It was early the next morning.
The sky was still caught between night and dawn, painted in pale blue and fading grey. Ash woke up before the alarm of the house itself—before footsteps, before voices, before the day truly began.
He lay still for a few seconds, staring at the ceiling, already knowing why he couldn't fall back asleep. Elsa wouldn't make a big announcement. She wasn't that kind of person.
'Morning is the only time,' he thought.
Moving quietly, Ash slipped out of bed and changed, careful not to make a sound. Pikachu stirred almost immediately, hopping down from the windowsill and jogging up beside him with a soft, knowing "Pika." Ash gave a small smile and headed out. The door closed behind them with barely a whisper.
A few minutes later, Ash stood near Professor Oak's lab, hands in his pockets, breath fogging slightly in the cool air. The world felt paused, as if even time had slowed down for this moment. And just as he expected, a lone figure appeared down the road.
Elsa was walking quietly through the dim morning, her steps measured, her coat pulled close around her. When she noticed him standing there—waiting—she froze.
"Ash…" she muttered softly.
For a brief second, her eyes widened, then softened. It felt to her as though he had read her thoughts completely, and that realisation alone made her chest tighten.
"Good morning," Ash said calmly, his voice steady and warm.
The simple greeting almost broke her. Her eyes shimmered, moisture threatening to spill over, but she quickly turned her face aside and wiped it away in silence. "I'll be going now," she said after a moment.
"The car is waiting outside." Ash nodded and fell into step beside her as they walked. "Hmm… is your family rich?" he asked casually. "I always kind of wondered."
Elsa let out a small breath that could almost pass for a laugh. "Hmm. A bit well off," she replied—not agreeing, not denying.
They reached the edge of the road, where a sleek car stood waiting. Beside it was a man in a neat suit, posture straight, presence calm and practised.
"Miss Elsa," the man greeted politely, bowing slightly.
Elsa returned a quiet nod.
The man's eyes then shifted to Ash. There was a brief pause, followed by a polite smile. "Hello. You must be Ash."
"Hello," Ash replied, meeting his gaze with the same light smile.
Elsa looked between them, then back at Ash. She smiled too—but there was sadness mixed into it now, something heavy yet restrained. Ash noticed it immediately. Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward before doubt could catch him.
He wrapped his arms around Elsa and gently patted her head. His voice was low and certain. "Watch me," he said. "I'll prove you right for choosing me." They had never spoken it aloud. They had never confirmed or promised anything.
But they both understood. This wasn't a farewell—it was a reassurance.
A quiet vow that the boy standing here now would become someone worthy in the future. Elsa's face flushed deeply at his words. She nodded faintly, holding onto the moment just a second longer.
Sunlight finally broke over the horizon, spilling across the grassy ground. Tiny flowers hidden in the shade moments ago now glistened, dew sparkling at their tips. The scene felt almost unreal—gentle, fleeting, and painfully beautiful.
Ash let go. For a moment, he simply stood there, watching as Elsa turned away and stepped toward the car. She didn't look back.
The butler paused briefly before entering the vehicle, giving Ash one last glance—measured, thoughtful. To him, this looked like nothing more than a child's fleeting affection. Nothing worth concern. Still, he would report it to his mistress. That much was his duty.
As the car pulled away, Ash remained where he was, the morning breeze brushing past him. Somewhere deep down, the man in the suit felt it too—this boy would not remain insignificant for long.
And with that thought, he already knew his days were about to become far busier.
Morning came to the others with a far heavier mood than the sky suggested.
Leaf already knew. She had known since yesterday, long before the words were spoken out loud. For her, it was something she had quietly accepted. But for Yellow and Misty, it came as a sudden blow.
"What?" Misty had snapped the moment she heard it.
Yellow's reaction was worse—not loud, not explosive, but sharp. Especially because Elsa hadn't even tried to talk to them directly. She had simply left. No long explanation. No drawn-out farewell. Just absence.
For a while, the air around them felt tight. But then reason slowly settled in. Elsa wasn't gone forever. One or two months—nothing more. And thinking back, it became painfully obvious. She hadn't wanted to ruin anything. Not the mood, not the trip, not their time together.
She had done everything for them instead.
Preparing things for the picnic. Helping out quietly. Smiling as if nothing were wrong. Just imagining Elsa doing all that alone made Yellow clench her fists. She looked helpless for a moment before turning her face away.
'I'll make her pay for this later,' she silently swore, though there was no real anger in it—only concern wrapped in frustration.
That was when Ash walked in. Yellow immediately turned toward him. "You knew, didn't you?" Ash hesitated, then smiled faintly. "Yeah… I did." That was all it took.
Yellow's irritation flared again, sharper this time. "Then why—" She stopped herself. One look at Ash's expression was enough. His smile didn't reach his eyes. There was something subdued there, something quietly restrained.
She clicked her tongue and turned away. "Tch… forget it." She knew. He was sad too.
They talked quietly after that—about nothing important, about things that barely mattered—until Delia entered the room, her presence bright and warm as always.
"Good morning, kids," she said cheerfully. Her vibrant smile cut through the lingering heaviness like sunlight through clouds. She clapped her hands lightly.
"Come on now, go shower and get changed. You'll feel much better." It was Delia's speciality—lifting moods without forcing it. Especially when Elsa had asked her so sweetly to take care of everyone.
'That girl…' Delia thought fondly. 'My kid really will have such a good girl with him someday.'
Her gaze shifted briefly to Yellow and Leaf. She smiled, then shook her head. And Misty—well, that girl wasn't subtle either.
It made her genuinely happy.
Still, she wasn't in a rush to become a grandmother. Not even close. These girls weren't ready—she knew that better than anyone. Becoming a mother at sixteen wasn't easy. She remembered that struggle vividly.
Though if there was one thing she was certain of, it was Ash. He would never abandon them. Not ever. Especially not at a time like that.
"Are you guys going or not?" She joked lightly, shooing them toward Yellow's house to bathe since Ash still needed time to get ready. They dispersed quickly. Leaf stayed behind, intending to shower after Ash. But Ash waved her off. "You go first." After all, he still had training to do.
Once Leaf disappeared into the bathroom, Ash dropped into squats without hesitation. Pikachu mimicked him faithfully, little paws pumping up and down.
Riolu emerged next, eyes sharp, copying the motion with serious focus. Frogadier joined too, but it was clearly too easy for him—after a few repetitions, he slipped outside and began practising Double Kick in the backyard, sharp snapping sounds echoing faintly.
'They really are itching to train,' Ash thought, amused.
When Leaf finally came out, water still dripping from her hair, the room filled with the soft sound of droplets hitting the floor. She was towel-drying her hair clumsily. "Ash, you can go now," she said casually.
Instead of moving, Ash gently guided her to the mirror and had her sit. "Let it dry a bit." He picked up the hairdryer, smiling faintly. He'd done this countless times for his mother. The warm air hummed softly as he worked through her hair with practised ease.
Leaf relaxed almost immediately. "Okay… that's fine." Ash dried his own hair afterward, standing close. A faint, pleasant scent reached him. He paused slightly.
"You smell nice," he said honestly. "What shampoo or shower gel do you use?"
Leaf froze. Her face heated up almost instantly. "I—I didn't use any today." Her cheeks grew redder by the second.
Ash blinked. "Eh?"
Then realisation hit him. His eyes widened just a little. "So… that's your natural smell?"
Leaf's blush deepened to crimson as she looked away, and for once, the room felt warmer than it should have.