Wishful: Somebody Cares

"Satoshi!"

"Hikari!"

Iris watched contemptuously as the pretty, pink-skirted girl ran out of the Pokémon center and into Satoshi's arms. She gave a quick hug, then a loud high-five, smiling cheerfully the whole time.

What is she so happy about, anyways? She's such a child.

"Hikari!" Satoshi exclaimed again. "It's so good to see you!"

"You too!" she flashed him a brilliant smile. Her teeth were absolutely flawless, Iris noted jealously.

"So," she continued, glancing from Iris to Dento. "Who are your new friends, Satoshi?"

"This is Dento, and this is Iris."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Hikari," Dento bowed, and Iris felt her face grow hot.

Hikari giggled. "The pleasure is mine, Dento."

"Pocha!" The small, blue Pokémon on Hikari's shoulder spoke up for the first time.

"Oh!" Dento's face lit up. "Is this a Pochama?"

"Yes!" Hikari smiled at her Pokémon. "Pochama is my very best friend!"

Dento stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm… Pochama- small and cute, but with a taste of hardiness." He winked. "You two make a great match!"

"Thanks!" Hikari sent Dento one last cheerful look, then turned to Iris. "So, you must be Iris! I'm excited to meet you!"

"Yeah," Iris gruffly replied. She was not excited to meet Hikari, not in the least. Who did this candy-coated coordinator think she was, getting cozy with Satoshi and sweet with Dento? She wasn't their traveling companion, Iris was!
If Hikari was at all frazzled by Iris' short reply, she didn't show it. Instead, she turned right back to Satoshi and began to chatter aimlessly.

"Did you know Satoshi… I've won two contests… I even beat Nozomi… Pochama performed a great bubblebeam attack…"

Yadda yadda yadda. Iris wished she would just shut up. Nobody cared about contests or her stupid Pocha-whatever or what other weirdo coordinator she'd beaten.

Well… somebody did care, but that's what made Iris even angrier! Satoshi was hanging on to her every word, and telling a bunch of stupid stories of his own! In fact, the two of them had separated from Iris and Dento, walking at a much slower pace in a world of their own.

Iris heard a soft chuckled behind her. She turned to find Dento smiling, a twinkle in his eye. "Aren't the two of them hilarious, Iris? Both outgoing and optimistic- they make a-"

"Oh, will you shut up about perfect matches! Nobody cares!"

Iris stormed off before she could see Dento's hurt face. She walked at a breakneck pace, blowing off steam all the while. They're definitely not the perfect couple! Who cares if they're similar?!? Opposites attract, right?!? Who is Dento to decide if they're a perfect match?!?

Iris sighed. Okay, she knew she shouldn't have been so harsh on Dento. He really was just doing his job. Besides, he was one of her best friends, and the only she'd ever met who didn't act like a complete child. She stopped and glanced back. Dento had joined the other two, and the three were laughing at some unknown joke. However, Dento did not look happy at all- sadness and pain were etched on his face.

I should go apologize to him. Iris waited impatiently for the others to catch up. She tried to catch Dento's eye, but the gentlemanly gym leader was avoiding her. She didn't want to announce her apology in front of everyone; that would be embarrassing for both Iris and Dento. So, she decided to wait until the stopped for the night.