𝙲𝚕𝚒𝚌𝚑𝚎́ 𝚅𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜. [pkmn.]

Chapter 2

*SLIGHT SONIA X LEON WARNING*

"Lee, I told you. I'm fine." Hop said sternly.

"Look, if you don't wanna talk about it now, I understand. And I know you're tired, so I'll let you go to sleep. Sorry if I bothered you." said Leon.

And with that.. Hop went to bed for the night.

Hop woke up in a pitched black room, not a single bit of light was present.

"Hop!" a voice similar to Gloria's yelled, immediately getting Hop's attention. "Help me!" the voice yelled even louder - making Hop even more confused and even a bit creeped out.

"H-Hop! H-Help! Ple-please!" Okay. Now Hop was angry.

"Gloria? Gloria!" Hop yelled somewhat into the void-like room. He ran towards the voice everytime it called his name in his bestfriend's - well, kinda crush, voice.

"She's gone." a different voice said, and it wasn't one he was familiar with.

"Wh-what do you mean?!" Hop said in a firm voice, but it still showed his fear and anger.

"And it's all your fault." the different voice said.

"No, no, no!-" Hop got up, and immediately ran around the void.

Her things were popping up one by one..

Her hat..

Her champion cape...

And then, he saw a horrendous sight.

It was Gloria... But she was a lifeless husk of what she used to be.

And then Hop woke up.

His breathing was hitched and he was covered in a pool of sweat.

"I really should stop this." Hop said to himself.

The next morning...

"Hey Sonia..." Hop greeted the Professor as he walked into her lab.

The lab wasn't the most organized, but it wasn't the worst. Even though papers, folders, and files were scattered all over the lab, Hop didn't mind.

"Heya, Hop! How are you?" Sonia greeted in cheerful tone despite it being early in the morning.

"I'm good, how's the research doin'?" Hop asked.

"Well, ya know - we've been making progress, and Leon's been traveling around the region recently trying to find more info. We've gathered some data, but we're just scratching the surface." Sonia explained.

Ever since Leon's defeat to Gloria, he became a professor, helping out his long time childhood friend - and now girlfriend of 7 years, Sonia.

"Well, I'm just glad for Lee. Haven't seen him be so passionate about something since his Champion days." Hop said softly.

"Well Sonia, I've got to go. Just wanted to stop by and see how are things doing! Bye Sonia!" Hop greeted Professor Sonia just before he left.

"Bye!"

Just as he walked outside, there stood a figure that he was both happy... and shocked to see.

It was Gloria, and with this early in the morning, she could wander around without people bothering her.

"Good morning, Champ!" Hop greeted, making Gloria softly smile.

As they both exchanged actions, they both felt a light blush crawl up their faces, making them both flustered - but both of them denied this feeling, both clearing out their throats and they both still remaining eye contact.

Without waring, Gloria suddenly grabbed Hop's hand, pulling Hop with her. It almost feels like a cliché romance anime, Hop thought.

"Well then, let's go! We don't wanna be late for the meeting." Gloria said as he was dragging Hop into the flying taxi she called.

Screw the meeting. Hop said in his head. I don't want this to end.

Timeskip...

The meeting was boring as hell. Hop nearly fell asleep but he had to remain awake to be somewhat decent.

Through that one boring ass hell of a meeting, he was sure that he imagined almost anything his imagination could.

"Well then, It's a wrap!" one of the workers in the room said.

The rest was just random gibberish to him, but Hop swore he could still here Gloria throughout that mess.

"Hey Hop, wanna go get lunch?" Gloria asked.

"Uhh, sure, but what about the others?" Hop asked, not wanting to show that he was hella flustered by Gloria's question. By others, he ment the gym leaders.

Little did he know... She felt the same.

"Oh, they already went ahead. And since you're the only one I'm with right now, I kinda wanted to ask you out to lunch at the restaurant we always used to go to at Hulbury. So, what do you say?"

"Sure! Ya know, I kinda missed eating there. I can't even remember when was the last time I went there."

Gloria giggled as a response and pulled Hop into a tight hug.

Hop also hugged back, but deep inside - he felt super duper flustered.

Timeskip:

As Hop entered his apartment, he was suddenly surprised by what he saw.

" Soooo... How are thing between you and the champ~?"

It was Nessa, Leon, Sonia, Raihan, Bea, Allister, and Milo sitting on his couch - with expressions that clearly indicated something.

"Uh... Wtf?" Hop ask, feeling kinda confused and honestly a bit scared.

"We're here to help you, ya dork!" exclaimed Bea.

Oh god Gloria calls me a dork sometimes-
Hop was flustered at the thought he had.

"We've seen you struggle with her dude, tsk tsk - you poor guy." Raihan said.

"See! You're so helpless even Allister wanted to help your sorry ass!" Leon insulted.

"Now. We have a whole week to help you. Let's get to work." Sonia said with a hint of sass.

"Oh no."