After everything was finally prepared, Leaf and Ash were already fully ready to leave. Delia had also finished her arrangements, double-checking the baskets and supplies one last time before nodding in satisfaction.
With that, the three of them stepped out together, the morning air of Pallet Town carrying a calm warmth that made the day feel unhurried.
Although it was called preparation, Ash carried most of it inside his spatial bag as they walked toward Professor Oak's lab. The side field behind the lab had always been an ideal spot for a picnic—wide, green, and quiet—and even Professor Oak himself had never objected to them using it. The familiar building soon came into view.
But halfway there, a thought crossed Ash's mind. He slowed down, then stopped altogether. "Mom, Leaf," he said, scratching the back of his head. "You two go on ahead."
Delia turned, a little surprised. "Aren't you coming?"
"I will," Ash replied easily. "Just… later. I'll wait at the entrance for Yellow and Misty." Leaf blinked once, then smiled knowingly. "Getting lost again?"
Ash chuckled. "With Yellow, it's not even unlikely."
Delia laughed softly and nodded in agreement. "That's true. We'll start setting things up, then."
With that, Leaf followed Delia toward the field, already discussing where to place the mat and food. Ash remained behind, leaning near the entrance of the lab grounds, arms crossed loosely as he waited.
He didn't have to wait long. "Ash! Why didn't you go with Leaf and Aunt Delia?" The moment Yellow arrived, her voice rang out with clear surprise.
She stood there, Pikachu peeking over her shoulder, her expression a mix of confusion and relief upon spotting him.
"Well," Ash said, straightening up with a grin, "I was going to. But then I remembered that there's a certain someone who could get lost even in Oak's backyard. And the other one doesn't exactly know the way around here either."
Yellow froze for a second before her cheeks turned red. It was obvious who he was talking about. And unfortunately for her, she couldn't even deny it.
Before she could respond, Misty stepped in, arms crossed. "Come on, Ash. Don't tease Yellow."
Her tone carried familiarity; she was clearly used to this side of him. Ash laughed lightly, then raised his hands in surrender.
"Alright, alright. Sorry." Yellow pouted, her shoulders drooping just a little.
Ash sighed, then reached out and patted her head gently. "I was just joking. Don't think too much about it." That alone was enough to make her mood recover almost instantly.
The walk to the field was slow. Ash ended up carrying Yellow on his back halfway there after she complained about being tired, her arms loosely wrapped around his shoulders. Misty walked beside them, smiling at the sight.
Though beneath that smile, a faint heaviness lingered in her chest.
They look really close, she thought.
Her gaze shifted away for a moment. 'Elsa is gone. Is he really fine with it...?' The question surfaced quietly in her mind. After all, compared to the others, she was just another travelling partner… wasn't she?
The picnic itself didn't last long, but it was warm and lively. They ate together, sharing stories while Delia spoke fondly about Ash's childhood adventures and their recent outdoor camping trip. Laughter echoed across the field, light and genuine.
Afterward, Ash trained with Pikachu and a few of his other Pokémon. Delia watched from a distance, sitting on the grass, her eyes filled with quiet pride as she observed how far he had come—not just as a trainer, but as a person.
It wasn't a long time, but Ash enjoyed every moment of it. Eventually, they parted ways. Leaf, Delia, Yellow, and Misty headed back first, while Ash stayed behind to speak with Professor Oak.
That conversation turned out to be more important than he expected.
Oak delivered the news with a proud smile: Ash's theory regarding Eevee had been officially proven correct.
As a result, Ash was granted a professor's certificate and registered under the Oak Research Group as an apprentice professor.
"Wow… Thank you, Gramp Oak," Ash said, barely able to hide his excitement. With this recognition, many previously restricted areas would now be open to him.
It was another step forward.
Samuel Oak simply smiled. Seeing Ash like this always made him feel it was worth everything. By the time Ash returned home, the sky had darkened.
The house was quiet.
Except for the living room.
"Misty?" Ash stopped when he saw her sitting there. She looked up. "Ash… welcome back." He blinked, surprised. "You're not asleep yet?"
"N-No," she replied quickly, her cheeks coloring slightly. She hesitated, then took a breath. "Um… Delia told me something earlier." Ash tilted his head.
"She said you prepared two beds. One upper, one lower." Misty glanced away. "I was told to sleep in your room tonight." For a moment, silence settled between them. Ash felt it too—a strange, awkward tension, unfamiliar yet undeniable.
"I see…" he replied simply. And for the first time that night, neither of them knew what else to say.
After that, Ash almost dragged his feet as he walked back to his room. The hallway felt unusually quiet, every step echoing louder than it should have. The awkward feeling from earlier still clung to him, refusing to fade no matter how much he tried to ignore it.
Thankfully, Misty wasn't there yet.
From the bathroom down the hall came the faint sound of running water, mixed with the soft echo of steam and splashing. Misty was taking a bath. That, at least, gave Ash a little breathing room. Given her long-standing love for showers and soaking in bathtubs, it wasn't surprising at all.
Ash let out a slow breath and slipped into his room first.
He placed his bag down carefully, straightened the beds, and made sure everything looked normal—too normal, almost, as if pretending nothing was out of the ordinary might actually make it true. Once that was done, he sat down on the lower bed and leaned back slightly, letting his shoulders relax.
The room felt emptier than usual.
Pikachu wasn't there. Ash already knew why. Pikachu had gone with Yellow for the night, something it did often enough that it didn't surprise him. Still, tonight, the absence only made the room feel quieter… and more awkward.
'Just be casual, Ash,' he reminded himself.
He closed his eyes for a brief moment, steadying his thoughts, and by the time he opened them again, his breathing had evened out.
That was when the door opened.
Misty stepped inside, steam still clinging faintly to her, her hair slightly damp and falling loosely around her shoulders. She wore her usual pyjamas, neat and simple, but the warmth from the bath lingered around her like a soft haze.
Ash stiffened without meaning to.
For a split second, his mind flashed back to an earlier memory—one he immediately pushed aside. He shifted slightly on the bed, clearing his throat and forcing himself to focus.
"Would you shower?" Misty asked. Her voice snapped him out of it. Ash shook his head quickly. "No. I'm… a bit tired." He paused, then added, "You can take the top bed."
He stayed seated as he spoke, keeping his tone as casual as possible. As he knew that standing up would definitely expose the dent on his lower.
Misty stopped mid-step and turned to look at him.
She frowned just slightly.
That was strange. Everyone knew Ash preferred the top bed. Him giving it up so easily didn't sit right with her. Her eyes lingered on him for a moment longer than usual, then she seemed to realise something herself.
She turned away quickly, heat creeping up her cheeks.
"Alright," she said, a little quieter. "I'll sleep up."
She moved toward the ladder, placing one hand on it, then hesitated.
Her fingers tightened slightly.
At best, she was just a travelling partner, she reminded herself. That was all she had ever been. But tonight… Tonight felt different. Too quiet. Too close. Almost like a chance that might never come again.
She took a breath. "Say, Ash." Her voice was softer now, uncertain. Ash looked up and spoke. "Hm?"
"Does that mean you felt aroused by my look?" Pointing at the bulge, she smiled and asked. Making Ash sweat. It was the first time that he had seen Misty making a shot like that. As he looked at the girl.
He found her walking toward him instead. Her finger sliding down the pyjama, revealing a cute white panty within it. Ash took off the top, revealing her well-developed body that is completely naked without a bra.
Her eyes were looking a bit dazed but seductive. As her lips slowly moved closer. 'She is really tempting...' Ash inwardly groaned but did not reject it. He initiatively pulled her from the back and kissed her.
Her soft lips quiver a bit. Parting up, he spoke gently. "Open your mouth." His eyes were looking at her deeply. Making Misty listen to his words, like a command. Opening her tiny lips, she let out the small tongue, knowing what Ash wanted.
Bringing his lips close again, he gave it a deep French kiss. His tongue intertwined, tasting the sweet taste of the choco muffin she ate. Making him more eager as he kisses and separates. "Ash." Misty spoke, her hand circling around his neck.