Simple

It was simple really that he loved his best friend.

Their friendship had been a discombobulated mix of petty fights, preteen rage, and blossoming loyalty, which later simplified into what they had now. It made sense one of the first girls he met would be his future lover. After their first fight, he had a suspicion he would never win an argument with her or get rid of her. Even when she wasn't physically there a mental image of her lagged behind.

Misty kept it simple as well, never failing to call him out or praise him for his actions.

With everything so simple why should he be the one to complicate things? Ash liked simple, and he loved her so he would tell her.

"Misty, I love you."

Of course, maybe it would have been simpler to ease into that one. The broken glass surrounding the floor from Misty's dropped squirtle tea cup signaled that she was beyond surprised and a little pink.