Other people thought about their plans for the future in the dawn of a New Year, Angelo is instead met with a face from the past. [break][break]

Blue eyes blink as another man leans overhead, upside down from their positions but so very clearly Leo del Río. It’s the goofy, bright greeting that’s instantly recognisable. “Hey, Leo! ‘Course I do.” He says, turning around in the hot spring so that he’s looking up at the other student from the right way up, genuine smile pulling onto his lips. [break][break]

It had been a while, hadn’t it? Angelo suspects that he’s partly to blame for how long their lack of communication had stretched, after all the last time that they had talked had been when he had been studying last year. Back when he had access to a cheap computer and email – his only method of communication for the other student aside from when their universities met up for a sporting event. [break][break]

Since being on the road, with but a sparse amount of credit on his phone, it had been a little less easy to fire off an email or a message to the Slateport student. And he’d been pretty busy, too… [break][break]

Maybe the hot springs wouldn’t be so boring, after all; if he got to catch up with an old friend. [break][break]

“It’s been a while! How have you been?” He says with a toothy grin, holding out a hand for a high-five or a shake or whatever it was Leo preferred.



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Their hands firmly clasp together in a familiar greeting and Angelo shifts across in the pool to make room, Leo opting to slide into the spot beside him as opposed to finding somewhere quieter to relax. He doesn’t mind the company, especially one that he hasn’t seen in a while. [break][break]

He turns to look at his friend after Leo gets settled, arms leaning back on the rock behind him as he reclines in the hot water, steam wisping through the air. Oh yeah, finals… That would have been around this time, wouldn’t it? He hasn’t even been away from Mauville University for a year yet and it already feels like a strangely distant memory, like he’d been away from lectures and sleepless study nights for a decade. Cycling, deliveries and the occasional adventure excursion taking over his time and his heart. [break][break]

Angelo doesn’t want to think about going back to stuffy, stifling classrooms in September… [break][break]

“Nah, Mauville’s exams aren’t too bad,” he responds with a grin, as if suggesting that he found it all a breeze. In truth, Angelo is rather average student at best, especially when it concerns the major that he had chosen. His lack of real passion for the subject held up only by his gruelling work ethic and motivation for the end result, using that to push through all the boring trials – he only needs a decent grade for doors to open for him and his family. [break][break]

“I didn’t even have to turn up, professors said not to bother ‘cus I did so well with my mock -” It’s then that he waves a hand, laughing as he reveals his words were only in jest. “Okay, that’s bullshit. I’ve been on a gap year, it’s why I haven’t been in contact, actually. Haven’t been able to get to my emails much.” Angelo grins, corners just the slightest bit apologetic. He and Leo weren’t exactly the type to message one another all the time but they had got in contact to let each other know when their representative universities were arranging a friendly sporting event, arranging to meet up for drinks and competitive shenanigans. [break][break]

“So… What’re you doing with your newfound freedom? Been practicing?” He asks, grin competitive – Leo would know he’s asking about the Slateport U Swim Team.




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“It’s nothing interesting,” there’s barely a pause, delivering an answer that’s just as practiced as his smile. “Just wanted to spend some time travelling the region before my final year. Can’t come all the way to Hoenn and stay cramped up in Mauville for three years – you know?” Angelo had no intention on sharing the gloomy details with a friend, even one like Leo who he bumped into rarely; he didn’t want to have to put up with the pitying stares or the attempts at charity. Didn’t want to make others worry over his family problems. He was fine getting by on his own…. [break][break]

Besides, it’s not like he was telling a complete lie. It had just been a benefit that taking a gap year to earn money meant he got to travel, to see and soak up everything that Hoenn had to offer before he left. [break][break]

There’s a shove and laugher, water splashing as the two of them easily slipped into their back and forth dynamic. Angelo doesn’t pay the brief looks from the other bathers any mind. [break][break]

“Yeah, right. You’ve got about the same natural talent as a Magikarp, Lee,” he counters back with a lazy grin at Leo, watching as he wades outwards into the hot spring. “I rest my case.” Is what he says when the other student sinks down into the water, blowing bubbles in a way that reminds Angelo of something his siblings would do to mimic drowning. [break][break]

He doesn’t know how it is going back home after finals, actually – he'd been away from Alto Mare for a good while… [break][break]

“Oh, huh... I guess not? Home’s back in Alto Mare. Can’t really drop in often,” he says with a small smile, absentmindedly skimming a damp finger against a dry patch of rock beside him where he leans, drawing stars. “Where’d you say home for you is, again? I forgot.” Honestly – he couldn’t remember, either. But he voices it unlike Leo, at least with a hint of amused guilt in his voice.


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