Pasio University: Sophomore and Junior Years

Chapter 50- A Bountiful Harvest

May POV

It's harvest festival time! I gotta say, out of all of them, I'd say the Harvest Festival is my favorite, Christmas and the spring party are nice, but nothing beats pumpkin food and a huge group of friends to me! I love pumpkin pie so much... Plus pumpkin bread, it's like banana bread, but it has pumpkin, and it's like, so much better- anyway. I jogged over to Brendan's apartment, today we'd be spending time with Ethan, Lyra, and Kris, since all our Alolans are gone for one reason or another. I knocked on the door and Brendan answered, wearing a rather festive flannel shirt, and for good reason. For some reason, it's only late October, and yet we have our first snow of the year. I was wearing my usual red shirt, but I have my light coat on over it to counteract the cold. Brendan put his arm around me and we walked together, he looked at me, "Are you cold May?" I shook my head, "Nah, I checked my phone before heading out so I was ready." He hummed, "Suppose you are a field researcher. I guess you'd be pretty used to dealing with different weather." I nodded, "Yes. Oh! I see the festival! It's at least a little bigger than last year." Brendan sighed, "Budget didn't grow too much. Enrollment didn't go up because people think the school might be cursed or something after the Kyogre attacked." I shook my head, "Something about that still just doesn't sit right with me. When we dealt with Kyogre before, Rayquaza dealt with him easily, I wonder what went different this time... Anyway, I see some pumpkin pie, can we get some first?" Brendan chucked, "You've been looking forward to that more than anything else haven't you?" I nodded, "Yes."

Hilbert POV

Hilda and I were here at the Harvest Festival, and it's so cool! We're gonna go launch some pumpkins. The light dusting of snow never stopped anyone. I looked questioningly at the pumpkin launcher supplies. Wood, nails, rubber... Things? Like big rubber bands? I don't know. I looked at Hilda, "We working together or are we working against each other?" Hilda pointed finger guns at me, "You're going down Hilbert." I gave a thumbs up and turned away. Hm... How should I go about this... I was lost deep in thought for a good 10 minutes before I decided on the caveman idea of two wooden planks in the ground with the rubber thing in between them to use elastic to launch it. I whacked away at the wood and got it to stay finally. I only hit my hand once as well. I nailed the rubber band on and stood proudly in front of it. I looked over at Hilda who was sitting in a lawn chair a few feet away from me. I looked at her, "Is yours done already?" She shrugged, "Yes." I picked up a pumpkin and launched it with mine. It went decently far. I stood proudly, "Yeah! Beat that, Hilda." She threw a PokeBall forward and Emboar was released. He looked at me, then walked forward, grabbed a pumpkin and threw it about 5 times the distance of mine. I sighed and looked at Hilda, "Really?" She giggled and walked up to me, planting a kiss on my cheek, "Yes. I just liked watching you work so hard." I chuckled, "I hate you." She giggled and walked away, "Hate you too." Just then I saw Rosa running from over somewhere, I turned to her and yelled, "Rosa!" She waved back and stopped next to me, Hilda turned around and then walked back to us. Rosa sighed, "I'm sorry to interrupt your date... It's so selfish of me, but I don't have anyone to go with..." Hilda put her arm around her, "Agh! I didn't know! I'm so sorry Rosa! We were hoping you would come." Rosa smiled, "Thanks, I appreciate you guys." We both smiled, we're gonna have so much fun.

Lillie POV

I walked out of the pokemon center after another long day at work. I finally finished writing my little journal to read to Elio, so I'm going to go do that now. I walked through the sanitary hallways up to Elio's room. The doctors saw me on the way and greeted me. I walked in to the room and grabbed Elio's hand as usual. The nurse tending to him smiled, "Good afternoon Lillie. Glad to see you." I smiled back, "Thank you! It's been a long day..." She sighed, "I wish I could tell you there was anything new with him... Well actually we noticed some new brain activity yesterday when you were here, but we don't really know what it means. At least we know he's still trying..." I sighed. I rested my chin on the blankets. The nurse patted me on the back, "A lot of us wish we had someone who had our back though out anything. While he more than likely won't make it, at least he knows he has that in you." I nodded silently then the nurse left the room.

I grabbed my journal about 10 minutes later. Just the buzzing of the florescent lights above us making noise to cut the silence. I opened it, "Elio... I miss you a lot... I... I wrote down some of my favorite memories of us and thought I'd share them with you. If you can hear me... Or maybe even if you can't... Hopefully it makes you feel happy." I paused then began, "I remember, back when you started your island challenge, how terrified I was. I didn't have any friends, I didn't know where my brother was, I didn't even know if he was alive. You were there for me at that time. We traveled together and I felt myself get so much closer to you. Your selfless kindness inspired me, and the bravery you showed in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds made me feel strong too. I learned that anyone can be strong if they just will it into existence." I shook my head, "And... That night on Exeggutor Island... You told me how much it meant to you, and it meant an equal deal to me... I had been trying to figure out why I felt so different around you... And I realized then it was love. I loved you from that moment on... Hah. I don't think you ever knew, but I panicked about those feelings to Burnet. I know you never really crossed paths with them besides one second at the research lab but... Yeah." I sighed, "I didn't have the bravery to ask you out before I left, but I also didn't want to restrain you. I- I thought you would move on after I left, but you waited for me, even though I made no indication I was doing the same... Or that we would ever meet again." I smiled softly, "Then Arceus brought us both to Pasio to reunite, and I knew then that it was meant to be. It was so awesome, getting that second chance was so amazing..." I took a deep breath. "anyway. You know what I mean. You were there for me at my lowest point, and I just wanted to let you know I'll be here for you. As long as it takes. Even if that means forever." I closed my eyes. I know it might seem like nothing, but vocalizing all that felt like a huge weight off my chest. I began to cry softly. "I just-... I just wish you were awake so we could make more memories together!" I gripped his hand tightly and began to sob into the blanket. I don't care who sees, I think I've handled this well enough so far that I deserve one mental breakdown about it past the initial one. I feel so hopeless about it sometimes. I just wish he could defy the odds and come back to us. Come back to me.... I felt my hand get gripped back in return