It wasn't too surprising that someone answered his question. He'd be surprised if there wasn't at least someone here, or even just a few Pokemon guarding the camp. He had a number of Pokemon guarding his right now.

But what did catch Hideo off guard was that he recognized the voice. And she recognized him.

Hideo froze in place. Oh boy. He hadn't expected to meet anyone he knew this soon, especially not this close to where he was staying.

But the way she asked him what he was up to...had nobody told her yet?

Hideo took a few steps away from the woods he'd emerged from. "Hey, Ruby," he said, somewhat hesitant. "I, uh, didn't know you were camping out here." He was careful not to add "too" at the end there - even if he liked Ruby, he knew he had to be tight-lipped about where he was set up.

"I'm not really looking for any Pokemon around here," he said, slowly being lead to Ruby by his Meowstic. "Just taking a look around - well, as good a look as I can get. Not something I got to do much until now." There was a slight pause as he thought back over the past few days. "Though I did catch a Girafarig a couple days ago. Another psychic-type for me."

He stopped walking once his Meowstic stopped him, close to Ruby. "So what're you up to out here? Getting some outdoor time while summer's still around?"

Ruby Walker

Now that he was close enough - and certain of where Ruby was laying - Hideo took a seat. He could feel the damp grass on his hands. Seemed like a nice place to lay back, so he did just that - and found the bountiful fluff of his Whimsicott on his back, the small Pokemon having stealthily descended and left a cushion for his trainer.

His Meowstic mimicked him, lying back in the fluff.

“Yeah, that’s what my Rotomdex said,” Hideo casually responded. “Doesn’t stop it from snapping when I get close. Hasn’t actually bit me, but I’m not gonna test my luck.” Arceus-forbid he get an injury like that so soon. “At least everything that isn't the tail is nice. But I guess I won’t be riding on top of him if I gotta worry about his butt biting mine.”

Hideo tilted his head a little. He honestly hadn’t expected her to actually live like this, rather than just a little retreat. “Nah, I wouldn’t laugh,” he said, “but I didn’t know you camped out like this. You just camp out here outside the city? I know Doug was living in a homeless camp for a while, with a bunch of other people. Dunno if he still does though.” He’d be shocked if John Sullivan still lived at a camp, being a gym leader and part of the military.

It was kind of funny how their situations were polar opposites; Ruby was giving up her freedom just as he was gaining his own. She was going to stop camping, just as Hideo was settling down in his own. He wanted to laugh, but he didn’t want Ruby to think he was mocking her. “A big change like that can be pretty scary, so it makes sense you want one last night out. I was pretty scared when I left home, and I’m still trying to settle into it. But I’m gonna do what you did and travel all over Hoenn.”

He lied back, his Whimsicott’s fluff making an excellent pillow as a wide grin covered his face. “‘course, I’m gonna be getting badges too. Gonna go to all the gyms. And after that, the Elite Four.” He raised a hand, pointing up towards the sky. “And after that, the Champion!”

Ruby Walker

"It's kinda neat you got to camp everywhere!" Hideo, he didn't really intend to move his camp much, if at all. He had to blame Andy Blackadder for that idea; with how much mobility he had between his teleporting and flying Pokemon, he always had a way back to his camp. And it was a secure place he could always go back to if needed.

"I actually met someone camping on a beach, once. Back in Slateport. I didn't even know people camped at the Slateport beach 'till then." It'd been a while back, one night he'd been hunting Pokemon. A shame he couldn't actually catch any, but he didn't mind getting to fly on a Skarmory for the first time.

Hideo smiled; it was nice to hear Ruby wasn't against him going on the journey like this. "Yeah. It's something I've been wanting to do for a while, but I didn't get a chance to do it 'till now." He had to take time to prepare, and he had to do it under his parents' noses. Asking his parents directly never worked, despite his accomplishments. So now here he was. "I wanted to do it ever since I was ten, but hey, I'm doing it now." He was getting close to twelve, but better late than never.

At the mention of Ruby's own accomplishments, Hideo opened his mouth in awe. "I didn't know you got all the way to the Elite Four!" To Hideo, that seemed so far away. "That's awesome! I got a ways to go until I get there."

Hideo could hear her going through her bag, his interest piqued when she mentioned her own badge collection. When she offered to let him feel which ones she'd gotten, he nodded - no way he'd reject that offer.

Once placed in his hands, he opened up the case, giving a preliminary sweep to feel just how many she had before going over each one with his fingers. "That's a lot of badges!" he exclaimed.

Going over the shape and size of each one, he realized every single one was completely new to him. "I only got one badge so far, and that was before I started doing the circuit. Well, I guess two, but I don't think the second one counts 'cause I got it trom a retired gym leader during the Star Tournament. Still, I keep it around. And it feels nice to have."

Ruby Walker