Ash smiles through all the pain and misery.
he pretends that everything people say to him doesn't hurt him. he acts as though he really doesn't care if they hurt him or it doesn't if they ignore him.
He's scared, to be honest, he's fallen to hard for him. But he hates Ash, they're rivals you see, or at least they were. Until decided Ash was not worth his time, instead pursuing his midnight-haired travel buddy. His mother won't look him in the eye for some reason she won't disclose but Ash knows it's because he isn't as good as his late father in battle.
He has one theory on why his friends are so distant all the damn time, maybe because he's gay but he swears on his life he thought his friends weren't homophobes. They really did seem the supportive type, but at least he has his pokemon. Well mostly. They only listen to him during battle because he still is a good trainer. Pikachu and him aren't as close as they used to be but at least they still talk sometimes.
He hopes everything would change and for once, the heavens above listen to his wish.
Hey, this is my first story! Hopefully, you all enjoyed, this is just the prologue.
