Pokemon : The Master of Dragon-Types

While Amira and Amelia talked quietly on one side, Jacob and Kyle fell into their own conversation, trading stories about school.

"Jacob… let me tell you," Kyle declared, puffing out his chest, "next semester I'm aiming for the top twenty at least. Really, I'm shooting for the top ten in our grade. Maybe even the top five. Third place isn't out of the question."

"Uh… good luck. I'll be waiting for you at the top," Jacob said, glancing sideways at his friend. Knowing Kyle's usual habits, top ten was basically impossible, though top twenty had a sliver of a chance. "Honestly, if you cracked the top fifty, I'd call that a win. Don't set the bar so high you trip over it."

"Don't underestimate me!" Kyle shot back, clearly stung. "This year I almost made the top hundred! Anyway, forget my grades — Jacob, when are you finally entering the Gym Leader Professional League?"

"Once the new term starts," Jacob answered after a moment's thought, his tone turning serious. "It's been a while since I last competed. People have probably forgotten what it feels like to lose to me. Time to remind everyone why they used to fear facing the genius Trainer Jacob."

"Oh, please," Kyle said, rolling his eyes. "You only ever terrorize your own classmates. No offense, Jacob, but I don't think you could even beat June."

"Heh. Honestly, if I actually tried, I could wipe the floor with her," Jacob said.

"Sure, sure, keep talking big. We'll see next year whether your Pokémon back up your mouth. Don't embarrass your old man," Kyle said, raising his glass. "Come on, let's drink. Here's to a clean sweep for you, and to becoming the youngest Gym Leader in the Imperial Capital."

While Jacob and Kyle kept things easygoing between them, Amira and Amelia were locked in a drinking contest of their own, and the bottles were piling up fast. Within half an hour, the table was crowded with empty glass.

The more she drank, the more Amira sensed something was wrong. She was starting to suspect she'd walked straight into a trap — Amelia, who looked so soft and harmless, clearly had a hidden talent for holding her liquor. It wasn't that Amelia couldn't get drunk; it was that her tolerance was enormous. Cup after cup went down without so much as a flush to her cheeks or a hitch in her breathing, while Amira herself was already losing the thread of the conversation.

"I… I need the restroom," Amira mumbled, her stomach churning. She pushed back her chair and hurried off.

"I'll come with you," Kyle offered, half-rising.

"No need," Amira waved him down, already walking away. "It's the women's restroom. Why would you come?"

… … … …

Watching Amira stumble off red-faced while Amelia sat there looking perfectly composed, Kyle shook his head. "Amelia, I had no idea you could drink like that."

Amelia brushed a strand of hair from her face and leaned back against Jacob's chair, a faint smile playing on her lips. "I could count the times I've had alcohol on one hand. I really don't drink much."

A trace of her perfume drifted past Jacob, and his pulse quickened without warning. He couldn't tell if she'd leaned that close on purpose or by chance.

"Then you're a natural," Kyle said, then lowered his voice, leaning in. "Amelia, if you wear that outfit to the reunion tomorrow, you're going to steal the whole room's attention. There'll be a line of people confessing to you by the end of the night."

Jacob smiled from the side. "Even back in her school uniform, with no makeup at all, plenty of people used to line up for her."

"That's right, Amelia was our school's campus belle," Kyle said, turning to Jacob. "Looks like tomorrow's the stage for Campus Belle Amelia and Champion Jacob both. Small fry like me will just be background characters."

… … … …

A while later, Amira returned from the restroom looking pale but steadier. Getting sick had at least cleared her head.

Kyle eyed her with concern. "That's enough for tonight. Let's head back. Amira's already had too much, and if I keep drinking too, none of us will make it home."

"Fine by me. I should get going too," Jacob said, nodding. Drinking with Kyle was always comfortable — the moment either of them wanted to stop, they simply said so, and nobody pushed back.

"Mm. Jacob, let me walk you out," Amelia said, rising quickly. She picked up the jacket Jacob had draped over his chair and carefully set it over his shoulders. "It's cold outside. Bundle up, don't catch a chill."

Watching this from the side, Kyle silently cursed his friend. This guy has all the luck with women. Why do people like Jacob always end up with someone who adores them?

"You don't need to walk me anywhere — I'll see you home instead," Jacob said. "Otherwise your brother might see you've been drinking and get upset."

"Then… all right," Amelia said softly, dipping her head. "Thank you."

The three of them stood and waited while Amira gathered herself to leave the restaurant.

… … … …

Outside, the cold night air hit them at once, sharp enough to clear away whatever alcohol still lingered in their heads. Amelia, dressed a little too lightly for the weather, hugged her arms to herself and shivered.

Seeing this, Jacob shrugged off his jacket without a second thought and offered it to her.

"You don't have to. It was cold a second ago, but we'll be fine once we're in the car," Amelia said, trying to wave him off with a smile.

"You're barely wearing anything and you've had plenty to drink. You'll catch cold," Jacob said, shaking his head, and draped the jacket over her shoulders anyway. He still had a sweater and thermal layer underneath, so the cold barely touched him. "Just wear it. Don't argue."

Amelia stopped protesting, nodding quietly. "Thank you… you're kind."

Wrapped in Jacob's jacket, she allowed herself a small, private smile.

"Taxi's here. We're heading off, Kyle."

"Mm. Don't be late tomorrow!" Kyle called after them as he climbed into his own car.

"Mm," Jacob replied, and got into the taxi beside Amelia.

"Driver, to…"

… … … …

The taxi pulled up outside Amelia's family's residential complex — one of the finest in Starlight City. It was a home her family had only recently been able to afford. Not long ago, the Zhao family had struggled financially, but with a hand up from Jacob and his father, both her father and her brother had found steady work.

Her brother, in particular, had been given a small but steady contract under Jacob's father's arrangement, supplying food for the Gym and the Grass Insect Secret Realm. Even that modest slice of business, small as it seemed, had flowed in like a stream of profit, enough for the family to buy both a car and a house within a single year.

Jeremy himself had gone from a small-time street vendor hawking skewers to a man other people now respectfully called "Boss Zhao."

"Well, I should get going—"

Before Jacob could finish, Amelia cut him off. "Come see my new place. You've probably never been inside. And while you're at it, come up for a cup of tea to help sober up."

Something in her voice and the way she looked at him made Jacob's heart skip. "Uh… it's pretty late. Wouldn't that be a bit improper?"

"What are you so worried about?" Amelia asked, smiling as she brushed her hair back to show off her profile. "Afraid I'll eat you or something? Don't worry, my brother's home."

"All right, then," Jacob said, nodding.

… … … …