Perfect Strangers (James X Reader, Pokémon)

The Hard Truth

You arrived at Kiawes' after borrowing a bicycle for hire and catching a bus. When you got there your hair was blowing in all directions, your eyes were red from crying and your legs ached.

It was Sima who saw you coming, and ran out from her and her family's small house to greet you. Sima was like another mother to you, and Rango was like the father you never had.

"Y/N, dear, what's wrong?" She asked, holding you in a hug. You didn't say much for about a minute, you just sobbed into her shoulder.

When she saw you weren't going to talk in a hurry, Sima invited you inside. Once you'd regained control over your body and accepted a cup of tea, you told her everything.

You told her all about when you and James first met, about how you helped him out, and he'd always repay the favour, and you'd grown to love one another. And you told her how he was leaving.

But she didn't seem too depressed by this news. "Y/N, dear, if someone's just going to leave like that then they can't really love you, can they? I'm sorry, sweetheart." She said, making you start crying all over again.

Although you refused to believe it for quite some time, you couldn't help but think that Sima was right. If he was just going to leave like that then he wasn't really worth caring about, right? Just because he seemed to love you... Maybe he didn't really.

But then you remembered what he said in the woods, about how he had to leave. Did he have to leave because of you? You couldn't stand the thought.

After staying for dinner, you rode with Kiawe and Ash back to Professor Kukui's, after Ash insisted on going home early to comfort you. No-one told the Professor what had happened; you didn't want him to know anything about your relationship, at least not yet.

Even after a few days, the feeling of betrayal and greif washed over you like waves. You spent most of your time up in your room, drawing and thinking.

Why did James have to leave so badly? You thought that he followed Ash around, so why was he leaving when Ash was here? Unless... But no. He would have told you, your own brother wouldn't hide a secret like that! Right...?

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Sometimes you thought about following James to Galar. It'd be an awesome adventure, after all. A chance to get even stronger with Torracat, and improve your relationship with James.

No. He doesn't love you. Not anymore. It was like there was a raging battle going on inside your head between your brain telling you that he didn't love you, your heart arguing that he did, and your gut persuading you to follow him, whether he lived you or not.

The battle never seemed to end. Slowly, the pain of feeling alone subsided, and you were left high-spirited, like before. It felt too good to be true.

"Pancakes?! Oh, boy!" The loud exclamation from your young brother brought your head back to reality for a moment. You were sitting at the table, and plates of steaming hot pancakes had been placed on front of the 3 siblings.

"I'm gonna miss this." Emily said, sighing. "Me too. I don't know if I can even live without these anymore." Ash agreed. You looked at them, your brow furrowed.

"What are you on about? What do you mean you're going to 'miss them'?" You asked. "I mean, I'm going to miss them. You know." Ash said. "No, I don't."

Ash and Emily exchanged a look. "We haven't told her yet." Emily whispered loudly. "Haven't told me what?" You asked suspiciously. "That we're moving regions." Ash said in between a mouthful of pancake.

"You're what?!" You exclaimed, standing up and accidently sending your chair crashing to the floor. "Moving regions." He said again. "Wha- I... W-W... I'm so confused." You stuttered.

"We figured that we're done here. Of course, you're very welcome to come with us, the more the merrier." Emily said. You simply gaped at them, and Professor Kukui mumbled something about the loo and left.

"B-But... What about everything here?!" You asked. "We've done everything, and reckon it's time to move on." Ash said. "To where?" You asked bitterly.

"Galar." They said together. So that's why James had to leave so badly. You were so mad at him. He could've told you. "But why... All of a sudden... When?" You said snappily, and perhaps realised it, as you managed to smile warmly as you say back down.

"Next week." Emily said. "And you didn't think to tell me this?" You asked, trying to ignore the pain your heart was causing you. "We forgot. Sorry." Ash said. You sighed.

"Ok. Well, you'd better start to pack." You said miserably, fake smiling still.