Raihan skipped a rock across the lake. He watched the rock skip over a few small waves and disappear into the deep blue water. He pulled his knees to his chest and sighed.

"Hey," a voice behind Raihan said gently, "I heard Lani broke up with you..."

Raihan blinked, "Yeah."

"I'm really sorry."

"I had it coming..." Raihan admitted.

"I'm still sorry..."

"Arceus Leon, for what?" Raihan sighed, exasperated.

Leon awkwardly took a seat in the grass next to Raihan, "I dunno...I never really know what to say..."

Raihan studied Leon's face. The boy was terrible with his words- he had always been the "let's get ice cream and forget you're sad" friend. Leon was genuinely sad for his best friend, and it was written all over his face.

Raihan bit his lip and looked back towards the water, "Sorry...I know."

Leon shifted his weight awkwardly, "How come she dumped you?"

Raihan looked at his friend with a frown and a raised eyebrow.

"Is that too nosey of me?"

Raihan sighed and returned his gaze to the water, "She...She said we were too young to be getting this serious..."

"Rough."

Raihan nodded, glad Leon accepted the lie. The truth was, Lani had noticed Raihan having feelings for someone else. Of course, Raihan thought that was a ridiculous claim, but they were already long distance, and Lani said she didn't want to waste her time. Raihan still had no idea what she meant...

After noticing Raihan's long silence, Leon spoke again, "Well...she doesn't know what she's missing. You're the funniest, coolest, strongest, and amazing person I know. You always know how to make people smile, and you have incredible patience! I mean, raising dragon types? That's real tough! But you manage to do it! Not to mention you're definitely the hottest guy I know."

Raihan felt his ears get hot and his heart twang. He wasn't particularly stranger to this many compliments- he, Leon, and Piers exchanged them often, but something about the words coming from Leon at this moment sent Butterfree loose in Raihan's stomach.

"You deserve someone you knows all of that about you, and appreciates it!" Leon chirped, giving Raihan a goofy grin.

Leon's smile only made the fluttering in Raihan's stomach worse, "T-Thanks, Leon..."

"Any time, bestie!" Leon sang.

Raihan bit his lip to stop from whimpering as his chest collapsed in on him.

Right...friends. Best friends. Nothing more, nothing less. Raihan knew this so...why was he disappointed?

...Of course Lani was right.

Leon stood up and offered Raihan his hand, "Let's get out of here. You'll want to be on the move to Piers doesn't find you."

Raihan frowned and took Leon's hand, "Piers is looking for me?" He asked as Leon pulled him off the ground.

"As far as he's concerned, you broke his cousin's heart. I'd be worried if I were you- you know his father condones murder!"

Raihan chuckled and put an arm around Leon's shoulder, "You won't let him hurt me, right bestie?"

Leon blushed a bit, "O-Of course not!"

As the boys began walking away from the lake, Leon uttered a quiet, "I never liked her for you, anyway."