[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/Jc36Ikj.png[/img]
[b]Location:[/b] Beryl Town
[b]Interacting With:[/b] Ikkou [@Yankee][/center]

Kazu wound her way through the streets of Beryl Town, taking in the sights. The little town was bustling with color and activity, themed decorations and eager participants bringing an unmistakable [i]joy[/i]. Kazu couldn’t help but smile as she walked. She even pulled on the wires of her earbuds, popping them out and letting the festival flood her senses. 

She felt… [i]weightless[/i]. There was a giddy novelty in letting her feet carry her without thought, not worrying about schedules or obligations, or keeping an eye on anyone but herself and her Cleffa - and the new egg weighing heavy on her back. But even if her attempt to offload it had failed, Kazu couldn’t find it in herself to mind. So what, she had an egg. It was cracked, sure, but tough as nails and close to hatching. And whatever Pokémon came out of it would be [i]hers[/i]. She had the makings of a [i]team[/i].

A giggle bubbled out of her as a stray piece of confetti fluttered past her nose, the colorful paper barely brushing her skin. Astra echoed a chirp, feeding off her trainer’s good mood. 

An aroma wafted through the air - something sweet and fried. Astra perked up, her little nose twitching. Then she chittered excitedly in Kazu’s ear, nuzzling deeper into her hair. 

[color=skyblue]“Okay, okay!”[/color] she laughed, reaching a hand back to still the little Cleffa. Kazu had largely ignored the food stalls in the town square, as crowded as they’d been. But hey, they had all the time in the world to go where they pleased. She started mapping the town in her head, trying to remember the best route back to the festival. She’d spent the past week exploring Beryl Town, getting used to Starre’s local flavor. It wouldn’t be hard to make it back to the square. [color=skyblue]“You know this means braving the crowd again, right?”[/color] Cleffa chirped in affirmation. 

Keeping hold of the straining straps of her backpack, Kazu wove through the town until that sweet scent grew stronger. Soon enough she was on the outskirts of the festival again. The crowd had thinned some, and it seemed like the food stalls had been largely picked clean. But maybe there’d be something small she could grab for Astra. 

But as she moved through the crowd, a voice froze her in place - a very familiar voice that she hadn’t heard in [i]years[/i]. It was a little lower than she remembered, a little stronger, but there was still that sweetness, that upbeat helpfulness. Another voice blared out like a horn, overpowering it - but it made it easier for Kazu to find the source. Kazu spun, eyes wide as she searched. And sure enough, there was that silver hair, the blue eyes, his open, eager expression. 

[color=skyblue]“[i]Ikkou?[/i]”[/color]