In place of what he thought was Jira, there were four familiar faces. Ash couldn't process the information quick enough, as he got immediately tackled by them.

A few seconds later, his mind cleared and he noticed four girls glomping him to the ground.

"Ahh… Misty? May? Dawn and… Serena? What the hell are you guys doing here?"

"Shut up, idiot." May spoke. "Let us… hug you."

The four girls were trying to stay cool, but immediately choked with tears. Goh could only look at the scene as Ash felt the big weight and the four girls crying on top of him.

"..."

"Heh. I've done it." Goh smirked.

"Uhh…"

"Man. I should have seen it coming. Why did I actually open the door?" Ash thought.

"Where… WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!" Serena shouted.

"Tell me right now, Ash!" Dawn said. "We…" as she choked again.

"I know." Ash spoke. "I'm… I'm sor-"

"Ash…" Misty said in tears. "We've looked for you everywhere on this goddamn planet."

"Misty... you too?"

"Shut up! Tell us right... now!!" she shouted.

"I'm sorry." Ash softly spoke.

"…"

"…"

Ash received no answer, as he kept staring at the four girls who were hugging him and crying. The poor girls have been looking for Ash everywhere. No sign of him in Kanto, Johto, Sinnoh, Kalos, Alola, everywhere.

"Girls... I'm sorry."

"..."

"...hey… at least…" May tearfully spoke, "...we know that you're alive…"

"I'm sorry… it's just that…"

"Ash…"

"…no need to worry." Dawn said. "It's just… you know how it is…"

Goh and Jira were kind of giggling and smiling at the same time, as Ash sat there on the ground, with his friends cuddled up to him. It was Goh who planned this all along, because sooner or later this would happen anyway. The four girls have been looking for Ash for two years, and now that he has come back, he thought he might as well bring them here as soon as possible.

The girls finally stopped crying and they kept hugging Ash with a happy smile and a little blush on each of their faces. Ash himself blushed a little as well when he finally realized he was actually being dogpiled by four sweet girls who just wanted to know that he is okay.

"Dawn… everyone…" Ash spoke. "Could you please… let me get back up?"

"Oh. We're… we're so sorry." Dawn said, as the four girls finally released Ash from the glomp, and allowed him to get back up. Ash's back was hurting kinda badly and it showed.

"Owww… it hurts… how am I gonna sleep at night now?" he thought.

"Goh. Thank you so much for your help." Serena said.

"So Goh, it was you who planned this, eh jerk?" Ash smiled.

"Umm… yes, Ash. That was me. I told Dawn about it right after you revealed yourself in the battle against Paul. That's how they came to know."

"And why didn't you tell me beforehand? You told me you were going off with Cinderace or something."

"No, Ash, I wanted to... let you sleep at night."

"And I thought I would only see Paul here," Ash said. "When I joined the tournament I knew what I was getting myself into. I knew these things would eventually happen… but not this quickly."

"Ash, you idiot," May said, "it's because we never, ever thought you were associated with Team Rocket. Nor did Max or everyone else. But…" she said as she hugged him again, "...I know you really hate the media. We do as well."

"May… it's okay. You're… no longer an idol, right?" Ash spoke.

"Yes. Me, Dawn and Serena quit the idol life because the media just wouldn't stop taking pictures of us while we weren't watching. The last thing you want to know as a girl is to have random pictures taken of you at the beach. While we were looking for you, we had some moments of relax as well, especially with Misty here, and she knew the best places where we could just lay in the sun. Well, one day, there was this paparazzo who caught us right when we…"

"...yeah. I… I get it." Ash smiled.

"...Yes. You're not that oblivious anymore, Ashy." May giggled. "We told Lisia about it and she actually agreed to quit her idol life as well. That was a few months after you disappeared."

"I think I've never went to the beach during these past two years." Ash said. "I was in hiding… I really, really wanted to forget about everything. But I guess I wanted to just be myself. I've done it half-heartedly, I guess, but I think it's ultimately better."

"It absolutely is, Ash." Misty said. "It's better for you and everyone here. We're so happy, you can't imagine… you're now finally here, you most importantly are alive for Arceus's sake. Me and the girls will protect you with our blood. And I'm sure Brock and Goh will do the same."

"I think it's me who should protect other people." Ash smiled.

"No, Ash." Serena said. "Please, please, please, just relax and be yourself. We like it that way… you had some tears in your eyes while we were hugging you. Don't hide it."

"That's true, Ash." Goh confirmed. "I looked at you and some tears fell off your eyes. I don't think that's happened with Brock. But I guess that we as boys don't really do that."

"Ash… you lucky bastard." Jira suddenly spoke as he walked in. "Why do I never get anything?!" he said as he teared up.

"Now, now, Jira, don't be like Brock. You're not that kind of guy."

"...it's okay, Ash. I'd just like to have a girlfriend one day." Jira said.

"Yeah, Jira, maybe it'll happen. Maybe one day, too, I'll have one." Ash said, as the four girls blushed heavily, especially Serena.

"But…"

"Well, guys, I honestly feel kinda sleepy." Ash spoke. "Jira, good luck tomorrow. Whatever you do, you'd better reach the finals. I want to get my revenge."

Ash went back to his room as Pikachu was waiting there.

"We'll meet up with some faces you know tomorrow, buddy." Ash said. He knew that the girls were going to sleep in their own room.

"Pikaa!"