Hideo took a sip from his drink - just some water. He patiently awaited the arrival of his next speed date, his Oranguru sitting at the side of the table.

Hideo was aware of when his date arrived the moment they took a seat. Though they were oddly quiet…and impatient? Hideo could hear that foot tapping against the floor.

But right before Hideo could ask if they were at the right table, the person spoke up. She definitely sounded like his least-enthusiastic date here. Hideo raises an eyebrow of his own as she outright questioned his presence here.

"Yup," was his immediate answer as he suppressed his annoyance - or any other tone for that matter. "I'm Hideo, and this is my table. I'm sure someone would've said if you went to the wrong table, so then it's our turn to talk, Miss…"

He didn't actually know how to address her. There waa no way for him to read her nametag.

But what he definitely could tell was this was going to be a rough one.

skyler dross

Skyler Dross…had he heard that name somewhere before? He didn’t really know any ship captains, but that name was vaguely familiar. “Sounds like you get to do a lot of exciting stuff~” Hideo said, leaning forward in his seat. “You get to drive a big ship around? Find any good treasures in the water?”

He took a sip of his water, listening as she asked her questions. Seemed like she was getting more comfortable with him now; maybe he was wrong about this being a rough date.

“I’m from Slateport. Born and raised there. But I am doing the gym circuit!” He was starting to regret not bringing his badges with him, as this wasn’t the first time they were getting brought up. “I’m five badges in so far. And I already got dates for the sixth and seventh gym challenges.” He was inching closer and closer to the Elite Four and the Champion, and he wasn’t going to stop.

“I honestly wished I could’ve started a couple years earlier. But my parents were dead-set on stopping me for as long as they could.” And he was doing just fine on his own! Their fears were unwarranted. “They probably would’ve tried getting me to sail before letting me do it.”

An exaggeration; they would’ve been too afraid of him drowning or getting lost at sea. “I’m not that good with the water anyways. Gets me sick too easily.”

skyler dross

“The Sotally Tober.” Hideo couldn’t resist a snort; he got the pun pretty quickly. “I like that name. And it’s pretty cool you got a warship to hunt for treasure with. How’d you get one of those?” Not that he intended on getting one himself…but he had to know.

He had to wonder if John Sullivan had been on any yet.

Hideo smiled; she sounded impressed by his progress. “I’m trying to get eight before a year’s passed, so I can get a shot at the Elite Four. It’s been about since I started, so I’d say I’m doing pretty well~” All because of his skill and determination, of course. Not luck. “People’ll be calling me Champion before I’m in middle school.”

Because that’s what he wanted; undeniable proof of his skill. He couldn’t settle for less.

Yet at the mention of his parents being proud of him…

His smile dropped. “Oh. Yeah.” He knew his parents were still looking for him, but he had to wonder if they’d heard anything of his progress.“It’s been a while since I talked to them. Not since I left for the circuit, actually.” He was sure they’d try to guilt him into coming back anyways, even if he was doing just fine.

“But I sure as heck am gonna see them again as Champion, that’s for sure!”

skyler dross

Hideo could only go by what he heard - and Skyler seemed pretty casual about her ship. Even if she had to fight in a (small) war to get it. "Fighting in a war to get a warship makes sense," he said. Hopefully there wouldn't be any more warfronts soon.

On a more optimistic note: "I'll have to take you up on that offer, you know~" He wouldn't refuse free ice cream, even in the dead of winter. "And I got gym challenges soon, so that ice cream'll be coming in sooner than you'd think."

Alas, the ringing buzzer marked the end of their date. Skyler seemed to have more to say, though the first part once again brought a frown to Hideo's face. "...Alright, I'll think about it." An empty platitude.

It was a foregone conclusion in his mind: they'd try to guilt or scare him into coming back, it wouldn't work, and he'd feel worse afterwards. He'd played it through his head multiple times before, whenever he got tempted to do it. He'd always decided he'd be better off doing something else. Anything else.

Though that temptation was coming more frequently as of late.

"I'll keep an ear out for any warships. Have a nice night, Ms. Dross."

skyler dross