"Do you really believe Gary?" Ash asks his loyal starter Pokemon.
"Pi." Pikachu doesn't see Misty, but Ash keeps claiming the backpack looks like her.
The boy has been thinking about Gary's words these past few days of traveling to Cerulean City. Does Ash have a crush on her? He's never really thought of it much except for when Brock or Tracey would tease him. Back then, Ash and Misty would get very defensive that they're just friends. She must not like him either then, right?
"I hate this!" Ash exasperates as he grips his head in frustration. This is why he focuses on battling. It's so much easier than complicated people and feelings.
"Pikachupi!" Pikachu grins and leaps off of his trainer's shoulder.
Ash frowns while watching the mouse sprint up the sidewalk and through the double glass doors of the building with the giant Dewgong on it. "Here we go." He sighs. Tugging at the backpack strap, he mutters, "This is stupid." Though Ash is still walking inside the gym with his backpack that resembles the girl he's about to see.
When the double doors open again, Ash curiously looks around the empty lobby. Is she in the office? He'll check the battle arena. It's on the way to the office. Walking towards the hall, he spots a yellow furball sitting eagerly by the poolside in the battle arena. "Pikachu?" Ash asks.
As soon as the boy steps into the battle arena, someone emerges from the water. Ash and Pikachu instantly recognize that orange hair. "Pikachupi!" Pikachu leaps into her arms.
She is surprised because she didn't know anyone was inside, especially the little yellow guy. Hugging him while she's still in the pool, the girl giggles. "Hey, Pikachu!" Of course, with Pikachu, comes his trainer. Misty looks up to where Pikachu leaped from, and she smirks at the nervous boy avoiding her gaze. "Hey, Ash."
Why can't he look at her? It's not his first time seeing Misty in a swimsuit. It's not his first time seeing Misty at all! However, ever since Gary's words, Ash is overthinking his relationship with her. Why is he so nervous? Mew, Gary ruined everything! "Uh. Hey, Mist." Ash awkwardly replies as the girl gets out of the pool with Pikachu.
She walks over to him and hugs him. "Congrats, Ash. I'm proud of you." Her soft voice mixed with her slender arms wrapped around him makes him blush profusely. Dang it, Gary!
Ash stiffly pats her exposed back. "Thanks." he mumbles.
When Misty pulls away, she curiously eyes him. Why is he being so awkward around her? They just saw each other a few months ago. Shouldn't he be excited, like he usually is when seeing his friends? "So what brings you by?" As much as Misty would like to believe he's here to hang out with her, she knows Ash never does anything without reason. He's never visited her before except if his mother made him or if Professor Oak had an errand.
Nevertheless, she doesn't hate him for it. It's just who he is. Ash is focused on being a pokemon master. Once he stops traveling with someone, he still considers them a great friend, but Ash's communication style sucks. Well, he has no communication style. The boy doesn't pick up a phone except if it's to the professor or his mother. Misty can't blame him though because she isn't one to be contacting him either. The two are fine with their friendship, despite the lack of communication.
"Uh. I just wanted to show you my new backpack!" Ash grins, though this just makes Misty more suspicious. He really came all the way here to ask her about his backpack? That's a terrible lie, Ash Ketchum.
The girl watches as he turns around, and she sweatdrops when she sees his backpack. She'd expect something like this from Gary, but not Ash. He isn't narcissistic at all unless times have really changed. Misty's eyes now shift back up to Ash's curious ones. Should she tell him how she thinks his backpack is stupid? However, those hopeful eyes of his make her not be able to bring herself to say her honest opinions. Smiling sweetly, she replies, "It's nice, Ash."
That's it? Ash frowns, and Misty takes notice of it. Did he want her to say more? Ash sighs. What did he expect? He should ask her who his backpack looks like, but does he want to know that? A part of him is scared to know the answer. Why? It's not because he has a crush on her. That's old and long gone...right?
Before Ash can muster up the courage to ask her more about his backpack, she offers, "Wanna eat? I know you've been traveling all day." He just won the Alola League last week, so she figures he probably just got back to Kanto recently.
Ash nods with his goofy grin on his face. "Yeah! I'm starving! Aren't you, Pikachu?"
"Pika!" the mouse nods from Misty's shoulder.
Misty scratches Pikachu behind the ear. "I got a big bottle of ketchup for you, Pikachu!"
"Kachupi!" the yellow mouse's eyes light up in hearts and he hugs Misty tightly. She giggles at her adorable friend.
After dinner, Pikachu is in a ketchup coma, leaving the humans to themselves in the living room. They finished cleaning up and have been catching up with small talk. "Where are you headed to next?" Misty asks.
Ash shrugs. "I don't know. Maybe the Galar region?"
"Still trying to be a Pokemon master?" teases the redhead.
Ash grins. "You bet!" Just because he's a champion of one league, it doesn't automatically make him a Pokemon Master. He wants to be the best.
"I'm proud of you. You're working hard for your dream."
"Yeah! And you are too!"
She frowns slightly. "Not really."
"What do you mean?"
Sighing, the redhead sinks into her seat. "I'm just a gym leader, Ash. I always wanted to be the best water Pokemon trainer in the world."
"But you're a water pokemon gym leader. That means you're like the best."
"You're a champion. That means you're like the best." She mocks him, earning her a sheepish laugh.
"Okay. I see it." Ash lets out a breath as he gazes into her sad blue eyes. "But I think you're the best water Pokemon trainer. You're the toughest one I've ever battled."
"Thanks, Ash." Misty half expected him to let his fame get the best of him. He did just win the first ever Alola championship. When she saw that backpack of his, she really thought he'd change into a big headed kid, but she's glad to see he's still the same as when she left him.
Seeing Misty frown again worries the boy, so he asks, "What's wrong, Mist?"
She quickly sits up straighter as a fake smile appears on her lips. "Huh? What?"
He's sceptical of her behavior, but he understands she could be tired. The life of a gym leader is a lot of work. "I should probably go back to Pallet Town. It's late." The boy points to the window where the sun is setting.
"You should spend the night. Let Charizard rest. He's flown a lot today." Actually, Misty just wants more time with her crush, though it is late too.
Ash nods. "I'll take that offer." He's exhausted and a part of him doesn't want to leave her yet.
After Misty shows him to his room, and everyone is showered for bed, Ash can't sleep. Pikachu easily dozed off on the guestbed, so Ash quietly slips out. He sees Misty's light is still on under her door. Maybe she can keep him company until he can fall asleep? He does still have a lot he wants to talk to her about.
Knocking on the door allows him to get permission to enter. He spots his old friend with her hair down, which he rarely sees. Thus, Ash blushes and looks away from her towards her TV. "I couldn't sleep." He mutters.
Misty nods. "Same. I was gonna put on a movie to fall asleep to."
He walks closer to the TV and her bed. "What movie?"
Misty pats a spot next to her on the bed. "Haven't decided yet. Wanna watch with me?"
The summer before Ash went to Hoenn, he spent a lot of time with Misty at the gym. They'd stay up late laughing and reminiscing on their journeys while eating and watching movies. He's missed his best friend. Sitting on the bed, he tells her, "Let's watch the new action movie."
"No way. My room, my tv." Misty smirks.
Ash groans because he already knows what she's going to put on. "Romance movies are boring."
"Yeah. Because you don't have a romantic bone in your body." She says matter of factly.
"I do too have a romantic bone!" he furrows his brows at her in annoyance.
Misty raises a challenging eyebrow at him. "Really? Do you recall how many girls have been interested in you romantically?"
"None. All the girls I meet become my friends." It's why he has so many friends.
Misty narrows her eyes at him. He really is dense. "Prime example number 1: Serena Yvone, Kalos."
"What about her?"
Ash had told Misty about his previous traveling partners the last time Ash was in Kanto a couple of months ago. "She kissed you."
"Yeah. It was how she said goodbye."
"Did she kiss anyone else?"
"Well, she didn't kiss anyone else because they're all staying in the same region. Only I was leaving."
Misty groans. Even though she is upset that Ash already had his first kiss, she can't blame anyone but herself. That Serena girl is really admirable for pulling a move on Ash. While Misty over here, tough tomboy gym leader, can't even verbally admit she likes this guy. "See. No romantic bone in your body."
"What? I do know romance!"
"You obviously do not."
"Do too!"
"Do not!"
"Do too!"
"Not!"
"Too!"
"Not!"
"Fine!" exclaims the boy standing up. "I'll show you I do!" He then walks out of the room in a huff, and part of the angry redhead feels bad for making him mad.
However, he's just so irritating when he allows all these girls to do things to him while she can't. It's not fair. Figuring he's not going to come back, Misty puts on a romance movie. She is mentally cursing herself for arguing with him, which now means she lost time with her friend. He'll most likely be gone first thing in the morning, or whenever he decides to wake up. Maybe she should've just held her tongue, but that's hard when she thinks of Ash's first kiss.
Soon, Ash returns with his now empty backpack. Tossing it on the bed, he exclaims, "Here!"
"I don't want that." If Ash thinks this is a peace offering, well he's wrong. She doesn't want it. Actually, she wouldn't mind having it. Nevertheless, she won't let Ash win this argument that easily.
Ash sits down beside her again as the romance movie is now forgotten. "I'm not giving it to you." It's Gary's anyway. Ash needs to return it to his friend later. "I'm showing you I do know romance!"
"Ash, giving a girl a backpack isn't romantic. Flowers are. Or chocolates. Not a used backpack." the redhead remarks.
The boy grabs his hair in frustration. He isn't giving her the backpack! Why won't she understand? "I can be romantic. Not everything in the movies is true."
"But it's pretty accurate."
"Is that what you want?"
"Hm?" She raises a confused eyebrow at her defeated friend who now chooses to lay down on the bed beside her.
"Do you want a guy to give you flowers and chocolates?"
A faint pink blush tints her cheeks as she thinks about if her crush would do that to her. However, she knows he would never do it without her asking. It's just who he is. And that isn't the reason she likes him. Not all this superficial stuff. No. She likes him because he cares so much about Pokemon and people. He puts others before him, which is what scares her now that she can't be with him to protect him.
"Not just any guy." She's had plenty of boys come to the gym trying to court her with flowers and chocolates. Mew. Even Rudy gave her flowers years ago when she was traveling the Orange Islands.
"You make no sense." Mumbles the boy. So she doesn't want chocolates and flowers? Can't she make up her mind?
Misty rolls her eyes as she returns her attention to the TV. "I only want chocolates and flowers from the guy I like, Ash. You obviously wouldn't understand because you know nothing about romance."
"I do know romance, Misty!" exasperates the boy. "I just think flowers and chocolates are stupid. Anyone can give you that stuff. You shouldn't need it to show you love someone."
"Oh. You know romance equates to love now? You really have grown." teases the girl.
Ash shoots her a glare. "Duh. I'm not a little kid anymore."
"Seems like it." Misty giggles at his intensified glare. "I'm just teasing, Ash. I'm glad you know about the Pidgeys and the Beedrills."
"The what?"
Sweatdropping, the girl resumes watching her movie. "Nevermind." She sighs. "But you're right. Flowers and chocolates are stupid." In a quiet voice, she adds, "He wouldn't give me that stuff anyway."
"Who?" He heard her, even though he's pretty sure she didn't want him to.
"What?" Misty blushes deeply. Dang it. She shouldn't have said that!
"Who wouldn't give you that stuff?" Ash repeats.
If he doesn't know she's talking about him, then she can answer him. He is dense. Plus, this might be kind of entertaining. "The guy I like."
"What? You like someone, Misty?" Ash sits up again to stare at her wide eyed. He feels his heart ache knowing she likes someone.
She smiles warmly at the TV. "Yeah. He's a great guy, Ash. I think you'd like him a lot."
"I doubt it." he mumbles.
Misty raises an eyebrow at her friend. "You like everyone."
"I already don't like him."
She giggles at his annoyed expression. "Just because I like someone, it doesn't mean I'll stop being your friend."
Ash is still thinking about who his friend could like. It's not Rudy or Danny. Did she meet someone while here as the gym leader? Why does this bother him so much? Is it because he'll have to share her now? No. He wasn't this bothered when May and Drew started dating. This is different. Ash's eyes shoot over to the forgotten backpack where he sees it's still shaped like the redhead beside him. Could Gary be right?
"Who is it?"
Misty bites the inside of her cheek. She could tell him he knows her crush, but that would lead to more questions. Or she could lie and say he doesn't know her crush, which would end the conversation. "Secret." She smirks, making him groan.
"Who does my backpack look like?" If she won't tell him her crush, then he'll use the backpack. It's the reason he came all this way anyway.
She giggles. "I'm not answering that." Is Ash really switching topics?
"Why not? It's a simple question."
"Because we're talking about romance, Ash. That backpack has nothing to do with it." She doesn't understand why he keeps bringing up this backpack during their talk.
"Actually, it does." Ash holds out the backpack to her. "Gary invented it."
"Figured." Misty mutters while rolling her eyes. Only Gary is narcissistic enough to try and make someone else as egotistical as him.
"It's supposed to take the shape of who or what you love most."
Misty narrows her eyes at him. "You really expect me to believe that?" Does he think she was born yesterday? Plus, this is Gary Oak telling Ash this stuff. As if she'd believe anything involving Gary Oak.
"It's true!"
"I'm not stupid."
"I'm not lying!"
"Ash, it's a backpack." Misty really can't believe he fell for another one of Gary's ploys again.
"Not any backpack-"
"I know. I know. It takes the shape of your lover. Blah blah blah." she waves her hand in disinterest.
Ash is fed up with her disregarding the backpack. He's trying to make a point, and she won't listen! "Pikachu sees ketchup when he looks at this! And Gary sees himself because we all know Gary loves himself! And I see you!" The moment that last word leaves his mouth, Ash's face turns the hottest shade of red that's possible, and he slowly lifts up the backpack to hide his embarrassed face.
"What?" Misty whispers. She can't see her friend anymore because he's hiding behind that backpack, though it does look like him. At first, she thought he was feeling himself after his Alolan championship win, which is why he had a backpack shaped like him. Then she found out Gary gave it to him, making a lot of sense because Gary is narcissistic. Gary probably figured Ash would like a backpack shaped like himself.
However, now that Ash says he sees her as the backpack, it makes Misty very confused. Pikachu sees ketchup? Makes sense. Gary sees himself. Definitely makes sense. But Ash sees her? That doesn't make sense. Nevertheless, she doesn't see herself. She sees him, which obviously makes sense. Thus, they're both seeing different things for this backpack. And if what Ash is saying about this backpack is correct, then that means…
"Ash." she softly speaks. When there's no response, the girl reaches out to gently pull down the backpack. Ash's embarrassed and defeated demeanor allows her to easily remove the backpack. With her eyes not on his, she tells him, "I see you too."
She's glad to see his chocolate orbs light up in surprise. Ash nervously scratches the back of his head. "Gary says it's because I like you romantically, and I still don't know what romance is and all that." he admits quickly. "But I know I like you the most out of all my friends."
Giggling as her own blush heats her face, Misty hugs her friend tightly. "You know I'm an expert at romance, Ash, and I like you a lot...romantically." He may not ever give her flowers or chocolates, but she doesn't care. He's Ash Ketchum and he gives her happiness. He gives her laughs. He gives her love.
In the corner of her eye, she sees that backpack that looks a lot like the boy she's hugging. Misty makes a mental note to thank Gary later. That egotistical research intern really has a knack for inventing. Hugging Ash tighter, she's glad to know her crush feels the same way about her, especially when he wraps his own strong arms around her.