"What's this?" Faminne asked, tilting her head as Junno pressed a Poké Ball into her hands. The smooth, cool plastic felt unfamiliar, intriguing.
"Check what's inside," Junno said, his voice bubbling with excitement. His eyes sparkled with a secret she couldn't quite decipher.
With a flick of her wrist, Faminne activated the Poké Ball. A flash of light erupted, solidifying into a small Pokémon with oversized ears. Soft, brown fur covered its body, and a brunette mane framed its face. It was an Eevee, looking around with wide, curious eyes.
"Woah! Junno! Are you really giving this to me?" Faminne exclaimed, her voice filled with disbelief and joy. She launched herself at Junno, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. "Thank you!!"
"Yeah... uhmm," Junno mumbled, his cheeks flushing a light pink. He paused, seemingly wanting to say something more, but a wave of hesitation washed over him. "Fami," he finally said, his voice softer now.
Faminne pulled back slightly, her eyes gentle. "Yes?"
Junno looked down, scuffing the grass with the toe of his shoe. "I'll be leaving tomorrow. I'm going to Unova to train."
"What...?" The word escaped Faminne's lips, barely a whisper. He's gonna leave? The thought echoed in her mind, a cold knot forming in her stomach.
Silence descended upon the field, broken only by the rustling of leaves in the wind. Junno offered a faint smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "That Eevee is a girl, you know. So, I want you to make her evolve into a cute Eeveelution, like Sylveon or Espeon. But she's yours now, so I won't force you, though." He said awkwardly, avoiding eye contact.
A wave of sadness washed over Faminne, heavier than she expected. He's really leaving. He's probably going to prank me again. I won't fall for it. She tried to convince herself, but the tremor in her hands betrayed her.
Unaware of her inner turmoil, Junno leaned closer, his gaze intense. "I'm not joking... I'm really going to Unova."
Faminne's eyes started to water, the familiar sting of unshed tears pricking at her eyelids. Then, a surge of determination sparked within her. "Then... I'll go after you. In Unova!"
A bright, genuine smile finally broke through Junno's sadness, illuminating his face. A single tear escaped and traced a path down his cheek. "I'll wait for you there," he promised, his voice thick with emotion.