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Kieran grumbled to himself as he trekked up the rocky trail towards the crystal pool. It wasn’t his idea to come up here, after all.
“Julie went up there ages ago, and she isn’t responding go my texts.” His sister had told him. “So it's your job to go get her for lunch.”
He had tried to argue that isn’t certainly was not his responsibility, but Carmine had shoved him out their front door and slammed it shut behind him. Typical.
Kieran sighed. It certainly wasn’t that he disliked Juliana, quite the opposite, really, but… things were complicated.
So much had happened, between their first meeting, Ogerpon, her becoming a blueberry transfer student, and wandering into the depths of Area Zero.
They’d agreed to start over, sure, but that didn’t erase the past. Juliana was reserved around him, like she was walking on eggsecute shells. He hated it. It was Carmine’s idea to invite her to stay with them on Kitakami, which he had hesitantly agreed to. She acted like she had done him a great favor, but…
The small pond came into view, and he spotted Juliana sitting on the shore with her Meowscarada. She seemed to be leaning into the Pokémon, and the pair were dangling their legs into the clear water.
Kieran approached the duo cautiously, walking up the path behind them.
Meowscarada heard him first, glancing his direction. The Pokémon squinted her eyes, and the approaching trainer wasn’t sure what the cat’s facial expression meant.
Juliana didn’t turn right away, instead furiously wiping at her face before turning.
“O-oh. Kieran. …Hey.” She nonchalantly whispered, as if her face wasn’t splotchy and red, her eyes bloodshot. “I didn’t even hear you!” She forced a small laugh, and her Pokémon frowned next to her.
Kieran stared at her, not quite sure what to do. He absolutely would not have come up here if he’d known he’d be in this position, but he was here now.
“Jules, are you… okay?”
He walked to her side that wasn’t occupied by Meowscarada, and sat next to her cross-legged, facing the water.
They sat in silence for a moment, Juliana’s only reply being a few soft sniffles.
This didn’t suit her at all, seeing her cry… made his heart ache.
“It’s… okay if you aren’t.”
She was silent in reply, a gentle breeze blowing through the bangs that hung onto her forehead.
“Of course I am-“
“You’re lying.”
“Kie-“
“Look, Jules… I know what it’s like to not be okay.”
She turned to him, tears welling in her big chestnut eyes.
“I miss you, Kieran.” Her voice was so strained that is cracked when she spoke, and she clutched the fabric of her shirt.
“…What?” Kieran turned and stared at her, dumbfounded.
“You- I felt like… we had this instant connection when I first met you.” A droplet flowed down her cheek, and she made no motion to stop it’s trek downwards. “I was enamored by how softly you spoke and how sweet you were, to me, your Pokémon, heck, my Pokémon… I never meant to lie to you about Ogerpon, it all happened so fast, and being an outsider here… I… I just didn’t feel acceptable to be going against your sister and grandfather, even though it felt wrong, I knew how you felt about Ogerpon and yet…”
Her crying picked up, and she buried her head into her folded arms, pulling her knees to her chest.
“I never even got to apologize before everything all weng haywire. I jumped at the chance to go to Blueberry to see you again but… I think maybe I just made things worse. I’m so sorry for everything.”
Kieran couldn’t do anything but stare and blink at her. She’d been hurting this whole time too? How stupid to think he was the only one who cared. His chest tightened realizing his actions had caused this. She was crying because of how he had treated her during his wallowing.
“Jules, I don’t need an apology…”
He looped their arms together and stared out at the crystal clear water.
“I’ve missed you too. I’m glad you came here for vacation.”
With that simple touch, Juliana took it as permission, and she leaned against him heavily, her head on his shoulder.
The pair sat like this for awhile, and finally Kieran relaxed, tense at first with her so close.
“I’m sorry, Jules.” Kieran let out a breath, right as the lingering Meowscarada stood, stretched, and went for a stroll. He mused for a moment about how intuitive it was.
“I don’t think you owe me an apology, Kier… you’ve already apologized to me.”
“Yeah but… this one is kind of different.”
She leaned away, large chestnut eyes shining with curiosity. A gentle breeze blew through her hair and tussled her bangs, which she had kept in the classic Kitakami festival style; it suited her.
“I’m sorry I didn’t say anything sooner. I also felt that instant connection and… ugh. I just-“
Juliana surged forward, kissing Kirian’s cheek, lingering there for a moment before pulling away.
He gingerly touched his cheek, watching her tomato berry red face deepen in color as she stared
He smiled softly at her, wider when she returned the smile.
“Wowzers.” He whispered, leaning towards her.
Meowscarada smiled, perched atop a nearby rock, as she witnessed her trainer’s first kiss.