AT NIGHT
Tomoe looked ahead. Lumiose City came into her view. Her breath was haggard. She eyes drifted around, before a bench welcomed her.
She sat there, trying to relax. Now that the city was near, a small wave of relief washed over her, after a whole day of walking, her body had almost given up entirely.
Her eyes were heavy, every part of her body was screaming at her to rest.
She cooled herself, breathing slowly. As she continued, she felt a bit better, good enough to make her way to the city.
Pushing against her body, she got up and strode her way towards the city.
She was alone on the road, but she felt safe—safe enough that her mind finally registered what had happened.
Her heartbeat quickened and her chest felt heavy, as if every lungful of air wanted to choke her. She grabbed the hem of her clothes, clenching the fabric in a tight fist.
Will I never be able to see my dad again? She halted as the thought hit her like a truck.
Is it... really over?
She pressed her palms against her face, covering her eyes. Instead of the warm night air, a sharp, cold ache gnawed at her chest.
She could feel the sudden, overwhelming urge to let her defenses shatter. She pulled a breath in, but it fractured into two, three short, ragged stutters before her chest heaved it back out.
Her shoulders curled inward as she tried to lock the sob deep inside her throat.
I wish I had met my dad once.
I wanted to see his face at least once.
She wiped away her tears. Even though her heart hung heavy, she walked forward, not wanting anyone to see her in this situation.
I-I miss you dad
After a while, she finally entered the city.
Her eyes moved slowly up the face of a pale stone building, four floors, five, with iron balconies on every window and flower boxes spilling color.
The rooftops were dusty rose, slate blue, and a warm copper brown, all of them pressed against each other like they had grown that way.
The street was wide and clean. Trees lined the pavement at even intervals, their canopies round and so green they looked painted.
People moved past her, unhurried and unbothered, with small creatures trotting alongside them that her brain kept refusing to process due to the previous events.
She looked up. The stars were shining as if they wanted her attention.
I have to figure out things, about this world.
She moved through the street, passing shops and houses with a carefree attitude, but her ears always remained open, catching even the tiniest details possible from the locals.
She sat on a bench and rested, thinking about all the things she had gathered.
So they use Pokédollars as a currency... and the women I met, Tomoe scanned the surroundings. Including most of the people here, called themselves trainers.
A Pokémon trainer.
I still don't know about the gym challenges they keep talking about.
Her eyes wandered toward an Ampharos, it followed its trainer like a pet.
They are Pokémon.
She figured they would go by a name, but the name Pokémon did kind of sound unique.
After learning some of the basic knowledge, a thought began plaguing her.
Where do I sleep?
I have searched the whole area, haven't seen a single homeless person, nor anyone sleeping on these benches.
It's prompted her to think that the city was anti-homeless.
I need to check again.
She went to search for homeless people, she even went to the alleyways but found nothing.
She didn't want to sleep on the benches or any other public places. What if it was illegal and she found herself in jail the next day?
It was better to be cautious.
I can't do this... anymore. She knew her body was giving up, she needed a place to rest.
I have no other choice right now.
She started looking around, especially for a person with an approachable vibe.
"Hi," she said. The person looked back and saw a gigantic figure, his head didn't even reach her chest.
"H-Hi," the stranger let out an awkward smile.
Tomoe's heart beat quickened because she was about to ask an embarrassing question. A spiral of thoughts fought in her brain.
The stranger kept his eyes at her, expecting some follow-up, but what he got was a stare from this gigantic titan.
"D-do you know where the homeless people sleep?" Finally, she spoke, but she instantly regretted it.
Ah, I wanted to ask if there are any homeless people here, so that he won't suspect me of being homeless.
"Homeless? Well, they sleep in Pokémon Centers, and most of them become Pokémon trainers, so they do sleep in the wild."
"Thanks." She bowed.
"No problem. Are you new here?"
"Yes."
"Have a great time here." The stranger smiled.
Tomoe nodded, and they went their separate ways.
Pokémon Center, huh...
She found another man, shorter than her, and asked him for directions to the Pokémon Center.
Now, equipped with the loaded information, it didn't take her long to find the Pokémon Center.
At the counter, she found a nurse with pink hair, and her partner was also a pink cutie.
"Oh, hi! How may I help you?" Nurse Joy asked, followed by the cheerful sounds of a Jigglytuff.
Tomoe took a slight pause and replied, "I am homeless and I need a room, thank you."
Was my approach okay? She looked at Nurse Joy. It took her a lot of effort, after all, it is not easy to show someone your weak side.
"Unfortunately, all of our rooms have been booked," Nurse Joy replied.
This statement was like a needle, the sadness was palpable on Tomoe's face.
Nurse Joy felt pity. She looked at the burn marks all over Tomoe's body, completely ignoring her blunt words and quite atheletic physique.
She must have gone through a lot, Nurse Joy thought, starting to make up her own headcanon story of how miserable Tomoe's life was.
" I can do that," Nurse Joy beamed with delight. "Actually, there is a room available!."
Tomoe's eyes widened a bit, her dejected expression changed and became relaxed.
"Come with me," Nurse Joy said before leaving the front desk job to her partner. She guided Tomoe to her room.
It was a big, spacious room with four beds and stuffed with many cute Pokémon plushies. It had a huge framed picture of Nurse Joy and her sisters.
Was it her personal room? Tomoe looked at her.
"Ahem... this is where you will be staying... if you want, you can take any of the plushies to sleep with."
"Is it okay to...sleep in your room?" Tomoe asked, a bit of hesitation in her heart.
Nurse Joy took her hand and made her sit on the bed. "It's absolutely okay! I am in charge here, don't worry. Now, take a shower and have a great night."
Nurse Joy left the room, not giving any chance for an argument.
Such a sweet and cute lady.
Tomoe thought about herself. She remembered the words: "You are not cute at all."
She was right. Tomoe looked at her body. Burn marks, a tall and athletic frame. She was anything but sweet and cute.
She took a shower, and after calming herself and thinking about her journey today, she decided to sleep.
What if everything here is a dream?
She wished it were true.
As the soft, cozy blanket covered her, the warmth overwhelmed her, and she fell asleep.
....
Ding, ding, da-da-ding. Ding, ding, da-da-ding.
The phone was ringing.
Tomoe didn't wake up fully. She simply curled tighter into herself, reluctant and completely unready to leave the comfort of the bed.
Groping blindly across the sheets, her hand sought the soft plushies she remembered, but her fingers smacked directly against a cold, hard, and familiar piece of plastic.
Her eyes snapped wide open. She grabbed the buzzing device and looked at the screen. It was a scam number notification. Trembling, she hung up the call, and her original home lock-screen wallpaper instantly flooded into view.
Wait!.
She got up in surprise, her eyes wide open.
It's my room!