Round of 16: Gathering Thoughts

"Oh. You must be Red Satoshi."

"...Paul?"

"I'm glad to meet you. You were pretty strong out there." Paul said, while meeting Red Satoshi in the hall near the stadium.

"Yes. I think I watched your match yesterday", Ash said while playing dumb, "I think you were the one with an Electivire or something."

"Yes, that was me. You're quite interesting. And that Dracovish… that technique reminded me of someone else."

"Um…" Ash thought, but his mind was freezing inside.

"Did he just…?"

"Red Satoshi, I'll be looking forward to facing you. I will defeat you."

"We're the ones who will win, Paul."

"Later." Paul said, walking off.

Ash sighed in relief, for the second time in two weeks. He dodged the bullet again, but knowing the situation he was in, he knew the time was coming.

Later

The round of 16 draw was in. Ash was facing a trainer from the Sinnoh region, Lucas. Jira was up against Tara from Kalos, and Paul was facing… Nando?

"Oh god, how have I not noticed Nando till now?" Ash thought. "Paul, you'd better win, or else I will beat you up with my shoe!"

"So, what do you think of these drawings, Ash?"

"I'll do my best against Lucas", Ash said, "and hope to push Red Satoshi to his limit. I want him to die in the semifinals, not here."

"My fight is also going to be a challenge", Jira said. "Rumours said this girl has a Diancie. I'm thinking up a good strategy to lure her, but if her Diancie can Mega Evolve, I'm gonna be in a lot of trouble."

"No, Jira, you're fine," Ash said. "You will definitely pass her. Your Weavile can go toe-to-toe with my Mega Lucario. A Diancie can't do a lot better, to be honest." Ash smiled.

Later, that night

"Pikachu. Ready for tomorrow?"

"Pika…"

"It will offer us a lot of answers. We need to overcome Lucas."

"Jira, I hope you win. And Paul, in the name of all legendaries on this fucking planet, beat Nando. In fact… oh god, if both me and Paul lose… wait, no, if I win and Paul loses… wait, I don't even know what to think. All I know is that the last person I want to battle right now is a Coordinator. They are the ones who get the media's attention… now that I think about it, that reminds me of them… no, please I don't want to go there. Just… Paul, please win tomorrow."

Ash's thoughts were going all over the place at this point. While he was somewhat focused on his battling and the tournament, the thoughts of the day where he would reveal himself to the world inching closer and closer were giving him a lot of trouble. There were only a few days at this point, whether he liked it or not. It could even be tomorrow. It could be in the quarter-final round. Or it could be, as agreed, in the semifinals. All of these rounds were taking place in the span of one week. That was the limit.

Ash couldn't stop thinking about how will life go on for him after he reveals his true identity.

"I remember when I left Pallet Town, and I traveled through so many regions, I made amazing friends, enjoying battling, and feeling so happy… I… I can't yet go through my memories, but… I can clearly remember that it was so much better back then. I was happy and made everyone around me happy…"

"Everyone… when I come back, will you… forgive me?" was Ash's last thought… as he shed a tear.