71.
chapter seventy-one:
letters to my
butterhead

Dear Diary,
Hi! 

I'm well aware of the fact that you don't know me, and I don't know you either. The thing is, Serena got you for me after our independence and told me to start journaling to get my mind "off things." I haven't done this extensively before, so I hope you don't sprout legs and run away when you hear my boring rambles and have my horribly pathetic handwriting engraved into you. 

I've no clue how to, um, fill you up, so I'll just go about telling some of the happy experiences I had these past few days. 

My finals started after a round of troublesome assignment deadlines and teachers screaming their lungs out for the sake of revision classes. We gathered all our paraphernalia and set off to Anistar High, our exam center. Professor Sycamore was thankfully staying with us in the said institution's dorms, along with our warden. 

Thanks to help from all my friends and Calem, the self-appointed instructor for us middle-years, I could manage the tests. 

Don't tell Serena, but I think I might as well score higher than she expects in business. I truly enjoyed that subject because she had a fun way of teaching it! She quoted several examples and instances, most revolving around things I liked, like food and soccer. Not to mention all the handwork she did with her gestures. I might as well admit it to be my second favorite, right after English. 

Today's the last night in this hostel and this city. Tomorrow, we set off to Lumiose, and after a road trip, I'll be flying back to Kanto with Gary and Misty. I suppose life could get exciting? 

Until next entry, 
Satoshi 

P.S. That's my pen name :) 

Dear Diary,
Hi! 

I just realized, when she asked me whether I wrote anything in you, that it totally slipped my mind to write about my "happy" moments! 

Darn, I'll keep the promise, I swear! 

Anyways, the first fond memory of recent days was when we were on our bus trip to Anistar City, and May was sitting beside me. The girl fell asleep midway and didn't wake even when her boyfriend, Drew, was calling her from the other bus. As a result, we saw Professor Wulfric (who was in charge of Section 'B') pop up on the onboard TV. 

"Hell-" was how the audio started. Professor Sycamore shared a chuckle with us and shouted back with a warning for swearing, only for the word to be completed with an overly exaggerated "o." Then the networks connected, and the rest of the call went fine. Amusingly enough, I caught several pairs of eyes who wanted to share this as an inside joke—from Serena's gang and the Alolan gang as well. 

Clemont had proceeded to inform us how they already had food aboard and didn't have to stop for lunch. Since none of us were receiving signals on our phones, the poor boy had been trying to signal her, given she was in the window seat, only to find her asleep. 

As for Gary, Misty, and me, we were pretending to see no evil. Y'know, as a precaution given how risqué the two could get even in public. 

May was shaken awake, and a prompt glaring contest ensued, Drew visually throwing daggers at her from the video call. Gosh, it was so fun, especially when I met Serena's eye, and we shared a secret smile. 

The next part of the ride, after lunch, was even more fantastic! Serena sat beside me, replacing May, who had moved to the front to give us privacy. Gary and Misty, bleeh, don't ever get me started! All they ever do is ///lovingly/// argue. 

The video call was connected again for a quick chat between the two teachers, and Dawn, being Dawn, waved at us eagerly. Nobody had any clue as to whom she was waving, so the six of us waved back with a warm feeling of déjà vu. The only difference was, Serena was a part of us, unlike last time. 

A good few minutes in, I was feeling drowsy, and Serena happened to fall asleep on my shoulder. Can you believe it? I got to place my head on hers, and boy, was her strawberry scent overwhelming! We woke up to a standstill moment of wholesome fluff! 

Oh, Butterhead's letters were to the point! Each love song on the stereo reminds me of her to the extent that I've become a fan of the vibe-y ones rather than the emo ones as of late. I guess she'll be proud of my taste in music. If only she knew the reason for the abrupt change of mind~ 

Nothing much happened during exams, save for the fact that I always wished her luck and even spent the first morning with her, sitting by her side and munching on spoiled biscuits. It took me a long while to realize that they had expired a month ago. In horror, the both of us shared terrified looks, spat them out into the same cover, and threw it into my bag. I wonder if it's still there... oh, damn. It's gonna stink— 

Thankfully, for the most part, we weren't harmed and finished our exams primly. 

Oh, and there were those amazing times when, given the less room in the corridors, Serena collided into me, sending a spark of electricity up from where she gently made contact to my brain. Maybe that was what 'everything that kills me makes me feel alive' means! 

Right now, I'm excited about this sleepover-thing Serena was thinking of hosting at her home in Vaniville. Students were given permission to go home should they wish. The road trip was not mandatory, after all. Gary, Misty, and I had chosen to stay and finish it, though. 

I haven't been to many sleepovers, meaning I had zero experience with it. 

But with Serena, anything could go right. 

With that note of enthusiasm, and a poem I wrote about her, I conclude this entry. 

"I feel your red-hot affections 
With the tiniest of things you do. 
Oh, I'll never tire of your smiles, 
And all the pretty ways with which you have made my heart move." 

Until next entry, 
Satoshi :) 

— 💌 —

Hey guys!

One chapter entirely dedicated to Ash's letters to Butterhead. How was it?

Fret not, the plot starts again from the next as another act comes to an photographic end!

Thank you for reading!

Miyoko x