An exaggerated sigh of relief escaped the boy’s lips as he finally settled himself down on the edge of a riverbank, legs thrown haphazardly out in front of him. He shrugged off his backpack, letting it fall to the grass with a resounding thump, tilting his head towards the sky. Sunlight dappled through the branches of the overhanging trees, casting a soft glow across the ground, bathing his face in its warmth. He knew he had to be nearing Castelia City— Ven could smell the salt in the air, feel the refreshing sea breeze that rolled off the ocean, but it could wait for a few more hours, for he was exhausted and he was certain his Pokémon were getting restless.
Shifting his weight onto one arm, he reached for his backpack, intending to retrieve his Pokéballs and give them some fresh air for a few hours while he rested by the riverbank, only to pause when a sudden nearby sound reached his ears. It was probably just a wild Pokémon ( hardly a threat to him unless it chose to attack ), or maybe even a fellow trainer. At any rate, Ven sat a little straighter, reaching into his backpack and closing a hand around a Pokéball.
It came as quite the surprise when a familiar face suddenly stepped into the clearing, his windswept hair a complete giveaway. Of all the people to bump into. What were the odds?
❝ …Roxas? ❞ His name fell past his lips on instinct, hand immediately withdrawing from his backpack. He scrambled to his feet in a matter of moments, a wide grin spreading across his face as he launched himself at his twin and flung his arms around broad shoulders. ❝ It’s been months since you last called! Where’ve you been? What’ve you been doing with yourself? Too busy to check in with your older brother, huh? ❞