made the unsettled feeling in Saki's stomach grow.

"G-go away!" Saki shouted. She took the door and slammed it shut, leaving herself standing in the hallway and her classmates confused sitting in the classroom.

Old habits die hard.