[United Kingdom: London - MORNING]
Arlo took a quiet breath and said, "You're Emma Watson," his tone flat, like he was identifying a species in the wild. No fanboy theatrics. No starstruck rambling.Emma gave a faint smile, still catching her breath. "Yes, yes I am. Thank you, really, for the help. The paparazzi are becoming unbearable," she said in that signature British cadence that felt lifted straight from a BBC drama. She tilted her head, studying him. "And you are?" He hesitated. Just for a second. Then the words slipped out. "Klein Moretti."
Internally, Arlo cursed. Why Klein? Why not just lie more creatively? But at least it gave him a fallback identity—something to use for future sequences if this turned out to be useful. Still, part of him felt like a cliché for choosing a name of protagonist from a novel.
Emma raised a brow at him. "Klein Moretti? That sounds... suspiciously like an alias."
Arlo shrugged. "When people find out who I am, they usually default to calling me 'Hermione's biggest fan.' Figured I'd skip the awkward phase."
That made her laugh—a short, surprised burst. "Alright, I'll give you that one. It's refreshing to meet someone who treats me like a human being, not the character I played for half my life." He cracked a smirk. "You're not just a normal person, Miss Watson." She sighed, rolling her eyes. "You're right. I'm not. But I wish I could be. Fame's a strange thing—like being permanently stuck inside a glass box. You can see everyone, and everyone sees you, but no one ever sees the real you."
Arlo didn't respond right away. He didn't need to. He just nodded slightly. He'd met gods, monsters, and interdimensional bureaucrats. But celebrity? That was a different beast. Maybe even worse.Just then, Link and Kage trotted over from the alley, blending seamlessly into the crowd.
Arlo kneeled and ruffled their fur."Good work," he murmured to them. Then he looked at Emma. "These two helped distract your Fans. They're good at that."
Emma crouched, rubbing her hands on her knees. "Your dog and cat? They're adorable." She reached out to pet Link, who sniffed once before accepting the praise. "Unusual markings, though. Especially the 'cat.'"
Arlo nodded. "They're… exotic breeds."Thank god for the disguise collars.
Emma straightened up and glanced back toward the street. "We should move. They'll be combing this area soon, Mr. Moretti."
Arlo gave a lazy smile. "Just Klein." She smiled back. "Then just Emma."
They started walking casually through the thinning crowd. Link padded silently beside Arlo, Kage bouncing lightly on his feet like a shadow. It didn't take long before they slipped deeper into the quieter parts of the district.
"I think we lost them," Arlo said, scanning the rooftops for telephoto lenses. None yet. Good.Emma exhaled in relief. "There's a park nearby. It's usually empty this time of day. Want to walk?"
"Lead the way." Arlo replied.
As they headed toward the quiet corner of London, Arlo glanced sideways at Emma Watson, of all people. Off all the people he could've randomly run into…
This Earth was definitely going to be interesting.
***
[London: Nearby Park]
Arlo walked alongside Emma in the park, the sound of birds rustling in the trees filling the air. It was peaceful, a stark contrast to the chaos they'd just escaped. Link and Kage trotted beside them, clearly enjoying the open space. Emma, still looking slightly worn from the earlier chase, looked up at Arlo, her gaze softening."Thank you again, Klein," she said, breaking the silence. "I don't know what I would've done without you. Those paparazzi are relentless."
Arlo gave her a reassuring smile. "No problem. It was the right thing to do," he said, though part of him still cringed at the slip-up with the name earlier. Klein Moretti? Really?It was a lie, of course, but at least it gave him a little more room to operate in this world. And Emma wouldn't know any better.
She glanced at him sideways, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. "Not everyone would help, though. Some might even join in with the paparazzi for the right price," she said with a wistful sigh.
Arlo thought about it for a moment. "That's true. People have different priorities. But I guess I'm not interested in fame or the chaos it brings." He paused, looking at her. "Besides, you did a lot of amazing things. Helping people, being an ambassador—it's not just about the cameras. You've made a real impact."
Emma blinked, her face softening. "Thank you, Klein," she said quietly. "It means a lot to hear that. You know, it's not easy to feel like a person when everyone sees you as someone else. A character." She let out a small, self-deprecating laugh. "Sometimes, I just wish I could be normal again."
Arlo caught her eyes for a second, their gazes locking. Her brown eyes were intense— striking , he thought. He noticed the faint hint of yellow in them, something that made her stand out even more. And despite his usual indifference toward fame, something about her seemed different now.
Smoothly, Arlo added, "You did more than act, Emma. You gave people hope—through the characters you've portrayed, the charity work. People respect you for that. Fame? That's just noise. You don't have to let it define you."
Emma smiled, clearly touched by his words. "That's... honestly refreshing. Most people don't see past the fame. They expect me to be someone I'm not. But you, Klein— you see me as I am."
Arlo grinned, shrugging. "What can I say? I'm not really believe to what I see in the Hollywood."
Their walk continued in comfortable silence for a moment, Link and Kage trotting ahead. The park was quieter now, with fewer people around, and it felt almost like they were the only two people in the world.
"I think my feet are killing me," Emma said, breaking the silence again. "All that running…" She winced slightly, her voice betraying the discomfort.
Arlo glanced around. "There's a bench up ahead. We can stop for a bit."
They walked toward the bench, and once they sat, Arlo turned to Link and Kage. "You two can go play for a bit," he said, gesturing toward the park.
The two Pokémon immediately took off, with Link chasing after a squirrel, while Kage found a random dog to play with.Emma watched them, her brow furrowing slightly. "Is it okay to leave them without supervision?" she asked, eyeing the Pokémon.
Arlo nodded confidently. "They're trained and smarter than most. We're technically on vacation right now, so no need to worry."
Emma seemed satisfied with the explanation but still added, "I hope I'm not interrupting your vacation plans, though."
Arlo leaned back, resting his arms on the back of the bench. "Not at all. We've already hit all the big spots in London, so I'd say this is a pretty laid-back day."
They continued talking for a while, moving between different topics. Emma was surprisingly easy to talk to—more down-to-earth than Arlo expected, given her fame. They even touched on some academic subjects, with Emma discussing her interests in literature and social justice. Arlo found himself enjoying the conversation more than he had expected. He glanced at Link, who had now caught the squirrel, and Kage, who was happily wagging his tail next to the other dog. "I think they're okay," he said, watching the Pokémon. "They've got it under control."
Emma's eyes softened as she watched them play. "They're adorable. It's nice to see them having fun."
Arlo chuckled, turning his attention back to her. He glanced at his BrainLink and noticed the time. "It's almost 3:00 p.m. You're late for your meeting, aren't you?"
Emma sighed, glancing at her watch. "You're right. They're probably waiting for me." She smiled apologetically at Arlo. "I had fun, though. It was nice to get a break from everything."
"I'm sorry for taking up your time," Arlo said, standing up. "I didn't mean to keep you from your friends."
She waved it off with a smile. "It's fine. It was fun talking to you, Klein."
Arlo smiled back. "I can tag along to make sure you're safe. I'm good with crowds, and I know a thing or two about avoiding annoying crowds."
Emma considered it for a moment. Then, with a small nod, she agreed.
"Alright, you can come with me. It'll be good to have some backup." Arlo called to Link and Kage, who obediently trotted back to him. With a final glance at the park, they walked together, side by side, toward a nearby taxi stand. Emma didn't seem in a hurry, but there was a subtle urgency in her pace.
As they waited for the cab to arrive, Arlo felt a strange satisfaction—this wasn't the vacation he had expected, but it was turning out to be one of the more interesting detours in his life.
***
[A Pub somewhere in London]
Arlo and Emma stepped into the pub, and as soon as the door opened, the sounds of conversation and clinking glasses greeted them. Emma smiled, clearly at ease in the atmosphere. "It's pet-friendly," she explained. "They don't mind bringing dogs and cats in here."
Arlo glanced at his two Pokémon, Link and Kage, who were already looking around the room curiously. He shrugged and gave a nod. "Guess we'll see how they behave."
Inside, the pub had that perfect mix of local charm and tourist buzz—a welcoming and relaxed environment where people just came to unwind. A long wooden bar ran across one side, with the shelves lined with various types of alcohol. The air smelled like fried food, hops, and laughter. It wasn't fancy, but it was the kind of place where a good conversation or two could easily unfold.As they made their way to a booth, Arlo noticed a few familiar faces, some of them instantly recognizable from various media. Tom Felton. Daniel Radcliffe. Matthew Lewis. Kaya Scodelario. Bonnie Wright. Jessie Cave. And two other girls Arlo didn't recognize immediately, but he could guess they were friends of Emma.
Daniel and Tom waved over to Emma, their faces lighting up when they saw her.
"Emma!" Daniel called out, standing and offering a friendly handshake. "Congratulations! On finishing your bachelor's degree!"
Emma's cheeks flushed with a bashful smile. "Thanks, Daniel. It's been a long ride. But it's finally over."
Arlo stayed silent for a moment, watching the scene unfold, trying to process just how normal it all seemed. These people, who in his mind were larger-than-life figures, were just sitting around enjoying their time like any other regular folks. The whole thing felt surreal.
One of Emma's female friends, a woman with short hair and glasses, stepped forward. "Emma, who's this handsome friend of yours?," she said, introducing herself. "I'm Sophie Summer. This is my sister, Amy." She gestured toward the taller girl beside her.
Arlo confidently introduce himself "I'm Arlo Leeroy, a friend of Emma" While Arlo is looking at Emma Amy, smiling cheekily, looked Emma up and down before turning to Arlo. "So, how did you meet Emma?" she asked with a teasing glint in her eye. "Tell us the full story!"
Emma hesitated, unsure how to explain the situation. Arlo caught the look she gave him, and for a brief moment, it seemed like she was debating how much to reveal. She was a little uncomfortable, no doubt unsure how to present the strange encounter to her friends.
Before Emma could speak up, Arlo smoothly interjected. "We met just recently actually. Emma was being hounded by a bunch of paparazzi, and I happened to step in and help her out of that situation." He kept it casual, leaving out the fact that they'd literally been running through the streets.
Emma blinked, momentarily taken aback. "You're just telling them that ?" she said with a slight chuckle, clearly surprised at how openly he was addressing the situation. But she didn't seem upset. Arlo kept his tone calm, focused on the immediate situation. He continued, "The reason I'm here with her now is simple—I just wanted to make sure she was safe, in case the paparazzi decided to follow us." Her friends looked genuinely impressed. Sophie raised an eyebrow. "Wow. You just stepped in, huh? That's… unexpected. Most people wouldn't even bother."
Arlo shrugged nonchalantly. "Guess I'm just that kind of person." His voice stayed calm, but inside, he knew it wasn't a complete lie. Sure, he had other motivations, but in that moment, being straightforward was the best course of action.
"Anyway," Arlo said, taking a step back. "Since Emma's safe now, I'll leave you all to your celebration. I don't want to intrude." He flashed a smile. "Enjoy the evening."
Emma, still processing what he had just revealed, looked at him with a mixture of gratitude and confusion. "Wait—no. Stay. You've helped me. You should stay and celebrate with us." Her friends nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you should join us! It's a celebration after all!" Sophie added enthusiastically.
Arlo sighed but managed a half-smile. "Well, since you insist..." He glanced around, trying not to appear too out of place. "It'll be my pleasure, I guess."
The group welcomed him into their celebration without hesitation, and the conversation picked up again as drinks were poured, plates of food were passed around, and the chatter turned light-hearted. As they all sat down, Arlo leaned toward Emma. "So, you just graduated?"
Emma grinned. "I did, indeed," she replied in her British way, her voice relaxed and content.
Arlo chuckled, then turned to the others, asking, "Is it alright if my pets join us? It's a pet-friendly pub, right?"
"Of course!" Kaya Scodelario chimed in. "The more the merrier."
Arlo turned to Link and Kage, who were now sniffing around the table. The group's reactions were immediate. Link was an instant hit—everyone crowded around to pet the friendly wolf hybrid, but Kage, as expected, was far more standoffish, swatting away any hands that came near him with a grumble.
"Sorry about Kage," Arlo said with a grin, shaking his head. "He's not a fan of strangers petting him. But Link's a good boy."
The celebration carried on, and the group introduced Arlo to various delicacies. He found himself enjoying most of them, though he was less enthusiastic about the spotted dick (though he didn't say it aloud). Some of the dishes were surprisingly good—like the shepherd's pie and sticky toffee pudding, which had him going back for seconds.
As the hours passed, Arlo found himself connecting with Tom Felton, Daniel Radcliffe, and Matthew Lewis the most. They all shared stories, joked about past projects, and drank a mix of beer and more unique cocktails. The casual banter was refreshing—these were just regular people who happened to have incredibly famous jobs. Meanwhile, Link and Kage seemed to enjoy the atmosphere as well. Link was getting extra attention from the others, who couldn't get enough of his adorable demeanor. Kage, though, found a quiet corner and napped, which Arlo was thankful for.
As the night wore on, the group grew louder and more inebriated, but Arlo, ever the controlled presence, remained sober. Thanks to his Beyonder abilities and high stats, the alcohol didn't affect him the way it did the others.
By midnight, everyone was tipsy or outright drunk. Arlo called a taxi for each person, ensuring they all had a safe ride home. When Emma, barely able to stand, turned to ask him where she lived, she slurred the words out in a string of gibberish.
Arlo smiled gently, using his Divination especially the Dowsing Seeking Road to locate her father's house in London. The divination skill was a useful one—no need for any guesswork.
Once they arrived at the building, Emma, still tipsy, mumbled thanks to Arlo before suddenly pressing a kiss to his lips. It was quick, unexpected, but it left him momentarily frozen. Before he could even process, Emma's father appeared at the door.
Arlo immediately put on his most composed expression, explaining that Emma had had a bit too much to drink. Her father, an older man, thanked Arlo and offered his own contact number. "Feel free to contact me if there's ever an issue," he said.
After a final round of goodbyes, Arlo walked back to the taxi, taking one last look at Link and Kage. "Alright, guys. Time to head back to the hotel."