Just a Day at the Megamart

Kailani, for as long as she could remember, had been enamored with the concept of aliens. When she was a child, she would read every book on the topic that she could find. In her adulthood, her interest never faded. Nowadays, she works at the Hokulani Observatory, obsessively watching for any potential signs of an alien Pokemon.

Still, none of this could have possibly began to prep her for meeting an alien at the grocery store.

When she entered the Thrifty Megamart, simply looking to grab a quick snack, the first thing she laid eyes on was an extremely pale man wearing an almost incomprehensible outfit. He was apparently making conversation with a young girl wearing a hat, her hair tied into twin braids.

Kailani, naturally curious, walked into the aisle behind them and peeked through the gap in the products on the shelves. She felt a little awkward eavesdropping on a pair of strangers like this, but she just had to satiate her curiosity, seeing someone with an appearance anything like the man’s.

“Hm… what kind of foods do you like, Dulse?” The girl questioned, turning to look at some of the snacks on the shelf.

“Foods I like?” The man, apparently named Dulse, responded. “I suppose nutrient-dense ones.”

The girl laughed. “No, I mean- foods you like the taste of!”

Dulse paused, clearly contemplating.

“Not sure, huh? Here, let’s have you try this.” The girl reached out and grabbed a box of candy, showing it off to him. She opened it, hopefully intending to pay for it later, and poured some of it out onto her hand. “Look! It’s shaped like a star.”

Dulse nodded, taking a single piece from her hand. “So it is…”

“Try it! It’s really good.”

He put the candy up to his mouth, visibly hesitating. After a second or two, he put it in his mouth and chewed. “…It is good.”

“You like it?”

He nodded, more passionately this time, as he grabbed more out of her hand.

The girl giggled. “Here, let’s buy a whole bunch of it. It’ll keep you fed on your journeys.” She grabbed several boxes, chucking them absentmindedly into a cart behind the pair.

Dulse, covering his mouth with his hand as he was chewing, spoke again. “We have nothing like this in my world.”

His- world?

Kailani just about fainted as soon as she heard that. That would explain everything- his pale, almost blue skin, his unconventional getup- she was dealing with an actual alien!

“That’s so sad,” the young girl said, frowning.

Dulse picked up one more box from the shelf. “I will get some for Zossie, as well. I have a feeling that she would enjoy this.”

“Oh, I bet she would!”

Kailani watched even more intently now, studying his every moment. Now that she was looking for it, his movements were stiff, almost robotic. And who was this “Zossie?” another alien? Maybe she should follow him once he leaves-

“Um… excuse me, ma’am?” A voice said from behind her. She turned around to see an employee behind her, his eyebrow raised. “… What exactly are you doing?”

“I- um- I was just-” she sputtered. She looked over at Dulse and the girl and realized that they were now looking at her as well. “Nothing! I’ll leave! I’ll go! Have a good day!” Before the employee could say another word, she had power walked out of the store.

Dulse looked at her as she left. “…I’ve been getting a lot of stares since I arrived in Alola.”

A few minutes later, Kailani was crouching down trying not to completely crumple in embarrassment outside the megamart. She had her head in her hands as she replayed the awkward looks she got from everyone involved- she wanted nothing more than to go lead a nomadic lifestyle somewhere remote after all this. Poni Island was looking really appealing right about now.

As she contemplated her life choices, she heard a voice from beside her.

“Excuse me.”

When she looked up to see who it was, it was none other than Dulse himself. She jumped up and yelped in surprise. “You- I’m sorry!”

Dulse held up his hand. “No. No apologies are needed.”

Kailani paused. “…Huh?”

“You simply took interest in something foreign to you. I can’t fault you for that. I’ve been doing the same.”

“Ha… Thanks, I guess. “ Kailani bit her lip, trying to think of a response. “Are you really… from another world?”

“Yes,” Dulse deadpanned. “Given my appearance, it’s been hard to hide.”

“Sorry, sorry. It’s just, um- I’ve been interested in this kind of stuff my whole life… I’ve always wanted to meet an alien.”

“You and I are more alike than you may realize. Alola and its people have fascinated me since I arrived here.”

“How long have you been staying here?”

“72 days, I believe.”

“You knew that off the top of your head!” Kailani replied, a little impressed. “You said your name was Dulse, yeah?”

“Correct. And you are?”

“I’m Kailani.” She was debating how to say what she had on her mind without sounding utterly unhinged. “So, Dulse… I was wondering… I- uh… could I get to know more about you? Your world? Your people, um… everything!”

Dulse pondered for a second. “If you tell me more about yours in exchange.”

“You’ve got yourself a deal!” Kailani said, reaching out her hand. Dulse stared at it blankly. “…Oh, you don’t shake hands where you’re from, do you?”