Everyone is still training, so feeling a bit out of place, Sabrina began to run around the field and house.


    Comfey seems to be quite happy with the wind flowing through her hair.


    Ironic how everyone seems to have been conflicted about being under a trainer, but they live so harmoniously together now.


    Even Vulpix seems to only want to protect her pride with that attitude, instead of really rejecting her.


    Having thought about it, she now wants to make a proposal to Comfey.


    ”Hey, Comfey.”


    She doesn’t pant as much as expected.


    ”Com?”


    ”What if you become really one of ‘my’ Pokémon for now, and I will release you if you want?”


    ”Com? Com Comfey?”


    ”It wouldn’t make much of a difference in practice, but… I guess I place an invisible barrier in my mind.


    Well, it would be troublesome if it were visible and with that material.


    Anyway, I guess we feel plenty close already, but, you know.


    You also hold back with what you want to do with my hair, right?


    I don’t want to say that the distance and politeness are bad; on the contrary, they can ensure long-lasting friendships.


    But there is the invisible tension between you and me. Between all of you and me.


    Now that I think about it, you would probably be the stepping stone in that case if you agree.”


    *wish* “Comfey!”


    “Ouch, okay. Stepping Stone would be mean! Pioneer. How about Pioneer!”


    Comfey used Vine Whip in a large and pretty harmless way to slap Sabrina’s neck from behind.


    Sabrina was pretty surprised, having to guess what she is dissatisfied with.


    From Comfey’s tone, she doesn’t really seem to be indignant about the prospect, so she thinks she doesn’t like the words used.


    ”Okay, okay. Pioneer Comfey, the Bridge between Pokémon and Trainer.”


    Surprised by the sudden hair in her face, Sabrina slows down until she comes to a stop.


    Only now she notices she feels winded, which is surprising. Only winded, and her legs also didn’t hurt like hell.


    Maybe she got overconfident in how she runs; it’s Pokémon shenanigans, or Arceus did something.


    Or a combination.


    ”Sorry. But really, thank you. It’s not only helpful for me but also very brave of you.”


    Comfey came face to face with Sabrina, having a pout and a slightly teary-eyed face.


    A mix of being embarrassed about the title and being proud of it seems to fight over control of her facial features.


    And since such a battle ensued, which troubles her, she naturally had to look accusing of the one stirring up trouble.


    Sabrina thinks about girls in anime, who look like that at the protagonist for one reason or another.


    Unknowingly to Comfey, she is speedrunning Sabrina’s fondness level right now.


    Instead, her face gets proud as Sabrina sincerely thanks and praises her.


    She gently coops up the little Pokémon, still holding her hair together, and presses her against her cheek.


    Not only not resisting, but Comfey even leans in, finding it rather comforting and warm.


    Sarbina, on the other hand, feels her cheek getting a bit tickled, as not only Comfey but also her hair gets pressed against.


    Additionally, Comfey moves a bit up and down, which makes her hair follow suit.


    ”But are you sure? I don’t doubt your resolve, but you initially declined for a purpose, right?”


    “Com!”


    Comfey only gave her a hands-up, as she lacks thumbs, or fingers for that matter.


    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.But the gesture is well understood and appreciated.


    She only declined because she was overthinking, feeling unsure if she can ever feel at ease after leaving Drampa, being a good partner, and more.


    In the end, it was fine to just go with the flow.


    There wasn’t any complicated issue behind it, just two people who crossed ways and walked the same path for now.


    For now. Feeling the words resonate in her heart, Comfey looks down for a bit.


    Her last words to Drampa. An apology for only having given him a flower wreath now.


    Drampa reacted a bit surprised before encouraging her. ‘That’s fine; just know to make many wreaths to cherish any encounter. So you don’t need to regret anymore’.


    Comfey is still young, but she got taught about how she can regret things.


    Looking up to Sabrina, there is a small, soft spark now. It’s weak right now, but she plans on fanning it.


    ”…”


    Sabrina obviously noticed the change and determined smile of her Pokémon but kept quiet about it.


    Over the whole silence, various emotions washed over her face, making it at least clear that she thought about Drampa.


    At least from the pained and sad expressions, Sabrina guessed. But what are the others supposed to mean?


    ”...let''s go back for now. Not that the others are slacking off right now.”


    ”Comfey!”


    ”Oh, you are going to beat them to a pulp if they do?”


    ”Com. Comfey.”


    ”Yeah, I can totally see you doing that. Your name will be fearfully engraved in history.


    Bow before the might of Comfey!”


    ”Com, Comfey!”


    ”Oh, so you want to learn Close Combat. As expected, such savagery.”


    ”Com! Com Comfey Com Com! Comfey!”


    “Pfft, hahaha.”


    Outraged at her purposely mistranslating, Comfey began to pull on her hair.


    The little underaged Fairy Pokémon didn’t do any harm and probably held back, as she wasn’t pulled after Sabrina, even when her gait was aimed at a different direction than Comfey’s pull.


    But she wonders a little. Comfey is pretty easy to understand.


    She can almost understand whole sentences behind it, while she even struggles with Bulbasaur to get his intent right.


    Not that she seems to have made any mistake until now.


    Vulpix is easy enough to understand; Oddish and Exeggcute communicated purposely with facial expression till no.


    Even though she can’t glean otherwise in what they think. And then there was Abra.


    Abra was always curt, using gestures more than words.


    There was no way to mistake what he meant, but otherwise?


    Sabrina doesn’t even understand his character, if he is very calculative, emotionally driven, or just having a sleepy face and being lazy.


    ”Comfey, would it be fine if I asked you something?”


    ”Com?”


    ”I don’t really understand Abra. His face doesn’t express anything, and he barely talks, mostly using easy-to-understand hand movements.


    Does he like something especially? Something I could use to get in a conversation with him.


    At least the flow of the conversation should bring some answers.”


    ”cooooo. Com! Com Comfeeeey!”


    ”Spicy? Or does he want to learn flamethrower?”


    An eye roll. Yeah, she probably means spicy berries.


    Interesting. Spicy is usually something in settings that is well liked by fire Pokémon.


    Well, I guess there is nothing wrong with it.


    At boarding school, there is the one guy who could eat anything with spicy sauce and spices.


    Or rather, it’s rarer that he didn’t add something to his dish.


    Still scary how he could empty the Tabasco sauce by at least half with only spaghettis.


    ”Ehm, Abra, would you have a moment?”


    ”A?”


    ”I heard from Comfey you like spiciness?”


    ”A? Ab Ab.”


    Slow and sure shaking of his head. So he doesn’t.


    ”Comfey?”


    Sabrina slowly turns around, putting her ponytail forward.


    Instead of finding a Comfey howling it together, there is woven grass, similar to a mini rope.


    Turning around completely, she sees what looks like a tiny flower wreath weaving between the berry trees with what she now recognizes as Trailblaze to increase her speed.


    Curiously, branches and leaves seem to move slightly out of the way, but that makes it also predictable where she is going to fly.


    Shaking the thought away, she faces Abra again.


    When the Pokémon with Fey in the name isn’t trustworthy, she can ask Abra himself.


    ”I wanted to know you better, so I asked her for things you’re interested in. Would it be fine if you told me?”


    No use being insincere there. Especially since he can read minds.


    Oh, wait. He can read minds. Right.


    I have the feeling Abra just facepalmed, but that must be my imagination.


    ”Abra.”


    ”Oran Berries? Are you sure?”


    ”Abra.”


    He pointed at the distinct bushes near the actual trees.


    Sabrina remembers that it was written as acquired taste, but it’s fine with her.


    It doesn’t mean the taste is bad, just unused. But Surstr?mming is also said to be an ‘acquired taste.’.


    There even exist laws to forbid opening cans of them if it harasses other tenants of the House!