smashacademy | 01. I'm home [Text]

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01. I'm home [Text]

[[OOC: If the involved players would like her DR post to be canon, then this journal post can come after it. I'd be happy to finish those threads there.]]

Hello everyone. For those of you who may not know me, my name is Chiyo and I'm a Vaporeon. I first arrived at Smash Academy two years back and spent, according to the time here, a year away on an unexpected break. If by chance you may be curious as to where I've been, I was away traveling through a few worlds before I was able to find a portal to return here. Speaking of which, portals can be rather complicated to understand and use, so please be careful when you see or plan to use one, okay?

That aside, I'll be in college this year! I'm greatly looking forward to studying, spending time in the library and greenhouse, swimming, and hanging out with friends again. Although I'm saddened to have discovered that several friends I knew have left, I still look forward to making new friends and hope we'll have a pleasant year together.

In the meantime, I'll be taking a walk around the school and will be looking to reunite with some friends. If you'd like to meet or text me, please feel free to do so. I'll have my phone with me and will answer any texts as soon as I'm able.

Again, it's nice to be back. I hope I didn't cause too much trouble when I disappeared. If I did, I'd like to make it up to you. Other than that, hope you have a great day!

Private Text to Mondo:

Hello Mondo. If it's alright with you, could we meet? I'd like to talk to you. If not, then... I'll understand.

Sincerely,
Chiyo

[[OOC: Feel free to make action threads if you'd like to interact with Chiyo on campus.]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He couldn't help thinking how far she'd come from the shy little Vaporeon who had seemed petrified of him on her first day.

"There's not many folk who'd say that of a Werewolf. You're a brave one, Chiyo." Jon joked, giving her shoulder a brief squeeze before putting his hand behind his back. "I've always enjoyed your company. You've never been anything outside of a delight to spend time with - If I make you feel at ease, you've only yourself to thank."

And it was true. If she wasn't such a lovely person, he'd definitely not go out of his way to make her feel comfortable in his presence.

Chiyo had to give a little surprised laugh at being called brave.

"Calling me brave might be pushing it, but I'm happy with the compliment." And then, finally, she dared to ask with a hopeful expression. "Jon, can I... can I give you a hug?"

"Yes. You may." he replied, moving closer and bringing his arms from behind his back so that he could hug her in return.

There were very few people in the world with whom he'd gladly exchange an affection like this in public. She was one of those few. And he didn't even look around to see if anyone was watching.

"Thank you!"

Overjoyed, she quickly went in for the hug, wrapping her arms around his torso and relished in the warmth of his warm, furry coat. It was all she had imagined it to be and she snuggled up against him.

"I believe hugs with you are the best hugs. I've been really looking forward to this day when we could meet again. It's almost like a dream come true. Thanks for being my friend, Jon."

"You are extremely welcome, little one." he replied, hugging her back and just allowing himself to feel happy that she was here again.

"...I did miss you, you know. Just in case there was any doubt in your mind. And I'm very glad to have you back with us. You're an extremely dear friend to me."

He'd always felt quite a connection with the watery Eeveelution. Always felt a drive to make sure she was taken care of and happy. He was just glad that she allowed him the rare opportunity to dote a little.

His words caused her to tear up and her nose to sting, but she was happy. Incredibly happy. Hearing you were an extremely dear friend... that could only be accompanied by massively heartwarming and tender feelings. Reluctantly, she drew away from the hug after an indulgent amount of time and smiled lovingly.

"As you are to me. My first and very dear Werewolf friend." She laughed quietly to herself, amazed at not only how spectacular it was to be able to meet a Werewolf, but also at how she was able to become close friends with him. She really did feel she had come a long way from how she used to be.

To her, they were a pack and Jon was the big, strong, caring, and respectable pack leader. She felt blessed to have him in her life.

"Life just wasn't the same without you."

"Speaking of life without me..." Jon said, happy to know that he was missed too, "...I'd love to hear about where you've been and the kinds of adventures you've had. World hopping isn't something I've done a great deal of."

Well, apart from the times he'd been to Kanto and also the Makai. But he doubted she went to the demon world or just back home to the Pokémon regions.

"I've got lots I'd like to tell you! Most of them aren't really spectacular, but nevertheless I'd like to share them with you. Maybe we can do so over a cup of tea? Maybe in the canteen or a cafe?" Though there were some stories she'd find hard to tell, she didn't think she'd be able to keep herself from sharing them with Jon. Keeping things from Jon wasn't something she could imagine doing. She trusted him too much to want to hide anything.

"A cup of tea sounds lovely, about now." Jon admitted. "Normally, I'd suggest we go into town and have something at a café, but being as you've only just arrived and are no doubt tired, I would think the cafeteria at school will do."

She'd only just gotten back - he didn't want to drag her around the countryside, after all!

"And we can have a bite to eat, while we're at it. I'm very much looking forward to hearing about everywhere you've been. I've a few things to share of my own, as well."

"Okay! Maybe we can save the cafe for another day." She started humming as she walked beside Jon. He was really thoughtful to consider her health, wasn't he? "So, Jon, how have things been this past year while I was away?"

"Well, I became a teacher." he replied. "I'm the Martial Arts instructor. I'm still training Riwane, though, she isn't currently at school. Not a lot else has changed, but the Teacher thing is certainly a lifestyle improvement. My own dorm room and a wage."

Both definite plusses!

"And we'll definitely go to a café some time soon. I'll take you for lunch."

Having a paycheck meant that he could do things like that, too.

"Wow, a teacher, huh? Congratulations! Is your class open to all students? I've been wanting to learn martial arts for some time now." Now that she could study at a school again, she wanted to learn the skills to defend herself and her friends. She wished to be strong, too.

"And thanks! I hope I can return your kindness someday. I'd like to get a job, but I'm unsure of what kind I can do."

"I would be overjoyed to see you there." Jon replied, holding the door for her to enter the cafeteria. "I do my utmost to cater to students of all ability levels so please believe me when I say you'd be welcome. I also provide one on one tutoring for students who wish to catch up a little bit. There's nothing wrong with being a beginner."

He walked in and thought a moment.

"As for a job, I'm unsure. There are plenty of places in the City where I assume a student could get an entry level position that requires no formal training. Perhaps not the sort of job one makes a career out of, but gainful employment."

As she walked through the door, she thanked Jon and headed over to counter to order chamomile tea and pound cake.

"I wonder if there are many other students who work in the city. Hmmm." She wondered which places should would find interesting to work at and the most brilliant of ideas came up. The idea excited her so much, she nearly wanted to go right after tea to check it out. "Oh! Do you think I could work at the bookstore?"

And then a few more ideas came up.

"Oh, wait! Maybe a flower, cake, or tea store? Is there even a tea store? Or a, an aquarium?" She almost couldn't contain her excitement as she waited on Jon to order his food and drinks.

Jon just ordered a cup of plain, black tea.

"I believe there are some. You ought to ask over the Network if there's anyone with a job currently who could put in a good word for you or get you an interview." he suggested. "And I know that there's an aquarium in the city. Smaller pet stores with aquatics departments, too, I'd wager."

"An aquarium~." Chiyo was definitely happy to hear that.

"All the little fishies," she cooed. "I'll have to check that out as soon as I can."

She ate the pound cake with glee, savoring its fluffiness and flavor, then got back on track.

"So, this past year - well, technically two years in other worlds - I traveled to several worlds. I didn't live in many of them for long, as I was just passing through. There were only two worlds that I spent the longest in. The first... was a real eye opener. War occurred often in its history, and one happened to be going on when I arrived." She quieted for a moment, rested her hands on her cup, and closed her eyes briefly. The memories of it and its aftermath weren't pleasant, but at least there were also other better memories to balance it. When she looked at Jon, she gave him a small smile to reassure him that things were okay.

"Although I was really scared for a while, I met some people who helped me and they taught me a lot. I don't think... I would have made the rest of my journey if not for them.... I was very lucky."

"War, eh...? Nasty business. I'm sorry you had to deal with that, little one."

Even though she smiled, he still worried. He was hard wired to worry. It was just his nature.

"I'm grateful to the friends you made who got you through it, however. Tell me more about them? That way, should they ever show up here I can be sure and thank them."

"Don't be sorry. It couldn't be helped. Thankfully it's over now. Well, for me that is."

Thinking about her friends put a genuine smile on her face. One, in particular, was who she owed her gratitude to most.

"Leona. I have her to thank most. Sadly for me, I don't believe she'll travel here, but it's probably for the best as she has her family to care for."

She took a moment to collect her thoughts on what to say about Leona and ended up with an endearing, yet amused, look.

"She is a very strong person, kind too. I got scolded a lot by her, heh." Chiyo scratched her cheek a bit in embarrassment. "Before I met her, I was hiding out in a forest for a while. Then, one day, she saw me and, for a month, kept coming to visit me, coaxing me to come out and live with her. She didn't know me, know what I was back then, but she extended a warm welcome to me. Her persistence left a deep impression.

"After that, I met her family and friends. Even though conditions were harsh, they made do with what they could. Honestly, I would've given up if not for them. Living with them made me realize how small my problems were, and Leona... Leona helped me keep my head on straight. She always looked out for me. In a way, she's a lot like you. You would have liked her, I'm sure. Confident and free... I kind of hope to be like her."

"Leona, eh? Well, should I ever have the fortune to meet her, I'll have to thank her." Jon replied. "She sounds wonderful."

Definitely admirable - the sort of person Jon would have hoped for Chiyo to meet if she was away from home.

"You can be however you wish to be. If you find those admirable traits, then pursue them. I have every confidence in your ability to become the sort of person you want to be." he replied warmly. "And if there's any help I can offer, please never hesitate to ask."

His heartfelt words caused Chiyo to tear up.

"Thank you, Jon," she said quietly, feeling ultimately blessed with a good life. "I will. Actually, it's why I tried so hard to come back. I wanted to change and... it just didn't feel right, especially with the way that I left.

You know, in the last world I was in before this one, it was a really peaceful place. Even the town I was in is called Flower Bud Village. And you know how I love flowers. I lived on a farm with an elderly couple, raised animals, grew vegetables... it almost made me feel like being in Kanto with my former trainers. The peace nearly had me settling there, but... then it just felt like something was missing. I missed my friends, you... there's also some things I wanted to clear up. Unfinished business, I guess?"

"I actually grew up in a farming village, myself." he replied before sipping a little more of his tea. "I can understand the allure of it and how peaceful it can be."

Not that he wanted to go back or anything. But to pretend that times had been all bad in his little rural community would have been a lie. He'd had good times there, too.

"And I do know how much you love flowers. What business did you have to complete?" he asked.

"Really?" she felt excited to learn that about Jon. It made her excited to know her very own friend also lived in a farming village. "I'd love to hear more about it if it's something you'd be willing to share with me."

Her business. Right. She knew this point would come - even planned for it - where she wanted to share and consult with Jon on some things. But no matter how often she ran the scenario in her mind, the real run-through made her uneasy.

"Well... most of it is just clearing things up with a few people because of the entire shadow clone and robots incident. I just... felt terrible not knowing about the whole situation and for how I handled it. Like..." She felt her chest tighten from the memory and she'd pause and tear up every now and then while talking. "That time when I hid out in the lake when a friend hurt me, I realized too late that it was a shadow clone of him, of Red. I was hoping he'd still be here so I could tell him it wasn't his fault... that I don't hold any ill will.... But he isn't here. I never got to tell him...."

As her voice lowered to a whisper, her head lowered as well. Sadness could only greet her with thoughts of how she lost her chance to make things up with Red.

"I wonder... when it was that he left, and why? How did he feel? I had heard his shadow clone hurt other Pokemon, and he must have seen everything through the clone's eyes. Must have really suffered....

Did. Do you Red?"

"Aye. I'll tell you more about it, some time." Jon replied with a nod. It seemed as though what she had to say was more important than sharing stories about a rural village just outside London in the 1940s, however.

He listened to her speak and started to piece it all together. Of course, she hadn't told him precisely what had happened to her but he remembered not seeing her for a short time, and then spotting her at the pool party. Sad and shaking like a leaf. She'd asked him that day if he'd ever want to hurt her and he'd been surprised and worried to hear her even suggest such a thing! But now it made sense. If someone she cared about so much had done that kind of damage....

"I met him briefly. His Snorlax is one of Riwane's many and varied friends." Jon replied. "Sonny, I believe is his name. I'm sure if you've any questions regarding his trainer, he'd have answers."

He reached across the table and placed his hand gently over hers, giving a brief squeeze. He hated to see her sad like this.

"I'm sure he knew that you bore him no ill-will, however. Lots of folk.... well. There were very few who didn't suffer during that time. I was turned into a robot and attacked Riwane, my own partner. Everyone had something terrible happen but we've all moved on. I'm sure the same is true for him."

Jon's hand anchored her together. Kept her from falling apart. She held onto it for support and tears of relief fell. With her free hand, she brushed them away.

"I hope so. Hope he's moved on with it. It's always plagued my mind. And not just him either, I worried about so many others." The more she spoke, the lighter her chest began to feel. She spoke of these things once to Leona, and Leona helped Chiyo realize things she had never put into perspective, but to speak of them with someone who was there had a stronger impact. A relieving one.

"Of course there was you, but I believed you would be alright. Mondo, however, I disappeared while we were clearing things up." Thinking about the man with corn-like hair caused her lips to twitch into a smile and her face to redden (even more than what was already made red from her tears). "H-He had gotten so mad for my sake regarding Red. Had gotten violent towards the clone at the pool party right after I told him... Somehow, even though his aggression should worry me, I felt incredibly touched by his actions. He's always been very sincere about his feelings. I haven't been able to talk to him properly about what happened... and to thank him. I hope that he hasn't misunderstood, and that he'd still be willing to talk to me."

Mondo... Mondo... Oh. Mondo Oowada. The boy with the corncob hair.

"I'll have to admit, little one, my familiarity with Mondo is lacking. I couldn't tell you how he took your departure. Had I known you two were close, I'd have kept an eye on him for you."

Then again, had he known what Clone Red had done, he would have thrashed the evil doppelganger to within an inch of its life. He could at least respect that Mondo had a similar vein of thought, there. It wasn't violence if it was protecting the people you cared about, after all. Then it was just common sense.

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