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Tristen was once again reminded what he was a bit afraid of. Granted, he already was resigned to the whole thing, it was still a little off-putting. Random students either having their hushed whispers on Tristen’s perceived strength or just trying to work each other’s confidence to even talk to him. Others were trying to get all manner of mere communication to Tristen. The Manetric hybrid wasn’t sure if they were legit in their questions or if they were trying to just say they made a friend in the most cheap of fashions. Tristen just wanted to get to class, trying to remain humble in it all, but it was getting increasingly hard when some students didn’t know personal space.

Once Tristen found his way to Mr. Hassel’s class, Tristen was finally glad to get out of the halls and into the classroom. This celebrity status was taxing a bit; he was hoping either he gets used to it, or the whole thing blows over. Preferably the latter, as far as Tristen was concerned. Once he started his way to a seat, he noticed Penny starting to wave him over. After this week getting to know her in particular, he found it odd that she was calling him over in a bit of a hurry. He didn't think that it would be because of Tristen's newfound status in the school...there probably was something wrong. He walked over towards the seat and sat down nearby. “Hey Penny.” Tristen said. “What’s up?”

Tristen couldn’t help but to stare in a bit of confusion when Penny asked about Matteo. He didn’t really know his usual routine around the academy; never really delved into it. Never had the opportunity for that matter. Though, no sight of him all weekend after the tournament? “Uh, no.” Tristen said to her. “I was fairly busy all weekend myself so I haven’t really kept up all too well. Last I saw him was right after I lost to Nemona on Saturday. Don’t know where he went after that. I know that he wasn’t happy, though. I was kind of dreading next period because I was supposed to be his partner in Mr. Sanguaro’s class for Home Ec. But B and E? Ugh…I had the feeling things weren’t going to be good after I beat Matteo. But I didn’t think about what’d happen to them after Fela left Saturday either. I’m not going to be able to see the twins until lunch. Hopefully they’ll make it until then when I can check up on them, assuming that I can. Everyone here is still going a little crazy over that battle. Got stopped a few times on the way here to class.”

As Penny went on about Tristen’s newfound celebrity status, Tristen started to have a new understanding about one other thing now that he thought about it. He recalled his adoptive father not really caring for his “Noble hybrid” status nor did he ever show any interest in trying to achieve anything higher than merely taking over the gym. Some people were cut out to take on the world in such a manner; in fact, they’d bask in the glory and praise showered. His adoptive father wasn’t such person and the more that Tristen is caught up in this, the more he started to share the same sentiment. One could possibly argue that Tristen wasn’t used to this sort of thing given his upbringing within the halls of Team Snagem, it has only been roughly a week since he started roaming the halls of the academy after all, but all he could imagine now was just how much trouble it was going to cause here in the future.

Class went on relatively uneventful for the most part. Tristen was attentive to Mr. Hassel’s lecture and just as always, Tristen was ever attentive to the teacher’s lesson. Apparently learning about the art world as a whole was more than just trying to learn about how to make art, but the history and applications of art, the theories of it all, and so on. Tristen had the feeling it was something taken all too much for granted in the world at large at times; it did leave the kid to think for a bit. Before he knew it, pop quiz. Tristen went on taking the time to take the quiz, answering one question after the next. All in all, Tristen was pretty confident that he aced the quiz. Maybe not perfect, but by no means average either. If nothing else, Tristen treated this as serious as any other test. One of those things kind of pressed by Freth when he was being taught at Snagem.

Tristen was a bit surprised how fast the class seem to went on by though; the hour lost to Mr. Hassel’s lecture with the quiz to follow up with. Tristen was gathering his things, getting ready to head off to Home Ec, stopped by Nemona on the way out. Tristen couldn’t help but to sweat a bead at Nemona’s invitation and noting Penny bailing out from the class room for her next class. “Uh, eheheh…um, sorry, Nemona. I had plans on trying to raise Spewpa for Mr. Jacq’s class. I don’t think the bug can handle a Garchomp.” Tristen said. “But maybe some other time? I gotta get to the next class though, later Nemona!” He said, trying to make his way off for Mr. Sanguaro’s class, with or without Nemona’s approval.

As he made his way off for the next class, he couldn’t help but to take a breath and prepare for whatever was to come for the Home Ec class. Matteo didn’t show up for his math class this morning? Then was that to say he wasn’t going to be in Home Ec either? And no one saw him all day yesterday? Just how harsh did Matteo take his loss? Perhaps it didn’t matter…he did have it coming after all.

As Tristen made his way in, he took a look around and much to his confusion, still no Matteo. It was still a few minutes early, so maybe he’ll show? Once Tristen took a seat, he started to look about the room. Gloria was around as she did and didn’t really pay no mind to anything other than her Lechonk as he figured she’d do at this point. He didn’t really got into any manner of conversation with anyone, though he was kind of tempted to get up and start asking around the room to see if anyone heard anything out of Matteo. Any sort of hint, perhaps. With him not even showing, did any staff even check his dorm to find out if he was even sick? Tristen would just wait for the time being. There still was the rest of the day. All the same, once the next class starting bell rang, there was still no Matteo. Something that was noted by Mr. Sanguaro once he was passing out discussing the assignment for the day.

The class itself went on by, Tristen ended up finding out something that he wasn’t quite familiar with at all in this class. Sewing. While he was exposed to a fair bit in Snagem, this unfortunately was not one of them. Clothes repair wasn’t necessarily a thing considering what he typically wore and that if there was any manner of clothing damage for anyone, it was better off to replace as opposed to repair considering the line of work they were in. There wasn’t any practical application that really would have called for that, so this was effectively alien territory to the kid. He ended up wanting to pay close attention to the lesson but unfortunately Tristen was a little distracted of no Matteo. Tristen was left to wonder on occasion that if he had taken it too far Saturday now. He didn’t think so; Matteo wasn’t going to stop in his ways until someone challenged him as far as what he could figure, but there was still that tinge of doubt in his mind that Tristen dwelled on a little bit. It was fortunate, though, Mr. Sanguaro allowed Tristen extra time to work on the assignment given considering Matteo wasn’t around. Tristen ended up taking up a good chunk of that time, wanting the stitches be as best as they could be. For it being his first time, it was generally passable, but Tristen needed a lot of practice to perfect stitching here in the near future if this was going to be a repeated exercise of some kind.

With the class finally done, it was finally lunch time. If Matteo was in fact going to be a no-show, then it was probably going to be on him to deal with the twins. It honestly reminded him a little bit…just…how old are those two? Didn’t they have any sense of self-sustainment? Why did Matteo and Fela have to take care of those two like they did anyways? Even they should realize that even without the current going-ons of the academy, Matteo or Fela wasn’t going to be around all the time to remind them to not get all that rowdy or just simply clean up after themselves. Lunch was probably going to be a thing…

Tristen finally made it to the cafeteria and got in line. He had to wait a bit, but as he did so he took a look around the cafeteria. His mind was already dead set on B and E, trying to see if they had made it and to see where they were at. They didn’t seem to be in line right now…might have already taken a seat. There’s Nemona…probably looking for another battle. He started to wonder if this girl ever gives it a rest, let alone her Pokémon for that matter. Gloria once again pampering her Lechonk. Incidentally she didn’t want to start anything in class this time. He wasn’t sure if it was because of Matteo not being there or if she realized that Tristen was bound to put her in her place just as he did to Matteo. Who knows. Penny was on her own, but if it wasn’t the fact that he needed to make sure that B and E were at least okay, he’d probably be tempted to go see her. Wait…there they are…and…they don’t look great at all. Tristen couldn’t help but to instinctively suck his teeth. School life is being more and more of a pain as he goes on…

He makes it to Ms. Picante; a friendly face in all of this and one at the very least that wasn’t going to jump on him about his tournament victory over the weekend like a lot of students have so far. “Its okay I guess.” Tristen said. Tristen almost was half-tempted to ask if she seen Matteo at any point today, rather it be for breakfast or lunch, but in a way he almost figured that Ms. Picante might have a that hard of time caring too much considering her history with Matteo. He’d refrain from asking for now. “I’m trying to just make it today, I guess…I kinda got a lot of people excited over the weekend because of my Pokémon battle with Nemona, so…” Tristen said. “Um, can I get a club sandwich please?” Tristen then asked. He’d wait as Ms. Picante would put the various meats, condiments, and so on upon the sandwich and served it to the Manetric hybrid. Tristen would give his thanks to her, feeling a little renewed. He had a feeling of renewed strength though knowing that he had someone to confide in at least. After leaving the counter, he’d pick up a drink just as he has as well as a bag of chips and proceeded straight for B and E.

The Manetric hybrid made his way around the table and went down the aisle, making his way in front of the two mouse twins. “B? E?” Tristen spoke up, sitting his tray down on the table. “Everything okay?” He asked the two. Were they like this all day? Did anyone even bother checking on them? Did they even go to anyone? Hopefully he could take care of whatever is ailing them in a lunch period. All the same, he proceeded to sit down, all ears.

Tristen once again couldn’t help but to sweatdrop as the two rushed about the table and caught Tristen in a massive vice of affection and worry. Tristen was apparently their last bastion of any sort of peace of mind and by God they were going to use it. Mr. Sanguaro would though come to Tristen’s rescue when the boys got a little too rowdy for anyone’s good, let alone Tristen’s. “Its fine, just…calm down. Its not the end of the world. Though, didn’t Fela tell you two?” Tristen asked curiously. Then again, the way Fela acted, she told Spewpa…but did admit that it was relatively last minute. But she did B and E that day, she knew that long, at least. Maybe it slipped her mind? “Fela went off with her parents. She’s not going to be back until this Wednesday, so you don’t need to worry about her. But…I heard about Matteo not being around any, though. He didn’t show up for class this morning and it doesn’t look like he’s going to show up today. Did he say anything to anyone about where he would go? I couldn’t tell you…he didn’t look like he wanted to talk to me anymore after the battle on Saturday.”

At this point, he was just trying to see if he couldn’t get any sort of hint about the going-ons at the school. Though admittedly, asking Brooks and Elwyn was probably not likely to get anything more than what he got from Penny earlier. As long as he’s known Matteo, which honestly wasn’t long, he kept to himself for the most part, keeping the likes of the twins and Fela at arm’s length. Maybe something could come of it. Had to ask just for that chance, after all.

“Just leave Matteo alone for right now.” Tristen said. “He’s going…through a lot.” That was honestly putting it mildly, Tristen thought. Once again, Tristen was left to wonder how old were these two? God the innocence is staggering…he couldn’t judge too much though. He was effectively the same way at one time. Actually, perhaps nowhere near as much as these two. Regardless, Tristen wasn’t sure how to explain that Matteo right now is being a self-righteous jerk, or a sore loser, or something in that territory. Not to mention, just what kind of friend is Matteo to these two? Not the first time telling them to go away? Really? And presumably as blunt as a brick to the head. “He got upset with the rumors going around and really didn’t like it when he got called out right in front of everyone Saturday. That’s not to mention he ended up realizing that he wasn’t as good as he thought he was. You saw him last week; he really thought no one had no shot at beating him, let alone me beating him, and he was the one to face Nemona. He was full of himself all the way up until we battled each other. Then when we battled each other, he honestly thought he had me and my Pokémon beat only to find himself losing when I sent Dragonite out. You remember how he was, don’t you? He couldn’t believe I even had a Dragonite with me, like I couldn’t possibly have handled one. He actually thought so little of me, and perhaps…who knows, probably a lot of students here rather wrongly the more I think about it. He needed to be better than how he acted most of last week.”

Tristen looked towards the two and giving a slight sigh. What to say to these two right now? He wasn’t their parents; he wanted to be that positive, encouraging influence, maybe in a similar vein to how his adoptive father was to him, but how to do it right? “And you two need to be a bit better than this.” Tristen then said. “Just because Matteo and Fela aren’t here doesn’t mean it’s the time to get upset. Things happen like that sometimes. You two need to try to do some things on your own for a change every now and then when it comes to it. I know it’s not great, especially now with Matteo acting like this, but this is the time to be strong, okay? Help yourselves as much as you help each other and don’t wait on Fela or Matteo or even me. In the meantime, it will get better, one way or another. You have to be patient.”