How much mayonnaise does one put on a sandwich before it becomes concerning? I feel like every other person has a different limit, but are there any real freaks that eat more mayo than anything else in the food?
| May POV |
I woke up feeling weirdly refreshed today, like the kind of refreshed that only happens in anime when something big is about to go down. The sunlight streaming through the window hits just right, casting this golden glow across the room like it's pointing toward destiny—or, more likely, breakfast.
I stretch, yawn, and swing my legs over the edge of the top bunk, blinking the last bit of sleep from my eyes.
It's quiet.
Too quiet.
I glance around. We're the only ones left—must've slept in. The other trainers are already gone. It's just me, Torchic, Rio, and…
Blue?
Wait.
I squint.
A blue Ralts?
My brain takes a second to catch up, and when it does, the last of the drowsiness gets slapped out of me like a Critical Hit to the face.
I lean over the railing and stare down at the pile of sleeping Pokémon.
Rio's sprawled out on his back, snoring with his mouth open, a full-on snot bubble rising and falling with every breath. Torchic is curled up on one side, tiny talons twitching like she's dreaming of Embering some poor Caterpie.
And on the other side?
A shiny Ralts.
She's tucked neatly into Rio's side, clutching his tail like it's a plushie. Her face buried into his fur, her tiny breaths matching his like they're… synced?
I stare.
I blink.
I consider going back to sleep and pretending I didn't see any of this.
Then I sigh. Loudly. Dramatically. Theatrically.
Almost in disbelief, I try to get a closer look just to make sure I didn't mistake a random pillow for a Arceus-knows-where-it-came-from shiny.
I lean forward, my mind more preoccupied about our new bunk mate, my hand slipping over the edge—
And I promptly fall.
THUD.
"OW—!"
The crash is enough to startle everyone awake. Torchic flails mid-dream, squawking and kicking Rio in the face. Ralts jolts upright, eyes wide and panicked, clutching Rio's tail tighter like it's a lifeline. Rio bolts up too—disoriented, snot bubble popping with a sad little squeak.
I groan from the floor, limbs tangled in my blanket, staring up at three confused Pokémon blinking at me like I'm the intruder.
"…Okay," I mutter. "One: Ouch. Two: when did we pick up a second shiny? And three… someone better explain why she's cuddling my emotionally constipated Riolu."
Rio blinks blearily, then turns to look at me, face scrunched in sheer betrayal.
Like I just kicked his puppy or something.
He points at himself, then at me, ears flicking indignantly as if to say:
"Emotionally constipated? Really?"
I raise an eyebrow. "You've said, like, five words to me total, and three of them were grunts."
He dramatically slumps backward, throwing a paw over his face like a soap opera actor in distress.
Ralts, still clinging to his tail, suddenly giggles—not out loud, but that weird head-voice thing she does. Her eyes shimmer with amusement as she feels his thoughts. Then immediately hides behind him as she feels my gaze on her.
"Oh, now you're shy?" I ask, leaning forward just a bit.
She doesn't reply—at least not to me. Just gives a faint twitch of her head and buries her face deeper into Rio's back.
He peeks out from under his paw to give me a look.
Like I've just scared off the last bit of joy he had in the world.
"Oh don't give me that," I sigh, rubbing my temple. "I wake up to find you've adopted a stray telepath and I'm supposed to just be cool about it?"
He shrugs, clearly saying, "Yes?"
Torchic lets out a tiny snore in my lap, having already gone back to sleep, unbothered by the psychic drama happening above ground level.
"Great," I mutter. "I'm surrounded by emotionally unavailable monologues and cryptic giggles."
Ralts giggles again.
"I heard that," I grumble.
She peeks out from behind Rio, blinking up at me with big, shimmering eyes. That innocent "Who, me?" look that just screams 'I am weaponizing my cuteness and you can't stop me.'
Rio, of course, looks far too smug for someone with a literal snot bubble earlier.
I groan and flop back onto the mattress, face-first.
"This is my life now, huh?"
A pause.
Then two little pats on my head.
I lift my face just enough to see Rio standing over me with the most self-satisfied grin.
"You're welcome," his eyes seem to say.
Ralts waves shyly from behind him.
Torchic burps in her sleep.
Yep.
This is definitely my life now.
---
| Rio POV |
Breakfast at the Pokémon Center is supposed to be peaceful.
Calm.
A chance to fuel up before a day of violence and villainy.
Instead, I'm staring at a bowl of suspiciously green porridge.
"...This looks like someone blended a Bellsprout."
May sips her coffee like it holds the meaning of life itself. "Don't complain. It's free."
"It's radioactive."
Torchic is happily pecking at her food like she hasn't known suffering. Must be nice.
Across the table, Ralts is… doing that creepy thing again. No spoon, no hands—just psychic-floating bits of food from bowl to mouth like she's a tiny elegant ghost. She catches me staring and pauses mid-float, visibly panicking for a second before lowering the food like she's embarrassed to be magic in public.
You're fine. I just haven't processed that you can eat with your brain and I still trip over my own feet sometimes.
She giggles in my head. "You did that this morning, actually."
I scowl. You promised not to bring that up.
May raises an eyebrow over her mug. "You two doing that spooky mental twin-speak thing again?"
I blink at her, shrugging. Still can't talk to her.
Ralts shrinks a little.
"Cool. Love that for me," May mutters, going back to her coffee.
Torchic burps fire.
Breakfast of champions.
"Wait..." I glance at Ralts, wide-eyed. "If you can hear me, and she can hear you—does that mean...?"
Ralts tilts her head, uncertain. Her little hands clutch at the table edge while she processes the thought. I can practically hear the gears turning in her brain like an old Pokégear booting up.
"I-I think… maybe," she says, voice brushing against my mind like a whisper in the wind.
I lean in dramatically. "You mean I don't have to track down some mythical psychic cat just to say, 'Hi, May, I accidentally exploded another tree'?!"
She giggles at that, a little nervously, and glances at May, who's halfway through a Poképuff and completely unaware of the legendary communication breakthrough about to occur.
Ralts hesitates. Her gaze flicks between the two of us. Her fingers fidget.
I feel a flicker of anxiety—then resolve.
She scoots closer to May, visibly shy, like a kid trying to ask for an autograph.
May blinks. "Uh… hey there, little one?"
I hold my breath as Ralts extends her mind towards the both of us, my feet almost tapping in anticipation, now or never, Linky Startu!
Then—
Click.
The connection flares up in my head like the first time a Pokéball locks shut. My thoughts, still mine, suddenly ripple with a new thread.
And then—May hears me.
"…Whoa. Did you just think at me?"
I freeze.
May stares at me.
"You thought words, and I heard them."
I grin, wide as a Wailord.
"YES! IT'S WORKING!"
May drops her Poképuff in shock. "OH MY GOD."
Ralts beams. Just a little. Her eyes shy, her voice barely a murmur in our minds:
"I linked you together. Only if you're close… but it should work."
May slowly smiles. "Ralts… that's amazing. Welcome to the team, sweetheart."
Ralts flinches. Not from fear—but from surprise. Her expression softens, lips curling upward in something real. She steps forward, tugging gently at May's sleeve like a little sister asking for a hug.
May doesn't hesitate.
She scoops her up, warm and gentle.
Ralts squeaks—but doesn't pull away.
I sniff.
Not because I'm emotional.
Because of… allergies.
Or something.
Totally not crying.
"Group hug?" May offers, grinning.
"…Fine," I grumble, hopping up. "But only because I'm contractually obligated as main character."
Ralts giggles again, quietly, between both of us now.
For the first time in weeks—I don't feel like I'm stuck in my own head.
Well…
Ralts doesn't count.
That honeybun belongs there.
Word Count: 1381
Oh wow, he can speak to people now? I don't see how this could ever bite him in the ass.
MC: Pshh, I'm a master negotiator! Only good will come from this!
Sure....