It felt natural for Ezra and Brie to follow Hana to the kitchen. The promise of real food had the two hypnotized. The area wasn’t as lively as the healing center downstairs, the mix of overhead fluorescent lighting mixed with bright, open windows complemented the inviting brightness of the worn, cream-colored linoleum flooring. With seating abundant, it didn’t take long for the boy to pull up a chair at the table closest to the kitchen setup. 

Comfortable, Ezra was quick to let his mind wander as he aimlessly watched Hana perform. He knew not to crowd a stove if he didn’t need to be near it. Brie, on the other hand, wanted to get in close and be nosy. But with the dutiful Pawniard assisting her trainer, the sassy Oshawott opted to just look on from a distance, much like her traveling companion. 

Then, like a bolt from the blue, a once buried reminder made itself apparent once more. [color=#00FFAE]“Oh!”[/color] With the exclamation, he pulled out his phone. Now that he actually had some downtime, he needed to check in with Esmerelda. He was almost certain she had long made her arrival in Johto with her girlfriend, Sammi. 

Like the practiced reflex it was, Ezra brought up the phone’s video calling application. Naturally, Ezzie was first on the list of recent callers. On confirmation, the call went through. After a couple of processing beeps and boops, the face of a familiar sibling appeared on screen and the two were quick to share wild, identical grins.

[color=#EEA1F6]“Eazy~!”[/color] She announced with a long squeal, producing a sound loud enough to fill up the once-quiet kitchen area. 

[color=#00FFAE]“Whadduuuup~!”[/color] The boy replied, prolonging his own loud greeting. Ezzie was quick to use a long angle to her camera, to show those traveling with her. To her left was a woman much shorter and paler than the twins, with a stylish bob of eye-catching green hair that faded down to black tips. To her right was a boy with a puffy ponytail of radiant auburn, with a familiar mocha complexion that made his dark freckles bright and prominent. Their outdoor scene easily contrasted Ezra’s simple indoor background.

[color=#00FFAE]“Hey, Sammi! Hey- [i]Charlie?![/i] Is that my [i][b]B O Y?![/b][/i]”[/color] Last time he had seen his cousin, they were grade school kids. Seeing his updated teenage form was a genuine surprise for Ezra. Upon hearing his name, the young trainer perked up.

[color=#DC9000]“It’s ya boy~! What’s up, Big Eazy?”[/color] Charlie was quick to reply with excitement. 

[color=#00FFAE]“Chilling for the moment. You trying to be like me?”[/color] Ezra gestured towards his own wild ponytail.

[color=#DC9000]“Ohh, nah!”[/color] The young trainer replied with a chuckle. [color=#DC9000]“I’m just growing it out so I can get dreads!”[/color] 

The boys shared a laugh that was interrupted by the sharp sound of metal scraping against rock. 

[color=#EEA1F6]“What’re you doing, Eazy? What was that?”[/color] Ezzie piped up.

[color=#00FFAE]“Oh, that’s one of the girls I’m traveling with preparing some food. She was sharpening her Pawniard.”[/color] As he explained, he pointed his camera towards Hana. Though since she was turned towards the kitchen counter, all they got was a good look at her back. 

[color=#DC9000]“Girls-?”[/color]

[color=#DCFF9F]“One of-?”[/color] Sammi spoke up with some curiosity. 

[color=#EEA1F6]“What happened to Zapp?”[/color]

[color=#00FFAE]“Oh, uh, Zappollopher had an interview at the last minute, so we never had a chance to link up. But there were other trainers also doing the challenge, so we figured it was cool to hook up to travel the routes.”[/color] Ezra didn’t seem to realize the kind of scenario he was presenting to his audience.

[color=#EEA1F6]“Hooking up, huh?”[/color] Ezzie raised an eyebrow. 

[color=#DC9000]“With [i]HOW[/i] many girls??”[/color] Charlie sounded somewhere between excited and jealous. 

[color=#00FFAE]“It’s not like that, chill out.”[/color] Ezra’s brow lowered with the cheeky implications.