BATTLES OF PAST

CHAPTER 5:TRIP

"Talking"
'Thoughts'
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After a few peaceful days, Professor Kukui informed all students about their trip to an Alolan temple.

When the day comes , all the students took their seats in the school bus. Red, seated at the back with Pikachu on his shoulder, jumped onto his lap and quickly dozed off. The bus engine hummed to life in preparation to depart from the school.

Red, by the window, was caught off guard by the unexpected arrival of Lusamine. He watched as she gracefully entered the bus, capturing the attention of Lillie and her friends.

Lusamine's eyes met Red's. She took the empty seat next to him as the bus began to move, leaving the school behind.

Lillie, a few rows ahead, turned to the backseat, wide-eyed. "Sister...?"

Red shifted himself near the window, giving Lusamine enough space. The atmosphere in the bus shifted, curiosity palpable among the students.

Lusamine adjusted herself comfortably, unfazed by the attention, and spoke with elegance. "I hope I'm not intruding, Lillie. I thought I'd join you on this tour. Alolan temples have a certain charm, don't they, Red?"

Red, still processing the unexpected twist, managed a polite response, "Not at all, Lusamine. It's an honor to have you with us."

As the bus traversed the winding roads towards the Alolan temple, Lusamine engaged in casual conversation with Red, who was desperately trying to avoid her gaze by shifting his eyes to the windows. Lusamine giggled, observing Red's attempts to evade her gaze.

After a while, she slowly began to sleep, indicating to Red that she was too exhausted to continue her speech, leaning her head onto Red's shoulders.

Feeling the weight on his shoulder, Red turned to find Lusamine asleep. He adjusted his shoulder to allow her to sleep comfortably, and he too drifted into sleep.

As the bus journeyed through the scenic routes of Alola, Lillie and her friends couldn't help but engage in a hushed conversation about the unexpected pairing of Red and Lusamine in the backseat.

Sophocles, with a mischievous grin, leaned in to whisper to Kiawe, "Did you see that? Red and Lusamine sitting together. What's going on?"

Kiawe raised an eyebrow, glancing toward the back. "Strange, isn't it? Wonder how they know each other."

Mallow, overhearing their conversation, smiled and said, "It's nothing, guys. They only know each other from when they met in our shop two days ago along with Lillie."

Lana, ever observant, added, "But there was something different about the way they looked at each other. And Lusamine was never the one to take interest in anybody besides her family."

Lillie, seated near the window, couldn't help but overhear their speculations. She exchanged a sigh with her Vulpix after hearing their friends' remarks about her sister and Red.

Meanwhile, Gladion, who was quietly observing the entire conversation, offered a nonchalant remark, "Don't jump to conclusions too soon. There was nothing between them. When my big sister finds something mysterious, she won't let it go until she finds the reason for the mystery. Red's mysterious presence attracts her, and that may be the reason for her sudden visit on this trip."

After Gladion's explanation, the rest of them learned about her sudden visit. Professor Kukui, seated with the driver and reading Red's file, turned to the backseat of the bus and was surprised to see Red and Lusamine sleeping, with the latter leaning her head on Red's shoulder.

The driver advised, "Professor, we will reach our destination in an hour, so take a rest from your research." The professor chuckled and said, "Don't worry about me. I have a feeling this trip to the temple will give us an unforgettable experience."

After reaching their destination, Professor Kukui approached the sleeping students with a soft smile and said, "Students, wake up! We have arrived at our destination!"

Slowly, the students began to wake up from their slumber upon hearing the professor's voice. Lillie, her friends, and her brother were among the first to awaken. As the students exited the bus, Lillie, carrying her Vulpix, remembered her sister and Red.

Walking toward the backseat, she was surprised to find her sister and Red sleeping soundly, seemingly oblivious to the world. A mischievous idea struck her, and she quickly took a photo of the two with her phone. 'It's like you're starting to open your heart after a long time, sister,' she thought, smiling mischievously. Lillie then attempted to wake them.

To her amusement, Lusamine snuggled into Red, hugging his waist tightly and muttered, "No, five more minutes, Lillie." Lillie, a bit annoyed by her sister's behavior, decided to play a trick. She released a deadly aura, scaring her Vulpix.

Feeling a sharp pain in her ears, Lusamine was abruptly awakened, holding her ears that had turned red due to Lillie's pulling. Witnessing her sister's mischievous smile, Lusamine felt a sense of impending pain as she knew well about Lillie's teasing tendencies.

Lillie spoke up, "I hate to interrupt your precious sleep, sister, but we have arrived at the location. I hope you slept well." Lusamine, embarrassed by her unplanned nap, realized her hand was still holding onto Red's. Quickly composing herself, she gently placed his hand down and shook Red's shoulder to wake him.

As Red woke up, he found himself looking into two attractive eyes. Lost in the moment, both he and Lusamine were brought back to reality by Lillie's fake cough. The teasing thoughts crossed Lillie's mind as she observed her sister and Red trying to avoid each other's gaze.

Lillie then proceeded to exit the bus, leaving Lusamine and Red in a somewhat awkward situation. Red sighed, waking up his partner, who nuzzled his cheeks. Red decided it was time to explore the temple and joined the others.

Exiting the bus, Red marveled at the sight of the temple. Professor Kukui gathered the students and shouted, "Alright, students, this temple is known as the Ruins of Conflict. The guardian of this temple is Tapu Koko." The revelation surprised some and excited others, hoping to catch a glimpse of Tapu Koko, one of Alola's guardians.

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-To Be Continued