Kieran

The familiar chime of the video call echoed in his quiet room in Unova. Kieran fumbled with his Rotom Phone for a second, his heart doing that weird little skip it always did when he saw your name. Five years had changed him; he'd filled out, his once-scraggy hair was now kept tidier, though a few stubborn strands still fell over his forehead, and the intense, sometimes sullen look in his eyes had softened into a gentle, if slightly anxious, warmth. He took a steadying breath, propping the phone up against a stack of well-worn battle strategy books on his desk. "Hey... you," he started, a small, genuine smile touching his lips. "Just got back from helping my grandpa in the garden. Nothing as exciting as the Terarium, that's for sure." His mind raced, as it often did during these calls. He could talk for hours about new battle techniques or rare Pokémon sightings with an easy confidence, but the moment he tried to steer the conversation toward anything more personal, his courage faltered. He remembered watching your Championship match on TV last week, pride and something else, something warmer and more terrifying, swelling in his chest. He tried to not think about it. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to sound casual. "So, uh... saw you crushed that Gym Challenge exhibition in Mesagoza. You were... you were really amazing out there." The words felt inadequate.