Ren sat back in his seat, eyes closed—not out of exhaustion, but pure disbelief.
This is ridiculous, he thought.
When he finally opened his eyes, Dream Journey sat across from him, as calm and composed as ever, her hands folded neatly over her lap.
"Hey, Dream Journey," he began, forcing a strained smile. "When you invited us to hang out today, you meant, like… visiting a popular spot nearby, right?"
She smiled serenely, the picture of elegance. "Yes."
Ren blinked, then turned to the window beside him. Endless blue stretched out below—the ocean, glittering under the sunlight.
He stared for a few seconds before groaning, "Then why are we on an airplane?! Weren't we supposed to just tour Rhode Island? We were literally in Rhode Island!"
Dream Journey's smile didn't falter. "There's nothing interesting there anymore, Trainer Ren." Her tone was sweet, as if explaining something self-evident.
Ren rubbed his temple. "You could've told me before buying the tickets…"
"It's fine," she replied, a touch of amusement in her voice. "I invited you, so of course, I'll take responsibility."
"Yaaawn..." Stay Gold yawned from beside her, shifting in her seat before curling up again. "Wake me when we land…"
Before Ren could respond, a familiar voice popped up from behind his shoulder.
"Zamn~ you really attract my sister sooo bad, Trainer Ren!" Gold Ship teased, leaning forward to poke his side repeatedly.
"Stop poking me, Gold Ship."
"No~ wanna."
She kept at it, jabbing his ribs with relentless glee.
Ren exhaled sharply, trying to ignore her and glanced back over his shoulder. Seabiscuit sat by the window, asleep, her head resting against the glass. Her expression was peaceful—serene, even.
At least someone was enjoying this flight.
He leaned back again, muttering under his breath.
Also Who just buys a private jet ticket out of nowhere…?
Was this how the rich lived? Just casually hopping countries for fun?
"Oiii~ Trainer Ren, I'm bored!" Gold Ship groaned, shaking his arm dramatically.
"Then go play with Fenomeno," Ren suggested.
"Hmmm, I could," she mused, tapping her chin thoughtfully, "but I wanna play with you!"
"...Of course you do," Ren sighed helplessly, leaning his head against the seat.
Just then, a faint clink came from above as a can of coffee dropped neatly into view.
Ren blinked at it. "Coffee?"
He looked back and saw Orfevre standing there, arm outstretched.
"For me?"
"Yes." Her voice was calm and refined, as always.
Ren accepted the can with a grateful nod. "Thanks."
Without another word, Orfevre turned and took the seat beside Dream Journey, her golden hair catching the sunlight that streamed through the cabin window.
Ren popped the can open with a sigh. "...Guess it's gonna be one long day."
As Ren sipped the coffee Orfevre had given him, a thought suddenly stabbed through the fog in his head.
…Wait. Where is this plane even going?
Slowly he turned toward Dream Journey. She was already watching him with that gentle smile that hid far too many surprises.
"What's the matter, Trainer Ren?" she asked sweetly.
Ren swallowed. "Where are we going?"
"It's a surprise," she replied with a soft chuckle. "You'll know when we arrive."
"A… surprise." Ren repeated the word like it was a death sentence. After a beat, he nodded. "I see. I understand."
From beside him, Gold Ship immediately leaned in. "What did you understand?"
"I don't know," Ren admitted, closing his eyes again to escape reality.
Gold Ship let out a dramatic sigh. "No fun…"
She wandered off for a new victim—Fenomeno.
Not five seconds passed before Ren heard Gold Ship's voice ring out from across the cabin, dripping with fake urgency.
"Fenomeno! Did you know if you bark, you can save the plane?!"
Fenomeno blinked at her, confused. "Save the plane?"
"Yes!" Gold Ship balled her fists, deadly serious. "Aliens are about to shot out jet! Only you can stop them!"
Fenomeno froze. A heavy, heroic silence settled over her.
Why… why did that sound vaguely believable?
Gold Ship leaned in closer. "The fate of our life is in your hands."
"I… understand," Fenomeno muttered solemnly.
Then, with absolute conviction—"Awoooooo."
Ren smacked a hand over his face.
Gold Ship nearly choked trying not to burst out laughing. "Good job! We safe now!"
Flick!
"OW—!"
Gold Ship clutched her forehead where Nakayama Festa had flicked her.
"Don't bully Fenomeno," Festa scolded, shaking her head as she walked past.
Gold Ship pouted. "But I'm boooored…"
Fenomeno blinked in confusion. "Bully…?"
Festa simply patted her shoulder. "It's fine. I'm here." Then she walked away, leaving Fenomeno even more confused.
Gold Ship grumbled, still rubbing her forehead. "If I can't do that, how am I supposed to survive this boredom?!"
Festa called from the aisle, "Isn't Trainer Ren right there?"
Gold Ship froze.
"Oh. That's right."
Ren—who had been pretending to sleep—broke into a cold sweat.
I just sent her away… not even five minutes ago.
No—no, she won't prank someone who's sleeping, right? Right?
Silence.
Ren's heart dropped.
…Right?
He wasn't so sure anymore.
A few hours later…
Seabiscuit yawned, rubbing her eyes as consciousness slowly returned. She felt someone gently shaking her shoulder.
"Wake up. We're here already," Ren's tired voice murmured.
"We're… here?" Seabiscuit mumbled groggily. Why does he sound exhausted? We were just sitting the whole time…
Her vision finally cleared—
And she froze.
Ren's face was covered in marker doodles. Mustaches, whiskers, silly shapes—his entire expression turned into a walking comedy sketch.
"Pfft—!" Seabiscuit burst into laughter, choking halfway. "Cough—cough—! Trainer, you… you look ridiculous!"
Ren's eyebrow twitched. Slowly, he turned his head toward the whistling culprit.
Gold Ship.
She looked away, pretending innocence.
"Some gremlin couldn't resist tormenting a helpless trainer trying to sleep," Ren muttered.
Gold Ship lazily raised a hand. "Correction. Fake sleeping."
Ren snapped toward her. "You KNEW?!"
"Of course I did." She puffed her chest proudly. "And I still drew on you anyway."
Ren clenched his jaw. "So you specifically chose violence."
"I did," she declared without shame.
Across the aisle, Nakayama Festa smile to herself.
Not that she hated him she was still irritated at Gold Ship, but catching Gold herself was difficult.
So she redirected the punishment.
Simple.
Ren sighed deeply. "Give me a minute. I need to wash this off before we get off the plane."
He disappeared into the jet's bathroom.
Seabiscuit watched his retreating back, then stood, grabbing his bag before following the others outside.
Dream Journey looked around. "…Where is Trainer Ren?"
"Washing his face," Seabiscuit replied.
Dream Journey nodded calmly.
More minutes passed.
Ren was still inside.
…That shouldn't take this long.
Orfevre who'd been silently observing turned toward GoldShip. The gremlin idly twirled the marker in her fingers, unusually quiet.
"Gold Ship," Orfevre called.
"Mmm?" Gold Ship replied without looking up.
"When you drew on his face…" Orfevre's voice turned dangerously calm. "Did you make sure that wasn't a permanent marker?"
Gold Ship's confidence faltered. "…Of course it wasn't."
Silence.
Slowly… she checked the label on the marker.
Permanent Marker.
"Oh."
Nakayama Festa burst out laughing.
A chill crawled down Gold Ship's spine.
She turned—and saw Dream Journey smiling sweetly at her.
Ah. I've done it now, Gold Ship thought.
Her gaze shifted again. Fenomeno stood with arms crossed, silent but clearly judging. Even she wouldn't bail Gold Ship out this time.
Then—
"GOLDSHIP!!!"
Ren's furious roar exploded from inside the jet.
That confirmed it.
Gold Ship gulped.
Maybe if she apologized immediately… Dream Journey wouldn't personally educate her afterward. Yes. Yes, that was a brilliant idea.
Gold Ship nodded to herself.
Gold Ship, you're so smart.
Thanks, Gold Ship. I know.
She wasn't fooling anyone.
------------divide-----------
Ren stared at Gold Ship.
She stared back at him with the most innocent eyes she could possibly manufacture, slowly removing her headgear as if unveiling her "true" self. The sudden transformation into a shy, schoolgirl-like persona sent a chill down his spine.
It was deeply unsettling.
Now that I think about it… why is she even wearing that thing? She hasn't even debuted yet.
"Trainer Ren…" Gold Ship's eyes turned watery in an instant. "Please forgive this poor, innocent Goldshi."
She placed a hand dramatically against her cheek, tilting her head just enough to maximize the effect.
"Goldshi truly didn't know it was a permanent marker…" she whimpered, lightly shaking as if overcome with guilt.
Ren stared at her, expression completely flat.
It felt like some kind of curse watching her act cute like this.
"Please," he muttered, visibly shivering, "make it stop."
"Hey! How could you say that to a beautiful girl standing right in front of you?!" Gold Ship protested, puffing her cheeks.
"Okay, okay, I forgive you. Just please act normal. You're giving me goosebumps."
"Really?!" Her entire demeanor flipped instantly. "I knew you'd forgive me!"
She happily patted his shoulder and casually put her headgear back on, as if the last thirty seconds hadn't happened.
Then she turned toward Dream Journey.
"See, Sister? It's all fine now!" Gold Ship said confidently, rubbing her hands together.
Dream Journey regarded her quietly… then shifted her gaze to Ren. She closed her eyes for a brief moment before opening them again.
Without a word, she turned away.
Gold Ship exhaled in relief. "I'm saved…"
Behind Ren, Seabiscuit had been silently watching the entire exchange.
Unblinking.
Unmoving.
Her stare alone could have frozen lava.
"Hey, Trainer," she said slowly. "Are you having fun?"
Ren kept his eyes fixed on the sky above the runway.
"Today… the sky seems bluer than usual," he said calmly, pretending not to notice the death stare drilling into the back of his head.
Seabiscuit's silence was far more terrifying than Gold Ship's cuteness before.
Ren began to suspect the permanent marker drawing on his face might not be the worst thing happening to him today.
-----divide-----
(A/n: hi)