Nate's Pov

I took Rosa upstairs where I was certain her room was, and when I went inside, I wasn't surprised at all. I've seen dozens of girl's rooms and they pretty much were all decorated in a cute way. Rosa's room was empty with furniture and nothing really symbolized her taste anywhere. I was almost certain this was room...

Her closet was open, so I saw that she didn't have a lot of clothes either. One thing I can remember was that she always dressed pretty when we were kids, but I'm sure it was because her mom dressed her. All she does wear is a uniform to school, and at the moment she just had normal shirts and T-shirt. She was never like most girls, but that's what I liked about her.

I removed the blanket off her bed before I placed her down and I put her bag to the side. Something that felt like glass was inside, so I was careful and placed it down. After so, I glanced at the room, remembering my time here as a kid...

It was dark in here at the moment, but I can remember clearly when the two of us played on the floor and drawing in our coloring books. We'd watch tv downstairs and ended up falling asleep. My mom let me stay over, and sometimes her mom would let her stay over at my house. Those times were my happiest... and I threw them away because I was selfish and only thought of myself.

"I can't keep doing this..." I told myself, shaking my fist. I have to tell her how I feel. I never even apologized to her. It wasn't fair to her... And she needs to know that I regret everything. The most she can do is deny me, but at least I would had apologized after all these years.

"Dawn and Serena are right... Everyone is right... I need to stop being scared and be a man" I looked at Rosa "Probably have to do it at school..." I leaned in to look at her tired face "You tend to overwork yourself... Don't you?"

"Research... Research ..." she spoke in her sleep. I smiled and admired her face.

"This is creepy... I need to stop" I rubbed my face and moved away, then saw a necklace around her neck that was hiding in her shirt. Curious, I wanted to see what it was.

"Nate!" Brendon yelled from down stairs "Come on! We need some help!" I moved away from Rosa and stormed to the door, stopping to look at Rosa still knocked asleep.

"Sorry..." I said before going outside to help the others after locking the door behind me.

"It's about time you showed up!" Hugh glared, fighting with his Pignite "Lucas's Pokémon fainted!" I looked at Lucas taking care of his Pokémon "Help out! They're after Rosa!" I nodded and send out my Riolu.

"You're not getting your hands on her! Not when I'm around!" I shouted and yelled out to my Pokémon "Use force palm!" My Riolu cried out and ran up to the opponent Lucas was facing and took them down "Alright! Hurry and use double kick!"

The battle didn't drag on for long. My Pokémon did most of the heavy lifting since my friends Pokémon got tired quickly. I won a battle against 4 grunts and watched them run off, yelling that they'll be back. Dammit...

"That can't be good..." Calem said "They know where Rosa lives"

"That's what happens when you become the sister of the hero who defeated a whole evil organization" Brendan shrugged "It happens... I guess" he joked half heartedly. Lucas poked my arm, getting my attention.

"It'll be good to let Rosa know" that would be good to tell her, but she's focused on something already. I don't want to distract her with something she has no control of. Especially when she doesn't have a Pokémon.

"I'll keep that in mind. Until then, I'll be the one to stay by her side"

"You?" Hugh arched his brow "Where did this confidence come from?" I'm in no way confident, but I don't want anything happening to her. I am not going to let anyone harm her again.

"Well, it took me some time to get things straighten out. I guess what Dawn and Serena did on the same day really got me going" Calem groaned.

"Seriously? What did she do to you?" I chuckled.

"Just knock some sense into me... In a bit of a creepy fashion. It still shocks me on how you manage to handle someone that spontaneous" Calem glanced away, blushing a bit "Well, let's go back inside. We got nothing else to do. Great thing is that she's living across the street, so we can keep an eye on her"

"Sounds good to me" Brendan stretched his arms. Hugh nodded and walked back into my house with the others. Calem waited for me while I looked back at Rosa's house.

"You okay?" He asked. I nodded and went back inside to hang out with my friends once Lucas contacted the police on what happened. Hugh got upset that he did, but there's nothing he can do about Team Plasma once we graduate. Our actions will be blamed on the school before then.

The next day came around and I was on my way to school. I looked over at Rosa's house, wondering if I should walk her to school as well, since Team plasma may still be around.

Since I told myself that I shouldn't be selfish and get scared about what she thinks of me, I pushed myself to face her door and knock on it. 5 minutes in, knocking every minute, there was no response.

"She must've already went to school already" I looked up at her room window "Or still asleep" I shook my head "No, she always goes to school early. I'll go on ahead then" I jogged over to school and sat on my desk in homeroom. Ms.Bianca was substituting today, since the teacher was out sick again.

"Glad to see everyone today!" She exclaimed to the class "I hope you don't mind that I'm around again! I quite enjoyed being with you all, more than others!" She giggled with the class. I looked around the class, seeing that Rosa wasn't around. I looked at Dawn and questioned her. She shrugged and mouth if I was okay. All I did was nod and looked back at Bianca taking attendance. 

"Okay..." Bianca sung as she called the next student "Rosa?" She and everyone looked around for her "huh? Is she not here?" Bianca frowned "huh..."

"Here!" Someone yelled outside the room and stormed into the classroom. It was Rosa out of breath, leaning on the door exhaustedly "I'm here!" She then bowed "Sorry I was late!"

"Oh, Rosa!" Bianca hurried over to her "Are you okay? Why are you late?" Rosa kept bowing over and over again until she got dizzy. I stood up to see if she needed my help, but Bianca was the one that freaked out "Oh my!" She held onto Rosa's arms "Are you feeling okay?" Rosa nodded, nervously laughing.

"Yeah... I've just been busy and overslept" she bowed again "I'm sorry"

"As long as you're okay, please take your seat" She nodded and faced the class.

"Before I do so, I would like to everyone a question" seeing that this was unusual, everyone listened "I'm looking for a berry known as a Lum Berry. I need it for something very important, so if anyone knows where to get one or know somebody who does, please let me know" A Lum Berry? That's why she was mentioning a Berry in her sleep. What kind of research she is doing?

"A Lum Berry?" Bianca asked "Why do you need something that rare? You can't get one of those in Unova unless someone might be selling them outside a market" Rosa frowned.

"It's very important... It possesses great properties, and I need at least three of them" she looked back at the class "Please ask anyone you know if they know anything about obtaining one. It'll mean the world to me" Dawn stood up.

"They're very common in my home region. I could probably help get you some! What's the time limit?"

"Before graduation! Sooner than later would really help!" Rosa looked desperate. Dawn frowned.

"It's not easy to transport fruit into a other region. It'll probably take some time" Rosa looked down again, devastated.

"Well, everyone" Bianca held Rosa's shoulder "You heard the girl. If you know a way to find a Lum Berry, please let her know immediately" the class agreed to help, which made Rosa very happy and smily, which made most of the boys blush at her pretty smile. I rolled my eyes at them and looked at Rosa frowning at me. Whoa! Did she think I was doing it to her?! I can see now why she thinks I hate her!

"I'll ask as many people as I can" I promised. She was surprised to hear it, then smiled, which made my heart throb in joy. She was asked to take a seat, which she listened so the lesson could start. Dawn looked at me and winked, causing me to feel embarrassed and look away.

This is a start... I can keep going! Just need to make sure she doesn't feel like anything I do is a sign of hate. But why doesn't she hate me back? After what I did to her. Is she really that forgiving?

I shook it out my thoughts for the sake of going forward and let the day go by smoothly. I didn't talk to Rosa like I planned to, but I seem to notice that she keeps on asking people about the same berry over and over again. She was desperate for that berry... Even going as far as reading a book on berries while she walked the halls! That's dangerous!

"What do you think the Lum Berry is for?" Serena asked while Dawn and I dug in our lockers "She's asked a lot of people about this berry. It's not that common in my region"

"It's common in mine, but the process to bring berries to this region is a month. We have two weeks until graduation. That won't be enough time" Dawn said, closing her locker.

"Why does it have to be the most difficult berry to find?" Serena asked.

"Because they're ultra rare!" May came out of nowhere "One Lum Berry plant only produces two berries at a time"

"And she said she needs three" I held my chin "Don't ask how I know, but I believe she's in the middle of researching something important. You saw how desperate she looked" I told Dawn.

"Yes, I did. It pains me that I can't help her..."

"There has to be some in this region" May said "But I know nothing about it. Hey" May hugged my arm "Maybe your brother knows? He's been around the region before!" I nodded.

"You're right" I closed my locker "I'll probably remind her to ask her sister as well" the girl's jaw dropped "what?"

"You're going to remind her?!" Serena gasped.

"I never saw the day" May blinked confused. Dawn took my arm.

"Did I hear that correctly?" She asked "What made you suddenly..?" I sighed.

"It's like you both said" I looked at Serena and Dawn "I just... Need to do more" Dawn hugged me, surprising me.

"I'm rooting for you" the others smiled at me, showing their support. I smiled back and noticed the hallway getting quiet. We looked over and saw a little girl with black and red hair and blue eyes walking the halls with a dark blue kimono, and a fluffy tail behind her.

"Who is that?" May asked.

"Nobody I've ever seen" Serena stared.

"Same here..." I responded. The little girl looked at everyone and sniffed them from a few inches away, freaking people out. She was like a Pokémon looking for something.

She made her way to my friends and smelled them before coming on me. She stopped and pulled on my shirt, making noises instead of words.

"Zoh! Zoh!" She cried out, pointing at my jacket.

"Nate, what does she want?" Dawn asked.

"Like I know!" I looked at the little girl frowning at me, wanting me to know something I don't "Are you looking for someone?" She nodded and pointed at my shirt.

"She was smelling everyone earlier. She probably smells someone on you?" May asked "I do that sometimes" she admit. Yeah, because she lives with Pokémon in the wild more than she does in her own dorm!

"Not everyone is like you" Serena laughed. I sighed and looked back at the little girl frowning at me. If she's sniffing for someone who's scent is fresh on my jacket I used yesterday after a wash, the  could she be looking for..?

"Are you looking for Rosa?" I randomly asked. Her eyes lit up and she quickly nodded.

"Rosa?" Dawn blinked "Why would Rosa's scent be on you?" I blushed and took the little girl's hand.

"I-I'll take you to where she could be. It's lunch time, so she'll most likely be found in the library!" I dragged the girl through the hallways "Follow me!" She gladly agreed and excitedly walked on my side. This is the most I've ever seen someone be so happy to be with Rosa, and Dawn absolutely adores her.

"How did you get into this school? The gates are usually closed" I asked. She didn't say a thing but look at me "Well, if you came at the time the lunch bell rings, it's not too difficult to sneak in. Most of the teachers leave to get their own lunches" we continued walking in silence until we reached the library. The girl sniffed the air and gasped in delight before storming in. I hurried over just in case and found Rosa reading a ton of berry informational books. She really is serious...

I hide behind a wall and watched the little girl jump on the counter like nothing and faced Rosa almost screaming when she saw her "Zor- Zoey!" So they do know each other. I'm glad at least there wasn't a threat "What are you doing here?!" Zoey took out a bag from her kimono and showed it to Rosa "Oh!" She looked inside and poured all kinds of berries onto the counter "There are so many here! Did you go out and pick these yourself?" Zoey nodded proudly.

"I was going to visit you later. I don't want to get in trouble because a stranger entered the school" Rosa examine each fruit "No, none of these are a Lum Berry" Zoey frowned "You might not know what one looks like" Rosa showed her a picture "It's a plum like berry. Green and very hard. Two can only grow on one plant at a time" Zoey observed and nodded, leaving immediately "Wait!" She left the counter and chased after her, but ended up running into me.

"Oh!" She gasped at the sight of me and bowed "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to run into you!" I waved my hand.

"No worries. I was in the way" I looked back at where Zoey left "Is she a friend of yours?"

"Can't really say she's my friend, but she's very loyal" she smiled. She can still smile at me even after I yelled at her "I have no idea how she entered the school, but I'm guessing the gate is open for lunch" I nodded.

"She's probably leaving now" I suggested "She was helping you find Lum berries?" She blushed and rubbed her arms, looking away.

"Y-Yes... You may think I'm being over dramatic, but I really did mean it when I said I was desperate for at least three of them" she frowned "I'll do anything for those berries! They're so important" I pointed up my pointer finger to stop her.

"Be careful on who you say that to" she listened carefully at my in fact voice "not talking about me per day, but people will take advantage of you when you say that. When people know you want something so bad, they'll do terrible things just so they can benefit from your desperation" she nodded.

"Of course!" She held her chest "You're totally right!" My body felt so proud that I got a good reaction out of her "I won't seem so desperate again!" She looked away again "but you know that I am... Will you take advantage of me..?" My blood rushes through my body and nearly burst out my nose if I didn't sniff it back in. I pulled myself together before responding.

"I won't" she looked surprised "You're in need of some help. I won't let anyone take advantage of anyone" she stared at me before smiling with a soft blush on her cheeks.

"Thank you... Nate" her eyes grew relaxed in front of me. I couldn't help but smile back and rub the back of my head.

"Y-Yeah... I-I'll go see if that girl made her way out of here" She bowed as I left the library. This rush in my heart... I never thought I'd be able to feel it again. It's a good start! I just need to be careful with my words until I'm ready to confess to her...