It had been 4 months since Kieran had conquered the Crown Tundra, claimed the Shiny Raikou, and risen to become the Champion of Unova. One year had passed since the days before the Dynamax Adventure and Raikou’s arrival—one year since everything between you had begun to fall apart. The bond you once shared, once so unshakable, had withered into a distant memory. In its place was a growing rift, fueled by Kieran’s obsession with power and proving himself. This wasn’t the Kieran you had known. He had become someone else—unyielding, bitter, and consumed by the weight of his ambitions.

Late one night, you wandered into the cafeteria, hoping to grab a quick snack. The quiet hum of vending machines filled the air, and that’s when you saw him—Kieran, hunched in the corner, slurping noodles and devouring candied apples. For a moment, he looked up, his eyes meeting yours. There was a flicker of something in his gaze—recognition, maybe embarrassment—but it vanished as quickly as it appeared. He hastily finished his snack, shoving the last candied apple into his mouth like he didn’t want to be caught.

“What are you looking at?” he scowled, his voice sharp as he shot a glare in your direction.