It was lunch break, and Serena saw Chloe leaning out a window, looking into the courtyard below.
"What's going on Chloe?" Serena asked.
"Take a look, I think Ash found his first opponent of the tournament." Chloe said.
"Pikachu, I choose you!"
"Let's go Drowzee!"
"Don't we have a no open Pokémon policy here?" Serena asked. While battles were uncommon especially with Ash, the school had rules against keeping them out of Pokeballs.
"I believe they do, which makes me wonder, where has Pikachu been all day." Chloe said curiously.
Meanwhile outside the gates Goh was leaning on his bike.
"Why can't he just bring one in a Pokeball?" Goh said, panting.
"I'm going to beat you and claim the title of top trainer here." Ash's opponent said.
"We'll see about that. Pikachu use Quick Attack!"
"Drowzee use Headbutt!"
Pikachu sped across the battlefield, slamming into Drowzee, both bouncing back from the impact.
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
"Drowzee use Confusion!"
Pikachu's electricity easily overpowered the Drowzee, giving Ash the win. This had become normal for him by now. While this was his first ranked match in a while, a lot of the other students who thought they were tough trainers had tried battling him with less than impressive results. Ash looked to see his rank rise to 1236.
"Mr. Ketchum." The principal said approaching.
"Miss Watkinson, is there an issue?" Ash said.
"My office, both of you." Miss Watkinson said sternly.
"The schools policy though." Ash said.
"Then put him in his Pokeball." Miss Watkinson said.
"I don't have his Pokeball with me." Ash admitted.
"Then how'd he get here?" Miss Watkinson asked.
"A friend." Ash gulped.
"Very well, your Pikachu may go back home." Miss Watkinson said.
"Go on buddy." Ash said.
In the office
"Sit Mr. Ketchum." The principal said.
"I don't see what I did wrong." Ash said.
"Once again, it's not you." Miss Watkinson sighed.
"Not again." Ash moaned.
"It's a bigger group of parents this time, your more adventurous younger days in terms of attire has caught up to you, and I don't think I can talk your way out of this." Miss Watkinson said, holding a folder. "Take a look."
Ash saw photos of him at various times in more feminine attire.
"Can't we just explain like last time?" Ash asked.
"If we could, you wouldn't be here. This group of parents has been pushing every year, and this time they've gotten enough to make this a movement by the board." Miss Watkinson said.
"I was a kid, don't they understand that?" Ash asked.
"What they see is a young lady trying to hide herself, and disreagard our schools rules." Miss Watkinson said.
"Neither of those are true though." Ash argued.
"I know that, and if it wasn't for the fact you are one of our top students I wouldn't have fought for you as much as I have." Miss Watkinson explained. "You only have a few months left, do you think you can bear with it until then, just to appeal to these parents?"
"Not many options, are there?" Ash asked.
"No there isn't, I'm sorry." Miss Watkinson said.
"Okay, I'll be sure to wear one tomorrow." Ash said.
"They're here today, I have a spare you can borrow for the day. Thankfully you have a petite body." Miss Watkinson said.
Serena saw Ash renter their classroom, now clad in the girls uniform, taking his usual seat.
"The weird parents again?" Serena asked.
"Yep, how can I be required to wear the girls uniform, while you are forced to wear the guys?" Ash complained.
"Because my legs don't look good in a skirt anymore." Serena joked.
"Not the time." Ash said plainly. Despite their break, the two were still outliers at the school, and stuck together as a result. Wearing this uniform would be far more unbearable without Serena here with him.
Serena had to hold herself back from saying too much. Something about Ash in the girls uniform was exciting, but he asked for some time and space, and she understood why he wanted it. She had gone too far in Galar, and with their last 'experiment' it was going to take him some time to come back around.
The rest of the school day had gone by with little to no issues. A few remarks about Ash's skirt, but nothing too bad. Most thought Ash was just a tomboy, the guys who approached him were usually too intimidated to try something, and the girls thought he was weird.
"Oh, Goh's going to have a field day with that." Chloe said.
"Yeah I owe him for bringing Pikachu here as it is." Ash said begrudgingly.
"I'll make you a deal, I'll try and get most of it out of his system, if you get the groceries I was asked to get." Chloe asked.
"How is that a fair trade?" Ash asked.
"We're out of the special peanut butter." Chloe said.
"That guy is so weird, he always is looking at me like I'm a science experiment." Ash complained.
"Which is why it's a fair trade. Serena is the only one who isn't weirded out by him, and she's staying late today." Chloe said.
"Okay, give me the list, I'll get the food." Ash said.
"Thanks Ash." Chloe said, handing him the shopping list before skipping off.
"Hey, Uhh Ash." A voice said.
Ash turned to see the kid from lunch.
"Hey, Saito, right?" Ash asked.
"Yeah, I'm going to keep working with Drowzee, and we'll battle you again." Saito said. "And next time we'll win."
"I'm looking forward to it." Ash said.
Ash left to get the groceries, not knowing his whole life would be turned on it's side very soon.
Authors note
So this was hinted at in Chapter 200, that a lot of the people in this school aren't serious trainers, so Ash and gang obviously stand out. On top rod that, Ash is kind of like Ranma Saotome in this situation, where he's the best at the school, and most have accepted it, but there are still those that will keep trying to the point that it's almost pitiful.