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Valencia returned Aria’s grin with a much smaller smile; still, it was completely genuine. She was happy for her best friend—and for herself as well. This was an opportunity for the both of them, and it was finally beginning to feel real to her. The professor flashed a grin at both of them, standing from his desk.
“Very well then. Congratulations, both of you. One more thing before you go, Miss Destler.” He moved to a cabinet in his office, opening one of the drawers with a certain degree of solemnity. From it, he drew out a small device, slightly larger than Valencia’s hand, and a dark purple in color. “It came in a few days ago, but I thought I’d wait to give it to you until now.” Still smiling, he held the device out, and she took it from him, gasping slightly when she recognized it as a pokédex.
She’d thought they were usually red, but it would seem that the professor had hers customized. She’d wondered about the reason for his interest in her color preferences several weeks ago, when they’d had a conversation about it that had eventually turned into a discussion about art. Well, there was the evidence. Pursing her lips, she looked up at the man who’d been her mentor for several years, and on impulse, stepped forward several hurried paces and hugged him. She was careful about it, considering his age, but surprised when he returned the gesture. Theirs had never been that kind of close relationship, mostly because she didn’t really know how to form them, and people were generally reluctant to touch her because she was reluctant to touch them, or for some other reason she could not discern. But the truth was that if anyone was a grandparent to her, it would have to be him.
“There, there. You have no need to cry, dear.” He patted her back gently, and she realized she was crying, just a bit. Nobody aside from Aria’s family had ever thought of her this way before, had ever done something a little extra or special just for her. It was a bit overwhelming, actually, and a bit sad that she took it to be such an extraordinary gesture. But in a way, it was.
“I’m sorry,” she pulled away, clearing her throat and wiping the stray wet tracks on her face. “It’s just, um…” She wasn’t really an emotional person, so she wasn’t sure how to explain it or react to it. Fortunately, he seemed to understand, and patted her shoulder genially.
“I know. But you shouldn’t linger here for too long, you know. That pokédex needs filling! And I expect regular updates on your progress, so don’t forget to call now and then.” Valencia nodded, the overwhelmed feelings of a few moments ago fading back behind her practiced coolness, and she half-smiled and turned back to Aria.
“Well all right then. Let’s go; or we’ll never make Cherrygrove before nightfall.”
“Very well then. Congratulations, both of you. One more thing before you go, Miss Destler.” He moved to a cabinet in his office, opening one of the drawers with a certain degree of solemnity. From it, he drew out a small device, slightly larger than Valencia’s hand, and a dark purple in color. “It came in a few days ago, but I thought I’d wait to give it to you until now.” Still smiling, he held the device out, and she took it from him, gasping slightly when she recognized it as a pokédex.
She’d thought they were usually red, but it would seem that the professor had hers customized. She’d wondered about the reason for his interest in her color preferences several weeks ago, when they’d had a conversation about it that had eventually turned into a discussion about art. Well, there was the evidence. Pursing her lips, she looked up at the man who’d been her mentor for several years, and on impulse, stepped forward several hurried paces and hugged him. She was careful about it, considering his age, but surprised when he returned the gesture. Theirs had never been that kind of close relationship, mostly because she didn’t really know how to form them, and people were generally reluctant to touch her because she was reluctant to touch them, or for some other reason she could not discern. But the truth was that if anyone was a grandparent to her, it would have to be him.
“There, there. You have no need to cry, dear.” He patted her back gently, and she realized she was crying, just a bit. Nobody aside from Aria’s family had ever thought of her this way before, had ever done something a little extra or special just for her. It was a bit overwhelming, actually, and a bit sad that she took it to be such an extraordinary gesture. But in a way, it was.
“I’m sorry,” she pulled away, clearing her throat and wiping the stray wet tracks on her face. “It’s just, um…” She wasn’t really an emotional person, so she wasn’t sure how to explain it or react to it. Fortunately, he seemed to understand, and patted her shoulder genially.
“I know. But you shouldn’t linger here for too long, you know. That pokédex needs filling! And I expect regular updates on your progress, so don’t forget to call now and then.” Valencia nodded, the overwhelmed feelings of a few moments ago fading back behind her practiced coolness, and she half-smiled and turned back to Aria.
“Well all right then. Let’s go; or we’ll never make Cherrygrove before nightfall.”