"I have made my decision Ash.. I'm coming with Drew"

Ash stares at me with a tedious expression

"Not really coming... Well, I heard that he's competing in Johto so I.."

[sighs]

Is it the right thing to tell Ash?

"Want to watch him Win and perhaps Ask him if he could.."

Could I trust him? Can he even understand??

But do I have a choice?

[sighs]

"Take me wherever he goes"

"Tell Me, May" He asks in tedious tone whilst gently scratching his cheeks and keeping his eyes away from me "Why?"

"His words made me realize our Power Imbalance.. How i held you back from pursuing your dreams"

"It doesn't matter!" He cries, expressing a vexing emotion that stirs in his brown eyes

...

Is there something wrong??

"I don't mind, and I DONT CARE! I still want to mentor you.."

For a moment, I was perplexed.

Why is Ash acting like this?

"Until you've become stronger to DEFEAT HI—"

"But it's not what I'm after anymore!"

I responded in a spur of the moment

...

I am feeling tremulous

I hold the rose tight and began crying in silence

...

I want to tell Ash that, it's his ways that withholds me instead.

"He respects me.."

He acknowledges me.. as someone in the same ground as him

"He acknowledges me"

He knows my weakness, He knows my strength.. and despite those, he never took an advantage of it..

"He fills my holes whenever I feel incomplete.. and Embraces my flaws"

Whenever i see him.. in the contest or any event

I embrace myself and looks down while smiling

"I don't know.. Maybe.. Maybe, I just love him.."

[...]

Love..

I finally said that word

That i have been hesitating to say..

As i am not sure, if he feels the same but.. with this Rose, and how he talks to me, I'm sure..

"Funny right? Because I could have sworn I wanted to beat him.. but concurrently.."

I'm pretty sure

"I want him to look at me"

Thats why i am making this decision

"As if we are in the same grounds.."

Because..

"Deep inside, I.. look forward to seeing him in every contest.. Deep inside, I contemplate if I didn't see him around.."

Simply because

"There were some feelings and words that I could not put to words.. All I know is, I love him and I am sure of it.."

I love him

"But there's also a Power Imbalance between you.."

"I surpassed him already.. I feel like, I have gotten stronger.. Stronger than anyone could imagine.. Strong enough"

I feel like i have gotten stronger because..

"To stand by myself"

He is there.. and hes gotten stronger because..

"Well, if you don't mind, Let's have our ONE LAST BATTLE"

"ON IT!"

Because i am here..

[Blaziken and Sceptile fights and ends up in a draw]

I feel like i am as strong as Ash, as well..

Drew..

Sceptile sliced the ribbon in half and we keep it

Lets be stronger..

[I leave Ash and the gang already and sets off a new journey]

[fast forward]

Drew lost again..

"And the Prince of Hoenn, was trounced!"

What??

Is there anything wrong, again?

A strong disheartenment fills his emerald green eyes as he returns Roselia and Flygon

Drew...

I want to jump and help him but Soledad stops me

"Leave him be, May.."

"But—"

"He wouldnt want to see that you watched him lost"

...

I thought we talked about this, Drew

"Drew does not want you to experience what hes going through.."

"Huh?"

"Drew cares for you.. Leaving him alone is the least you can do.."

But..

I hold myself tight

I want to be stronger.. with him but i am not in a good position to meddle so i just watch him give his poignant exit

Is it okay to let him be alone?

I have a bad feeling..

[...]

I made my exit to look for him

Soledad tries to stop me but i insist

"DREW!!"

I continue walking while screaming his name, worrying

"Drew! Please.."

Its getting darker..

I have no idea where am i..

I proceed walking a little further and in close at hand, i have seen a light that vanishes immediately

"ROSELIA, ONE MORE TIME, SOLAR BEAM!"

Oh no..

Roselia arises from the ground and garners energy from the plants around that reflects Drew beneath it, wounded and his clothes are torn

Drew..

Roselia throws the attack so i summoned Blaziken to stop it and quickly runs to him

"Blaziken, FIRE SPIN!"

[explodes]

"Drew!"

"M-May??"

I gandered at him while hes looking away

"W-What brings you here?"

[...]

"You must have seen how i lost.."

[...]

"I knew telling you that i'm competing in Johto was a bad—"

*slaps*

...

Deafening silence surrounds us as i start crying in silence

"Remember what you told me back there.."

"..."

"What about it, May?"

"Were you sincere when you told me those?"

"..."

"Or youre just playing with me.. just because.."

"Because what.."

Come on May, take the opportunity..

"What is it, May?"

"Answer my question first" then i glared at him "Were you just playing with me when you advised me those things? About making an attack in your original way? About over coming weaknesse?"

"Why would i even play with you?..."

"Because.. thats what you always do right?"

...

What am i saying? Why am i feeling delirious?

Drew didnt say a word..

"I always want us to become stronger.."

"May.."

"I came in Johto, in my own will, to propose.."

..

That, i want to travel with you. So we'll get stronger together

"To be stronger with you"

[gulp]

"Lets be rivals again!"

You missed it again, May

"Rivals, huh?" He says in a bitter tone

Drew..

"Sure"

"And drew, I..."

I love you

I really do

I am certain of it

"I.."

I always miss you whenever youre not around

"I want to battle with you in this Region"

May, do you always have to miss it?

"May.."

"Lets get stronger, and stronger.. until.."

Until the right time comes that we reach our limits and I'll profess my feelings

"Until we reach our dreams.. to become a top coordinator"

I summon ivysaur to heal his wounds

"And promise me.."

I hold his hand and stare at his tedious eyes

"Please.."

[...]

"Don't hurt yourself.."

[...]

"Don't cope with pain.."

You can come to me if you're feeling burdened.. I am all ears

I will try to understand.. and

"I will.. I won't do it again, May.."

It's the most comforting words I have ever heard

We hold each other's hands as we watch the stars

I want to ask him, What are We but his eyes are telling me

"May. Sorry.."

"Hmm?"

"If I.." then he gently scratches his cheeks "Made you worried.."

I am.. but what other choice do I have?

I hold his face and wipe the remaining wounds with my old red handkerchief

"Don't do it again" I whispered "Please"

"I won't"

"Here.." then I hand him my old Handkerchief "Let this be a reminder that we're.."

We're what..

"Rivals"

"Of course"

He takes the handkerchief and puts it in his pocket "Rivals"

...

He pulls my Bandana unto my ears and smiles "But no hard feelings if only one of us makes it, okay?"

Guess he's back..

Meanwhile..

Unbeknownst to the two, Soledad is watching beneath the bushes

"Guess Drew will be okay from tonight on"

She simply walks off and smiles "With May on her side,Nothing could ever go wrong.. Now drew.."

"When will you tell her?"

[inserts May and Drew from the other direction bickering again]

"About how you feel about her.."

——

"May.." He unconsciously said

"May?"

"N-Nothing!" He flusters

"Hmm??"

"Well.."

Drew continues blushing while gently scratching his cheeks "He's just another coordinator.. and She's strong!"

..

"She's stronger than me, honestly"

"What do you mean?"

"You just have to watch her and be amazed.."

"How about you?"

"I want to get more stronger Soledad.."

"Aren't you strong enough?"

"Not enough" then Drew looks at her "To be a deserving person for her.."

——

"Drew.." I said, while we're watching the fireworks together at the back of Pokemon Center

Can you stay for a little longer?

"Don't worry May, I won't leave yet.."

"H-Huh.."

"Because the firework show isn't over, silly!"

I smiled

I feel another rose that slips in my hand, and it's redder than the previous one he gave me. With three leaves underneath it

I love you too, Drew..