That Summer | Raihan x Piers [Pokémon]

Chapter 5 ❀ Personal Hairdresser

Not only did the two young Trainers make many more memories that were captured in photos since the little incident in Turffield, but they had reached Motostoke again and collected all three attainable badges on the way. Piers' Zigzagoon had evolved by that time, and so had Raihan's Trapinch during their last battle.

Both boys had just defeated the ever-burning man of fire, Kabu and despite him being quite inexperienced as a Gym Leader here in Galar, he was the toughest opponent they had faced up until now. It was refreshing to know that with such a strong person also came a playful side to his personality, one Piers and Raihan got to witness firsthand when Kabu saw them off at the entrance of the city with a chant.

It was off to the Wild Area for them again and neither of them could wait to make many additions to their Pokémon teams — after all, they had been travelling with only two critters each. The Trainers' next stop was Hammerlocke, the biggest city of the Galar region after Wyndon and also the place that Raihan knew like the back of his hand.

"I hear the next Gym we need to take on is the fighting-type Gym in Stow-on-Side. What are you gonna do about your Linoone's disadvantage?" Raihan was aware that Piers preferred a straightforward way of approach rather than a too strategic one during Pokémon battles, but this time it wasn't a simple type disadvantage — The boy's Pokémon would probably faint as soon as it'd get punched once.

"Well, I'd like to catch an Inkay before we get to Hammerlocke, so I think I'll be fine. You?" The spiky-haired male responded, getting the slight feeling as if Raihan had predicted him wanting to welcome a new Pokémon that would broaden his possibilities. The two had just crossed Motostoke Riverbank and gotten to Bridge Field by that time.

"Me? I'll try out messing a bit with weather conditions. Goomy learned how to use Rain Dance, Vibrava knows Sandstorm and I was thinking about catching a Pokémon that can bring out Sunny Day." Raihan explained, moving his hands around as if they were doing the talking. As Piers listened to him strategizing, he couldn't help but think that it was so like him.

"But say Piers, once we get to Hammerlocke, is there something you'd like to do?" The light brown-skinned male leaned his head forward a tad as they walked as if to seek eye-contact to make his question appear more personal. If the pale boy remembered correctly, Hammerlocke was Raihan's hometown, so perhaps he was asking him that so that he could offer touring him around. That wasn't all though, and Piers knew it. He could tell by the look in the other's sparkly turquoise eyes. "I'm fine with anythin'. You look like you you really wanna do somethin' there though."

"How could you tell?" Raihan himself didn't know if he was only acting surprised or if he actually was, but it certainly made a blush dust its pink, merry little way across Piers' cheeks, even if it was subtle. Lately, the short boy found himself reddening around Raihan more often than not and he couldn't judge if that was a good thing or not. "But yeah, you're totally right! As soon as we reach Hammerlocke, I wanna drop by at the hair salon."

"I've always wanted an undercut, but my mom always nagged me and didn't let me get one. But now that I'm on my own journey, I get to choose for myself!" The tall boy recounted, pulling a confident smirk at the end. His words caused Piers to steal a more detailed peek of his friend's hairdo, and he couldn't help but laugh when realization finally struck him. "Is that why you tie your hair upwards like that?"

"Don't make fun of me!" Raihan joined his friend with a snort, playfully hitting his arm as if to strengthen his point. The two continued chatting about hair, then switched the subject to their preferred fashion choices until they were interrupted by wild Pokémon in the tall grass.

Piers and Raihan had caught the few Pokémon they had planned to add to their teams in the Wild Area and had finally reached Hammerlocke. Both of them were familiar with the city, but after thinking that Motostoke was quite big, Hammerlocke turned out to be enormous in comparison  — truthfully speaking, it was Hammerlocke Stadium that made the entire city seem so grand, not the location itself.