Ash sat in front of principal Rowan, with Pikachu perching on his shoulder as always. The young trainer's felt his nervousness creeping on to him as the headmaster of the school stared at him with a stoic and dare he say emotionless eyes. The tense atmosphere of the mood certainly didn't help either as no words left his mouth since Ash entered the room.

"Uh may I ask why am I called here sir?" The principal stared at Ash with his fingers interlocked together before breaking into a small relaxed smile. He leaned behind his armchair and crossed his arms, seemingly waiting for someone to come in.

"Someone important wants to meet you." As if on queue, his office door opened and a familiar woman walked into the room. Ash was coloured surprised when the beautiful woman sat down next to him, giving him a small wave in the process. Rowan grinned at Ash's shocked nature and coughed to assume a more serious expression that was more fitting for a headmaster.

"Thank you for joining us Miss Lorelei." The Ice Queen of Kanto nodded and crossed her legs, wondering what was going through Ash's mind at the moment given he wasn't informed at what's about to happen. The young Pallet teen tightened his fists on his lap, feeling the pressure of two important people sitting near him. The Elite 4 member noted Ash's tensed body and patted his shoulders, surprising from the sudden physical contact from her.

"Relax, we're not here to grill you. Mr Rowan arranged this meeting because he wanted to know what happened in Snowpoint."

"That's right, I know this is hard for you Ash, but we would like to know what happened after you got swept by the avalanche." Ash gazed upon the two adult's eyes who showed empathy and compassion, before releasing a pent up sigh. He nodded and started to recall his experience surviving the fall, discovering Galactic's base of operation and of course the liberation of Articuno. It was heartbreaking for Lorelei to hear that a young boy like Ash had to go through such ordeals, no doubt it would have an everlasting impact onto him. As Ash began to recount the tale of ordeals, he also mentioned the cooperation between Team Rocket and Team Galactic, which confirmed Lance's suspicion that the two organisations are indeed working with each other.

"They plan to use Xemus conduit to absorb the powers of legendaries to boost their own pokemon's powers." Rowan stroke his white mustache, was such technology even possible? To absorb the essence of a pokemon was something taboo, strictly forbidden by the Pokemon Right's Association. It wasn't as if no one attempted that process before, but he was exiled by the league before his experiments were completed. Unless his blueprints reached the far nefarious depths of humanity.

"I see, thank you Ash. The people of Kanto and Sinnoh owes you a great debt." Lorelei stood up and gave him a bow which panicked the young teen. He stood up in return and waved his hands in the air, not liking the fact a member of an Elite 4 is showing him so much humility.

"Its fine! I didn't do much, it was Articuno who did everything." The scarlet haired woman smiled at Ash's sheepish and humble tone, she glanced at the principal next to her who smiled at her, proud that the academy managed to produce a quality student like Ash.

"Regardless, the League Association would like to express their gratitude." Lorelei took her transceiver and handed it to Ash, gesturing him to take it. The young teen took it reluctantly, with his two pokemon peering over his shoulders. His eyes dilated in shock when he saw 7 figures displayed on the dex before staring at Lorelei who grinned at his reaction.

"T-This, is this money?" Seeing the nod from the woman, Ash felt like he was the richest man in the world. Never in his life have he seen such digits before, at least not within his possession anyway. He can't wait to break the news to his mother and send the money to her, after all she was still paying his bills.

"A little something from us." A little? Man the League Association is loaded aren't they?

"In addition, the Lycanroc that you captured now officially belongs to you. Normally students without licences aren't allowed to own pokemon but we are willing to allow some leeway for you. Besides, he seemed to be very fond of you, so it will be cruel for us to separate both of you." Ash's wide grin was up for display as he hugged his Lycanroc's mane, glad that he was able to keep him wolf pokemon with him. Lorelei chuckled at the precious moment and place her hand on her waist.

"But you aren't allowed to use him for battles during school grounds. Only your Pikachu remains to be your school partner." That make sense, his Lycanroc is fully evolved as well so it would present an unfair advantage to his classmates. He was perfectly fine with just using Pikachu, the electric mouse is plenty of powerful on his own.

"Noted, thank you." Pikachu sat on top of Lycanroc, watching the whole conversation between the humans with great interest. With the explanation done, Lorelei transferred the money to Ash's bank account and once he received the transaction, Ash felt like he was a king. Amidst Ash's excitement over the money, Lorelei glanced at the principal who noted the meaning behind her eyes.

"I'm going out to survey the classrooms." With that hasty and out of place sentence, the principal left the room leaving the two of humans inside the office. Ash turned to Lorelei who sat down on the office sofa, patting the empty seat next to her. The young teen reluctantly sat down next to her, wondering what's going on.

"Ash, I would like to talk you regarding Articuno." Ash nodded to Lorelei's soft and warm tone. He heard that Lorelei and Articuno have a special bond between them, the very bond that led her to become an ice type specialist. So he wasn't too surprised by her desire to talk about Articuno.

"She gave you her plume, do you know what it means?" He remembered holding the plume and getting the brief explanation from Misty of what the plume meant. He couldn't believed his ears when Misty told him the symbolism behind the plume but he felt honored knowing he earned the respect of a power legendry pokemon.

"It means that I earned her respect right?" Lorelei nodded as she pulled out the plume of her own, placing it on the palm of her hands for Ash to see.

"Respect and power. Should you ever need her aid, she would come to you." The power of a legendary pokemon within his grasp, Ash could see where this conversation was going.

"I see." The ice type elite 4 continued slowly, her voice edging on the side of caution.

"I'm telling you this because I want you to know, that you are one of the very few people in this world who earned her trust." Ash nodded, giving a firm and steadfast look to Lorelei that cements his promise to her.

"I understand, I promise I won't abuse and take advantage of her trust for my own benefit." Lorelei was surprised this was the first thing Ash thought about but she was relieved that he brought up the topic on his own. She was worried if Ash would abuse Articuno's trust to his own personal gain, but now she can rest assured knowing that Ash was not a power hungry addict.

"I wasn't about to touch upon that, but thank you for saying it. I was admittedly worried if you felt entitled to her powers." She spoke softly as she thought back to the times she almost captured Articuno for her own sake. It was a selfish and dark part of her life she wished she can forget. While Articuno was willing to become part of her team, it also meant that she was taking her away from her duties as the legendary trio, subsequently creating seasonal imbalance and erratic weathers in Kanto. All just for what? To win the league and satisfy her own ego?

"You are a very special trainer Ash, Kanto is truly fortunate to have you." He felt his face flushed from the compliment from the beautiful lady, though he won't necessary agree with her sentence given that he basically did nothing but randomly pressing a few buttons on an overcomplicated machine.

"I mean I won't say that, but thank you. To hear such praise from a member of an Elite 4 is really something." Lorelei giggled as Ash's sheepish expression, seeing the childish innocence seeping through. It reminded her that Ash was still a child, and the fact he had to go through such horrifying ordeal. His near to death experience had no doubt left a permanent mark in his life. She frowned momentarily and placed her hand on his arm, surprising him by the sudden display of affection.

"Ash, are you feeling okay? I mean, mentally." Ash nodded firmly, he was fine mentally. The absents of nightmares gave him a peaceful sleep the past few nights, particularly when Misty and Dawn slipped into his covers just to sleep with him. Waking up to the marvelous sight of Dawn and Misty hugging him certainly wiped away all forms of negativity.

"I'm fine, really. I'm surrounded by wonderful friends and an overdoting mother, what more could I want?" Lorelei raised her eyebrows, she crossed her arms with her mind wandering off to the so called "friends" who hugged Ash tenderly.

"Friends, you mean the pretty girls who hugged you?" Uh yeah, let's go with that.

"Lucky boy." Lorelei spoke in a low teasing manner, causing Ash to flushed from embarrassment. Indeed, he was a lucky boy who have 5 amazing girls surrounding him. He reluctantly nodded at her, rubbing his left arm as his starter snickered at his trainer's misfortune.

"Y-Yeah." Whew, if only she knew half of it. Lorelei beamed when the young student seemed bashful, she glanced at the clock hung on the wall and scowled internally when it was time for her leave. Casual conversations like these are rare to come by these days.

"Well I suppose that wraps up our conversation." She stood up and brushed her pencil skirt, her mind wandering off to the dreaded report she has to write to her superior. The two exited the office with Ash waving good bye to Lorelei as they parted ways. He took his phone out and smiled at the messages he received, it seemed that the girls were waiting for him at the cafe. He hastened his footsteps to the school ranch, returning his beloved electric starter to his home.

"Bye Pikachu, see you tomorrow." Lycanroc licked the electric mouse's cheeks and waved good bye to him, ensuring that he enters his enclosure safely. As Ash and his lupine friend walked side by side, they became the center of attention as the news of his exploits had reached around the school. Classmates and schoolmates that he walked pass stared at him in respect and envy, surprised that he even managed to come out alive from the harrowing fall and conquered the mountains with the aid of a legendary.

'So much for keeping a low profile.' He's initial hope of keeping his head down and survive school seemed to be gone now, he seemed to be a popular kid in school. He stared at his dusk form Lycanroc walking next to him, perhaps he shouldn't bring him out like that so publicly. He's practically flexing at this point. With the duo reaching the cafe, Ash recalled his Lycanroc and entered the familiar hangout spot, a bright smile plastered on his face when he saw his girlfriends waiting for him.

"Hey girls." The trainer from Pallet sat on the empty seat reserved for him, surprised that the usual ice lemon tea drink he always ordered was right in front of him.

"Hey Ash, how was the meeting with principal Rowan?" Korrina cut a small slice of her chocolate cake with her fork while eyeing the raven haired teen. She was curious and slightly worried when Ash informed them that the principal wants to meet him in person. Despite the life changing event on Snowpoint, the rest of the trip did went smoothly. No blizzards or harsh snowstorms, the school trip managed to steer clear from disaster.

Admittedly, one of Korrina's favourite moments was the night before their departure back to Jubilife. After finishing their grand feast of a buffet, the 6 of them huddled together on their balcony wrapped around in their blankets as they gazed upon the beautiful aurora borealis dancing in the night sky. The beautiful snowy mountains and the quiet atmosphere made the experience all the more profound and amazing, especially when Ash gave each of them a loving kiss on their cheeks to warm them up.

"It went well, but uh can you all come over the apartment during the evening?" Ash's request raised eyebrows. Dawn was curious as to why Ash asked for all of them to come over, maybe it was because all of them are in a relationship now?

'Ash is not thinking of a sixsome right?' The blunette didn't think Ash would want that, he had made it clear to them that sex would be hold off until they were older. It was pretty surreal seeing Ash being the one who had to lay down the rules and being the decisive factor of how far their relationship can go, but she understood that he wanted to take their relationship slow and she was perfectly fine with that.

Ash always have their best interest at heart.

"Sure, but why?" Ash scratched the back of his head, he didn't want to tell them now since he wasn't sure if he had the seal of approval from his dear mother.

"There's something important I want to discuss with all of you." It was quite concerning given Ash wasn't being transparent with them and was just leaving them in suspense.

"We're free now." Ash shook his head as he patted Misty's hands.

"I need to confirm something with my mom first." The Waterflower nodded, wondering if it had something to do with their relationship. The girls knew that Delia approved of the harem route they were going, but perhaps she was cautiously optimistic of their relationship. It's natural given Ash's mother was very protective of him, so maybe she feared for his wellbeing more so than the girls themselves. Sharing 5 girls and having to treat each of them with a love and care is not doubt a taxing experience, especially for someone who has never dated.

"Alright then." Ash smiled at Misty's understanding tone and took a bite out of her chocolate brownie coated in vanilla ice cream, earning a chuckle from her friends and a annoyed expression from her face.


"So is it okay for me to go ahead with it mom?" Delia held back a chuckle seeing the innocent tone coming from her son, he sounded like he was asking permission to use the PC back when she used to regulate his screen time. Now, she couldn't careless if Ash is spending his entire day on the computer.

"Of course, it's your money after all." Ash leaned his head onto his pillow, turning to the side as he held the phone closer to his ear.

"Aww don't say it like that, I don't feel comfortable hoarding so much money at my bank account." When it comes to his living expenses, his mother pretty much covers all of it. So it was only fair that he gives her the ridiculous large sum of money to pay her back the hard work and effort raising him.

"You can transfer the remaining amount to me if you want." Delia was a firm believer that her son rightfully earned the reward the league gave him. After all, he practically prevented a huge catastrophe for both Kanto and Sinnoh, and he was just a young student who doesn't have a trainer license yet.

"Sure, you can use it to pay for my school fees." School fees, mortgage and daily expenses, the basics and fundamentals should be covered before they spend the money on more luxurious and lavish needs. That being said, the main reason why he gave most of the money to his mom was because he knew he would spent most of the money on gacha and "Free to Play" games.

"Look at you, all grown up! Do the girls know about your little plan or are you keeping it a surprise?" Ash sat upright as he eyed his Lycanroc grooming his orange fur in the corner of his bedroom. The rock type seemed to be very proud and very keen on maintaining his luscious fur.

"I plan to tell them today, I hope they are onboard with the idea." Delia was certain the girls would be ecstatic with what her son is proposing.

"I'm sure they are. How's is it? The relationship? They didn't force you to do things you don't like right?" She spoke in a cautious and warm tone, knowing that it might be hard for her son to handle such relationship at his young age. The girls seemed assertive and showed more initiative compared to Ash, so she was worried if they tried to coerce Ash to do things he weren't comfortable with.

"No mom, they have been complete angels. Honestly, I thought you should be more worried about them." It was almost ridiculous for her mom to be so worried over him. He was living the dream here, having 5 beautiful girlfriends who spoil him with hugs and kisses.

"Well I know you will treat them well, so I'm not worried about them. You on the other hand, well." The deadpanned look on Ash's face was evident, not liking the way his mother ended her sentence in a tone of mockery and amusement.

"Alright, alright." Seriously why does his mother think he is a pushover? He can be an alpha male whenever he wants, its just that being around the girls doesn't require him to do that.

"Just teasing dear, I'm happy that things are going well between all of you." The genuine tone from his mother made Ash smiled, of all the people who should have rejected his relationship with the girls, his mother should be the first one to vehemently scold and ridicule him for even attempting the idea. Yet she has been very supportive of him and encouraged him to try. He never asked why, mainly because he didn't want to open the can of worms.

"To be honest, I don't know how am I going to face their parents." Facing their parents? Was her son thinking of meeting the girls' parent so soon? They only started their relationship a few days ago, this was too soon!

"So soon?" Ash shook his head at his mother concerned tone, when he realized he gave the wrong message to his mother.

"N-No I mean if they inevitably find out. I am quite close to Korrina's grandfather Gurkinn, and I'm scared that he won't approve of the relationship if he ever finds out." Ah so this was what Ash was worried about. In all honesty, this was one of the largest hurdles of their relationship, to persuade their parents that this harem thing between all of them would work out fine. But her son shouldn't be thinking of this right now, this could wait for another few years.

"Ash you shouldn't be thinking of this, have fun and relax. The girls won't want you to worry for their sake you know?" Hearing that his mother was close to finish the conversation, Ash managed to give a firm "okay" to her.

"Good, now off you go." After the parting words with his mother, Ash placed his phone in his pocket and exited his room, with his faithful doggo following him suit. He peered at the kitchen area and smiled when he saw Misty preparing some drinks. He slowly approached his unsuspecting roommate who was humming to herself and wrapped his arms around her, hugging her from behind as she gave a surprised gasped.

"A-Ash." He grinned at her reaction and place his chin above her shoulders, leaning onto the side of the head. He felt the soft and supple body of Misty in his arms and felt no resistance from the redhead as she melted in his embrace, seemingly not minding the sneak attack that was spontaneous and out of character from him.

It occurred to Ash that he grew addicted to showing physical affection to the girls while back then, it was the other way round. Morning hugs and cheeky kisses were a daily routine for them now and Ash was surprised how receptive the girls were to his advances, but given that they literally waited for weeks until he made a decision to start the harem relationship, they must be starving of affection from him.

"Don't do that when I'm in middle of something." Misty didn't mind the unexpected hugs or even kisses from him, but she would appreciate it if Ash can save it when they were alone or she wasn't doing anything of importance. Pissing Dawn off by making out with Ash in front of her did seemed like a fun idea though.

"Sorry can't resist." She rolled her eyes at the lame excuse he gave, but it was nice to know that he desired her. She wasn't feeling insecure or void of affection, it was just nice to know that Ash loves to spend time with her and grew comfortable enough to be more assertive.

"What time is it anyway?" Ash glanced at the clock in the kitchen, it was almost 5 which meant the girls should arrive soon.

"Uh almost 5." Misty nodded rubbed his arm soothingly, earning a nibble on her ears. She squirmed lightly, feeling her face becoming hotter by the second.

"The others would be here soon." She spoke huskily as she try to remind him that they could save this for later, earning a small chuckle from Ash as he released his tender hold around her slender waist.

"Need any help?" She gave him a dry smile, raising the empty glass jar in her hands to show the lack of progress caused by him.

"Well, you can start by letting me go so I can continue what I was doing." The girls have unanimously agreed to sleepover night at their place, partly because they want another sleepover that didn't involve emotional draining conversations like their previous sleepover, and they like being close to Ash. This apartment pretty much became their second hangout spot after the cafe, though that could change very soon.

"Alright. Dawn and Serena are responsible bringing the takeout food right?" A mixture of Kalos and Galar cuisine, Ash can imagine the grand feast the 6 of them would be having together.

"Mhmm, which reminds me, can you help clear the table?" Misty pointed towards the dining table that were filled with snacks and empty mugs They rarely used the dining table now since they always go out for dinner.

"Sure, its the least I can do." Ash cleared the table and wipe the surface with a wet cloth, giving a satisfied smile when he saw the shiny surface smiling back at him. He ensure each of the chair had a comfy cushion on and started to lift the table up to reposition it, allowing more room and space for the chairs. Amidst his handiwork, the door bell of the apartment rang causing Ash to turn to his faithful companion.

"Lycanroc can you help get that?" The wolf pokemon nodded and went to the door as he stood on all fours, opening the door with his forelegs. The sight of the cool looking rock type opening the door for them caused Bea to squeal in delight as she didn't hesitate to rubbed his fur.

"What a good boy." Lycanroc nuzzled the Galar native's hands before leading the way for his trainer's mate to enter the house, closing the door with one of his paws once they entered the house. Ash had decided trained his Lycanroc more seeing that it had grown more curious of the world around him. So something as complex as opening manmade doors which are hard for pokemon became something easy and basic for the rock type, especially since he has the upper strength to do so.

"Let me help you with that." Ash took the takeaway bags from Dawn and Serena and placed onto the table, pleased that they have enough room for everyone. He watched as Korrina and Bea plopped down on the couch, already treating the apartment as their second home.

"I'm done with the drinks." Misty placed the jug filled with cold mint lemonade on the table, it was a refreshing drink that would help Bea and Korrina to cool off their body from all the exercising. The Galar native quickly poured one glass for herself, ignoring the deadpanned look from Korrina who was waiting for her turn.

"Ash you said you want to talk about something?" Serena wrapped her arms around the Kanto native who nodded at her, he watched as everyone started to sit down on the table with Dawn carrying out the utensils and plates for everyone.

"We can talk about that after dinner." The girls were curious over what Ash was planning to discuss with them, but seeing that delicious food was on the table, that takes precedent over any important topics. With Serena and Dawn separating the food portions to everyone, Ash found himself smiling like an idiot. The sight of seeing all the girls casually talking with each other made him appreciate the peaceful harmony they always have with each other.

'I came close to dying a lot.' He won't take something a simple and mundane as this for granted. He had a lot of close calls, each growing more dangerous and certain than the last. He was very conscious of his life now, given that fate love screwing him, though it also gave him the opportunity to meet 5 amazing girls who all became his girlfriends, so he can't exactly complain now can he?

"So I was thinking that maybe we can go camping during the holidays." Ash snapped back to reality when Korrina suggested a camping trip, he glanced at her and wondered what compelled her to wish for a camping trip. He wasn't against it, but it seemed out of place.

"Where to?" Korrina smiled at him and took her phone out, showing Ash the beautiful photographed pictures of Lake Acuity. The clear waters and the beautiful mountain backdrop, it seemed like the perfect place for a camping trip between friends, especially with the starry night skies that fulfilled Ash's desire of stargazing with friends.

"There are rumours that you can spot the lake guardians residing within the waters itself." Korrina sounded like a giddy little girl, it was adorable honestly. Ash himself was quite interested on visiting the lake himself, it is a famous tourist attraction that draws both local and foreign tourists.

"Camping next to a famous lake huh, sounds like a beginning to a horror movie." Dawn added bluntly while eating her pasta, she may have watched too many horror movies that depict a bunch of teenagers camping in the woods, only to get hunted by someone or something. The thrill of horror and the rush of adrenaline, Dawn was naturally drawn to creepy horror stories and murder mysteries. Particularly at late nights where she has an excuse to snuggle with Ash and Misty as they reluctantly agree to watch with her.

As the rest of the dinner continued, Ash found himself staying mostly quiet throughout the meal. His mind was mostly preoccupied with the discussion he will have with the girls later, wondering how the hell he should approach the conversation. It may seemed forced and too early for their relationship, but Ash thinks its for the best for everyone. Dinner soon ended and with girls heading off to the showers, Ash tidied up the table and began cleaning duty.

"You're awfully quiet." He almost jumped when Serena whispered to his ears with no warning whatsoever, was this what Misty felt earlier? He calmed his heartbeat and rinse the remaining dishes before wiping his hands on the towels, giving his attention to Serena who seemed concerned over his silence during dinner.

"I was thinking of something." She leaned onto him and placed her head onto his shoulders, relishing the fact that they were alone for the moment. He seemed to note her advances and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her forehead to reassure her that it wasn't something serious.

"You smile nice." He whispered onto her as he inhaled the fragrant scent of her hair. He almost paused in real life when he realized how creepy he sounded, but Serena didn't seemed to mind as she took his words as a form of compliment.

'I mean we are together.' Praising and complimenting your significant other should be normal right? He was still trying to adjust to his newfound relationship with the girls, but one key rule he always kept in his mind was that he didn't need to hold back his compliments to them now.

"Don't try to change the topic." Serena playfully booped his nose, causing him to catch her fingers into a soft caress.

"You will see later, I want to wait for everyone." The honey blonde nodded, leaning onto him for warmth as she savoured the soft embrace from her boyfriend. She seemed to be very affectionate and touchy with him, but Ash didn't mind that as long she wasn't doing it in public. He would be lying if he said he didn't want the girls to be openly affectionate with him, after all they were doing it before.

Once the girls were done showering, they gathered around the couch as a nervous looking Ash rubbed his arms with everyone else patiently waiting for him.

"So uh, I want to talk about this." Ash slowly pushed his phone across the table, allowing the girls to see what's up for display. They widened their eyes when they saw the huge sum of money transferred to his bank account, and slowly turned to at him in an incredulous manner. Their first thought was Ash winning a lottery, but that thought that didn't seemed likely given they were underage. Seeing their bewildered expressions, Ash took his phone back, knowing full well he has to explain to them.

"Lorelei came to talk to me today, the money I received came from the League association who wanted to reward my efforts for saving Articuno and storming the Galactic's base." They nodded in realization, not really surprised by the bountiful reward he received. It seemed like the league to reward trainers for their heroic efforts to help maintain peace, especially with what Ash pulled.

"I see, that's a lot of money." Dawn pointed to the obvious, though she personally wondered why Ash was telling them this.

"What are you going to use it for?" Serena asked the burning question in everyone's hearts as she sipped on her drink. She wondered if Ash was going to spend in on them since he wanted to talk to them. The Pallet native calmed his nerves and tapped his phone, scrolling through his gallery to find the image he saved earlier,

"Here." The girl leaned forward, staring at the large condominium that was on sale. It was a luxurious condo that is fitting for a large family, but they weren't outrageously expensive since they were designed to host students. Given its location and the familiar landmarks, the lavish building wasn't far from their school and were in fact nearby to their usual hangout spots.

"That's a big condo, Ash are you thinking of moving?" Misty was concerned that Ash was moving out. Obviously, it was his money and he could whatever the hell he wants with it, but it did saddened her that Ash was considering moving out to someplace more luxurious just because he can. I mean they are together now right? Isn't their little apartment and their companionship enough?

The upset tone from Misty was something he admittedly expected, he sat closer to her and swung his arm around her, pulling her into his hold to reassure her that he wasn't going anywhere.

"I actually want all of us to move in together." His girlfriends didn't seemed to believe his words, so he knew he had to further explain his reasoning to them. In all honesty, he just wants everyone to move in together so he won't have to play favourites. Given that Dawn and Misty were staying with him, they could easily make some silly excuse and sneak into his bed just to sleep with him. Naturally, he would be spending more time with Dawn and Misty since they were his roommates, causing the other girls to miss out. He didn't want these feelings of jealousy to arise between all of them, and he liked the idea of everyone staying together under one roof.

For the young teen, he wanted to show his dedication to make this relationship work between all of them. He wasn't playing games when he said he wanted everyone to be together forever, and this new apartment might a good start.

"I know this maybe too soon for all of us, asking all of you to move in with me sounds ridiculous giving out relationship is still in the early stages. But given I stay with Dawn and Misty all the time, I don't think it would be fair to the others. O-Of course you don't need to agree! I-I was just wondering if any of you are okay with the idea that's all." Bea wasn't sure how to feel about this. On one hand, she really want to stay with Ash and deliberately tease him with her lack of clothing around him, while on the other hand, it did seemed quite sudden for Ash to suggest this given that they started dating a few days ago.

"You originally want us to move in here right?" Korrina added as she looked around the apartment, it would certainly be cramped if all of them stay together here. So she did understand Ash's desire to move, but this seemed like a hasty decision that he didn't give much thought. He should really reconsider what he was proposing here since there was no guarantee that everyone wants to move in with him. As for herself, she did find moving in with Ash tempting.

"Well yeah, but this place can't really hold 6 people, 7 if you include this guy." His Lycanroc blinked, wondering why is he being involved in the conversation.

"This- Ash this is a little too sudden." Ash's inner voice began to mock him, telling him that this was a bad idea to begin with. He sighed inwardly, what the hell was he expecting? That all of them would be onboard with the idea and move in with him immediately? Ridiculous! All of them have their own priorities, he can't forced his own desires onto them.

"I know, I was just asking that's all. I'm sorry." The dishearten voice from him was certainly hard to watch, he was essentially paying the entire apartment with his own money so they are getting staying with him for free. They were a plethora of benefits moving with Ash, hugging and snuggling with him alone seemed like a good enough reason.

"But you want us to stay together right?" Serena snaked her arms around Ash's neck as he nodded to her question reluctantly. The honey blonde smiled at his bashful nature and leaned forward to his ear, whispering softly to rile him up.

"I don't mind Ash." The raven haired teen wrapped his arms around her waist, not really surprised by her affectionate display. But he was definitely shocked that Serena was so quick to agree with the idea.

"Really?" She nodded and nuzzled his cheeks, ignoring the deadpanned look from others who knew she was taking advantage of the situation just to cozy up with Ash.

"Mhmm, I actually have a talk with my mom. She agreed that I should find a place of my own so that I'm closer to school." Ash was delighted to hear that, he responded by hugging her close to him causing Serena to coo sweetly. Bea sighed at the Kalos's teen affectionate display and walked towards her to pry her off, this conversation would be going nowhere if the two keeps spoiling each other.

"Alright Serena, you can save your thirst for Ash later." The aspiring performer pouted but didn't resist Bea pulling her away from Ash. The gray haired teen sat down next to Ash, seemingly swapping places with Serena as she sat closer to Ash. She turned to the boy who captured her heart and smiled at him, holding his hands close to her.

"Considering my parents are still in Galar and they don't give a damn about me, I'm in." She sounded way cheerful than she should, Ash was quite concerned that Bea's parents have not return back to Galar yet. They should have seen the news in Snowpoint right? Aren't they concerned of their daughter's wellbeing? The Kanto teen decided to dwell on thoughts later, he would address the problem with her parents on another day.

"Bea are you sure?" The voice of concern made Bea sighed, she leaned to his shoulders and hugged his arms, ignoring the unimpressed look from Serena's face since the Galar teen was essentially doing the same thing she was doing before.

"Ash, I like the idea of staying with everyone, mainly with you though. Besides, I don't want to keep relying on Korrina and her grandfather." Korrina scratched the back of her neck, while she didn't mind Bea staying with her. The lack of privacy was admittedly annoying since she has to be conscious of Bea being in the room with her.

The Kanto teen turned to his two roommates who remained silent on the manner, oh boy they must be pissed at him. In hindsight, bringing this up without consulting their opinion might be a stupid move on his part.

"Dawn, Misty are you okay with this?" Dawn crossed her arms, staring at him with an expressionless look. It confirmed Ash's thoughts that they were indeed angry.

"You should have asked for our opinions before raising this to everyone you know?" Misty added on, there was a tone of disappointment within it and he didn't blame her. To move out so suddenly without asking them was a dick move on his part. But there was an underlying reason why he never brought it up to them.

"I'm sorry but I was worried-"

"That we will be against it?" Ash gave a slow nod, feeling ashamed and guilty that he would think of them like that. He knew the two girls were nice people but given that jealousy might run high between all of them, he was scared they would reject the idea just so they can have him for themselves. He felt Dawn presence next to him, grasping his hand on her thighs.

"Ash, as much as I want you for myself, I also want my friends to be happy too. That's why we are in this relationship in the first place. I like the idea for all of us staying together, I know you don't want the others to feel left out and have unnecessary drama between us." It was tedious for Ash to balance out the amount of time he spends with each individual girls, he had to be sure he treats each of them fairly to prevent jealousy and playing favourites among them. That was made much harder when he gets to spend more time with Misty and Dawn due to being roommates.

"Thanks Dawn." He whispered to her softly in a low raspy voice, sending chills of pleasure and excitement down her spine. He wrapped his strong arms around Dawn's waist and placed his chin on top her shoulder, savouring the warmth of her body and scented smell of her perfume. Their close bond allowed her to understand him on a more intimate and deeper level, to the point where he didn't even need to say the reasons out loud since she already did it for him.

He turned to the redhead who stared at them with a bemused expression. She seemed to read his mind when she saw him staring at her. She gave an exaggerated sigh and pretended to be disappointed by shrugged nonchalantly.

"I don't mind, especially if all of us are splitting the chores evenly. But I will give all of you a warning though, Ash can be extra affectionate during the night." Those mere words caused Serena to turn to the boy she loved, Ash being extra affectionate during night time? Sign her up.

"Alright I'm definitely moving in." The waves of chuckles made Ash's face flushed in red, he couldn't help it alright? These two girls wore almost next to nothing when he's around them and were pretty much begging for him to give attention to them. Tight boy shorts and sleeveless tank tops, they know how screwed around his libido. As the chuckles subsided, Serena turned to her best friend and poked her shoulders.

"How about you Korrina?" She rubbed her shoulders in a pondering manner, she wanted to move in with everyone. But while her grandfather is a capable and independent man, he also could be lonely without her presence. Sure he has his pokemon, but she was his precious granddaughter, moving out and leaving him alone seemed cruel.

"I might need to ask my grandpa about this, I could say this was more of an independent type of thing but uh, the old man would be lonely without me." Ash understood her sentiments, he let go off Dawn and shook his head.

"It's fine, you don't need to agree to this. I'm not forcing you." Korrina smirked and placed her hands behind her head.

"What and missed out the free kisses and hugs? Over my dead body." She wasn't about to be outdone, the thought of her friends receiving the good night kisses and morning hugs while she was being left out didn't seemed fun. She merely wanted to know about her grandfather's thoughts of her moving out of the nest, and see if he was fine with it.

"Alright, alright don't need to be so riled up." The girls can be really demanding sometimes, though he would lying if he said he didn't find satisfaction at pleasing them.

"This is just a suggestion, I don't plan to buy the place until I have all of your approval." Ash reiterated, he didn't want to coerce the girls into this, he just wanted to know if they are okay with the idea of moving in together. Misty rubbed her chin, persuading her parents that she is moving wouldn't be difficult since Ash would mainly be the one who would pay most of the rent, the hardest part was explaining to her parents why her male roommate is willing to foot such hefty bill for her. The nature of their question would rise and Misty wasn't keen on telling her family what kind of relationship she was in.

"Let us ask our parents first, and see if they are okay with it." They nodded to Misty's words, though for Bea, she was essentially free to do whatever decision she wants. She did feel bad that Ash was paying for all of them, so she did thought of a special reward she intend to give him when they are alone. That thought alone caused her cheeks to become rosy.

"Our second semester is starting soon right? We can use that an excuse." It was hilarious seeing the girls conjuring excuses and justifications to their parents on why they should move out, it was almost as if they were conducting a business deal and were explaining the benefits of moving out of the house.

"Please think this over carefully, no rush in this." The girls ignored him and continued to plan their reasoning to their parents on why they should move out, much to Ash's chagrin.


She placed a lock behind her ear, scrolling through her notes that she wrote for class today. The windy breeze of the air and the lack of passersby presented a prefect oppurtunity for her to do her revisions undistracted. Her faithful starter snooze on her lap, his adorable facial feature was up for precious display. She gave a small giggle as she poked his cheeks, watching him reached out for her in an almost infant like manner.

The sound of footsteps coming closer to her alerted her as she raised her head to the side, shocked to see who was standing next to her. She almost dropped her notes and attempted to run away when she felt the effects of gravity working their magic on her.

Also her adorable starter was sleeping and she didn't want to wake him up.

"Hey Sabrina." The awkward tone in his voice can be felt even without the use of her psychic powers. She cradled her Abra in her arms and gave a shy nod to him, avoiding eye contact with him. Before he could say anything else, his own starter Pikachu jumped onto the grassy lands, waving a cutesy hello to her. The mere presence of the electric type caused Abra to stir from his sleep, giving a surprised smile at the sight of the electric mouse. After exchanging a brief conversation, the two ran away from their trainers as they began to play tag with each other in the distance, seemingly trying to encourage their trainers to talk to each other.

With their pokemon out of the way, Sabrina reorganised her notes and placed it in her bags, feeling more nervous and anxious as Ash decided to sit down next to her, not saying anything really. She knew why he was here but she didn't want to have the conversation with him. She couldn't bring herself to look at him knowing that what he had to go through to come back alive.

"Are you mad at me?" The guilt-ridden tone of his voice pierce Sabrina's heart, figuratively of course. She was bewildered why he would say that, but upon seeing the apologetic look on his face, she knew full well he was sincere with his words. She shook her head and turned to him, her black hair flowing along with the windy breeze.

"Of course not." Ash frowned and turned to her, fully realizing the pain he put her through. He knew asking her to sacrifice him was hard choice, especially when she has to bear the outburst from the girls who blamed her for his lost. It was a horrible feeling knowing he put her though such stress and pain.

"Then why are you avoiding me?" She couldn't bring herself to see him, the thought of him falling to the frozen abyss was enough to make her stomach churned. Of course, he did survive the fall and when the news broke out that he survive the fall, the absolute wave of relief came over her almost instantaneously. But now with normalcy coming back into their lives, she wasn't she can handle seeing him in school again.

"I-I thought I killed you." He berated himself internally, this was the psychological harm he gave her. He swallowed his pride and lowered his head, glancing at the blade of grass in front of him that danced to the tune of the wind.

"I'm sorry I put you through that." He clenched his fists tight, any tighter and he was sure blood would be drawn from it. The psychic type trainer sensed his conflicted emotions and clasped his hand, relaxing his clenched his fists with her soft pair of hands. She was perplexed at why Ash didn't show any sign of resentment to her, after all while he made the spur of a moment decision, the things he went through must have made him regret his decision right? Even a little.

"You don't hate me?" The raven haired teen shook his head, how could he hate her? She made an impossible choice for his sake.

"I was the one who begged you to do it right? How can I hate you? In fact, I want to thank you for listening to me, I know it was a such hard decision for you to make." Sabrina needed to hear that from him, to know that he didn't resent her for her choice. She grasped his hand, seemingly reliving the memory of the pain he suffered throughout the frozen caves. The sheer numbing cold, the intense pain, everything came to her as she read the inner thoughts of the Pallet town teen.

"But you suffered so much." She whispered lowly, the vivid images of Ash being hit by the Drapion's Night Slash flashed her mind, sending a horrible chill down her body. She closed her eye as she trembled at the experience he went through when she suddenly felt a warm hand around her shoulder, breaking the horrible thoughts from her mind.

"So have you." The warm hazel eyes and the soft tone of comfort made Sabrina flushed red, realizing the close proximity between them. The red blush on her face alerted Ash that perhaps he was stepping on personal boundaries, Ash quickly pulled back and assumed a more laidback tone. He has to be careful here, that level of closeness is only reserved for the girls now.

"Besides if I didn't fall down to the cave, I won't have found Galactic's hideout and saved Articuno. These chain of events won't have happened if it weren't for you." She supposed that was true, who knew that all of the events that led up to the liberation of Articuno stem from her decision to sacrifice Ash.

"I suppose so." Ash's lips curled upwards when he noted that Sabrina was slowly coming to terms with the matter. He glanced at the pokemon playing tag in the distance, with Abra teleporting out of Pikachu's reach every time he was about to tag him.

"Please forgive yourself, I never blamed you once for what happened to me." He's firm voice and relaxed expression made Sabrina smiled as they watched their starters playing together in the distance.

"Thank you." Ash managed to respond with a nod, but he knew that Sabrina had finally forgiven herself, or at least part of herself. It was relieving because Ash never once blamed her for her actions, after all it was him who called for it. Between the tranquil silence, Sabrina glanced at the dandelions in the distance and spoke softly.

"Ash the thing is- I could have save all of us."

"I know, Korrina told me that you could have teleported us right?" The Kalos teen had briefly told him that Sabrina and Erika felt guilty for his supposed death, blaming themselves for what happened to him. Which sparked his desire to reach out to them, he already confronted his teacher regarding the matter, earning a tight squeeze and an emotional conversation between them.

While he knew Sabrina was capable of telepathy due to countless pokemon battles, he didn't knew she was capable of transporting people to far distances. But even if she had the mental fortitude to teleport them to safety, the looming wave of death coming towards them certainly didn't help her concentrate her powers.

"She told you?" Sabrina sounded surprised, more so than she should honestly.

"Yeap." She narrowed her eyes over Ash casual nature, he should be mad at her! She could have saved him and get them out of harms ways safely yet he sat there, enjoying the windy breeze of the afternoon sky!

"Then why aren't you mad? You knew I could have save you yet you're not-" He shut her up by placing his hand around her arms, silencing her immediately when he gave her a firm yet gentle look that was befitting for a concerned friend.

"We were in a dire situation, I don't blame you for being scared. I was scared too." He felt paralyzed when he saw the large avalanche tumbling its way towards him, but seeing the frozen and horrified look on Sabrina and Erika's face made him forgo his fears and take charge of the situation.

"I would have never forgive myself if you were to- I was so scared." He could hear her voice breaking, strained from the emotional stress she endured. He sighed inwardly and pulled her to him closer, not close enough for a heartfelt embrace, but enough for their shoulders to meet each other.

"That's not true, you were brave enough to make a choice, and that choice ultimately saved 2 lives." Multiples lives actually, their pokemon were also on the line. He gave her a warm smile and leaned to her, mustering his best to attempt to reassure her that she wasn't a coward.

"You're the bravest person I know Sabrina, you're not a coward. Please forgive yourself." Hearing the sniffles coming from her, he attempted to let her go and reached for a tissue packet from his back pocket when she held him into an embrace, burrowing her head into his chest.

Between the pent up tears flowing from her eyes, Ash gave a small smile and tightened his grip around her and rubbed her back soothingly, reassuring her that everything was okay now. He rocked back and forth, mimicking his mother's way of comforting him when he was younger.

"It's alright." He was very aware that he was quite close to Sabrina and a part of him reminded that it was not a good idea to do this to a girl that isn't his girlfriend. But given that she was someone in desperate need of a hug and words of comfort, he was more than happy to provide that for her.

He felt her pull back from him as she wiped the tears from her eyes, averting them away from Ash. Sabrina never struck to Ash the emotional type since she was always expressionless and stoic in battles or in class, but seeing her breaking down like this made him realized that she was still human who have a deep sense of empathy for others.

"Sorry." He waved her off and took his tissue packet out, gesturing her to take a few pieces of tissue to wipe her face, to which she took it gratefully. As her sniffle subsided, Sabrina gave a sigh of relief as she felt the bottled up frustration and guilt finally gone from her chest. She felt free now, finally able to get rid of those ill feelings off her chest.

"Thanks." He managed a nod, feelings his eyes getting slightly wet from the emotional toll on him. He blinked them off and placed the tissue back to his pocket. Their two starters finally returned to their side and nuzzled them, happy that the two have resolve the issue between them.

"Ash!" The Kanto native almost jumped when he heard Korrina calling out to him, causing Sabrina and him to turned to the side as an enthusiastic blonde skated towards them. His lips settled into a smile as he stood up, catching Korrina in his arms as she skated into his embrace.

"Woah hey." Her initial excited grin turned into one of concern when she noticed the redness in Ash's eyes, she glanced at Sabrina's flushed face and red eyes before realizing what happened between them. The fact she could feel the wetness of Ash's shirt on the tip of her hands suggested that Sabrina has been crying into Ash's shirt.

"Did you talk to her?" Korrina whispered to him, ensuring Sabrina wasn't hearing their conversation. He managed a nod as he rubbed her bare shoulders, feeling the warmth of her skin in his hands.

"Good, that poor girl doesn't deserve that." Of all the girls, Korrina was the only one who never blamed Sabrina for what she did. In fact, she has been encouraging him to talk to her regarding the matter, to help her to move away from the incident.

"Thanks Korri." He gave her a peck on the cheek since they were in public, but Sabrina was surprised seeing the affectionate display in front of her. Korrina had mentioned she loved Ash but to see them together like this was heartwarming to see, which was a happy ending in Sabrina's book.

"Hi Sabrina, are you okay?" Korrina skated closer to her, placing her hands together in front of her skirt. The Abra trainer smiled and replied in a courteous tone.

"I'm alright, thank you for asking." She beamed and place a hand on her shoulder, startling Sabrina with the sudden physical contact from the blonde.

"You should hangout with us from time to time." The antisocial nature of Sabrina blinked, wondering why Korrina is asking her to hangout with them. They were a group of tight knitted friends, adding her to the equation seemed out of place.

"H-Huh?" Ash smiled at his Korrina's attempt to befriend Sabrina, truly she was a people's person.

"The girls feel bad for shouting at you, even though they don't show it, they're really sorry. So they want to make it up with you." That was news to Ash's ears, while he knew the girls felt bad for blaming Sabrina for what happened, he never knew they wanted to make up with her in person. But it was nice of them to take the initiative to apologize to her.

"I-It's alright." The Kalos teen frowned at Sabrina hesitancy, she suppose that she wasn't comfortable with them.

"Are you mad at us?" Sabrina shook her head, she never blamed them for their outburst to her. It was natural for people to be angry after losing the ones they hold dear.

"No of course not. It's just, I'm not sure its a good idea for me to join you."

"Nonsense, if it weren't for you, Ash and I won't be together." Was it true? Ash thought about it deeply and realized the reason he accepted the harem in the first place was because he thought he was about to die, so maybe there was some truth in her words. Though he prayed to Arceus that Sabrina won't learn about their relationship, no doubt she would think of him as some sleazy bastard.

"I- alright." Korrina grinned and squeeze Sabrina's hands together, causing the normally stoic psychic to smile at how enthusiastic she was over their newfound friendship.

"Great! Oh maybe we can hangout tomorrow! Right now Ash and I have to leave." She didn't tell him that, where are they going? Dinner? Date?

"Wait where are we going?" The oblivious and confused tone from Ash made Korrina chuckle, she flicked his forehead while squishing Pikachu's soft cheeks who sat on her shoulders.

"Grandpa wants to invite you for dinner again." Danger, that was the only thought he had in his mind at the moment. It seemed that his life was at it's end now, not by the hands of a renowned terrorist organisation or a horrendous natural disaster, but by the hands of an angry grandfather who does not approve of their relationship.

"Will I die?" Sabrina smiled in amusement over their interaction, she could tell the two were really into each other.

"Don't worry, he just want to ask about the new place we will be moving in soon." Oh thank goodness, his life is spared. Jokes aside, Ash wasn't sure how Gurkinn will feel if he learns that he was dating Korrina. If he disapproved of that relationship, imagine the absolute look of horror on his face when he learned about their polygamous relationship they were in. Ash was sure he would die a hundred times over.

As the two waved good bye to Sabrina, Korrina paused when she noted Sabrina's lonesome silhouette. Much like Bea, Sabrina was actually feared by many of their classmates due to her cold and calculative battle style. The fact she was an actual psychic made everyone very wary of her. But beneath the cold and battle-hardened facade, Korrina knew Sabrina was a empathetic individual who actually craved for friendship. The emotional stress she experienced from losing Ash proved Korrina's point, the pain and despair on her face felt both personal and real.

"You should give her a hug." Ash halted his steps, he glanced at his girlfriend and wondered what the hell she is suggesting.

"What? Why?" She nudged him arms, gesturing him to stare at the psychic beauty who was busy grooming her Abra. The reflective and gloomy look on her face however suggested that she was perhaps a little lonely.

"Make her feel better you know? She seems lonely." Personally Ash has no problem giving a beautiful girl a hug, but given the fact his girlfriend was standing right next to him, he was sure feelings of jealousy would arise in her heart. Besides, he didn't want to give Sabrina the wrong idea too.

"Why don't you do it?" He poked her shoulders, causing Korrina to place her hands on her hips.

"Of all the people I ever hugged, you give the best hugs and, I think receiving a hug from you mean something to her." First of all, that was a stupid excuse. Second of all, what do you mean his hugs "mean something". He was about to question Korrina's words when she shot her a firm authoritative look that demanded him to do as she says. He didn't want to jump to conclusion but chances are Korrina was implying that Sabrina was seeking friendship from him, and hopefully it was just friendship.

"Are you sure it's alright?" Korrina nodded and pushed him forward, with his Pikachu jumping on top of her helmet.

"I'm fine with it, now go." Ash summoned his courage and walked towards, alerting her with his presence and she turned to him. She let go of her Abra and stood up, wondering why he hasn't left yet.

"Ash? Shouldn't you be going soon-" She gasped in an adorable manner when Ash wrapped his arms around her slender body. Her initial surprise slowly turned into one of acceptance as she melted in his embrace. She decided to return the hug and felt her heart beating faster at the comforting hug that melted away her loneliness and guilt. Given the proximity, she could feel the warmth coming from his body amidst the windy breeze and the small blush creeping onto her face. Seeing that she had return the hug back to him without an ounce of awkwardness, Ash decided to release his hold and stared at her flushed cheeks, has Sabrina always been this cute?

'Get it together man, you have 5 girlfriends.' He dearly hoped that the hug was meant in a platonic manner but given her reaction, it seemed that she received the hug well, a little too well. She reluctantly waved goodbye to him by holding her Abra in her arms, hiding her embarrassed expression behind her starter who seemed confused at what was happening.

Korrina grinned at her reaction and skated closer next to her, which worried Sabrina that she might be mad at her for enjoying the hug too much. However, before she can say anything, Korrina clasped her shoulders and leaned to her ears and whispered haughtily.

"He's really good at giving hugs huh?" The blushing Sabrina only gave a meek nod, which confused Ash and Pikachu over what they were doing.


Misty walked towards the Yakiniku restaurant, eyeing the message she received on the phone. She entered the bustling Kantonese establishment, smiling when the scent of grilled meat met her nose. She scouted around the counter until she spotted two empty seats, to which she quickly snatch it up. She gave a sigh of relief that she managed to found an empty spot amidst the busy restaurant, lady luck was truly by her side.

'Where is she?' She sent a message on her phone before placing it on the table, with her thoughts distracting her from all the waiting. Her lips curled up at the thought of her new roommates who quickly became accustom to their bizarre schedule.

That's right, they have finally moved into the new condo. It took a few weeks of preparation and packing but eventually all 6 of them found themselves at home with the new large house, 7 if you include the very lovable Lycanroc. The first few days were hectic since most of them were busy unpacking their luggage, but with their belongings settled and the creation of a few ground rules, they were finally able to relax in their new apartment.

An unspoken agreement between the girls were created a few days ago, simply put it was how much time they can spend with Ash. With their usual hobbies and clubbing activities in place, the only time they can truly bond with Ash was during at night in their apartment. This usually results in Ash going room to room to wish them good night, whether it is a deep passionate kiss or cuddling with him in their covers, Ash has his work cutout for him.

Admittedly, all of them wanted to share the master bedroom with him since all they have to do was push the beds together. But the Pallet town native made it clear that all of them should sleep in their own respective rooms as he couldn't quite feel his limbs after that night in Snowpoint. It was disappointing for Misty personally, she wanted to curl up next to him and sleep next with her best friends, but she did respect Ash's wishes to not sleep with 5 other people. Quite the stuffy experience.

"Misty!" Her train of thoughts were shattered by the familiar voice calling out to her, she turned to the entrance and smiled when May sat next to her, holding her luggage?

"Hey May, uh why are you carrying around your stuff?" The coordinator texted her a few hours ago and pleaded her to meet with her here. It was odd since the two stopped talking, not because of bad blood but because they generally didn't really interact with each other anymore. So for May to text her out of the blue and asked to meet up with her without giving additional information was worrying.

The brunette force a smile and rubbed her shoulders, she seemed to be crying given the red puffy eyes on her pretty face. It was heartbreaking seeing the bubbly and positive May looking so terrible, what happened to her? Misty placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, with a concerned expression plastered on her face.

"Are you alright? Have you been crying?" She nodded slowly, ignoring the cheerful cries of laughter from the other customers nearby. Misty frowned at the loud and cheery atmosphere of the place and decided that maybe it was a good idea they find someplace more quiet for their conversation.

She lead the brunette to the nearby Kalos cafe that has a more quiet and less chaotic atmosphere and after ordering their respective meals, Misty clutched May's hand and gave her a warm smile.

"May what happened?" The coordinator student stared at the table cloth in front of her, a bitter look slowly creeping onto her face when her mind flashed back to what happened earlier today.

"Drew and broke up." Poor girl, no wonder her eyes were red from crying. Misty patted her hand, giving her the look of sympathy. While she never really supported May and Drew's relationship together, she knew May was genuinely happy being with the flamboyant coordinator. So no doubt this was a hard pill for May to swallow knowing that their relationship had to come to an end.

"I see, is it okay if I asked why?" May flared in anger, her eyes narrowing at the pathetic and scandalous reason of Drew breaking up with her.

"That prick says that we no longer have the same spark anymore. Our relationship have been going south for a few weeks now and at first I thought it was my fault, but then I realized that bastard of a salad head was merely looking to date someone else because he got bored of me!" Bastard of a salad head, that sounded like the perfect name for Drew. Misty sighed at May's expression of anger, she knew that Drew wasn't the most loyal of partners given his flirty and lecherous nature, so she wasn't surprised that Drew pulled off what he did.

"I'm sorry to hear that May." That said, May was committed to her relationship with Drew. So she did make sacrifices for him, one of them includes spending less time with Misty and Dawn as she opted to hang around Drew's group of friends to be closer to him. The Hoenn native sighed and sprawled onto the table, placing her cheek against the table.

"Ugh you were right when you said Drew can't be trusted, should have listened to you." Misty rubbed the back of neck, it was too late for that now.

"It's alright May, you will find someone else. Who needs him?" Misty knew May hung around Drew's friends a lot, and most of them would stick to him. So chances are, May doesn't have anyone to turn to except maybe Dawn and her. It sucks because May was highly dependent on Drew to maintain her social circle.

"That's the problem, I need him." Misty frowned and placed her fork down on her plate, May sounded so broken and tired. She sat back up and felt her eyes getting wet over the consequences of breaking up with him.

"May if Drew is looking for someone else-"

"Misty, he kicked me out." Misty halted her sentence, before widening her eyes at the realization when May was staying with Drew.

"Oh Arceus, I forgot you're staying with him." She nodded bitterly, scratching her fork against the plate to unleash her frustration and anger.

"He kicked me out the moment our relationship ended, stupid salad head didn't even bother to make sure I have a place to stay before forcing me out." Absolutely horrible, how could he do that to her? Does he expect May to sleep on the streets if she can't find a place? What if it rains? Misty knew Drew can be an asshole but this was too far.

The sudden sniffles from May made Misty sighed in sympathy, she sat down next to her and pull her to a hug, letting her cry into her as she rubbed her back in a vertical motion.

"I'm so sorry May." Not only did he shatter her heart, but he also shattered a place to call home for her. It was truly awful that May was now homeless, with no where to go. Her family were all in Hoenn and she has no relatives here, so she was essentially on her own.

"Misty is it okay for me to move back in? I don't mind sharing rooms or sleeping on the couch! I just need a roof over my head until I can find a place." It was unlike May to be so humble, not that she was arrogant in the first place. But to lower your pride and to beg for a place to stay was a heartbreaking sight to the redhead. Unfortunately, Misty can't say yes to May's request.

"Uh-"

"I really need a place to stay for tonight, please?" Oh the bright blue eyes and the pleading tone, May looked so vulnerable and lost right now. Misty sighed and pressed her hands on May's shoulders, pushing her to sit upright.

"May I- I don't live in that apartment anymore." May blinked and wipe her tears away, surprised that Misty moved out from her old place. Chances are, Dawn would also move in with Misty given the two were inseparable.

"You moved?" Misty managed a small nod.

"Mhmm." May frowned at her luck, maybe Misty doesn't want her to stay over. They haven't talk in a long time and here she was using her for own benefit. She felt horrible that their first interaction after a long time was her asking a favour from the Cerulean native.

"Oh, is it far?" Misty sighed and pushed away the strands of hair sticking on May's face, cleaning up her messy face.

"Quite nearby actually but uh, I'm not just staying with Dawn or Ash. I'm staying with Serena, Bea and Korrina too." That many people? She wasn't surprised that Misty and Dawn moved in with her girl friends, but Ash was a weird choice since he was a guy. But given that they were close to him, perhaps they seem him as a close friend.

"That's a lot of people." It was, and a normal apartment won't be able to host all of them.

"Well we are staying near the Jubilife condominium." May leaned forward, she's joking right? She's not talking about the expensive condo that were reserved for rich students rights?

"Isn't that place expensive? How the hell you managed to pay that?" Misty leaned behind, a proud smile plastered on her face as she took a sip from her drink.

"None of us paid a single dime, Ash paid for everything." Is Ash their sugar daddy or something? Given how close they were to him and the fact he was paying for everything, it didn't seemed farfetched that they were in that kind of relationship. But May can't fathom her best friends doing something like this, it seemed way out of character for them. They would never sully their pride and dignity for this right?

"You serious?" Misty chuckled at May's incredulous expression and nodded.

"The league gave him a generous reward for his efforts of saving Articuno and Snowpoint." Oh so that's why he was able to pay for everything. That being said, they must be a catch to his generosity right? Maybe in return for paying everything, they have to do questionable things for him?

"I see, that's explains it. But that's really generous of him, he doesn't force you to do like you know-" Misty poked May's forehead, why on earth would she ever come to that conclusion of their relationship?

"May, Ash is not that kind of person, he's really nice." Misty wasn't sure if she should tell May the nature of her relationship with Ash, especially in public.

"That's a bit too nice, I mean paying for everything?" Yeah being "nice" doesn't justify a roommate's desire to pay for a lavish condo for everyone huh.

"Let's just drop it for now." May nodded, respecting Misty's wishes.

"Alright, so does that mean I need to ask him for permission?" Misty rubbed her chin, not really sure if Ash was the ultimate dictator in this. He never made decisions on his own since he mostly asked for their opinion before making a choice, he was really considerate to their feelings and thoughts before making drastic decisions.

"Well it's not like I don't have a say in it, but I need to ask the others to see if they are okay with it." May frowned, not liking the chances. She barely know Serena, Bea and Korrina, and she was sure Ash doesn't like her. The odds were against her.

"I will only move in temporarily, I promised that I will find a place and get out of your hair as soon as possible." Misty shook her head, patting her creamy pair of arms with a smile.

"Relax May, take your time. You're in a fragile state right now, I don't think its a good idea for you to stay by yourself for the time being." May didn't even want to retort because she knew it was true, she couldn't live by herself and was dependant on others. The thought of staying alone in an apartment seemed depressing to her.

"Thanks Misty, you're really nice." The aspiring water type trainer grinned and picked up pieces of meat onto May's plate, ushering her to eat more.

"Don't say that, come let's have our dinner, and I will introduce you to my roommates." May was still having second thoughts despite Misty's warm and inviting nature.

"W-What if they don't like me? I mean, to have a stranger barge into your home so suddenly-"

"May calm down, the girls are really nice. They would understand your situation. Now eat up and restore your strength, this place really prides itself in authentic Kalosian food." May couldn't help but to smile, feeling the genuine bonds of friendship coming through. She took her utensil and devoured her meal hungrily, causing Misty to smile at May's lightened mood.

Not long after their dinner, Misty lead May to their condo. She gave an amused smile when she saw May marvelling the grand design of the lobby. In hindsight, this place was reserved to the rich and Ash would have opt for some place cheaper. Unfortunately, there was no cheaper alternatives that can host 6 people, at least without cramping them together. Soon after boarding the elevator, they reached their desired floor. Upon reaching the door, Misty unlocked it and let May entered it first as she trudge forward with her luggage.

"Hi Misty- May?" Dawn who heard the door being unlocked was greeted with the sight of a disheveled May standing in front of her with her suitcase in hand. She looked behind her and saw her best friend locking the door, taking off her shoes in the process.

"Hi Dawn." The brunette spoke shyly. She frequently talks to her due to being in the same class, so she still quite close to Dawn. The blunette placed her phone down on the nearby kitchen counter and approached her, appalled at the sight of May's downtrodden look. Where was the hyper and positive girl she calls friend?

"What are you doing here?" May stared at the floor laminated with timber, finding the contours and design of the flooring the most fascinating thing in the world. Misty placed her arm around May's shoulder, not liking the silence she was witnessing from her.

"I will explain that later, where's Ash?" They needed to talk to him as soon as possible.

"He's having dinner with Korrina and her grandfather, they should be back soon though." The sound of multitude footsteps resulted in Serena and Bea emerging from their rooms. They glanced at May who began to feel out of place since most of them were staring at her.

"What's going on? May?" Misty smiled when he saw everyone gathered here, well almost everyone. She decided to give the gist of the situation and go into detailing later.

"She needs a place to stay for the night." The nods from her friends made this easier. Serena who noted May's quiet mood expressed a bright caring smile as she approached the Hoenn native.

"I see, have you showered yet?" May raised her head to meet Serena's eyes and shook her head, causing Misty to mouth a "thank you" to Serena who nodded in kind.

"Not yet." The Kalos teen took her luggage and set it aside, bringing her to nearby bathroom in order to get her freshen up.

"Feel free to use ours then." May was astonished by the kindness shown by Serena, she reluctantly followed Serena as she looked around the condominium, feeling stunned over the simple yet neatly decorated house that she wish she could call home.

"Are you sure?"

"Come on, personal hygiene is important." With Serena dragging her off into the bathroom, Bea approached Misty and crossed her arms, perplexed at why May needed a place to stay for the night.

"Misty, why is May here?" Misty turned to Bea and Dawn, frowning her words out right.

"Her boyfriend Drew broke up with her, and now she has no place to stay." The sympathetic look on their faces seemed to swing the odds to May's favour.

"Oh no." Dawn was told personally by May that her relationship with Drew hasn't been going well for the past few weeks. They rarely spend time together anymore and most of their dinner time conversations were replaced by replying messages on phones. The once intense connection they once shared was now gone, though Dawn did question if Drew viewed May as his fling or as his steady.

"What a dick." Bea personally had a boyfriend who for the better words, dumped her. She hated and regretted that relationship him and was glad that Ash didn't mind it. So she did understand May's current feelings and was happy to let her stay under their roof for the time being.

"Mhmm, so is it alright for her to stay with us temporarily?" Misty leaned behind the kitchen counter and poured herself a glass of water to quench her thirst. The Galar fighter shook her head and sat on the counter stool, leaning her head against the palm of her hand.

"I don't mind but, given that we are sharing Ash-" Misty almost choke on her water, causing Dawn to rubbed her back soothingly. The redhead recovered from that little mishap and coughed, placing the glass of water down on the table. Good Arceus Bea word your timing carefully next time!

"I'm sure she would understand, May is actually really nice. It's just that the people she hangs out with are assholes." Bea managed a nod, giving an apologetic smile to the redhead who gave glared at her. Unfortunately, Bea wasn't too keen on others finding out their relationship. For all she knew, May would go around school and spread the news to others and that won't do their reputation any good.

"Alright, I'll trust you." Misty gave an affirmative nod though in truth she wasn't sure how May would react to their relationship with Ash. Within a few moments, May emerged from the showers in her casual clothes as she let her hair down, sitting next to Serena and Dawn who smiled at her.

"Thank you for taking care of me." It was unlike May to be this meek and shy, but given that she was overwhelm with gratitude, Misty would let it slide for now.

"No worries." Misty glanced at the clock that read 8:37 PM, they should be back soon if the traffic wasn't congested. It wasn't long before, the sound of their door being unlocked caused everyone to smile and for May to embrace what was coming.

"I'm home!" Ash closed the door behind him once Korrina has entered. He was greeted by the sight of the girls clad in their revealing nightwear that most consist of negligees or shorts. They really took the term "make yourself at home" to the extreme.

"Hey, so I saw that- uh why is May doing here?" He stopped short when he saw what he think is May sitting on the counter shyly. The lack bandanna and biker shorts really made her look different, though he won't say that was a bad thing. He furrowed his eyebrows as the others seemed to surround her, what's going on here?

"H-Hi Ash." Ash returned May's greeting with a nod as Misty lead him to an empty seat, ushering him to sit down.

"Please sit down." Ash stared at Misty and patiently waited for her explanation, he didn't receive any messages that May was coming over for a sleepover or something.

"Drew broke up with her and now she needs place to stay." That one blunt sentence from Misty told Ash everything he needed to hear. He knew that May was formerly Dawn and Misty's roommate who moved out with her boyfriend Drew, now with their relationship lying in tatters, she's pretty much homeless.

'Poor girl, at the very least Drew could have waited until she found a place to live before kicking her out right?' Ash was undeniably furious at what Drew did, to think he didn't have another reason to hate him, what a bastard.

"I see, and you want her to stay with us for now right?" Misty nodded vigorously, which cemented Ash's thought. He was fine with the idea since rent was not an issue, the league had very kindly pulled some strings for him and negotiated with the landlord, resulting in a much cheaper bargain. But Ash kept that to himself since he didn't want the girls to worry over the little stuff. With his famous deeds being known far and wide, Ash was hoping to Arceus that he could live a normal life.

"Is that okay?" Ash felt saddened by May's strained tone, man she sounded so depressed. The breakup must have been real bad for her.

"Of course, do you have any spare clothes?" The bright smile of relief on May's face made everyone smile, she clasped her hand together and bowed to him, causing Ash to panic as he waved his hands in the air frantically.

"There's no need for that hey." May gave a grateful smile and nodded bashfully when Ash's warm hazel eyes were up for display. She sat back on her seat as Misty squeezed her shoulders comfortingly, almost as if to tell her there was no reason to worry in the first place.

"We don't have a spare room though." Bea pointed out the lack of personal rooms, which was admittedly a hassle.

"Dawn and I can share." Misty wrapped her arms around Dawn's neck, leaning onto her blue hair as she giggled at Misty's affectionate embrace.

"I can sleep on the couch, I don't mind! I'm really grateful for all of you for taking me in." Misty shook her head, May should be treated as a guest not as a nuisance.

"Nonsense, no one is sleeping on the couch. Dawn you won't mind sharing with me right?" The beautiful cheerleader shook her head, leaning onto Misty as she hugged her waist.

"Nah, I suddenly have a new pillow to hug." Ash chuckled at the duo's interactions, he turned to May and saw her struggling not to cry which alarmed Ash. Why is she crying? They accepted her didn't they?

"Thank you everyone, I-" Misty and Dawn let go of each other and squeezed May from the sides, wiping away her tears with a motherly smile.

"There, there no tears now alright? We're friends aren't we?" May nodded and wiped her tears away, this was perhaps the first time she cried so much in one day, though this time it wasn't out of sadness or anger. The Pallet town native watched as Korrina slowly making her way towards him, yanking his arm to her.

"Ash I don't mind May staying with us but, how are going to hide our relationship from her?" She whispered her question to him in the utmost urgency. She posed a good question and Ash wasn't sure how could they hide it from May, maybe they just have to play the platonic game?

"I think we just have to play it safe." Korrina stared at him in horror, she pouted and spoke dejectedly.

"Really? Not even hugs?" Ash chuckled at Korrina's disappointment, though in reality he wasn't sure if he could refrain himself from hugging them. Soft, warm and sweet, they were his main source warmth during windy nights and the perfect bolster to hug during the night and yes despite the aforementioned own personal room, they do visit him at late nights.

"Not when she's here." Between their whispers, Bea caught wind of this and raised her eyebrows, what on earth are they doing?

"What are you two whispering there?" Caught red handed by their roommates, Korrina and Ash managed to step away from each other as they averted eye contact which made everyone more suspicious.

"Uh, we're talking about uh-" Ash didn't like this game they were playing He sighed at the secrecy they were playing around. This was technically his place right? So he makes the rules around here, rules that May have to abide. With a confident look plastered on his face, he wrapped his arms around Korrina and Serena, surprising them both who felt his strong arms around their waist.

"May, all of the girls are with me." May blinked, what did he meant by that? What do you mean they are with him?

"Huh?" The look of horror on the girls faces was amusing, they glared at him and demanded him to explain what he was pulling off right now.

"Ash!" He shot them a reassuring look as he let the Serena and Korrina go, not amused that he used them for dramatic effect just to look cool. What a dork.

"Relax, May if you want to stay with us, this is the secret you must keep. All 6 of us are in a relationship together." May did not believe her ears but upon seeing all the girls nodding to his words with Serena leaning onto his chest with a smile, she knew that he was dead serious with his words.

"Y-You mean all of you are sharing Ash?" Misty wanted to slap her palm to her face, but she decided since Ash was being truthful with May, they might as well proved his point. She nodded to May's words and felt Ash sitting next to her, she took the oppurtunity to snuggle next to him as a bewildered May watched them snuggle together. He intertwined his fingers with Bea's on the table and felt Korrina wrapped her arms behind him.

"Pretty much." May was lost for words, she glanced at Dawn who took a sneaky kiss from Ash's lips as she leaned onto Misty, showing their relationship together to the Hoenn native. The brunette took some time to register what was happening before her and slowly regained her senses.

"B-But how? Is it even possible?" Dawn grinned and placed her chin on Misty's shoulders.

"I mean we haven't killed each other yet, so that's a good indicator." Ash couldn't comment on that, their relationship were still at an experimental stage but given that all of them have been bonding nicely for the past few weeks. He would say things are going well between all of them. They do demand a morning kiss from him though, very troublesome indeed.

Ash turned to May and had a serious expression painted on him, he didn't reveal the nature of their relationship to her just so he could flex on her. He needed to tell May this because she has to put up with their daily shenanigans and cringey flirting with each other should she accept the offer to stay with them. If she can't accept this, then Ash would have to put on a cold facade and kick her out.

"If you can't accept this then I'm afraid that I have to kick you out." The girls were admittedly shocked by how harsh of an ultimatum Ash gave May. It was cruel but part of them knew Ash was doing this for their sake. Rumours of their relationship can destroy their reputation and social status in school, so Ash was taking precautions here.

"Ash that's a bit too cruel don't you think?" Dawn spoke on the side of mercy as she grasped his other hand.

"The last thing I want is the entire school to know about us and given that she is staying with us, she's bound to find out sooner or later." It was true but May didn't have a place to stay and given their relationship was abnormal, it was hard for her to accept this right? Sharing a guy with 4 other people is not normal and May just broke up with her own boyfriend, won't this rubbing salt to her wounds so to speak?

"I accept." Wait what? She just accepted them like that? The brunette gave Ash a firm and sincere nod, which surprised him given that he thought she would take much longer to consider it.

"May?" May smiled at Misty's concerned look, she really changed a lot ever since Ash became their roommate huh?

"This is your place, so your rules. Plus I don't really have anything against it in the first place anyway." Colour Ash surprised, he was sure he has to force May to accept their relationship together, as much as he hated forcing his own inhibitions onto others.

"Really?" May nodded and rubbed her arms, speaking softly as she stared at all of them who leaned onto Ash. Cozy, that was what she was thinking at the moment.

"If all of you are happy with him, who am I to judge right?" They all seemed happy with him which admittedly made her feel envious. He could keep 5 girls happy and satisfied huh? What she was more curious was that what kind of person Ash was that made 5 beautiful girls willing to share him altogether? Sure, she knew from Misty and Dawn's testimony that Ash was a kind hearted person, and the fact he saved Articuno and stormed a terrorist based showed his bravery and bold sense of justice. So perhaps it was all those traits combined that made him so desired? All she knew that Misty and Dawn hold in him a high regard, and that was rare considering they never praise someone so highly before.

"Thank you May, I'm sorry for being harsh but-" May interrupted him there, she knew that Ash was prioritising the girls' reputation, to ensure their relationship stay under wraps, away from the prying and assuming eyes of the public. So she did understand Ash's harsh and firm stance on it, she could respect someone going to the extreme for the ones they loved.

"I understand Ash, no worries." Ash gave a smile of relief, thanks goodness he wasn't forced to kick her out. Honestly, he wasn't sure if he could bring himself to do it to a harmless girl. Beating up a group of international terrorist with no mercy? Now that he can do it all day.

"Thanks May." Dawn held the brunette in her arms, surprising the Petalburg citizen as she laughed.

"Your welcome~ I missed hugging you too." Misty smiled when the May she knew and loved returned back to them, she joined the two into a hug and glomped on top of them, earning a fit of giggles from them.

"Thanks May, welcome to the uh house I guess." Ash wanted to say family but that was cringey and forced, plus he didn't want to give May the impression he was attempting to court her. But that being said, it certainly was awkward for May being the sole person in the house who isn't in a relationship with him. He dearly hoped nothing weird would come out of this.

"Thank you for having me." The brunette responded in glee, finally feeling the familiar warmth of friendship returning to her as the group made their way towards the couch. As they huddle together in the couch, May watched in amusement when all of the girls snuggled up next to him. There was something heartwarming watching them curling up next to him, especially Bea and Misty who curled like little Skitties next to him.

'Sharing him huh.'