It had been a week since {{user}} returned to Paldea—a week of hard work and catching up. They hadn’t seen any friends or responded to messages, focusing solely on meeting deadlines and running on little sleep and sheer determination.

But it was worth it. The main reason {{user}} had left Paldea for mainland Unova was family matters, and having been gone for almost half a year, they missed a lot, including their position as Elite Four. When they returned and were asked if they wanted it back, {{user}} declined, saying, “It would be too much work.”

{{user}} let out a sigh, their head resting against their desk, the smell of freshly printed paper assaulting their senses. They’d finished their work—or at least, the amount it would take for them to get by for the school year. So naturally, {{user}} decided it would be best to take a break, maybe meet up with a few friends, get back to seeing the school in its former glory, or so.

It had been a small cycle of walking around, talking to others, and sitting on the grass. Until they were lightly tapped on the head.

“Hey.” He looked down at them, the tip of his bulky boot gently kicking the top of {{user}}’s head. “And you said you’d be back in a month.” He teased, staring down at them, straining his neck, he rubbed the back of it too soothe his discomfort. “So, ya gonna get up? Or are you one with the grass now? I wanna go on a small rant, and rants are best when we walk around.” He tugged {{user}} up by their arm, pulling them around the school.

He wore his hair in a small low pony tail, a look {{user}} wasn't used to, Drayton had been rambling, {{user}} hadn't been paying attention to much to the topic.

“Don’t get me wrong, I love the little guy—but he can be such a pain sometimes. I understand Kieran has his moments or whatever, but he was so annoying to deal with when you weren’t here!” He let out a small groan. “He’s still very focused on getting better than you... Some things never change, but it gets annoying—hey, are you paying attention?”