Pikachu already knew Ash's real intention, for Ash had told Pikachu his true motives for the coming day during their time out at sea.
Just like before, Ash would have to attend to regular business: going to the Pokémon Center, visiting his mom, and meeting with Professor Oak.
This time, however, certain factors that he had accounted for would change his usual routine.
First, none of his Pokémon had battled since the last visit to the Pokémon Center a day prior to his departure on the boat: visiting Pallet Town's Pokémon Center would really serve no purpose.
Next, as extraneous as it seemed to Ash when he first heard the news, his mother was out on vacation with her Mr. Mime and would not arrive back at Pallet Town until the day after Ash's arrival.
Ash concluded that he could then just go straight to Professor Oak's laboratory. Usually, he would spend the night at his mother's first, and visit the professor that evening or the following day. Ash contemplated that a day like today should not go to waste.
No one had any idea that Ash would be returning, so everyone would be in for a surprise once his presence was known.
These kinds of visits that Ash made every few months usually didn't make him exceedingly nervous, but this time Ash was going to do something that he had never done before. The buildup of 6 months worth of anticipation was making Ash's heart race. His breathing deepened, Pikachu knew from what. What Ash planned to do this visit would either make or break one of his most cherished relationships.
The legendary duo lead themselves up the path leading to Professor Oak's lab. As Ash and Pikachu approached the laboratory's entrance, there was something on the door that caught Ash's eye: a note on the door.
"Out at lunch, be right back!"
-Professor S. Oak
After reading this note, Ash felt somewhat disappointed seeing that he would have to wait until the professor returned.
"Pika pika?" questioned Pikachu.
"He'll be back, soon I hope," answered Ash with a hint of sadness in his voice. Ash could wait for the professor, but would do so with his head hanging low. He really couldn't wait to see the Professor. Just as Ash had finished speaking, the door opened.
There was as slight pause between the door's opening and before the individual in front of Ash realized who was visiting. The figure asked, "Is that my Ash Ketchum?"
Ash's head shot up to the sound of the strikingly familiar voice and froze. Pikachu too had looked up to see who had replied. Ash and in an instant, all of Ash's troubles and pains ceased. It was the Professor!
"P… Professor!" exclaimed Ash as he stood before the doorway separating him and Professor Oak. "I thought you were out for lunch," commented the trainer in a slight tone of shock.
Oak chuckled and said with a smirk, "Now Ash, is that how you greet your favorite professor, and after all this time?"
With that asked, Ash leapt forward, wrapping his arms around his "favorite professor" closing the distance between them. "It's nice to see you to, Ash," said the Professor hugging back. "He grew…" he thought while enjoying their embrace, rubbing Ash's back to comfort his shock.
"Six months away from you can really take the words out of my mouth, Professor," Ash answered after he stepped back a bit, hands still on the Professor's sides.
"Pika!" said Pikachu.
"See? Even Pikachu misses you," added Ash as his yellow companion hopped its way to Ash shoulder.
Oak tickled Pikachu's belly with his finger. "I missed you too, Pikachu", said Oak as he leaned towards Pikachu with a smile.
"I was just about to leave for lunch. I thought putting the sign out first might save me the trouble of forgetting later," Oak told them. "How would you and Pikachu like to go out to lunch with me?"
"We'd love to, Professor!" answered an ecstatic Ash, looking at his soon-to-be-lunch mate.
"Pika pika!" exclaimed Pikachu as he jumped his way to Ash's head. And with that, they made their way down the path leading onto the main road.
As they walked, Ash observed the man beside him and saw slight changes here and there. Ash truly could not keep his eyes of the professor. Professor Oak's eyebrows were thinner, which Ash thought highlighted the dark-brown beauties below them. Professor Oak's outfit was dashingly livelier as well, substituting the white lab coat for a dark-purple with a light-purple collared shirt. His pants and shoes were the usual tan and brown, respectively, but Ash really thought the new "purple look" really made his tan skin stand out.
Both the professor and Pikachu noticed Ash's traveling eyes. This put a smile on Pikachu's face, as did on Professor Oak's. Professor Oak wrapped his arm around Ash's lower back, leaned in and asked, "See something you like?" with a cheeky smirk on his face.
Ash face was slightly reddened by the question while Pikachu giggled at it. "Pikachu seems to think you do," he added, further teasing his companion.
Ash looked away from his professor. "Maybe I do, maybe I don't. What's it to you, Professor?" Ash embarrassingly replied, trying not to make eye contact with Oak.
"So he's playing hard to get, is he?" thought Professor Oak as the three of them continued down the path. "Well Ash, it just so happens that I see something I like as well," replied the Professor, as he tried to look at Ash's expression. "That should get his attention,"
"You do?" asked Ash as he quickly turned his head back at Professor Oak. Ash was eager to know what, or who, it was.
As Ash turned his head, the professor reached up above Ash's head. "Pikachu!" said Professor Oak, patting Pikachu's head.
"Pi- Pikachu!" said Pikachu, enjoying getting attention from Professor Oak.
Ash pouted in disappointment, crossing his arms, and slightly speeding up his pace.
"Oh Ash, that's what you get for playing hard-to-get!" Oak announced as he caught up with Ash.
They made it to Pallet Town's restaurant and found themselves a table. A waiter presented them with menu before being dismissed.
"So Ash, I recall your mother not being in town until tomorrow. Where do you plan on sleeping?" the Professor asked, already knowing the answer to the question. It became very apparent that Professor Oak would constantly be teasing Ash this visit, but he really could not help himself.
"Well, I was going to ask you if I can stay overnight at your place," he replied questioningly.
"Hmm, let me think about that… Were you planning on sleeping on the porch or on the roof?" Oak jokingly ask him.
"Professor Oak! You're a jerk," Ash said with a bit of contempt in his voice.
"Oh Ash, of course you can stay with me! What kind of host would I be if I let you sleep with the Sparrows?" He replied to the trainer. "Lucky for us, we have the lab all to ourselves,"
"All to ourselves…" thought Ash. "Thank you Professor," He said.
"Not a problem Ash. You're always welcome to stay with me," stated the professor.
