Chapter 80: Cruise Chaos Begins

The sun glared off the surface of the ocean, throwing streaks of light across the waves, and the 𝘚𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘯𝘦 loomed like a behemoth at the distant shore. I shifted Raichu in my arms, his jolly energy infectious as his tail flicked lazily from side to side. Erin walked beside me, her face as calm as ever, cradling the Pokémon egg in her hands like it was the most delicate thing in the world.

"Let's go," I said, glancing ahead with a relaxed smirk. "First time on a cruise. Should be fun."

Erin's nod was barely perceptible. "Hmm," she responded, voice flat, as if the idea of boarding a gigantic ship full of wild trainers didn't phase her one bit. Typical Erin.

I took a step forward when a voice, soft and hesitant, stopped me dead in my tracks. "P-Punit?" The voice belonged to Lucy Evans, her words barely loud enough to be carried by the breeze. Her chestnut hair, tied loosely, slipped over her eyes as she looked toward someone beside her—Alisha.

A shiver ran down my spine. Alisha Arora. That playful, teasing voice of hers followed the shudder.

"Oh yeah," Alisha chirped. "I know that jacket anywhere." She had this way of speaking that made everything sound like a game. I rolled my eyes, not bothering to turn around. I'd seen this coming from miles away.

Erin, ever calm, tilted her head toward me, eyes thoughtful. "Punit, do you know them?"

Before I could answer, Alisha's sing-song voice rang out again. "Gotcha!" I turned, and there she was, grinning like she'd just won a million Pokédollars. Raichu, sensing the shift in energy, leaped from my arms to the ground, scratching his head and flicking his ears. Then, before I could even process it, Alisha launched herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck. 

"Hey—what the—?!" I barely got the words out before she started counting under her breath, planting kisses on my cheek. "One, two, three—"

I gestured frantically toward Erin, hoping for rescue. Erin, still cool as a Piloswine in winter, handed the Pokémon egg to Raichu, who accepted it with a delighted clap, then stepped forward and physically peeled Alisha off me.

"Alright, alright," Erin said, dragging Alisha aside with a surprising amount of strength. "That's enough."

Lucy, standing off to the side, looked like she was trying to melt into the ground, her cheeks flushed a bright red. "K-kiss, kiss...kiss," she muttered, her voice barely audible. Then, before I could blink, she rushed forward, planted a quick peck on my cheek, and retreated behind Alisha like she was hiding behind a tree in a windstorm.

I stood there, dumbfounded, glancing between the two girls. Erin, however, was unfazed. She turned to Lucy, her voice flat and calm. "Who are you? Why are you kissing my boyfriend?"

Lucy stammered, her face growing impossibly redder. "B-boyfriend?"

Before she could process that, Alisha burst out laughing, ignoring Erin entirely as she directed her grin at me. "Future husband, actually. And what's this? I leave you alone for some month's and you get yourself a new girlfriend?" She glanced toward Erin, eyes sparkling with mischief.

I sighed. People had begun to gather, watching the show like it was free entertainment. I had to get this under control. "Why don't we talk about this later?" I suggested, my voice carrying an edge of exhaustion.

Alisha's grin only widened. "Why not right now?" She winked, stepping closer.

"Why not right now?" Lucy echoed quietly, her voice still trembling with hesitation, as if she didn't know whether she was supposed to be part of this conversation or not.

I looked at Lucy, then at Alisha, and finally back to Erin, who raised an eyebrow. "What did you do to Lucy?" I muttered under my breath, exasperated. "Feels like her parents might be out for blood later."

"I didn't do anything!" Alisha said, flashing me an innocent smile. "She just really likes you, I guess."

Erin stepped forward, positioning herself between me and the girls as if she were a bodyguard. "Who are you?" she asked, her tone as calm as ever.

Alisha leaned forward playfully, raising a hand as if to whisper. "Punit, do you want me to tell her, or should you?"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Erin, this is Alisha. We met in Viridian Forest, and, well… she's a little crazy about me. The shy one there is Lucy. I met her just outside Mount Moon."

Alisha huffed dramatically, crossing her arms. "Not going to mention our first kiss?"

Erin's response was so calm it was almost jarring. "We've had plenty of kisses. Punit is a good kisser. He likes me."

I froze, dumbstruck, while Alisha's eyes widened in delight. "Well, at least this girl's honest." She laughed, flicking her hair back. 

"She's Erin Oak," I muttered, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Granddaughter of Professor Oak."

The murmurs from the crowd grew louder at that name, but before Alisha could say anything else, an announcement blared over the speakers from the 𝘚𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘯𝘦 "We are preparing for departure. All passengers, please make your way on board."

I seized the opportunity, turning back to Alisha and Lucy. "We'll talk later. Erin and I need to get on that cruise."

Alisha grinned, stepping closer again. "Don't worry, darling. We've got free passes too. We're following you." 

I groaned inwardly. This day couldn't get any more ridiculous.

I picked up the Pokémon egg, and Raichu bounced happily beside me as we started walking toward the ship. Behind me, Erin followed, calm as ever, with Alisha bouncing alongside her and Lucy trailing shyly behind. 

This was going to be a long trip.