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“Nessa, my bestest best friend?”
Nessa, who was sitting at the kitchen table, looked up from the Trainer’s Fashion magazine, the latest issue, with photos from her photo shoot in the Wild Area. Sonia was standing over her, holding some sort of brochure.
“Yeah?”
“My gran and I are going to a professor’s convention, and I was wondering if you’d want to come! You’re a strong trainer, but I think that the professors might have some research information that could make you even stronger.”
Sonia handed Nessa the brochure. Professorcon: Professors of the World! Research, Knowledge, Community. It seemed cute enough.
“I mean, sure. It might be kind of fun, and I always like learning how I can be a better trainer.” Nessa smirked. “After all, I’ve gotta beat Leon one of these days.”
Wow, Sonia thought, that was easier than I expected. This is going to be amazing!
-
Nessa and Sonia: Galar’s Hottest Item?!
During the Annual Professors of the World Convention, rising professor Sonia Magnolia was spotted with Gym Leader Nessa Starport. The two lovely ladies were seen together at several panels and at several points in the hallways. Could they possibly be a couple?
“Guess what, Nessa,” Sonia said.
Nessa didn't even have to look up from her phone. “So I heard.”
The two stared at each other awkwardly. It’s not everyday that the press thinks you’re in love with your best friend.
“So what now?” Sonia asked. “Tell them they’re wrong?”
“What if we had a relationship? You know, as a publicity stunt?”
“Don’t those always end badly?”
“Yeah, but the break up is just as thrilling to the press as the actual relationship. We’ll get clout, sponsorships, attention… you name it. People love to see celebrities in relationships. We’re already good friends. It will be easy to pretend to be a couple. How bad could it be?”
-
The fake relationship made Sonia and Nessa rich and famous, just as planned.
All of Galar, and even the rest of the world, loved to hear about the latest “SoniRuri” gossip. Where was their favorite date spot? What cute couple things were they doing? When were they going to get married?
Nessa assumed that the other Gym Leaders were jealous that she was getting so much fame. She wanted them to be jealous, because it proved that she was the greatest Gym Leader.
Sonia’s research got more attention as she as a person got more attention. With this newfound fame, she could conduct interviews with prominent professors, including the esteemed Professor Oak.
The public got something to talk about: a WLW power couple. So really, it was all around a symbiotic relationship.
Too bad Sonia and Nessa weren’t really dating.
Or were they?
-
Perhaps Nessa and Sonia’s relationship was becoming a self fulfilling prophecy. They started kissing in private as much as they kissed in public. Planning dates felt more natural as time went on.
It was only when Nessa proposed to Sonia—in private, as supposed to around others to create another publicity stunt—that they realized the full extent of what had happened.
They had fallen in love, and they had done so without even realizing it.
“Would you… marry me?” Nessa asked.
“As a publicity stunt?”
Nessa thought for a moment.
“Partially. People love seeing celebrities who look like they’re in love, but there’s nothing like celebrities who are actually in love.”
Snoia smiled and took the ring.
“You have a point.”
“What do you say we start looking at places to have our wedding?”