bienvenue!
"You are my everything," Ash says, eyes big with his sincerity. "You've been by my side since day one, and I love you for it. Really. I do. You know I do. It never feels right, not having you with me, and I always miss you so much."
There's a long pause. Ash takes a breath. The hard part here isn't summoning the guts to profess his heart; the hard part is making sure he's getting it all out. His heart has no bottom, no line in the sand, when it comes to first and truest companion.
"You are my hero."
Misty's smile is beautiful when she laughs, encouraging and pleased.
"That's wonderful, Ash," she says. He nods, jamming his hands into his pockets.
"You think?"
"He'll love it," Misty promises. Good. That's good. It's the sixth anniversary of the day he first met Pikachu, along with one of his best friends in the entire world. It also happens to be their first day back in Kanto after a great spin around Unova, and Ash intends to give the speech right before they head from Cerulean City with Misty towards Pallet.
He's so psyched. He hopes Pikachu is, too.
"Alright," Ash says, clenching one hand into a fist. "I'm ready."
"Take this with you," Misty says. He tilts his head.
"Huh-?"
She taps her lips against his cheek lightly. He stares at her, silent, and thinks that even two years ago, the first thing out of his mouth would have been some form of Whaaat just happened?
"I hope you don't want me to give this to him," he says instead, still taken aback but with his wits about him yet.
"Nah," Misty says, grinning at him. "That's for luck."
"C'mon, Mist. I don't need luck."
She rolls her eyes at him.
"Confidence, then. Oh, never mind; you have plenty of that. How about some tact?"
"That would be much appreciated."
"Great! Now, shoo."