Pasio University: Sophomore and Junior Years

Chapter 78- Shock and Awe

Brendan POV

I woke up in the hotel room with May in the bed across the room. I groaned and stretched my arms, I looked at May, "Morning May." She stretched and woke up, "Errrrrgh. Morning Brendan." I smiled, "You ready? I'd love to add a 3rd conference trophy to that case!" May groaned tiredly, "So I've heard." I laughed, "You're so grumpy when you're tired, you know that?" May turned over, "I'm so tired..." I stood up and immediately remembered, "Oh! I gotta go with Selene and Lillie to meet up with Elio and give him his jersey for today." May stood up slowly, "Oh. Why are you giving him his jersey? You're not gonna play him today are you?" I chuckled, "No-... Well I could but that's too big of a risk. Calem said he didn't see any improvements really, but Elio also said he wouldn't come back until he was ready. I wonder what his angle is..."

I went with Selene and Lillie to the Dimensional Research Lab. Supposedly that is a real thing and Lillie and Elio both know where it is. I stood outside waiting and saw a familiar white and pink cap in the crowd of people ahead. I heard Lillie yell, "Elio!" She ran out to him and he picked her up and turned around with her in a hug. Selene chuckled and I yelled over to him, "Long time no see you doofus. What made you pick this as the meeting spot?" Elio shrugged, "Near the Battle Royale Dome. Lillie knows where it is too so I figured that'd make it easy on you guys." Lillie giggled, "I was impersonating him here one time. I was really embarrassed at the time." Elio laughed and Selene narrowed her eyes,"Y'all are weird." Lillie giggled, "Ahh... That's a fair assessment." I tossed Elio his jersey which he caught. He looked at me, "Thanks. Feels good to have this again. You think I'll play today?" I shook my head, "Sorry man. As much as I wish I could, just you saying you're in top form isn't enough reason for me to put you in." Elio shrugged, "Worth a shot. Nah I get it. Totally would've made the same call in your position." I chuckled, "Yeah. Let's head to the arena, not too long until game time."

On the way there we saw lots of fans on the way to the game who recognized us. Selene, Elio, May, and I signed a few autographs and took a few pictures with some Pasio fans who made the trip. It's super nice when the fans we meet respect our boundaries but also want to wish us good luck and take a picture or something. I can tell that Elio and Selene both have missed this. They seemed so happy to be with the fans again, I guess it's something I took for granted. Selene is always so aloof without her brother, but now that he's back she frees herself to have as much fun as she wants. We eventually arrived at the stadium and the energy was unmatched for a conference final. Us and Regional have looked dead even all season, last season we were supposed to win and the season before they were supposed to. But this time it really is a coin flip in everyone's minds.

We made it in to the locker room and I kicked my feet up on the benches and closed my eyes. We have an hour or so, so I might take a short nap. May sat by me and kicked her feet nervously. I drifted off to sleep and asked Elio to wake me up in 30.

Elio POV

Lillie, Selene, and I were sitting in one corner of the locker room. Lillie smiled, "So how was Unova? Tell me everything!" I smiled, "It's awesome! Calem basically has a mansion down there, the Unovan pizza they always brag about is actually that good." Lillie's eyes sparkled, I chuckled, "Goodness I missed you so much..." Selene groaned, "I'm gonna puke." I looked at her, "Oh yeah? Why don't you go watch a movie with Gladi?" Selene rolled her eyes, "At least I don't swoon over him every second of my life." Lillie chuckled, "Relax, you're both pretty." We laughed, I looked over to Selene, "So how were things in Pasio...?"

30 minutes later the team gathered and Brendan woke up. He led us in some stretches to relieve stress and get ready. He then began, "Alright. The line up is the same as yesterday. Let's go out and do it." We all clapped our hands and locked arms and walked out. The crowd noise was deafening as we came out of the tunnel, loud boos again. I looked all around and the spotlights cut through the dark to shine on us. I stared around at the sell-out crowd around us and gulped in. I'm not even playing and I can't help but be a little nervous. I clapped my hands as the team started, May, Selene and Rosa running out to face the 3 from Alola Regional.