Makani walked out onto the porch of Kukui’s house and shed his somewhat sodden lab coat, revealing a dryer set of shorts and a floral t-shirt beneath. He draped his lab coat over the railing and absently adjusted his snapback with one hand as he pulled out his phone.

No new messages, so he opened his conversation with Azophi and composed his own.

    Makani: really sorry I couldn’t meet u at the airport ;_;

The reply came quickly.

    Azophi: nbd

                  all the luvdisc ok?

    Makani: no casualties!

                   hopefully the prof will stop testing moves inside

                   myb for a wk or 2

    Azophi: he sounds like a nut

    Makani: ye, but the good kind

                  …mostly

                  send me your new address

                 if u ever figure it out

                 srly wut kinda person doesn’t know where they’re moving?

    Azophi: stfu I’m a stranger in a strange land!

    Makani: (∩˃o˂∩)♡

    Azophi: luv u too ya weeb

Makani smiled and squeezed his phone.

“Did Azophi make it in one piece?” Hau called as he stepped out to join him.

“Yeah, they’re unpacking.”

Hau tossed his own lab coat over the railing to dry and slung an arm around Makani’s shoulders. Even with all of Makani’s bulking up over the past year, Hau was still so much broader.

“I’m so happy for you, bro. I hope they’re close enough that we can have them over for dinner. Mom’s been brainstorming menus all week.”

Makani turned his phone over but continued to clutch it like a lifeline. “Me too.”

Of course, his tone gave him away. It was hard to hide things from Hau. “Hey, even if they’re on the other side of the island, it’s better than all the way across the ocean.”

Makani smiled, excitement returning to push out the anxiety. “Yeah.”

Hau grinned big and broad back at him and gave his shoulder a final squeeze before releasing him. “Lillie and I are gonna head up now.”

“I’ll meet you there. I need to pick something up at home.”

He pocketed his phone and dashed down the long steps to the ground. He looked out between the house stilts and over the dunes at the warm sand and glittering ocean as he pulled his bike off the rack. But Azophi wasn’t out there anymore. They were here, somewhere close, and it wouldn’t be long now before he got to meet them.

Makani walked his bike along the path and past the tree line to the road. He mounted up and shifted gears to deal with the switchback ahead of him. No more than two cars passed him, but he petaled by dozens of wild pokemon. Pikipek drilled storage holes in the tall palms, Cutiefly buzzed from flower to flower along the roadside, red Ledyba flashed among the greenery, Buneary and Pichu rustled through the undergrowth, and Wingull soared high above on the updraft.

As he neared the top, Ten Carat Hill came into view to the south—a steep, bare rimmed crater that cut sharp against the sky. Mahalo continued to rise above him to the north august, conical, and heavily blanketed in forest.

Finally the road leveled off, and he rolled into Iki Town. The generously spaced houses along his street almost melted into the surrounding plant life. No one had lawns on this part of the island, and most of Iki Town’s residents used the community garden a little further up the hill.

There was a moving truck at his neighbors’ house. Makani hadn't even heard they'd managed to sell yet, but several Machamp in board shorts and cutoff tanks were unloading—even logistics had touristy branding. Makani flicked down his kickstand and left his bike by the end of the stairs before heading over.

A tall, blond man watched as the Machamp carried rolled futons and boxes into the house. He turned, and Makani saw that he had a blonde beard to match the hair on his head. Makani waved.

“Alola! I’m Makani. I live next door. Welcome to Iki Town!”

“Hello!” The man greeted back in a smooth, drawling accent. “Lovely to meet you. I’m Quentin.” He offered his hand, which was almost large enough to swallow Makani’s as they shook.

“Are you from Unova?” Makani had always wanted to see it. “What’s it like?”

“Very big.” Quentin gesturing grandly. “Spralling deserts, endless plains, giant forests, soaring mountains, and huge cities. But I haven’t lived there in decades. We just moved from Johto.”

“Oh, that’s cool,” said Makani, trying to temper his excitement. He'd already gone and asked about Unova and he didn’t want to grill his new neighbor right as he was moving in.

“Do you know where the Town Hall is by any chance? I need to get the mail forwarding sorted.”

“You’ll actually want the Welcome Center. It’s a few miles down Route 1 there, right past the school in Hau’oli City. Iki Town is too small to handle post.”

Quentin started to thank him but was cut off by a loud expletive from his front door. “Oh no—don’t you fuckin—no no no SHIT!” Something crashed to the floor inside. “Not you too you bastard son of a—” Another, louder crash. “GIRATINA’S ASSHOLE!” Shook the air, and Makani winced.

Quentin sighed and called out to whoever was yelling in what must have been Kantogo. “Dame! Teinei ni hanasu!”

“Guang-go ni burei ni hanasu! Motto tanoshiku,” the other voice grumbled back.

“Hai, hai…” Quentin sighed. “Azophi, come and meet the new neighbor.”

There was no way. He couldn’t be this lucky. But the face that appeared in the doorway was deeply familiar, seen a hundred times through a screen but never in the warm, Alolan sun.

“This ‘neighbor’ had better not be another weird Koratta or Nyarth or I'm gonna lose it,” muttered Azophi—his Azophi!—as they stepped out onto the porch, shielding their eyes with one arm and carrying a box under the other. It didn’t matter that there was a tired scowl on their face or that their long, black hair was in a messy braid. They were a vision in purple jeans and an off the shoulder top. Makani wasn’t sure if he was breathing.

“This is Makani—”

Azophi dropped their box. “Zephyr?!”

He threw his arms in the air, huge smile splitting his face in two. “Teapot!”

Makani may not have been breathing a moment ago, but they were both yelling as they ran towards each other.

“Oh, you’re the Makani,” said Quentin as they came together.

Azophi swept Makani right off his feet and into a tight hug. “You are so adorable in person! And heavy, whoa.” They put him back down. “Diu! What is that martial art you do again?”

“Capoeira,” Makani answered, unable to keep the smile out of his voice. Then he looked at Azophi again—looked up because they were a good six inches taller than him. “You’re so tall in person.”

“I know!” said Azophi with a broad, pleased grin. “The boots help a bit.”

“And so pretty, holy shit.” Makani added before he knew he was saying it.

Azophi preened, and Makani no longer felt like an idiot. “You’re so sweet! You’re gonna give me a cavity,” they drawled in the same honeyed south Unovan accent as their father.

“I’ll let you two catch up,” Quentin said with a broad smile as he left them.

“I can’t believe you just ran into us!” Azophi chattered. Then they tapped their fingers together nervously, which was so cute. “Where do you live?”

“Right there!” Makani pointed.

Azophi gasped and their voice pitched upward. “You mean we’re neighbors?? Next-door neighbors???” They grabbed Makani's shoulders and shook him. “AHHHH! This is so amazing!” They abruptly stopped shaking him and held him at arm's length “Am I touching you too much? I’m sorry. I’m just so excited!”

“It’s fine! I like touching,” Makani assured them with his biggest smile. Azophi’s eyes went soft. He'd forgotten what a gentle blue they were—almost gray—and now he’d never have the chance to forget. They were here.

Makani hugged them tight, and Azophi wheezed out a breath but didn’t complain. Makani didn’t want to let go—like it might all dissolve into mist if he did.

Then Makani remembered why he was here, and he must have cursed because Azophi pulled back to ask him what was wrong. He almost didn’t say anything, but he knew that was silly.

“It’s just I have to go, actually. I’m supposed to be somewhere right now and it’s kinda important.”

“It's okay,” Azophi said with one last reassuring pat on his shoulder before they relinquished their hold on him. “I have to help move in anyway.” They glanced back at the door. “I’m a little surprised Okāsan hasn’t come out yet to yell at me.”

“Can you hang out tonight maybe? I shouldn’t be gone more than an hour or two.”

“Of course!” said Azophi, lighting up again.

Makani couldn’t help it, he grabbed for their hand and squeezed. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Me too.” It was a big sigh, like a weight off their shoulders. Makani felt it too. He ran back to his house—he knew he wouldn’t be able to walk away—but stopped at the door.

He waved. “I’ll see you later!”

He thought he saw Azophi wipe their eyes, so maybe they were almost as ready to cry as he was. “Later!”