They chit-chatted amicably as they all cleared the table together, each member of Makani’s family taking turns to casually engage Azophi. Rosemary sang Paihī Loko Kala'e Lua Huna while Makani washed the dishes, and Azophi dried them. Makani smiled to himself as Azophi’s hips swayed absently to the tune, only to have his mother fix him with her lopsided smirk. Suddenly scrubbing required all of Makani’s concentration.

“You’re a lovely guest, Azophi,” Maile said warmly as she came to take a a plate from them to put away. “We’re so glad you’re here. Know that our house is always open to you.”

Azophi’s voice lowered, and their tongue stumbled. “Oh, thank you, ma’am.”

Their surprise made Makani’s heart squeeze. He wiped his brow and threw a little more enthusiasm into his segway to compensate. “Whew! Washing’s done! How’s the drying, Teapot?”

They blinked at him. “Uh, yeah.”

“Great! Come on, I’ll show you my room.” He practically shoved them out of the kitchen. Goodnight, mom!”

“Goodnight!” Maile and Rosemary called after them.

Azophi followed him upstairs under their own power, and Makani flipped on his Shiinotic lamp as they entered.

“This is so nice,” said Azophi with an appreciative turn about.

“Thanks!”

Azophi flopped down in the giant bean bag chair in the corner and Makani hopped onto his bed. He looked up at the poster of Ren, Steven, Latias, and Latios over his headboard and grinned. “So when you sent me this poster, it wasn’t just because I was a pokemon fan and you thought I might like it.”

Azophi snatched Makani's shiny Minior plush off the floor. “I bought it at a con for myself, but I couldn’t decide which of the others to get rid of.”

“You had that many? Wow, your dad wasn’t kidding.”

“Yeah, I even had one of Steven over my bed.”

“Hardcore.”

“Shut up.”

There was a beat of comfortable silence, and Makani readjusted himself so that he is was sitting crisscross as pleasant warmth welled up through his chest. He grabbed his knees and rocked back and forth with the energy of that bubbly sensation, a huge smile on his face. “Gah! I’m just so happy you’re here! Like here-here!”

“Cut that out,” said Azophi, nose wrinkling. “You are too fucking cute.” Makani blushed but couldn't stop grinning and bouncing. “…I’m really glad too. I can’t believe after so many years I actually get to meet my best friend. I’m basically going to live here, so I hope your mom meant that thing she said.”

Makani stopped rocking. “Of course she did! My parents love you!”

Azophi’s eyes narrowed. “I just met them.”

“Yeah, but I’ve been talking you up for years.”

Azophi turned the Minior plush around to admire it. “They are so nice. It’s crazy. You’re so lucky.”

“Yeah…” maybe he hadn't always been, but things were different now.

“We can actually hang out together. We’re in the same timezone! I won’t have to wait like five hours for you to get home.”

“You’ll just keep me up half the night instead. You’re such a night Noctowl.”

“Only after I get over the jetlag.” They yawned. “It’s so late in Johto right now.”

Makani let the quiet hang for another moment. He’d had doubts now and then—it was kind of his thing—but there was no way he wasn’t going through with his plan now. Not after that display at dinner. He needed to get Azophi out of that woman’s clutches. And if he wasn’t sure before that this was the best way to do it, what he’d learned had convinced him. Now was his moment. Everything was as ready as he could make it and he knew his first play.

“I just wish we had longer.”

Azophi paused in their squeezing of his plush. “What do you mean?” They'd forgotten. Not too surprising given everything going on.

“My Island Challenge. I’m supposed to leave in two weeks.”

“Oh. Right…” Makani almost regretted bringing it up, but they recovered quickly. “Well, it can’t take as long as the Johto circuit, right?”

It was tiring to hear it from Azophi too, but at least he knew they didn't mean anything by it. “It takes about year, and that’s if you really push through.”

“Oh.”Azophi glanced down at the floor, trying to hide their wounded expression. Makani sat back to give them a little space, and wrang his hands for a few moments to steady his nerves.

“…Why don’t you come with us?”

Azophi stared at the Minior plush. “You heard Okāsan. I’m way too old to start training now. And she’d never support me.”

“She wouldn’t have to. If you can win battles, you’d be able to support yourself.”

They finally looked back up at him. “Really?”

“Sure! In Alola you get a nest egg in your battle account when you register, so you don’t even need to have any money saved. I know you haven’t been to trainer school, but they have summer classes at my high school.” Makani scooched to the end of the bed. “And it’s not like you don’t know anything about pokemon.” He gestured to the poster. “You can’t have been so obsessed with the Hoenn Champs without knowing at least basic type matchups and stuff.”

“All true… But can you seriously picture me with a pokemon? I’m about as nurturing as a desert.”

“That’s not true. You’re nice to me.”

Azophi tried not to smile. “You’re a special case.”

Makani leaned over the baseboard. “Come on, it’ll be fun!”

“This is crazy!”

“No it isn’t. Tūtū will give you a starter, and Hau and I will be there to help.”

Azophi looked down at the Minior plush again. They were wavering. He could do this.

“I don’t know. It looks really cool on TV, but what if I don’t like it?”

“Are you kidding me? You’re so competitive! You’d love it.”

“Don’t you have to camp out?”

Damn. Of course they'd think of that. “Only sometimes.” He leaned over further to deliver his best line right in their ear. “It would get you out of your parents’ house for a full year.”

Azophi’s eyes lifted. “You are so right…” Suddenly that excitement Makani knew so well ignited them. “Chikuso this is brilliant!” And just as suddenly it guttered out. “Wait, my parents would never go for it.”

Makani wasn't going to let that stop them. Nothing was going to stop them anymore. “We can totally work out a pitch. We’ll ask my mom! She got tūtū Akamu to send her to culinary school. If she can do that, the three of us can totally work out a way to convince your parents to let you do the Island Challenge!”

Azophi’s mouth formed into a cautious, lopsided smile. “You know, maybe this is just crazy enough to work.”

Makani thrust his fists in the air. “Yes!” He did it! He actually did it!

It was time for Phase Three.