His heart began to race. He could feel it all over as sweat began to trickle down his neck and he grew cold with fear. The blonde boy curled in on himself, tears welling up in his eyes. He didn't want to fail...he couldn't...he could never...

The fire emanated a calming heat; it was as if the flames were trying to comfort the boy. But no peaceful beachside fire could calm his anxiety. The onslaught of darkness wasn't helping much either, aside from assuring him that the only way he'd get found out would be through careful listening.

Sol sniffled, shaking. What if he rejects me? Then what happens if it...if it hurts our friendship...? I...I can't make it through Alola alone... I'm too weak...too scared...too small... He couldn't bear to imagine what it would be like if he had to be without his special someone.

He could faintly hear the sounds of footsteps in the sand...someone had noticed his fear.

"...hey, Sol?" the other boy asked, gently laying a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Do you want to talk?"

Sol shook his head, sniffling. He wasn't ready...he wasn't...

Hau heaved a small sigh. "...if you don't want any help, I guess I can't force it on you..." he trailed off, about to go back to his seat. But then he heard Sol muttering something...what it really was, he couldn't tell.

"...okay, maybe I lied–" Hau muttered, walking back to Sol.

Sol still sat there, curled into a ball. He whimpered softly as he heard his friend approach him.

"...c'mon, you need me..." Hau said, nudging Sol as he sat down.

The blonde boy let out a tiny squeaking noise, not moving from his obviously uncomfortable position.

"...i-is there anything you need to let out? S-something you need to get off your chest?"

Sol slowly brought himself to look up, his pristine blue eyes bloodshot with tears. "...m-mmhm..."

Hau gently laid a hand on Sol's, subtly offering to help him up. It took a minute, but Sol slowly got out of his Sandshrew-like position and up on his feet. He lead him about ten feet into the nearby jungle, making sure that they had privacy.

"So...what's wrong?" Hau asked gently.

Sol bit his lip, eyes downcast. It was inescapable. He had to say something...tell him how he felt...or would it work at all? His heart was still going a million miles an hour, and he still had tears rolling down his cheeks.

The look on Hau's face said that he had, in every metaphorical sense of the phrase, all the time in the world to tell him.

"...H-Hau...I...I-I...I shouldn't...shouldn't keep secrets from you..."

Hau nodded silently, waiting ever so patiently for Sol to continue.

It was eerie, this silence coming from a boy who was usually so loud and enthusiastic. But at the same time, it was reassuring. Sol knew that Hau wouldn't interrupt him, not at a time like this. He'd grown used to his overreactions and panic attacks with time, and Hau knew that interrupting him wasn't a way to help calm his friend. So he kept his lips sealed.

"Y-you see, Hau...I...e-ever since we first met, I...I've been wanting...n-no, needing you... Y-your smile...your kindness..."

What did he mean? Needing him? Hau knew how important it was for Sol to have someone around who could help him...but...this was strange. The way Sol had said it...it meant something else.

"I-I...I love you and I don't want it to ruin us!!" Sol exclaimed suddenly, collapsing on the dirt beneath them. He hid his tears in his hands, sobbing quietly.

There was a deafening silence for a few moments, broken only by Sol's crying. But then Hau smiled, laughing lightly. "Ruin us? C'mon, Sol...you know me."

Sol looked up, confused. But then it all made sense when he felt Hau's lips on his.

---

So uh...I have no idea if this was realistic at all... I might've gotten the nervous breakdown sort of right...but I still think I missed my mark. i just wanna be accurate and not offend anyone-