JaPHAN

CHAPTER 2

Phil stopped in his tracks when he saw the sheer magnitude of how large the Pokémon store was.
"You know they call it the Pokémon Mega Center for a reason," Dan reminded him.
"It's beautiful," Phil breathed.
"Yeah..." Dan agreed. "It is. Now come on, let's go in."
They walked into the giant store where their eyes were immediately assaulted with vibrant splashes of yellow and blue and orange. Displays were everywhere, with plush Pokémon characters lining the shelves. Entire walls were covered in trading cards of all varieties. The boys stood, marveling at the giant Pikachu who sat in the middle of the store.
"Dan?"
"Yeah?"
"Heaven is real."
"Uh huh."
And with that, they set off through the store, adventuring up and down the aisles to a chorus of Japanese conversation coming from the store's other patrons.
"You have any idea what anybody's saying?" Phil asked, under his breath.
"Not a clue," Dan admitted. "Though I swear I heard someone say 'senpai'." At this, Phil grabbed a stuffed Bulbasaur from the shelf and pretended to attack his friend with it.
"Stop!" Dan shouted in between fits of laughter. "You're gonna get us kicked out!" (Though as Dan said this, he took the stuffed Jigglypuff from behind him and tossed it at Phil.)
"It would be an honor to be kicked out of a Japanese Poké Center with you, Daniel," Phil said, catching the toy and bowing.
"I am quite magnificent aren't I?"
"I wouldn't go that far."
"Oh you're gonna pay for that one, Lester," Dan said, grabbing a toy Pokéball. "Mudkip, I choose you!" Phil rolled his eyes.
"Mudkip? Really Dan? That's the best you can do?" Dan shrugged.
"I'd like to see you try!" Phil raised an eyebrow before picking a Pokéball of his own.
"Go Goldeen!" He cried, to which Dan promptly laughed out loud.
"Goldeen?! Seriously? It's just a goldfish!" He continued to laugh while Phil crossed his arms over his chest and pouted. Still chuckling, Dan turned back to a nearby shelf to see what else he could find. His eyes lit up as he spotted it, a stuffed Growlith, Phil's favorite. He grabbed it and turned around to show Phil...and his heart stopped when he saw that Phil wasn't there.
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
"Phil?! PHIL!"
Dan hurriedly traversed aisles of Pokémon merchandise, searching for his best friend. He scanned the area above the shelves, searching for a black head of hair. But he didn't see any.
Every so often, he would get weird looks from Japanese patrons who obviously didn't speak English, and every so often, he would find an English-speaking tourist and give them a description of Phil, asking if they'd seen him. Every time they shook their heads, leaving Dan to continue his search.
"Dan?" He heard a voice ask from behind. But it wasn't Phil's. He turned around to see them, a boy and a girl about the same age, at the end of an aisle. "Danisnotonfire?" They asked again, using his Youtuber name.
"Hello," Dan chuckled awkwardly, walking down to meet them. They were wide-eyed. The boy was shorter than the girl and had dark hair and dark eyes. He wore a beanie, black skinny jeans, and a Fall Out Boy tee-shirt. The girl had light brown hair with a fringe, green eyes, and wore a simple blue tee-shirt and jeans.
"I can't believe it's really you," the boy said in complete awe. The girl nodded.
"Want a hug?" Dan asked. Without a moment's hesitation, they wrapped their arms around him, standing a full foot shorter than him. When they let go, Dan asked, "So what are your names?"
"Henry," the boy said in an American accent.
"Jordyn," answered the girl, American as well.
"And you're tourists as well?" He asked them.
"We're here on a school trip," Henry explained. Dan looked at them in a mock-condescending manner.
"Did you walk away from the group?"
Jordyn laughed.
"No, we had free time."
"That's really cool!" Dan said genuinely. "I suppose you want a picture?"
"Sure," Henry smiled, moving to stand next to Jordyn. "Could you take one of us, actually?" Dan's smile lowered.
"Huh?"
"Kidding," Henry winked. Jordyn giggled as she pulled out her phone so they could all take a selfie.
"Kawaii faces?" Dan asked, his peace sign at the ready.
"Because this is Japan, yes," Jordyn laughed, and they snapped a picture.
"It was nice meeting you!" Dan told them.
"Hey, Dan?" Henry asked suddenly.
"Yeah?"
"Where's Phil?"
"Actually..." Dan started to explain. "I don't know. I'm trying to find him."
"Need any help?" Jordyn asked, looking sincere. "It's a big store." Dan shrugged.
"Sure why not...I could use the help."
*_*_*_*_*_*_*
"How old are you guys anyway?" Dan asked as they moved quickly through the store.
"I'm fourteen, she's fifteen," Henry answered.
"Are you two related or..?"
"We're best friends!" Jordyn exclaimed, grinning at Henry. Dan smiled to himself. He liked them. At that moment, they passed an enormous poster of Ash, Brock, and Misty. Jordyn couldn't help but wrinkle her nose.
"Notice how Ash and Brock are fully clothed yet they sexualize Misty...the company's only fault really."
"Chill, it's a cartoon character!" Henry told her. She shrugged. They continued to search in silence for a while, until Henry muttered something under his breath.
"Speaking of Ash, actually..." He pointed down an aisle, where there stood a tall figure, dressed as Ash Ketchum, turned around from them.
"Wait a second..." Dan said. "He looks familiar...PHIL!"
The figure turned around, and there he was, Phil Lester, dressed from head to toe in an Ash Ketchum costume.
"Dan look what I bought!" He called from down the aisle, grinning.
"Oh Jesus Christ..." Dan muttered. He walked down to meet Phil with Henry and Jordyn following. "Phil why would you buy that?!"
"Because it's so cool!" Phil said, straightening his hat. "I got you something too..." And with that, he pulled out a Brock costume. "For you!"
"PHIL!"
"Put it on!"
"Philip I am not walking around Tokyo in a Brock costume! And neither are you in that!" Phil pouted.
"Alright...I'll change. But I know what we're being for Halloween." Dan sighed.
"Fine, sure. Oh and Phil?"
"Yep?"
"This is Henry and Jordyn, easily the coolest fans I've ever met. They helped me track you down."
"Nice to meet you!" Phil said, bringing them in for a hug.
"Am I hugging AmazingPhil or Ash?" Jordyn asked.
"Both!" Phil grinned. "Thanks for helping Dan!" The foursome took some more selfies before it was time for Henry and Jordyn to leave and Phil to change.
"Hey, do you guys want to meet us at the Ghibli museum tomorrow?" Dan asked. "I mean, if you can. We'd love to hang out more!"
"I'm sure we could manage," Henry said. "I mean, without illegally slipping away from our school group. Don't worry."
"Awesome!" Phil said. "It's gonna be great!" And with that, the two pairs bid each other goodbye as Henry and Jordyn departed back to their school group. And Dan and Phil left to go get ready for their dinner that eve.