The kiss had only lasted a few seconds, but a tingling feeling lingered longer on her lips. Serena realized that she was smiling, a genuine smile and not one of her performance smiles, as she tried to process what had just happened.
Ash had caught her by surprise, and she wasn't expecting that kind of reaction. But the kiss wasn't unwelcome either. She had surprised him with a kiss before leaving Kalos for the Hoenn region, and while the distances involved had made their friendship awkward for a while, she had hoped for a chance to kiss him again someday.
It took a few more seconds to realize that the room had become awkwardly silent, and her cheeks became extremely warm as she realized that there had been a large audience. Ash must have realized it too because his face had turned beet red.
She smiled again as she took his hand and, still holding it, turned to face everyone in the room. She did a quick scan, and she could see a range of reactions. Bonnie and Pikachu had giant smiles. Dawn was smiling and nodding. May had placed her hand over her brother's eyes, and almost everyone else looked shocked or confused.
"I…uh," Ash said, scratching his nose nervously. "This is my…uh…friend, Serena."
"Yeah, friend," Bonnie snarked, eliciting laughter from almost everyone.
The laughter broke the tension and awkwardness in the room.
"I just want to be alone right now," Misty said as Brock stepped out of the locker room and into the tunnel leading out to the field.
"You picked a really bad spot," he replied. He leaned against the wall next to her, and she turned away from him to hide the tear rolling down her cheek.
"I want to be happy for Ash," she said. "I really do. This is supposed to be his moment. But seeing that hurt." Using her forearm, she wiped a few more tears away.
"I know what you're thinking, Brock," she said. "We both noticed how he had changed after his time in Kalos. The way he talked about her was different. But I didn't think…"
Tears continued to well up in her eyes, and they began to flow like a river towards the ground. "Maybe I didn't want to see it."
"I just couldn't stay in there," she continued. "It was too much for me. I know he didn't do that on purpose, but that doesn't change how I feel right now."
"Let's go for a walk," Brock replied after a few moments of silence. "I think you could use a change of scenery."
The locker room had cleared out quickly, and most of Ash's friends had left to do their own things before the awards ceremony. Serena had stayed, and she waited next to him as Professor Burnet, Professor Kukui, and Delia said their congratulations and goodbyes.
Professor Burnet turned towards Serena as they walked out. "I'll be waiting out in the tunnel," she said. "I can take you back up to Lusamine's suite when you two are done."
The door closed behind her. Serena reached out and took hold of his left hand as she turned to face him, and her heart began to race.
"I'm sorry," Ash said, nervously scratching his nose, as soon as the door closed. His face turned a light shade of red as he continued. "I didn't think you were coming, and when I saw you, I kinda got carried away."
"Ash, you don't have to apologize," she said with a smile. "You caught me off guard, but… " She stopped to think about what she wanted to say. I wanted that too, she thought.
A giant Vivillion flapped its wings in her stomach as she gazed into his eyes. She leaned in closer to him, closed her eyes, and quickly, and gently, kiss him on his lips.
"Next time," she continued, smiling, after ending the kiss, "not in front of your mom."
Ash turned a deep shade of red. "Next? Time?" he stammered.
Serena chuckled. "Your battle with Gladion was amazing," she said, changing the subject. "Pikachu and your other Pokémon were amazing too. I'm so happy for all of you, and I'm glad that I could be here."
A short knock on the locker room door interrupted the conversation, and a production assistant stuck her head in. "The award ceremony starts in a few minutes, Mr. Ketchum," she said. "I need you to come to the staging area."
The room turned awkwardly silent, and Serena nervously wrung her hands. "I should let you get to your awards ceremony," she finally said as she turned towards the door. "And I should get back to the group."
"OK," Ash said. She could detect a hint of sadness in his voice.
I don't want this moment to end either, she thought. But you have someplace very important to be. She opened the door and started to walk out into the tunnel when Ash stopped her.
"Hey Serena," he said. "Do you have to go back to Hoenn right away?"
"I don't," she replied.
"Awesome!" he said, smiling.
"And now," the public address announcer started, "to present the trophies, please welcome The Masked Royal and Incineroar!"
The crowd had erupted into a deafening roar as Alola's most popular professional wrestler, and his partner Pokémon, stepped onto the stage.
It's a good thing Torracat isn't here, Ash thought. Otherwise, we'd have tomorrow's exhibition match tonight.
His mind drifted as they gathered the trophies and made their presentation to Gladion. He started scanning the crowd, and he was able to quickly find Serena standing at the front of the balcony on Lusamine's private suite. He looked up at her and smiled, and he could see her smile as she waved to him.
"Congratulations, Ash," the Masked Royal said a few seconds later, dragging Ash's attention back to the trophy presentation. He extended his hand for a congratulatory handshake. "I really enjoyed today's match, and I look forward to our exhibition match tomorrow."
"Thank you," Ash replied as he accepted the handshake. "I'm looking forward to our match, too."
Incineroar stepped forward and presented the trophy. Taking the trophy with both hands, Ash hoisted it over his head.
"I was reading through your history," the Masked Royal continued. "And you have an impressive record. I hope you have some of your strongest Pokémon from your travels with you. I would like to our battle to be against your strongest team."
Ash smiled. "And I want to battle your strongest team too."
"I wouldn't expect anything else," the Masked Royal replied. He turned and walked towards the edge of the stage with Incineroar in tow, waiving to the crowd as he began his exit.
As the Masked Royal stepped off the stage, something strange caught the corner of Ash's eye. He turned to look, and he noticed that the air near the edge of the stage had started to ripple and warp.
Panic spread across his face. Not now! he thought as the ripple turned into a giant white crack in the fabric of reality.
A flash of white light temporarily brightened the dark locker room as Greninja jumped out of his Poké Ball. He looked around for a second to get his bearings, and then he grabbed the Poké Ball that was sitting next to his.
He sped across the locker room, flinging the door open with so much force that it was almost pulled from its hinges, and stepped into the tunnel that led out to the battlefield.