my galar story ᐠ( ᐢ ᵕ ᐢ )ᐟ (2)

She'd practically gobbled down her breakfast in one bite, thrown the only remaining masala to Eevee, and made a dash for the door in record speed- a massive, massive bag latched onto her back.

'Himari?' An elderly voice called from the living room, as Himari was stationed next to the cupboard under the stairs. She snapped her head back, in the middle of lacing her boots up.

'Yes, Grams? I'm off!' Himari called back, a warm and loving tone.

'Alright, sweetheart, you write often. Okay? You have a delicate heart, don't get hurt. ' Her grandma's manner of speech was drawn out and slow, a marking of age. It held wisdom of generations.

'Grammy, there's rotophones now... I'll be fine. Love you!'

With a small, but nervous grin, Himari waved her left hand and lifted her fingers for the doorknob.

She took a quick sideglance to the mirror by the door.

Long, flowy platinum blonde hair, a little messy, that'd hadn't been tied.

A pink, knitted cardigan paired with a slightly tattered cream coloured dress.

Overworn, black leather boots with white laces tied into pretty bows, and of course..

The duffel bag strung over her shoulder, that Eevees' fluffy brown ears popped out from, her partner perfectly content for the bumpy ride ahead as she'd run.

Her pale, gloved hand reached for the doorknob and twisted it, taking her first step into the unknown of her journey.

[ 𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐀 𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐑𝐔𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆, 𝐁𝐎𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍, 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐑𝐔𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆... ]

Himari's legs felt like they'd give way, each fierce step catching her breath as she flew into Motorstoke, being hit with the smells of industrialisation: oil, smog and metallic hues.

She passed the usual monotonous buildings of brick and steel, factories propped next to one another, slightly shoving anyone in her path out the way to reach the stairs. She'd managed to get here with 10 minutes to spare, but if she didn't sign in soon, all of that would go to waste. Eevee's yelps could be heard with each bumpy path, but despite that, neither of them wanted to give in.

When they finally reached the doors, both Pokémon and trainer seemed to let out a deep sigh of relief, Himari still panting heavily from the sheer amount of running needed to pull that off.

'Ev, are you...uh, ready?' Himari whispered to her bag, eyebrows furrowing with a sudden intake of her surroundings. It was all so big. Her chest tightened.

'Evoi!' Ev nodded, urging her to run in with a quick little bounce of the tail. She nodded.

As expected, as soon as the door swung open, a good hundred of people snapped their heads toward the doorway.

Staring directly at her.

All were dressesed in the challenger uniform, that glossy white sportswear each with many combinations of numbers on their backs. Some guys there stared then went back to conversation, others never turned to begin with, and some seemed to be snarling her way.

Her chest tightened even more, feeling a late onset of fatigue and chills. Himari stumbled her way up to the front desk, a lump forming in her throat, with a gloss starting to glaze her eyes.

'A-Am I... In chyme? I mean, lyme, I mean, time...'

Oh. My. Arceus.

You did not just fumble that bad.

The blonde man at the front desk looked straight at her with a mix of confusion and pity, shifting his eyes from the desk to the girl, trying to pretend like he understood what she'd said. She looked like she was about to burst into tears, so he tried to be gentle about it.

'... Ahuh.' He nodded, slowly, trying to gauge her reaction.

'If you're here to enroll, can I have your sponsor?'

A wave of relief came over her face, and she was ready to sob on the spot, mainly as all her efforts had paid off. She rummaged in her bag, but Ev already had the document wrapped in its tail, thrusting it over to the man. He blinked in confusion.

'Sorry, miss, uhm...'

He squinted at the note.

'Miss Haymaree, but we have a strict closed ball rule here. Hygiene reasons, of course.'

Himari solemnly nodded, returning Ev to the ball.

The chatter had definitely increased, and the buzzer was infectious, with crowds of people gathering and talking in a way that was overwhelming.

She opened her mouth to say something, but kept stumbling.

'Stowwy- ... Serry, Berry? No, um.'

She muttered under her breath, getting increasingly more stressed. Her eyes bounced from each corner of the room, momentarily locking eyes with a boy that had brownish- black hair, before circling to the man again.

The man sighed.

'Could I take your challenger number, in that case? All is good with your documents.'

He subtly nodded to the challengers waiting behind her, as a way to imply, 'hurry up.'

Himari tried her hardest to keep it together, taking a deep breath as she did so.

'Um, 24, please...'

There was a long pause.

Longer than she expected.

Every second was torture.

'Ah, sorry? Repeat that?' He asked, a tone of bewilderment, but lighter than before.

'T—'

Himari jolted upwards as a firm hand pat her back, a head popping out beside her shoulder.

'She said 24! Didn'tcha, err... Haymaree?'

The boy's tone was light and fun, with a smidge of cheekiness. Purple hair in a casual updo, tanned brown skin, and golden eyes. He grinned right at her, before turning to the man again.

'Get her checked in quick! Me and my friend Gloria have to sign in!'

He nudged Himari, who was completely unresponsive, pink eyes swirling with all sorts of emotions.

'Hey, you know who I am, right? I'm...'

HOP!

HE'S HOP!

THE CHAMPIONS BROTHER!

SAY IT, HIMARI, SAY IT!!!!!

No.

She couldn't.

Her brain racked with an appropriate response, and not long after, Hop gave a frown.

'Ah, dang. '

'Guess yer not that famous, eh?' The girl beside him smirked.

'Shush, Gloria! Not like you're well-known, either!'

The receptionist gave a subtle tired groan, and gestured for Himari to be on her way. She didn't hesitate, rushing over to the changing rooms with a heavy expression.

Her back scraped against the wall, finally in a quiet space, and she could finally let all the bubbling emotions out.

Eyes clouding over, nose scrunching up, she felt just about ready to cry. What a disaster.

Was she even ready for this challenge?

She'd been a homebody not so long ago.

Why did she thing anything could change? And it'd only get worse from here.

She wiped her eyes, sniffling, listening out for the speakers that'd beckon them into the stadium as she slipped into her clothes.

BANG.

BANG.

BANG.

She suddenly yelped, falling onto her knee, snapping her head to the doorway.

'Huh? Sorry, I'll be out soon, I swear-'

Her tone was shaken and upset, but she scrambled for her items.

'Hey, It's me!'

.... Didn't sound like Hop's voice.

Who on earth was that?

'Um... Who?'

'Oh, yeah, figures. We only made eye contact once. '

He seemed to audibly shrug, a very sure and secure cadence. Confidence, maybe a little cocky, but not inherently horrible.

'... Sorry, but...' Himari's voice trailed off, brain unable to remember just who it was.

'Save me the trouble, just hear me out.'

He pleaded, dryly, leaning in a little closer to the bolted door.

'...Um, okay. Hi! '

'You're Himari, right? I like you.'

Her eyebrow raised, slowly lifting herself up to approach the door. She titled her head in confusion.

'I... Thanks? I'm...'

'That's why you should be my rival. Any champion needs a rival, right?'

He was on a roll, this mysterious guy, and didn't want to stop anytime soon. He had this calm, yet somehow fiery, passion in his voice.

'Sure, that's true, but...' Once more, she trailed.

'See, I knew you'd understand.'

This guy isn't giving her a chance to talk...

'But, well... Isn't Hop....'

'The obvious predecessor? No, Id argue it's Gloria..'

Another awkward pang of silence.

'At least in Arceus's ideal world.

But me and you? We'll ignore that, and follow our own path.

That old chap knows I 'play rough', anyhow.

You in?'

'... Hehe, that was a funny pun.'

Himari pondered for a while, before leaning closer to the door for her answer.

'Did you really have to corner me in the changing area to ask this?'