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“Yeah…” Tristen said in reply to Matteo. He’s apparently trying, at least. Maybe he is over it? Didn’t figure to bring more up on it? Tristen could only hope at that point. Tristen wouldn’t get any more of an opportunity to think on it and Mr. Sanguaro made his way in. Once there, Mr. Sanguaro acknowledged Tristen being in the class, but nothing more. A relief, to be sure. Tristen started to wonder at this point if Mr. Clavell knew about Tristen’s apprehension about coming back here and told the teachers he was supposed to go to. That would have only meant that Sub or his adoptive father told him about that before he arrived back here. Or maybe Mr. Clavell picked up on Tristen’s nervousness yesterday when he, his parents, and Clavell had that meeting with him and was sure to tell them as soon as possible. Tristen could only speculate at this point.

The lesson was finally on its way, and it was a matter of money management. Tristen admittedly could do math quite well, incidentally. Though applying that into a money over time sort of situation is a whole other matter, something that he’s never had to manage, even in Snagem. The most he knew was that if one didn’t have the money, one didn’t get the thing they needed or wanted. It probably wouldn’t be too bad though to do this hypothetical scenario, should it? One thing that was going to come in handy, however, was Tristen’s more observational skills that he ended up having getting nurtured. The small details that strung together and best able to figure out the task at hand. He and Matteo would start going through what they had and day by day, they would then start putting one meal after the next, and even to try to save the extra hypothetical dollars, plan for leftovers for the next day or two, going after recipes that would give multiple servings, especially in a family of three. The proverbial ‘wild card’ that Mr. Sanguaro tried to give the canine duo wasn’t too relevant in the grand scheme of things with how the two managed to work the week.

Just before class was over, Tristen received the card to Deli Cioso, a bit bemused over it. It’d pay for groceries in his little fridge in the dorm room again once he starts getting low. He’d take it happily all the same. Once the class was dismissed, he’d pack his things, only to stop for a second once Matteo spoke up, asking him if they wanted to go to the cafeteria together for lunch. “Yea, sure.” Tristen said to him, accepting of the invitation. He would finish packing his things, and then follow Matteo out to the cafeteria.

Tristen would make his way down the hallways alongside Matteo. Tristen noticed that Matteo was silent, as if he was trying to mind a lot of things. Probably so much as trying to keep things civil, if nothing else. Tristen was left to wonder if there was anything that Matteo needed to get off his chest, but he didn’t exactly want to start anything in the hallway like this. Tristen had to admit though, the silence between the two of them was making it rather awkward. Tristen would then try talking to the Growlithe hybrid, trying to get him talking about…well…anything. Some of it was some of the conversation that they were having earlier; how Team Star made their move, and the subsequent clean up. Tristen got curious as to what Matteo was doing since then as well, but it wasn’t anything that Matteo was letting on too much, as Tristen was discovering. Even mentioning that he heard about him going out and working out more than he had before, to which he did confirm that much, but to what ends, he didn’t say. Tristen even expressed curiosity in the book he noticed Matteo was deep into when he walked into Mr. Sanguaro’s classroom, but it didn’t get into much detail. Tristen wasn’t going to pry too hard, though, trying to keep things civil between the two still. This was the most they talked to each other since before the tournament. The more that Matteo can find out Tristen is not here to mean harm or to rain on anyone’s parade, short of those wanting to ruin things for others just as Team Star tried to, the better.

As Tristen made his way into the cafeteria with Matteo, it was starting to occur to Tristen that any topic of conversation that came up was effectively one-sided. Tristen was trying ever so hard to break the proverbial ice with this fire hybrid, and it just wasn’t gelling. Getting him to come up with any sort of topic, let alone lead into another one, seemed to be easier said than done. Though, frankly, Tristen had the feeling that there was plenty Matteo wanted to talk about but he’s trying to not put it out in the open with everyone in the academy and Arceus above if he could help it. Trying ever so hard to be civil. To be nice. To improve his standing with everyone, perhaps. Who knows. Maybe Tristen should just get it done and over with, pull Matteo off to the side, and just let him get it all off his chest. Whatever it is that is ailing him. Was Tristen ready for that? Not anymore than him being here right now, honestly. But as far as Tristen could think, if he could get Matteo to just let it out, maybe some equilibrium can happen.

Once they finally found their way to where Ms. Picante was, Tristen was relieved that at the very least she made it out relatively okay. “Hey, Ms. Picante.” Tristen spoke up. “Glad you’re okay too; I was worried about a lot of you. Someone was impersonating Matteo a couple of weeks ago and it kinda went crazier from there. I got the guy that started all of that though. Glad you didn’t get caught up in all of that.” Tristen said to her. Maybe he can at least garner some sort of good will for Matteo. Granted there was probably going to be no fixing what he did before Tristen arrived at the academy, but at least he can try to help out Matteo in being better, as it were. “Can I get a club, please?” he then asked the lunch lady.

Tristen went down the line, grabbing a lemonade and the package of corn chips as he tends to do then started his way down the isles, making his way for the others. Friends, all. B and E was quick to get up from their table and run after Tristen, Tristen having to lift his tray up above his head, a little in fear either one of them would knock the tray out of his hands by accident. Tristen gave a nervous, embarrassed laugh. Indi was right, apparently those two did bounce back rather quick. Once he was let go out of B and E’s unanimous embrace, Tristen followed the others off to the lunch table and sat down with them all. He’d look at the whole lot of them. Matteo, B, E, Penny, Nemona, Fela, Camp, Florian…it was a little surreal. For the moment, it felt somewhat like business as usual. No impersonators, no crisis. And he welcomed it. “Hey everyone. I…probably worried a lot of you. Sorry about that.” Tristen said. “Couldn’t really help it. I’m glad you all are alright, though.”

Tristen sweatdropped at Fela and Florian. While he wouldn’t be penalized over the past two weeks of being absent according to Mr. Clavell, he had the feeling that one wasn’t going to be any exception considering. Granted, he did already have the grade assured from showing it off as Spewpa in class a couple of days before the incident happened, but he did want the extra credit, however. Then again, he’d probably wouldn’t be able to rightfully get it considering. Fela and Camp did all of that work in Tristen’s absence. Worse in Fela's case, he would have found out one way or another anyways. It was one of the questions that he had for Fela between now and the end of classes today. Probably better now than never. “Oh, boy…I guess Spewpa…well, Vivillion now, was really happy to get its wings. It was all that it wanted to talk about when I was taking care of it those couple of days Fela took her trip.” Tristen said to her. “How long ago did it fly away? Or for that matter, any idea where it flew off to? Where were you when Vivillion flew off?” Tristen asked. Maybe Tristen could contribute in trying to find the bug.

Tristen thought for a moment, trying to remember what he knew about that area of Paldea, with what little he has been around. Went from the olive fields over to Los Platos, but then perhaps started headed north towards the city. Makes sense, not exactly flowering out in those fields. That’s never mind possibly getting into fights with the likes of Combee or perhaps even a Vespiqueen. But there wouldn’t have been any reason for Vivillion to come back into the city. It’d have been better off staying off in Los Platos, plenty enough flowers and what not around there. Let alone in the fields, barring any Tarantoula, that is. Vivillion wouldn’t have any reason to return to the city, not without Fela, so then why would…

A realization occurred to Tristen just then. The blue powder on the windowsill from yesterday, the fresh coating from this morning. “Camp, what kind of flowers do Vivillion tend to like? Are there flowers close by that they tend to favor?” Tristen asked, the tone of Tristen might know something, perhaps stumbled on it without realizing it until now.

"Well if what you're saying is right, then its possible Vivillion has been trying to come to find me while I've been gone." Tristen started to explain. It'd make sense to him; he had a fair bit involvement in raising that bug, after all. "I noticed some plant debris and a blue powder on my windowsill at my dorm room. I didn't think anything of it yesterday, but now that you bring that up it got me wondering now. Either way, I know something has been around because I tried checking what that powder was yesterday. Thought it might have been Sleep Powder, but didn't seem to be. But whatever it is, it left another dusting last night while I was asleep. I had thought maybe to stay up and see what was doing that, but if that really is Vivillion, maybe I should stay up and see if I can't get Vivillion back. You do still have the Premier Ball for Vivillion. Right, Fela?" Tristen then asked Fela.

Tristen once again gave a nervous laugh, not really accustomed to this admiration out of anyone. But that being said, Matteo’s reaction wasn’t without notice. It wasn’t surprising, mind, but honestly? Last thing he wanted was anything even half a repeat of what happened a couple of weeks ago. Yea, it was probably time for it; he needed to just give Matteo some time to vent, probably. Give him the space to finally where he was for the most part denied it, presumably. Get everything out on the table at this point. Tristen looked back over to Fela, taking the Premier Ball from her and stashed it for later. “I bet that Vivillion is going to look good regardless of what pattern.” Tristen said to them. “Well, if I am staying around in my dorm to see if I can’t catch Vivillion, I guess that gives me some time to do homework today and all, and maybe…hey, Matteo? You want to come by my dorm later after class? I’m…kinda guessing there’s a bit you want to talk about. If not, that’s fine…wait, you have that battle with Nemona. That was later today or…? ” Tristen didn’t really want to overstep any bounds here. As far as he was figuring, he was literally trying to juggle with the proverbial time bombs that were Matteo’s temper and Nemona’s battle frenzy.

Tristen couldn’t help but to sweat a bead when he watched the massive cascading domino effect that he just inadvertently pulled off. Fortunately, Penny and Fela came in to save the day on that, though Tristen had the feeling that Fela was being a little petty from his earlier comments. Tristen rubbed the back of his head at the shenanigans, only to think back for a second that thanks to that Zoroark hybrid being disguised as Matteo, he instigated a battle between him and Nemona as well. Something that he wasn’t going to try to bring up any time soon. He wasn’t about to get caught up in that game of hot potato. One thing that Tristen is becoming more perceptive to…Nemona honestly could not read the room. Either way, the meeting this evening was set, Tristen found himself trying to steel himself for the meeting. He could only imagine what Matteo could very well say today. But honestly? No sense on worrying about it now. He still had two periods to get through.

Lunch went on relatively normal between the group; Tristen managed to polish off his club sandwich and chips and the bunch had a conversation about all manner of things. Matteo didn’t seem to want to speak up for anything still, but at least the guy came off a little more at ease, perhaps? Tristen wasn’t quite sure. But once lunch was over, Tristen would start making his way out the lunchroom with Matteo. When he spoke up about seeing him in P.E. Tristen would respond with a nod. “Yea, see you there, Matteo. Later.” Going his separate ways for the time being for class. Tristen would then make his way off to Mr. Jacq’s class, but not before stopping by a restroom real quick to do a bit of business, followed by cleaning up afterwards. Tristen then made his way from the restroom and off for the next class of the day: Science.