#like how he didn't spontaneously combust by the age of fourteen is a mystery to me

[the-thirteenth-prime]

It's so wild to me that so many people HC Leon and Hop as not having had a close relationship when multiple forms of canon (the game AND PokeAni) have literally said that Leon practically raised Hop. Despite there being three adults in the house that can do it. And Leon being a child when Hop was born. And away from home a majority of the time.

You know--healthy family dynamics and all of that. (coughtheirmotheristrashcough)

The point is that Leon managed to raise his brother from kilometers away, and you cannot convince me that he didn't have Hop shipped out to wherever he was based in Galar during the summer months to stay with him. He absolutely tried to call Hop every night and would video chat with him to help him with his homework. Sometimes he even had Hop come stay with him during holidays because their mother is trash. He did his best to make it to Hop's plays and school events and would send Sonia and Professor Magnolia when he couldn't make it himself. If he couldn't see Hop for his birthday, he would express ship a gift and have Sonia deliver it, along with a box of cookies.

Is it right? No. Healthy? Also no. But I have to say that Hop turned out pretty damn well for being raised by someone who was barely able to come home and also only 10 years older than him. Leon really does not get enough credit and that's depressing to me.