Amour D'enfance 3

   "Oh my Arceus! It's just like I imagine it would be!" Hikari squealed happily as she hopped towards the festive ceremony. Her best friend groaned quietly, walking lazily behind her, hands in his pockets.

   Jun looked around the festival. He was surprised to see not only stalls, but rides. There was a carousel, an arcade stand, even a Ferris wheel. He focused his attention towards the jumping woman, eyebrow raised.

   "I thought you said it was a festival."

   Hikari skipped playfully towards a stall, browsing through the items without looking at him. "I did. It's not just any festival. It's also like an amusement park. It comes along with it. That's why it's so big and grand compare to any normal festivals."

   Jun lost her at 'not just any festival'. He dazed away, distracted by a game stall. Resulting in Hikari talking to herself.

   "Jun?" She turned her back when there was no response from the young man. Hikari growled in annoyance as she saw Jun walking away to a stall, completely ignoring her explanation. Stupid bastard. Couldn't stay still even if I wanted him too. The young lady sighed. I guess that's Jun for you.

   Hikari released her Pokémon. All six of them jumped out in glee, standing and hopping in front of their trainer. The dark brunette clapped her hands. "Alright gang. All of you go have some fun! You guys deserve it!"

   Her team yelled in joy and spread out. Annabelle hopped cheerfully, trying to flirt with Dominic. Jacque and Coraline soared into the skies. Aurora chased after Isaac who apparently was running towards a snow cone stand.

   The sight alone made Hikari smile wide. Her team was her family. And she loved them very dearly. Her head turned towards the young blonde, who was still focusing on the arcade game. Hikari rolled her eyes and walked towards him.

   Thus, a fun day at a festival/amusement park begins.

---

   "Jun please…I don't want to go anymore…"

   Jun laughed heartedly. "Aww come on Hikari. One more ride."

   The dark brunette glared at her best friend. "That's the last time you said you bas…tard-ooohh…" Hikari held her stomach, feeling very nauseous. The roller coaster was quite fast and adrenaline-pumping considering it's from a normal festival. But the first time she rode it, her stomach had turned queasy. The petite trainer leaned against a wall, clasping her mouth, trying to hold her lunch.

   The young blonde grinned at her sick-looking best friend. Who knew the coaster was fun and rushing? It was just his thing. So riding it once wasn't enough – riding it eleven times wasn't enough either.

   "Come on Hikari. I promise. Last time," he coaxed slyly at her, pulling her arm.

   The young woman gave a sharp glare. "No way J-u-ooo…."

   Jun gave an arrogant scoff. His friend certainly has a weak stomach. "You can face danger in the eye but you can't handle a single ride?" He shook his head, giving a pathetic 'tsk'. "I am disappointed in you."

   Hikari was getting agitated. "Why you little…"

  "It's settled then!" Before Hikari could say a word, Jun lifted her up, putting her body on his shoulder. Dark eyes were wide, startled at his sudden action. Blowing a happy whistle, he strode towards the roller coaster.

   Hikari began to panic. "L-Let me go you bastard! I told you I don't wan-na-ohhh..." She tried to yell, but the aching twitch in her throat was preventing her. She didn't even have the energy to call her Aurora.

   Without feeling a bit guilty, Jun placed the dark brunette on the ride and took a seat next to it. Before the coaster began to move, Hikari prayed deeply in her heart that she will get thrown off the ride, away from her misery.

---

   "Move faster damn it! Move move move!"

   Hikari rolled her eyes, annoyed at her friend's behaviour. She turned her head towards Jun, who was violently shaking the Ponyta ride he was sitting on.

   "Jun," she sighed. "It's a carousel. The speed is supposed to be this normal. If it goes any faster like that dumbass roller coaster, people and Pokémon would already be flung out into the skies like scrunched up paper."

---

    Jun groaned loudly, tapping his foot as fast as he can. "Oh come on woman! I don't wanna die of boredom!"

   The dark brunette stuck out her tongue and rolled her eyes at him. She faced a mirror, twirling around in a blue sundress she was trying on.

   The blonde was getting haughty. "Oh dear Arceus, just take my life away!" he shouted, deliberately attracting a few attention from the crowd and the salesgirl.

   It ticked his friend off. "You know," she growled, trying to keep her voice cool. "You could just go and see the festival all by yourself." She rubbed her banging forehead, irritated at her impatient friend. She knew the boy hates shopping, especially when he has to do the waiting.

   But they had only been in the stall for less than five minutes.

   "I don't wanna," he grumbled sourly. "I want to walk with you. It's no fun if you're not around…" His words began to grow faint, unable to reach Hikari's earshot.

   The petite woman turned her back, raising an eyebrow. "What did you say?"

   "Nothing…" he muttered, looking away. A small shade of red tinted his cheeks, thinking the words he had just said. "J-Just hurry up alright!"

   Luckily, Hikari didn't argue about it much and continued to admire herself with the new dress.

---

   "Step right up! Knock down the Wurmple and win a fabulous prize!"

   Hikari turned her head towards the sound. She then squealed in excitement to see an adorable Cyndaquil doll hanging from a game stall. In reflex, she pulled Jun and dragged him towards the arcade.

   "H-Hey what the hell?!" He was caught off guard. The first minute, they were walking around, thinking of riding the roller coaster yet again. Before he could blink, he felt the small woman pulling him like a doll.

   "Hikari!" he growled when they stopped. But his indignant tone halted as he saw sparkles in her eyes. Jun raised an eyebrow, confused. He turned his head forward, seeing a simple arcade stand in front of them.

   Max, the stall owner flashed a welcome grin. "Why hello little lady." He tipped his hat. "Would you care to try a little game of wiping out some Wurmples?"

   Her eyes were still shining towards the fiery doll. A few seconds later, she faced Max. "How can I have that super cute Cyndaquil doll? Tell me tell me!" She basically bounced like a little girl.

   The middle-aged man chuckled at her childish reaction. "Easy, you just gotta knock out all these Wurmple stands with these fireballs." He pointed his cane to three aluminium balls, all painted in red. His Hoothoot cawed on his shoulder, flapping his wings.

   Hikari glanced at the animated cardboard Wurmples. They were moving left and right, just waiting to be knocked down. She then focused back on the dangling Cyndaquil doll. Hikari always has a soft spot for cute adorable Pokémon – and the Johto fire starter was her favourite.  

   Seeing the glistening joy in her eyes, Jun hatched an idea. "Alright then, fireball me, Mr Arcade man!"

   Hikari snapped her head towards him, shocked. She didn't expect Jun to participate in the game. "What are you doing?" she asked dumbly.

   A sly chuckle escaped his lips. "What do you think? I'm gonna win that Cyndaquil for my best friend."

   She could feel her cheeks getting hot. The young blonde was actually going to win her a prize. The thought made her heart flutter like happy Beautiflys. "Uh…okay," she said timidly, eyes way from him.

   Max chuckled at the two. "Alright then, let's see you got what it takes to beat some bug Pokémon." Jun handed him a dollar, scoffing arrogantly, feeling as if the man was doubting him. Piece of cake.  He took the first ball and threw it towards the motioning Wurmple.

   Shamelessly, after three tries, not even a single Wurmple was down.

   Causing his pride to flush down the toilet.

   Jun gawked in disbelief. He heard a small snicker. The young man turned around, glaring at the sneering Hikari. He could feel his dignity being stomped to dust.

   "Well now, that's kinda awkward. It's a shame your girlfriend won't get that doll."

   The teenager faced forward, glaring at the smirking man and his Pokémon. His cheeks grew red at the word 'girlfriend'. Its bad enough he didn't hit a single one, but his best friend – who he was trying very hard to impress – just so happens to stand right behind him.

   He bit his inner cheeks, feeling crabby. Suddenly, his mind clicked. A small, devious grin flashed on his lips. "One more time," he growled.

   Max shrugged and placed the balls in front of him again. He didn't care how many times the boy will take his challenge. He was making money. Heck, he was also quite curious as to what will happen next.

   Hikari crossed her arms, sighing wistfully. Her best friend would never give up.

   A smile intact, Jun threw the ball. Max and Hoothoot chuckled quietly, knowing that the young blonde wouldn't be able to hit the target again.

   Unfortunately, they were wrong.

   The ball swirled and twirled until it hit all the animated Wurmples. Max gawked, not believing what he had just saw. Jun jumped and shouted in victory, punching his fists into the air.

   "Haa! Who's the loser now! Yeah I won baby!" Jun screamed triumphantly. Hikari was in shock herself. A few minutes ago, Jun had horrible aiming skills. Now, it was as if the ball has a mind of its own.

   A mind of its own. Her mind stopped. Wait a minute…

   "Here ya go," Max sighed, he had actually lost. Hoothoot plucked the Cyndaquil doll and gave it to the dancing Jun. "You win kid. Heh, I gotta admit. That was some throw. You were just trying to fool around the first time, huh?"

   Jun grinned, scratching the back of his neck. "Eheh, well…"

   "Hoohoooot!"

   Both the males jumped. Max turned around, seeing his Hoothoot flapping his arms like crazy at the aluminium balls on the ground. Slightly worried and curious, the man walked towards his Pokémon.

   "Hey bud, what's wr-"

   He was frozen in shock as Hoothoot used Foresight – revealing a Gengar.

   The ghost Pokémon was holding the ball Jun had just thrown.

   His black eyes wide in aghast and rage – he had been tricked. He turned around, glaring deathly at the busted blonde. "You little cheater! Hoothoot! Sick 'em!"

   "Hikari! Run!" Before Hikari could adjust to reality, the young man pulled her and both of them ran from the mad owl Pokémon.

---

   They sought shelter inside a boat ride, hiding from the wrathful man and his Pokémon. Jun sighed in relief when the coast was clear. The chase was quite tiring, even for him. But luckily, he was faster.

   "Fuhh, that was close," he sighed nonchalantly, leaning his back on the seat. But his serene mind melted in an instant as a huge slap hit his head.

   "Oww!" he yelled, eyes glaring at the woman next to him. "What was that for?"

   Hikari glared back at him. "You just cheated! You used your Gengar to move that ball so that it could knock out every single Wurmple!"

   A small, proud snicker hummed through his lips. "Yeah, I am a genius aren't I?"

   Another slap occupied his head.

   "Oww! Okay okay I'm sorry!" He crossed his arms on his face, protecting himself from another slap attack. Hikari led out an annoyed scoff and crossed her arms, eyes away from him.

   Jun sighed quietly. "Hey, come on. You know it'll take forever if I play fair."

   Still no reaction from her.

   The blonde bit his lip. The young lady was sulking. Suddenly, his mind clicked. "Ah, right!" He took the fiery doll from under the seat, wiggling it playfully in front of his friend. "Look, I got you your favourite Pokémon doll," he sang in a cheery tune.

   Hikari peeked beside her, but then scoffed again, facing away.

   He was still not giving up. "Please forgive Jun, Kari Kari," said Jun, changing his voice into a more childish tone. He placed the Cyndaquil doll right on his face, pretending to be the fire starter. "He was just trying to make his best fwiend happy. And he knows how you saw me back there. You loooooove me."

   Hikari pursed her lips, trying to hold back a giggle. The man certainly knows how to console her back to normal. The dark brunette bit her lower lip, turning her head away from him. She still has her ego to protect.

   A small smile flashed his lips. He was almost there. "Come on Kari Kari…" he purred, still in a Cyndaquil-like tone. "Forgive Jun. Love me. He's an awesome fwiend. You should be bwessed." He playfully pushed the doll to her cheek, making funny smooching sounds, earning a small laugh from her.

   Hikari finally cave in. "Alright alright!" she shouted, pulling the doll away from her. "I'm not mad anymore, you idiot."

   Jun laughed happily. He had succeeded. Hikari took the Cyndaquil doll and hugged it tightly. She was so happy to have the doll, she practically squealed in glee.

  But her squeals stopped as she glared at her friend. "But promise me you won't do something like that again." She tried her best to sound threatening.

   Sadly, it didn't. "Fine fine. I promise to play fair." He waved his hands at the last two sentences in a sarcastic tone. The blonde patted her head, grinning as widely as he can.

   Hikari returned her grin with a smile. It's hard to be mad at him forever. Suddenly, everything around them became dark. The dark brunette clutched her new doll tightly, scared. "Uhh…Jun…?"

   Before any one of them could say a word, a bright flash blinded them. Jun silently cursed at the mishap. But his mind halted like a bullet when their vision was back to normal.

   They could see many kinds of animatronics.

   All of them were in a couple.

   All of them were kissing and showing many signs of love.

   Both the teenagers froze in aghast. A quiet, romantic sound filled the area. Finally, Hikari realized where they were.

   They were in the Tunnel of Love.