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“Hey, Kieran!”
Kieran looked up to see MC walking towards him and waving, with a minccino riding on their hat.
“Oh! Hey there, MC!”
They sat down next to him and minccino climbed down off of MC’s hat onto Kieran’s lap.
“Hi, minccino,” Kieran scratched behind her ears. She melted into his touch, delighted. “Aren’t you cute?” He looked back up at MC. “Did you catch her recently? I don’t think I’ve seen you with her before.”
“Yes, I did! I caught her in the Polar Biome for Drayton’s challenge, and we’ve grown quite fond of each other ever since. Her name is Cappuccino!”
“Chino, chino!”
“She’s very sweet.”
Cappuccino jumped back to MC and climbed up onto their shoulder. “She likes to be up high.”
Kieran smiled halfheartedly. “All Pokémon just love you, don’t they?” He looked at his feet.
“I wouldn’t say all…”
They sat in silence for a moment.
“I…” MC started, “I want to apologize.”
Kieran looked up at them.
“I shouldn’t have lied to you. That wasn’t okay, and I’m really so—”
“I’m sorry too! I’ll never lash out at you like that ever again. I promise!”
“I know. It’s okay, and I forgive you.”
“I forgive you too.”
MC smiled. “Can… Can I have a hug?”
“Oh! Y-yeah…”
The two leaned in and embraced each other. After a moment, Cappuccino crawled over to Kieran’s shoulder and nuzzled into his neck.
“Eek! H-hey!”
“I’m not doing anything…?”
They let go and MC saw that Cappuccino had found a new perch.
“Chichi! Chichi!”
“Aw, I think she likes you!”
“Mrrmph-! T-tell her to stahap, w-would you?”
“Wait, are you—”
“N-no!”
Cappuccino paused to look at MC. Kieran let out the breath he was apparently holding in.
“Hmm, I think I know something that might cheer you up.”
“Wha-?”
“Cappuccino, use tickle!”
“Chi! Chichichichichichichichi!”
Cappuccino rapidly swished her tail back and forth against Kieran’s neck and ears. When he scrunched his neck and shoulders to protect himself, she would crawl to the other side.
“Ah! Ahahahaha nohoho! S-stahahahahahahap ihihit!”
Kieran didn’t want to accidentally hurt her, so he just sat there, giggling, fists clenched in his lap.
“I was right! Now let’s see… Are you ticklish here?” MC gently poked Kieran’s tummy.
“Nahahahahahat you too!”
“Sounds like a yes. How about riiight here?” They wiggled a finger in his belly button.
“EEEHE! NohohOHOhooo!”
Cappuccino wagged her tail under his chin.
“Ehehehe *snort* I- *snort* stAHAHAHA!”
MC laughed along with him. “What about these ribs of yours?” They kneaded his lower ribs with their thumbs and Kieran shook his head and kicked his feet out.
“Chichichi!”
Wanting to help MC, Cappuccino slipped under Kieran’s shirt and clung to his bicep as she swiped her tail over his right armpit.
“W-whaAAHAHAHA! G-gehet oUT of-eEHEHEHE!”
“You have a really cute laugh, you know,” MC commented, still tickling his ribcage.
Kieran blushed.
Cappuccino then crawled down his torso, came out the bottom of his shirt and sat on his left knee.
“Chino!”
“What is it?” MC asked Cappuccino, “Do you have an idea?”
“Chino, chino!”
Cappuccino held on to Kieran’s thigh and swished her tail against the underside of his knee.
“N-no! Not my knehehehEHEHEES! I’m rehEHEHEHEALLY t-tihihicklish thehehEHEHERE!”
“Good work, Cappuccino! It’s super effective!”
“Shuhut uhuhup! You’re worse than CahahAHAHAHA! WAIHAIHAIHAIHAIT!”
MC joined in, squeezing above Kieran’s kneecaps and holding his legs still with their own while Cappuccino hopped back and forth between his legs, brushing her tail against his inner thighs and the undersides of his knees.
“AHAHAHAHAHAHA! P-PLEHEHEHEHEHEHEASE! DOHOHOHOHON’T! STAHAHAHAHAHAHAP!!”
“Don’t stop? You got it!”
“NoohOOOHOHO-AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! IHAHAI’M GONNA DIHIHIEEEEHEHEHE! MAHAHA! MEHEHEHERCY! MER-HAHAHA-HERHERHERCY!”
“Alright, Cappuccino, that’s enough.”
“Chino…”
Disoriented, Kieran leaned over onto MC’s lap and gasped for air.
“Ehehehe.. haha… ahahaha…”
MC patted his head. “You alright?”
“Yeaha…”
Cappuccino clambered over Kieran and climbed back up MC’s arm onto their shoulder. MC continued to soothe Kieran by lightly scratching his scalp, which he appeared to enjoy. They stayed like that for a few minutes until MC stopped and Kieran finally came out of his daze.
“Wha- When did I get on your lap??”
“Don’t worry about it,” MC said reassuringly, “I don’t mind.”
Embarrassed, he sat up and avoided MC’s gaze. He twiddled his hair in his fingers.
“Thanks.”
“For what?”
“F-for tickling me… I haven’t been tickled in a while, and, so uh… it was nice.”
“Oh, I’m glad!”
“Yeah.” Kieran peeked at MC and smiled, genuinely.
“Feel free to ask any time. Right, Cappuccino?”
“…”
Kieran stopped hiding his face and turned towards the pair. “Looks like she fell asleep.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t, after that.”
“I almost did, you have a magic touch. No wonder your Pokémon love your pets so much!”