(Ash POV)
*BEEP BEEP BEEP*
"Ash Ketchum hurry up!" UGHHHHH, oh hey there my name is Ash Ketchum. I'm 15 years old and I live in Pallet Town, normally I'd be sleeping in until around noon but today was different. You see my longtime neighbor, Samuel Oak, he's a Pokemon Professor and the principal at Kanto Academy. It's really not your typical school, it's actually one of the best schools in the world if not the best. But back on track, I got accepted into Kanto Academy and today I start my first semester there. It's here in Pallet Town but I have to go early since I missed out on my tour of the campus.
"Don't worry I'll be right down." I ran out of my room and into the bathroom to brush my teeth before breakfast. I love my mom to death, she's all I've ever had in terms of parents. But I know having two sons in Kanto Academy is the best feeling she could ever have, especially when she raised us by herself. Oh I said the two sons part right? Well let me introduce you to-
"Ash come on! I need to be early to meet up with the Battle Team!" ...my big brother Red. Red is my brother and he's a year older than me, he got accepted into Kanto Academy last year. He's even vice captain of their Battle Team, I love him to death too but like any brother: he's a thorn in my side.
(Normal POV)
"Sorry guys, I just couldn't sleep last night." Ash made his way downstairs trying to fix his messy black hair and putting on his gloves. He walked into the kitchen to see his mother Delia standing by the stove making breakfast while his brother Red sat at the table using his phone. Ash chuckled and took a seat in front of his brother, the two strongly resembled each other but Ash had gotten their late father's tan skin and black hair while Red was paler like their mother and had her brown hair.
"Don't worry sweetheart. But eat up, it's a big day." Delia said placing a plate of eggs, toast, and bacon in front of her son and placing a kiss on the top of his head. "And you, young man, protect your brother." Delia said doing the same to Red making him smile.
"Always, no one gets to pick on this twerp but me." Red said earning a kick under the table from Ash. But Red just laughed and did the same in return making Ash growl. The two quickly ate their breakfast while Delia walked over with only a plate of toast and a cup of coffee.
"So Ash, do you know your schedule?" Delia asked taking a sip of her coffee.
"No not yet, but Red was going to help me get it in school."
"And Red, why are you and the Battle Team meeting so early?"
"Well mom, because the girls left and Nate and Lucas are graduating this year: we're going to be looking for some new members of the Battle Team earlier than usual. So we're going to meet up early to talk about tryouts before we run them by Oak." Red explained making Ash sigh. Kanto Academy's Battle Team was the school's pride and joy, Red and his team were undefeated every year and all of them were close to inseparable. You couldn't think of a better team when it came to them. "Ash I talked to Calem, and we're really hoping you try joining us." Red said snapping Ash from his trance.
"I'll...I'll think about it." Ash said making Delia and Red sigh in defeat. Ash was an extremely smart boy, pretty dense but smart, and they knew he was an amazing trainer. He was Red's training partner growing up, battling every day with their Pikachus and some of Oak's Pokemon. Even after joining Kanto Academy himself, Red preferred training with Ash over anyone else including his best friend Calem. If anything he considered Ash better than him when it came to battling so he wanted his brother to join him on the team. But Ash wasn't like his brother when it came to battling, he enjoyed studying and keeping his grades up over anything really.
"Promise me you'll try honey." Delia said making Ash nod. She looked at her watch and nodded getting up and grabbing two bookbags from the kitchen. "Alright boys time to go, I'll see you afterschool." Delia said giving each of her sons their bookbag with Ash's being green and Red's being black and red. The two stood up and gave their mother kisses on her cheeks before walking out towards the school in the distance.
-10 minutes later-
"So are you excited?" Red asked tugging on his brother's shirt making him chuckle. Kanto Academy was fifteen minutes walking from their house so Red decided to take the time to talk to his little brother.
"I am, so why don't you give me your own little introduction for the school bro?"
"Alright so basically you have the three buildings." Red said as he pointed forward to the school. "The biggest one is the main building, we have our classes and the cafeteria there. The big blue building is the boys dorm for the guys from other regions or towns that go to our school and the big red one is the girls dorm, same concept. And then you have the other areas of the school like the garden for relaxing or seeing Pokemon from Kanto and the other regions. Then you have the field as we call it, because Oak and the faculty never gave it any other name." Red said making Ash laugh. "There's the gym for Physical Education, the track for Rhyhorn Racing, the pool for swimming, and then you have the Main Stage and the Battle Arena. The Battle Arena is the cave for me and the guys, any student that wants to have a battle can have one there and it's our training facility. The Main Stage is what we call what we have for the Coordinators and Performers, we have Contests and Showcases there and they're as open to them as the Battle Arena is to everyone. So " Red explained making Ash nod. He pulled Ash in for a side hug chuckling as he did. "Look Ash, I've got your back no matter what alright? Red and Ash Ketchum are a force to be reckoned with."
"You sure it isn't ASH and RED?"
"Shut up smartass." Red said as they made their way up the steps to Kanto Academy and Ash looked at the school in awe. He and Delia had come several times to cheer for Red during his battles but that mainly to the Battle Arena. Now HE was a student here and every thought was racing through his brain, what if everybody expected him to be just like Red? What if he wasn't as smart as he thought and he gets kicked out? "Come on, I'll take you to the Arena with me." Red said as they walked into the building and Ash looked around.
'This place is so cool.' Ash thought as he looked at the area around him. Everything was new and kept spotless, it was nice and cool inside and he could hear faint laughter from the faculty that were already there. He followed Red to the back of the school and to the outside and followed him to a colossal stadium. The two walked inside hearing laughing and Red ran ahead while Ash stared in awe at the trophy case. But what had his attention the most was the photo of Red winning his first ever tournament the year before with his Charizard and that was the proudest he had ever seen their mother that day.
"Ash!" Ash heard a voice call for him and he walked down the hallway until he reached the colossal field to see Red and the other six members of the battle team waiting for him.
"Hey squirt are you ready to be one of us?" A black haired boy wearing a red hat and a blue jacket said making Ash nod, this was the team captain Calem and Red's best friend who was in his second year too. "Good I hope you try out buddy."
"So this is Red's brother?" A brown haired boy wearing a light blue jacket said walking up to Ash with an intimidating aura emanating from him.
"Y-Yeah?" Ash said before the whole team burst into laughter and the boy placed a hand on Ash's head laughing. This was Hilbert, he was a second year and he was the prime candidate to take over for Calem when he graduates or leaves the team. But everybody else Ash had already met before when Red brought them to the house to celebrate: there was the fourth year student Ethan who ruled with his Typhlosion that could almost instantly knock out an opponent with a flamethrower, second year student Brendan who had the strongest Swampert who took on a whole team of Grass types and won (Ash had seen it happen in person and was screaming in his seat), third year student Lucas with the tank that is his Torterra, and fourth year student Nate with his elusive Serperior that almost never got a hit landed on her. The team was supposed to have ten people on it but the three missing members were the girls who had help start this team but they had graduated last semester, and Ash missed Korrina, Candice, and Valerie but he knew they were going to come visit at some point.
"So you got your schedule?" Brendan asked as he messed with his white beanie making Ash shake his head. "Take out your phone and it should be in your portal."
"Oh okay got it." Ash said as he did just that and logged into his Kanto Academy portal seeing his schedule.
"You've got eight classes: one for homeroom, four core classes and three electives. What'd you get Baby Ketchum?" Ethan asked messing with his black and yellow hat.
"I've got Professor Burnet for Homeroom. Then I have History, P.E, Math, Biology, English, Evolution Studies, and then some class called Battle Studies 1." Ash said making everyone but Red look at him in shock. "What? Did I say something wrong?"
"Dude you got Battle Studies in your first year?!" Calem yelled breaking the ice and taking the phone from Ash's hand.
"Is that good?"
"GOOD? ASH THAT COULD HELP YOU LAND A SPOT WITH US!" Lucas yelled making the team cheer.
"But I don't get it, WHAT is Battle Studies?" Ash asked making Nate run over to him and pull him close.
"Battle Studies is Professor Kukui's class. It's one of the toughest classes to get because you learn and spend the entire year battling and learning tricks and strategies. If he likes you then he'll recommend you to our team since he's our coach. We only got the class because we were ON the team the year before, you have it with us and you're not even on the team." Nate explained before the group saw a tan man with his hair tied in the back wearing a white hat and lab coat walk in.
"I mean Red basically begged me to get him in the class." Professor Kukui said greeting his team while Ash looked at his brother in surprise. "Don't worry Ash it's fine, if you want to join the team or not that's up to you. But if your brother vouched for you the way he did, then I hope I can call you one of my best trainers one day." He placed a hand on the younger Ketchum's shoulder giving him a reassuring smile before focusing his attention on the Battle Team. "Now boys, I get saying bye to the girls was hard but we need to be ready. We have more students joining this year than ever and that means we can't be biased for who tries out for our teams. If you know anyone and wanna give any recommendations-" Ash sighed knowing what was about to happen.
"I RECOMMEND ASH!" The seven all said at once making Ash throw his arms up shaking his head.
"-then wait until we've done our tryouts before telling me. Come on guys let me finish first." Professor Kukui sighed before a white haired woman wearing a grey tank top walked in with a box in her hands.
"They're as excited as you were babe, don't blame them."
"Ash meet my wife Professor Burnet. Honey meet Red's little brother Ash, he's in your homeroom period." Professor Kukui said introducing his wife who pulled Ash in for a hug before opening the box making the boys begin to drool.
"Have some doughnuts boys, you need your energy." Professor Burnet said before seeing the boys reach in and take out all but two doughnuts from the box making her smile and pass them to her husband. "Eat up, I want to talk to Ash." Professor Kukui nodded and watched as his wife wrapped her arm around Ash's shoulder taking him outside.
"So Professor, the team looks like they're enjoying themselves already." Ash said making her laugh and nod.
"That they are, those boys and my husband never cease to amaze me. But I wanted to know Ash since this is an icebreaker I was going to do in class today anyway, what do you want to do?"
"I don't understand."
"Like here and in the future, what do you want to study or do? Basically your hopes and dreams."
"I used to dream of being a Pokemon Master like Red, but maybe being a Professor like you guys will be good for me too." Ash said making his Professor nod and look up.
"Well you do what you feel is best Ash. No one's going to force you to do something you don't want to." Professor Burnet said before pulling out from behind her a red hat with a black stripe with half of a green pokeball on it.
"That's Red's old hat." Ash said before being handed the hat.
"He told me to give it to you when you came here, he believes in you more than anyone else you know." Professor Burnet said turning around and seeing the screen above the entrance to the Arena turn on. She and Ash watched as on it: Professor Kukui and the Battle Team appeared with three empty silhouettes next to them. "I'll see you in homeroom okay?" Professor Burnet said making Ash nod leaving him alone in front of the Battle Arena.
'Maybe joining won't be so bad, I should go back to the team and chill with them before class.' Ash thought to himself before walking back into the Battle Arena.
-30 minutes later-
"Alright, this is my class." Ash said finding the door to Professor Burnet's class. He opened the door to be greeted by the Professor he had just met that morning and seeing he was one of the first students to arrive. He took a seat near the front and relaxed taking out a book to read. He got lost in the story he was reading until he heard the bell ring and looked around seeing just how quickly the class filled up and just how chatty everyone was.
"Alright everyone good morning! I'm Professor Burnet, but I'm sure you all knew that already. For the next school year I'm going to be your homeroom teacher and I'm just gonna take roll call very quickly alright?" Professor Burnet said taking out a small clipboard beginning to read off names. "Dawn Berlitz?"
"Here!"
"Alright then." She continued checking off names after calling them out. "...Clemont Ferrand?"
"Present!" Ash kept reading his book beginning to be lost in thought again.
"Ash Ketchum?" The class went quiet hearing Ash's last name but he stayed quiet still lost in his book. "Ash?"
"..."
"Ash honey I'm gonna mark you tardy if I call you again." Professor Burnet laughed placing her hand on Ash's book making him look up and blush from embarrassment.
"O-Oh sorry Professor...uhhh here?" She laughed checking off next to his name while Ash began to hear the whispers around him.
"Ketchum? Like the vice captain of the Battle Team?"
"Maybe he's a cousin?"
"Maybe it's just a coincidence."
"Could be. Red is wayyy cuter~"
"May Maple?"
"Here!" Ash put his focus back in his book while hiding his embarrassed blush. Minutes went by while Professor Burnet finished taking attendance.
"And Serena Yvonne?"
"Here!"
"Alright then looks like everyone's here." She put the clipboard down and cleared her throat getting everyone minus Ash's attention. "So we're gonna start off our year with an icebreaker. I'm gonna grab this pokeball and throw it at whoever I want. If you catch it then you introduce yourself and give a small introduction like what you like to do, what you wanna study, and then if you have one you can say your favorite Pokemon." Professor Burnet said taking out a pokeball and looking around her class. But her attention stayed on a certain student ignoring her once again so she decided to lightly throw it so it landed on his book.
"Huh?" Ash snapped up again seeing the pokeball land on his book and he looked up seeing Professor Burnet giggling.
"You're first, Ash. Introduce yourself to the class." Ash stood up and cleared his throat thinking about what to say while everyone kept whispering and mentioning Red.
"M-My name is Ash Ketchum. I'm 15 and I'm from here in Pallet Town. On my free time I read or study, sometimes I go to Professor Oak's house to play with his Pokemon. I wanna study the bonds between Pokemon and humans like him. And if I had to pick a favorite Pokemon I would say either my Pikachu at home or my brother's Charizard." Ash said looking down at his desk while everybody looked at him trying not to laugh or whisper.
"Your brother? Red Ketchum right?" Professor Burnet asked acting as if she didn't know the answer.
"Yeah, he's older than me by a year." Ash said taking his seat again while the whispers began again, mainly by the girls that were clearly fans of his brother.
"Alright then give me back the ball." Ash nodded and threw the ball back making the Professor catch it and think before throwing the ball this time into the hands of a brown haired girl wearing a red bandana with a white pokeball on it. "Your turn sweetie."
"Hi! My name is May Maple and I'm 15 too and I'm from Petalburg City in Hoenn. I love playing with my Glaceon and Combusken and I want to become Top Coordinator. My favorite Pokemon is Blaziken so my dad gave me a Torchic when I turned 10." May said introducing herself while some of the guys looked at her blushing. She threw the ball back to Professor Burnet who was smiling.
"Petalburg and Maple? You're Norman's little girl then?"
"You know my dad?" May asked happily making Ash look at her surprised.
"Norman met me and my husband during one of your vacations to Alola a few years ago. Nice to have you in my class." She smiled at the girl and quickly threw the ball at a blue haired girl wearing a white beanie with a pink pokeball on it. "Your turn."
"Okay um, hi there my name is Dawn Berlitz. Like the last two I'm 15 and I'm from Sinnoh, Twinleaf Town to be specific. I want to be Top Coordinator too and I love practicing some of my mom's old Coordinator moves when she became one. My favorite pokemon is Piplup, I think they're the cutest things on earth I'm so lucky to have one!" Dawn said thinking about her Piplup before throwing the ball back to Professor Burnet.
"I knew you had to be her daughter, you have her hair and you're so beautiful just like her. Tell Johanna I said hi please." Professor Burnet said making Dawn smile and nod before she threw the ball to a blonde haired boy wearing glasses and blue jumpsuit who struggled to catch and hold onto it.
"H-Hey there! My name is Clemont Ferrand. I'm 15 and from Lumiose City in Kalos, I'm an inventor and I hope to one day revolutionize the world with my inventions and make it a better place!" Clemont said standing up and fixing his glasses making Ash look at him chuckling. "My favorite Pokemon is Luxray but I'm partial to all electric type Pokemon." Clemont said trying to throw the ball back to his professor but he missed and accidentally knocked the pink hat off the honey blond haired girl two seats in front of him. "I'M SO SORRY!"
"Don't worry Clemont, sweetie introduce yourself please."
"I'm Serena Yvonne. I'm 15 and I'm from Vaniville Town, that's in Kalos too. I want to be Kalos Queen one day and on my free time I make new outfits for me and my Pokemon. My favorite Pokemon is either Sylveon or Delphox." Serena said picking up her hat and the pokeball handing it back to the Professor.
'Well this is going to be a hell of a year.' Ash thought to himself going back to his book while Professor Burnet continued her game, happy since now he doesn't have to introduce himself.
-Four hours later-
After homeroom, Ash had went to three of his other classes and actually found himself enjoying them. History was taught by Professor Juniper and they went off to a great start since she had dropped almost all her files off her desk and he helped her out when he had arrived. P.E was taught by Coach Bruno and he already had them exercising day one, which wasn't too bad since Ash was even more fit than he seemed. And then Math went by quickly since Ash enjoyed it, even if his teacher was a bit of a math freak. Yet one thing kept bothering him: every time they said his last name in class, everyone would immediately know he was related to Red somehow and compare them thinking he couldn't hear them. But he did. But forget that, now it was lunchtime and he was on his way to the cafeteria to sit down and eat the lunch his mother had packed for him. He found an empty table near the window and sat down taking out the bento box and seeing the Onigiri Delia had made for him. He took one out and bit into it looking out the window thinking about that morning with Red and the Battle Team.
"Hey! You know you shouldn't be sitting there right?" He looked up to see a dark auburn haired boy looking at Ash in shock with a blond haired boy wearing an orange and white striped shirt.
"Why?" Ash asked confused to the current situation.
"This is the Battle Team's table! Hurry and get up from there before I fine you!" The blond haired boy yelled making Ash scoff and shake his head. "Listen! This year I'm gonna make it on the Battle Team because those are the coolest guys in school! So don't disrespect them by acting like that!"
"Ash!" The three turned their heads to see Calem and Hilbert walking over with their trays of food smiling at the younger Ketchum. "You found our table, now your brother doesn't have to go hunting for you!" Calem said happily placing his tray next to Ash and taking a seat while Hilbert did the same.
"Oh it's you two." Hilbert said recognizing the two before beginning to eat his food.
"Who are they?"
"Red head's Kenny, he's one of the Coordinators for the school and blondie is Barry. He's been trying to get on our team for a long time." Calem explained introducing the two while Barry just looked at Ash in shock.
"C-Calem how do you know this disrespectful kid?" Barry said beginning to shake.
"Oh Ashy-boy here? He's Red's baby brother." Calem said happily placing his hand on Ash's shoulder before taking one of his Onigiri. Barry just stood dumbfounded before walking away angrily with Kenny who followed with a surprised look on his face. "So how was your first day?"
"It was alright?"
"And he's about to ask..." Hilbert said facepalming and gesturing to Calem who now had a michievous look on his face.
"Meet any cute girls bud?" Calem asked making Ash look at him in shock while Hilbert groaned. "Some first years here are pretty cute. Buuut that last name of yours could help you score some older ladies you know."
"Calem why are you such a-" Hilbert was cut off by the remaining Battle Team members arriving with their food.
"What did Calem do?" Brendan asked already chewing on a french fry.
"He's just being CALEM." Hilbert said making all of them but Ash and Calem nod understanding.
"What does that mean?" Ash asked confused.
"Calem, baby brother, is our resident hoe." Red said laughing making Calem shake his head offended.
"I am not."
"Bro. Hilda." Lucas said messing with his white scarf. Calem sheepishly nodded his head and turned to face Hilbert who glared at him.
"Who's Hilda?" Ash asked confused as to what was going on.
"Hilbert's twin sister. I'll tell you the story another day but the important point for right now is Calem messed up, big time." Nate said laughing while Ethan shook his head trying to stop Hilbert from lunging at him.
"Damn. Well he asked me if I met any cute girls and I mean I did see some cute girls in my homeroom. I think their names were Dawn..." Lucas choked on his juice. "...May..." Brendan began to choke on his fry. "...and Serena." Calem dropped his food in shock. The other people at the table looked at the three in shock before standing up and slamming their hands on the table looking at him.
"DID SHE HAVE BLUE/BROWN/BLOND HAIR?!" Ash awkwardly nodded. "WAS SHE WEARING A BEANIE/BANDANA/HAT?!"
"Yeah?" The Battle Team looked at the three in surprise before they slid back in their chairs.
"She's my childhood friend...oh god I thought she was kidding about coming here." The three sighed at the same time before shaking their heads in frustration.
"Anyways so guys I have some good news." Red said brushing off his best friends' overreactions and taking out a flyer placing it in the center of the table. "A month from now is Battle Team tryouts. Oak green lit everything." Red said making his team clap and focus on Ash. Red on the other hand finally recognized the hat his brother was wearing and smiled knowing what Professor Burnet had probably done. "Ash we're having a kind of showcase for the first years at the end of the week. I would really love your help on my end little brother."
"Wait but wouldn't Ash be there watching? You know Principal Oak would need some real convincing for that." Ethan said before feeling a hand on his shoulder.
"Good thing his grandson helped convince him then." The group watched as a tray was placed next to Red's and down sat a brown haired boy wearing a black shirt and purple pants. Ash crossed his arms and sat back making eye contact with the boy while Red just smirked.
"Gary Oak is blessing Ashy-boy Ketchum with his presence." Ash said making Gary shrug and laugh. "Why do I feel like that wasn't the only thing either?"
"You know me well Ash. I helped get you accepted here faster than it would've been if it was just your big brother doing everything." Gary said taking a fry from his tray making Ash laugh and lean for a high five. Gary just laughed back and did the same since the Ketchum brothers were more of his brothers than anyone else had been. "So? You gonna be on the team or what?"
"I don't know yet." Ash shrugged making Gary sigh and bury his face in his hands.
"Ash for Arceus sake, I'm just a back-up on this team. You're being handed this on a silver platter, I WISH I was in your shoes." Gary said making Ash sigh and look at his group of friends.
"Maybe that's just it. It's my first day and I'm being treated so great by you guys and you're basically begging to have me on the team. I didn't ask for this really. Hell everyone in homeroom and every class so far has been comparing me to Red and I feel like I'm being thrown in his shadow because I'm his little brother." Ash said hiding his eyes under his hat but Calem simply removed the hat and smiled at him as the other members of the team.
"Ash, we WANT you on the team and we WANTED you here in this academy with US." Calem said gesturing to the area they were in.
"It's nothing to do with being Red's brother." Nate said patting Red's back.
"You're our friend too." Ethan said handing him a bottle of water.
"And we just wanna spend more time with you." Lucas said messing with his scarf even more.
"We're not forcing you to join us, but that doesn't mean you can't hang out with us either." Brendan said shrugging.
"W-Wow guys thanks." Ash said shaking his head in disbelief before seeing everyone begin to stand up. "Is lunch over already?"
"Looks like it, what do you have next?" Red asked standing up.
"Biology." Ash said making Brendan groan in frustration. "What?"
"My dad teaches that class, please don't tell me he came in those shorts and sandals again."
"Don't worry it's pretty easy." Calem said walking away with Red.
-Five minutes later-
Ash made his way to his Biology class and walked in to see almost every seat he would've liked was taken. He saw that there was an empty table in the middle row and quickly made his way to it. He sat down and hid his face with the same book he was reading until he saw that the seat right next to him was being taken. So he quickly looked to see who it was and it was a very familiar face: it was May from homeroom.
"Hi sorry he hasn't taken attendance yet has-" May quickly sat down and turned her attention to Ash before she recognized him from homeroom almost instantly as well. "Oh hey you're that guy from my homeroom! Uhhhh...Ash right?!" May asked getting a nod from him. "I'm May! But I'm sure you remember that."
"Well you screamed it in homeroom so it's not easy to forget." Ash said with a slight chuckle making May look down embarrassed. "Oh damn...uh sorry if I offended you."
"No no it's fine, I know I have a tendency to get over excited that's why." May said before seeing their professor walk in. He was a fairly big guy wearing a blue shirt, cargo shorts, and sandals.
"Hey everyone my name is Professor Birch, I'm gonna be your Biology teacher this year."
"So your brother is really vice captain of the Battle Team?" May asked quietly catching Ash's attention making him nod. "That is so cool, he's a second year and they already made him vice captain? He must be amazing."
"You sound like one of his fangirls." Ash chuckled making May shake her head.
"To be honest with you, I only know this because some of my friends are." May whispered shrugging surprising Ash. "I didn't like what some of the people in class were saying. Just because he's your brother doesn't mean-"
"Ash Ketchum?"
"Here!" Ash yelled as Professor Birch took attendance and he nodded checking off next to his name.
"May Maple?"
"Hi Professor!" May yelled waving to the Professor who chuckled as he marked her off as well.
"Tell Norman I said hi alright? Moving on."
"Anyways. I don't think you should be judged because of that, your brother is your flesh and blood and that's it." May said confusing Ash.
"What? No. Red's more than that to me. He's my role model, he's the best guy I know, he's-" May quickly grabbed Ash's hand with both of hers shaking it.
"Noooo. I mean that when it comes to comparing you two that's about it. You're your own person and Red is his own person. I'm a big sister myself and I'd hate if people judged my little brother because I'm popular or whatever." May said making Ash nod understanding what she meant and pull his hand out of hers.
"Th-Thanks I guess."
"Don't worry about it. Hey you wanna hang out after school?" May asked making Ash think for a moment and then shrug.
"Sure, why not?"
Meanwhile Red was in his Algebra class listening to his teacher talk about her life and he was feeling pretty exhausted. It wasn't just how worried he was about Ash, it was also the fact it felt like EVERY DAMN GIRL IN SCHOOL was chasing him and Calem around. Lucky for him, no one girl has talked to him in this class yet and he can take a moment to relax. He yawned and laid his head down but what caught his attention was a brown haired girl wearing a white hat sitting in the seat next to him. He had NEVER seen her around before, and something about her made him feel...weird. She was currently writing in her journal and Red made it seem like he was falling asleep. But this was definitely a new kind of feeling for him, and he was going to find out what.
-Two hours later-
Now it was time, Battle Studies 1. This was the most popular class in the school and unlike the other classes: the last block was the only class period Battle Studies 1 was open for. If you could get a spot in the class then you were in for a treat, especially if you loved or wanted to be a part of the Battle Team or just battling in general. The class had thirty students and the Battle Team was already confirmed to have their own place in the roster so it was a gamble to see who could take one of the twenty three seats this year. Class was held in the Battle Arena and Ash made his way there running down the steps. But when he got to the front doors he was surprised to see May there waiting.
"May?" Ash asked making May turn and run over to him excitedly.
"Ash! What are you doing here?"
"Battle Studies 1. You?"
"So it's here then? Oh thank goodness." May said letting out a sigh of relief.
"You're in this class too?"
"I mean I asked for it as an elective because my cousin did. I'm surprised I actually got it." May said making Ash chuckle and begin to walk in. He felt something grab his hand and he turned to see May holding his hand again. "Don't leave me behind." May pleaded before following him inside to the main arena. The two looked to see the class already there talking among themselves.
"Ash over here!" Ash and May watched as he was waved over and they walked to the Battle Team.
"Hey guys. Uh May meet my friends who I guess you saw on the screen outside, especially my brother Red. Guys meet May." Ash introduced May to everyone and she awkwardly waved to them.
"Hey May, how's it hanging?" Brendan asked sheepishly catching May's attention and she pulled him in for a tight hug.
"BRENDAN! I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU AGAIN!"
"Alright everyone settle down please." Professor Kukui said catching everyone's attention and they quieted down from sheer excitement. "I already counted and all thirty of you are here so I'm not worried about attendance. But I just want everyone to relax and unwind for the day, actual class will begin tomorrow since right now I'm still focusing on having Battle Team tryouts ready."
"Better for us right Ash?" May said hugging Ash's arm making him nod sheepishly. But what had his attention was Red who stood staring the other way.
"Bro you alright?"
"Ash have you seen that girl before?" Red asked pointing to the girl from his algebra class who stood nearby using her phone.
"I JUST started here, what kind of question is that?" Ash asked as May's phone began to vibrate making her let go of his arm.
"Sorry it's just-"
"LEAF!" May yelled at the top of her lungs making the girl look around before seeing May waving her arms in the air.
"Oh thank Arceus I found you, May." The girl now known as Leaf said walking over. She recognized Red and quickly turned her attention back to May. "I was back there and I was wondering where the hell you went."
"Sorry I came in with Ash since I was lost." May said gesturing to the boy next to her.
"H-Hey there." Ash said extending his hand for Leaf to shake it.
"Hi. I'm Leaf Maple, May's cousin and best friend."
"Ash Ketchum."
"So he's the one hanging with us after school then?" Leaf asked making May nod happily.
"Yup this is him!"
"Alright then, I want some alone time with her so can I just take her from you for a minute?" Leaf asked making Ash shrug and she took that as a yes and the two went up to the stands to sit and have some girl time.
"OH MY GOSH ISN'T HE JUST ADORABLE?!" May asked looking at Ash who was deep in conversation with Red and Gary.
"I guess but oh lord that friend of his was just STARING AT ME in Algebra today, it was so creepy." Leaf said gesturing to Red.
"Oh his brother? That's Red Ketchum."
"I don't care if he's Red, Blue, or hell even the colors of the rainbow. It bothered me." Leaf said making May sigh and keep focusing on Ash. "Don't tell me you like that dork."
"Dork or not he's the cutest boy I've ever seen."
"Oh grow up May." Leaf scoffed as May looked at her offended.
"Leaf please, you know I love you lots but DAMN why are you so cold?" May asked making Leaf roll her eyes. "You know what, I'm inviting Red to come with us too whether you like it or not."
"May don't you dare-" Leaf was too late as her cousin ran down the steps and back over to the three boys.