1. Ash's Story (Part 9: Alola)

Chapter 19: Trading Tides

Professor Kukui announced Pokémon Trading Day after morning class, and the whole room reacted as if he had declared a surprise festival. Mallow raised her hand first, eyes bright with curiosity and a little worry.

"Pokémon Trading?" Mallow asked. "What exactly does that entail?"

Lana immediately hugged Popplio closer. "Does that mean Popplio is going away?"

Popplio pressed both flippers against Lana's arm. "My bubbles are not leaving the quiet sea girl."

Kukui waved both hands quickly. "No, not at all. Nobody is losing their partner. It is only for the weekend. I want all of you to experience caring for Pokémon other than your own."

Sophocles relaxed so dramatically that Togedemaru rolled against his shoe. "That sounds less terrifying."

Kukui smiled. "Pokémon training is not only battling with partners who already understand you. Sometimes caring for a different Pokémon teaches you how your own partner sees the world."

That explanation changed the room. The nervousness became excited planning, and everyone started whispering about whose Pokémon they hoped to understand better. Selene looked at Lillie's Snowy with interest, then at her own Mareanie, as if remembering that not every new partner could be handled the same way.

Professor Kukui placed colored sticks into a box, two of each color. "We draw randomly, and matching colors become temporary partners for the weekend."

Kiawe reached first and drew red. Lana drew blue. Mallow drew green. Sophocles drew yellow. Selene drew blue and immediately smiled at Lana. Trenor drew green with Mallow, Nate drew yellow with Sophocles, and Rosa drew red with Kiawe.

Lillie and I drew last. My stick was white. Hers was white too.

I stared at the sticks. "Isn't it just our luck? We picked the same color."

Lillie sighed softly, though she tried to smile. "There is no need for us to exchange because we already share our Pokémon."

Pikachu patted my shoulder. "The white sticks know the obvious and still made it official."

I laughed despite the disappointment. It was not that I wanted to send any partner away. I only understood what Kukui meant. Watching another Trainer care for your Pokémon could teach you something impossible to see from inside your own habits.

Lillie looked toward the others as they arranged temporary care plans. "Maybe we can still learn by helping everyone else."

"That sounds right," I said. "And our Pokémon can learn from seeing the trades too."

The rest of the class turned into careful introductions. Lana explained Popplio's feeding habits to Selene, while Selene described how Mareanie needed warning before anyone touched its spikes. Kiawe gave Rosa a serious lesson about approaching Turtonator's shell, and Rosa answered by explaining that Liepard obeyed calm posture more than loud orders.

Mallow knelt beside Trenor and offered Bounsweet's favorite snack list. Trenor listened like he was receiving battle plans. Nate tried to ask Sophocles about Togedemaru's electricity storage, and Sophocles answered with enough detail that Nate started writing it down before he forgot half of it.

Kukui watched everyone with satisfaction. "See? The trade has already begun before any Poké Ball changes hands."

Lillie held Snowy close and smiled faintly. "Maybe caring starts with asking questions."

Snowy tucked her nose against Lillie's sleeve. "Questions are softer than grabbing hands."

The second morning of Trading Day brought more stories. Mallow admitted that Trenor's careful handling made Bounsweet calmer than expected, while Trenor admitted Bounsweet had somehow convinced his Mudbray to share its snack bowl. Selene said Lana's Popplio liked her, but only after she stopped treating bubbles like decorations and started treating them like training tools.