To say he was uncomfortable was an understatement. Chloe and Goh had school today, which meant Ash was alone at the lab with Professor Birch. "So Ashley, Cerise tells me you're from Alola. What's it like being in a big city now?" Good. Ash thought. Professor Birch bought the story, and if he were to call Kukui or Burnett they were ready to give answers as well. "It's definitely a big change. Not too many cities like this one." Ash said remembering his time in Alola. "So what made you decide to come here, are your parents ever worried about you?" Professor Birch asked with concern in his voice. "I, I don't remember my parents. I was raised by my Uncle and recently he married so my new aunt also helped out a bit." Ash lied, it was necessary but he didn't like it. If people were to compare him and Kukui it was highly likely they'd figure out they weren't father and son or rather father and daughter. "Alola recently held its first Pokémon league and it just made me realize there's so much to see out here, that I asked to go and explore the world. "I'm sorry to hear that." Professor Birch replied struggling with how to try to comfort this girl.
"So do you have any special Pokémon from Alola I could maybe see?" He said, trying to change the subject. "Just one. I'll go get him." Ash said heading to the park. Ash was glad he had thought this through. After a bit of searching he found the Pokémon fast asleep. "Well he's not much, but here he is." Ash said, returning with Rowlet in his arms. Melmetal and Lycanroc were too unique, and apparently Lei had become attached to the Incineroar recently, so Rowlet was his only choice. " A sleepy little fella isn't he?" Professor Birch asked with a chuckle. "When he wakes up he's quite fierce." Ash said with a giggle. After that the conversation flowed much easier with Ash practically forgetting he was hiding a huge secret.
The two barely noticed time pass until they heard an "I'm home." from the front door. Moments later Chloe turned the corner to see the two sitting there. "Ashley good, you're here. Come with me." Chloe said, grabbing Ash's hand. "Pay up time." Chloe said plainly. "What do you mean?" Ash asked until he remembered their conversation from the other day. "What do I have to do?" Ash asked, regretting his choice of words. "Pretend to be a girl." Chloe said quickly. "Okay. I'm on it!" Ash said. "No that's not what I meant. My friend Mika, she saw us take off the other day and wants to have a sleepover, the three of us, tonight." Chloe said. "Okay, so what's the issue?" Ash asked obliviously. "The issue is you! What if she finds out you're a guy?" Chloe said a little louder than she wanted to. "Why does it matter all of a sudden? It never did before?" Ash asked honestly. "Before we weren't trapped behind the idea of you being a girl. Now we are! She heard me call you Ashley. There's no undoing that!" Chloe argued. "So what my life is now just a big lie? Or is it just a big game to you?" Ash yelled angrily. "A game? You think this is a game? My dad's research continuing is reliant on this little lie you made up. My house, my entire life could very well be uprooted if your little lie gets found out! So no it's not a game anymore! Now it's a lifestyle! You chose it, now you have to deal with it!" Chloe said, starting to tear up.
Ash walked off in a huff. He needed to cool off for a bit. Chloe was right, it's his fault he's in this mess. She may be a bit pushy, but she has been accepting of his choices, and he did owe her, big time, but was he ready for this, the more a lie is told the harder it gets to get out of. If Ashley goes to a sleepover then Ashley is him both in and out of the lab. At least in Vermillion City. He could come clean, how much would it honestly hurt the funding. He never had these kinds of choices before, but now suddenly he has harder choices than he's had in any battle. If he chooses to win, people he cares about suffers. If he chooses to suffer, people he cares about win.
"Hey Chloe, what should I bring?" Ash said from the doorway to their room. Chloe couldn't help but smile. A few hours later the two were off to Mika's house. To say Ash was in shock, was an understatement. Mika's room was huge, and their two Pikachus seemed to be getting along. "So Ashley? Blue or Pink?" Mika said. "Wha..what?" Ash asked confused. "Sorry didn't mean to snap you out of your concentration, just wanted to know do you prefer blue or pink?" Mika said, holding up two bottles. Chloe meanwhile was having a hard time not cracking up, Mika was definitely a girly girl, and she was already trying to paint 'Ashley's' nails.
A bit later, Ash looked down at his toes. Why did he say pink! "Do it for the lab. Do it for the lab". He kept saying to himself. The next morning Ash was in horror of himself. Nails, makeup, jewelry, hair, outfits he seemed to have changed just about everything in the span of a few hours. As they were leaving Chloe burst out laughing. "What's so funny?" Ash demanded. "It's, it's you. Snirk. You didn't have to say yes to everything. Haha. You could have stopped her at a certain point." Chloe said amidst laughter. "You could have told me that!" Ash said angrily. "It was more fun this way!" Chloe said running ahead as to not get caught.