After entering Neon Town, Kazuki and the girls were quickly drawn in by the dazzling nightlife.
But after wandering around for a while, they realized something wasn't right.
The streets were filled with a relentless clamor, grating on their nerves.
The crowd bustled back and forth, but every face wore the same expression: irritation and impatience.
People bickered over the smallest things, shouting red-faced like they might throw punches any second.
"Uh… everyone here seems so… full of energy?" Misty clung tightly to Kazuki's arm, a hint of unease flickering in her eyes. She was usually carefree, but even she felt rattled by this atmosphere.
Suzie also pressed close on Kazuki's other side, whispering, "Yeah, it's so tense here… it feels like everyone's a powder keg, ready to blow at the slightest spark."
Feeling the soft, sticky touch of their sweaty arms clinging to him, Kazuki teased, "You two—ugh, you're all sweaty! Sticky! What's with getting this close? Are you trying to cosplay as an Exeggutor or something?"
Suzie blushed, mumbling, "Everyone around here's so aggressive… scary… I just feel safer next to you."
Misty grinned playfully, rubbing her arm against Kazuki's. "What do you mean, stinky sweat? This is girl-scented sweat! What's wrong with a girlfriend being close to her boyfriend, huh? Isn't this your favorite kind of double cuddle time?"
"Cuddle? Well, I'd prefer if it wasn't just my arm getting stuck to you." Kazuki smirked, trying to get Misty to let go.
But Misty didn't move away. Instead, Suzie joined in, linking her arm through Kazuki's and pressing her softness against him, her cheeks flushing. "Since it's such a wonderful double cuddle time… then I wanna cuddle too."
"Hey, hey, you two…" Kazuki barely got the words out before, in the middle of their playful banter, they bumped into someone.
"Hey! Watch it!"
Kazuki looked up—it was Officer Jenny!
Her brows were furrowed, and she turned around impatiently, snapping, "Can't you watch where you're going?"
Suzie and Misty immediately stood straight, returning to proper posture like scolded schoolkids.
Misty muttered under her breath, "Uh oh… this is the first time I've seen Officer Jenny this pissed…"
Hearing that, Officer Jenny's frown deepened—but when she saw Kazuki's face, her anger seemed to ease just a little.
She'd been about to lose her temper completely, but a strange feeling held her back.
Taking a deep breath, she softened her tone. "You must be out-of-town Trainers, huh?"
Kazuki nodded politely, introducing himself.
"Yes, I'm Kazuki. These are my companions, Suzie and Misty. We just arrived, so we're not too familiar with the situation here."
Something about his polite response made Officer Jenny feel better inside. Her expression even warmed into a rare smile.
"This is Neon Town. It's always noisy at night."
"And it's not exactly safe either. You'd better get to the inn early. Don't stay out too long."
Even as she spoke, two citizens nearby had already started fighting.
"Hey! Break it up! No fighting!" Jenny shouted as she rushed over. She glanced back at Kazuki, her face returning to stern seriousness. "Kazuki, get to the inn. I don't want you getting hurt!"
With that, she turned and hurried off to deal with the scuffle.
Watching her leave, Suzie couldn't help but sigh. "Even Officer Jenny's this irritable… is this just how people are here?"
Kazuki looked up at the blinding neon lights overhead. "This place is called the city that never sleeps. Nighttime entertainment goes on till dawn."
"With such messed-up sleep schedules, of course everyone's cranky."
"Come on, we should rest up. We've got things to do tomorrow."
Suzie and Misty both nodded—and immediately clung back onto Kazuki again.
"Hey, sweetie…"
"Officer Jenny said it's dangerous at night, right? So of course we've gotta stick close to our strong, protective boyfriend!"
"Yeah! That's what strong boyfriends are for—protecting their cute girlfriends!"
With the girls teasing him, Kazuki got dragged toward the inn, stuck between his two sticky girlfriends all the way.
Finally, they got a long-awaited hot shower. After rinsing off, they each went back to their rooms to rest.
But soon, they realized why people in Neon Town didn't sleep at night.
Because you literally couldn't sleep.
It was past midnight, but the noise outside was just as loud as ever.
Misty and Suzie shared one room, Kazuki had another. The girls tossed and turned, unable to doze off.
"Ughhh! This is insane! It's way too noisy out there!" Misty groaned, rolling over and clutching her pillow over her ears, but it didn't help at all.
Suzie sighed. "Yeah, I'm exhausted… my eyelids are fighting each other, but I still can't sleep with this racket."
Misty sat up after a while, pulling on her jacket.
Suzie blinked, confused. "Where are you going? Don't tell me you're heading out to party?"
Misty sighed back. "I can't sleep. I'm gonna find Kazuki. If I don't vent to him right now, I'll explode."
"You go ahead and rest, Suzie."
After putting on her clothes, Misty tiptoed out of the room and gently knocked on Kazuki's door, whispering, "Kazuki? Are you asleep?"
Kazuki, who was lying quietly with his eyes closed, used his psychic power to unlock the door.
"Huh? He's already asleep?" Misty nudged the door again and realized it wasn't locked.
"No lock? Seriously, Kazuki, you're way too careless."
"What if some random perv came in and sat on you? Let's see how you'd handle that!"
She tiptoed to his bed and saw him lying there with his eyes closed, apparently fast asleep.
"Huh? He's actually sleeping this soundly?"
Misty leaned closer to check his face—but just as she did, Kazuki suddenly reached up, hooked an arm around the back of her neck, and pulled her in for a kiss.
"Ah! You… you jerk! You weren't asleep!" Even though they'd kissed plenty of times before, this surprise attack still sent her heart racing, her face turning red.
Kazuki teased her, repeating the words she'd muttered earlier. "So, you're the perv who comes in at night and sits on me, huh?"
"Wha—who's the perv?! You're the big perv here!" Misty gave him a light slap and then grumbled, "It's just too noisy outside. I can't sleep, and I figured, ugh, screw it."
With that, she giggled and slipped under the covers, lying on top of him.
"Hey! Who said you could get into my bed with your pants on? Take 'em off!"
"Huh?" Misty blinked, then shyly peeled off her denim shorts, leaving only her pink heart-pattern panties.
"You're so bad! I knew coming to find you would lead to this!"
"Oh yeah? And yet here you are. Don't tell me you're not a perv too." Kazuki grinned, his hands moving mischievously as he gave her a playful squeeze.
"Ah… mm~" Misty let out a soft sound, her cheeks burning. "I'm not! I just wanted to chat because I couldn't sleep!"
"By the way… Kazuki, how are you managing to sleep in this noise?"
Kazuki chuckled mysteriously. "I've got psychic powers, remember?"
"Psychic powers? You can sleep with psychic powers?" Misty widened her eyes in surprise.
"If I actually forced myself to sleep with psychic power, I'd probably need Sabrina in Saffron City to bail me out tomorrow."
"Psychic abilities can control your state, but they can't replace real rest. If you do that, you'll wake up feeling just as tired."
"Sabrina…" Misty shivered at the name, thinking of the creepy stories she'd heard about Sabrina in Saffron City.
"Then what is this ability?"
Kazuki took a deep breath, eyes still closed. "It's just meditation. Focusing the mind. Monks call it entering a meditative state—it lets you rest without worrying about your surroundings."
"Ugh, sounds so mystical." Misty lay on Kazuki's chest, listening to his heartbeat, her restless mood gradually calming down.
"Kazuki, why do you think people here are so irritable? Why don't they sleep at night?"
Kazuki gently patted her back. "They're just used to staying up late. Like how you're used to going to bed at two in the morning."
"Even if you're not busy one day, you still can't fall asleep at ten, right?"
"Oh…" Misty nodded vaguely, half-understanding. "Is there no way to make everyone quiet down, like, force them to sleep?"
"Actually… there is."
"There is?" Misty lifted her head, curious. "What is it?"
Kazuki smiled mysteriously. "You'll find out tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?! Aww, come on!" Misty groaned, collapsing onto his chest. "So what do we do tonight? Chat all night?"
Kazuki smirked, leaning in to whisper in her ear. "Actually… I have another fast way to help you fall asleep."
"What is it?" Misty blinked, intrigued.
Kazuki didn't answer. He kissed her.
Misty froze for a moment, then closed her eyes, returning his kiss.
"Hey! I thought you said you had a sleep trick?" she murmured shyly between kisses.
"This is it! If you get tired enough, you'll fall asleep." Kazuki grinned as he pulled the covers over them.
"You perv! Good thing I took a shower tonight—no sweat smell! Fine then… come on…"