The Ash Way
ASH KETCHUM'S eyebrow twitched alongside Pikachu's perturbed ear movements as they watched with bemusement as Cilan pranced around a whiteboard.
"Simply put, Ash," he gushed, "my coveted 'win the girl' five step first date plan is a certified three-out-of-three stars course! Its divine quality has been tested over the centuries by countless unknowns from around the world and written down both factually and fictionally to attest to its indomitable success rate. Simply put, you'll have her in the palm of your hands if you follow these steps."
"Um, thanks, Cilan," said Ash, masking his confusion quite well.
"You're most welcome!" enthused Cilan. "Trust me, my Kanto friend. It pleases me so much to be asked advice by thee in regard to that enigmatic corner of the human experience: amour…!"
Once Cilan had finished his overblown monologues, Ash politely excused himself from the room as he prepared for the demonstration match. "Huh…what a plan," he said thoughtfully.
Cilan had been meticulous, mapping out every action and step and placing them in a way that was easy to understand. Ash knew Cilan is a careful and thoughtful thinker and that his assessment of various situations was often the correct. Which is why – PLONK – he threw it into a trash can.
"I appreciate the thought," said Ash quietly to himself, "but I think this is a situation where only I can help myself… If I can even manage. Oh well." He checked his belt and his five other choices of Pokémon. "It's battle time!"
Just a few days prior, Misty had out of nowhere asked him out on a date. He'd only been back from Kalos for a week and after regaling to his Cerulean Gym leading friend his adventures in that region, Misty had seemed…irate. He still really doesn't know the why or how, but somehow that rage had turned into a "go on a date with me" talk.
Despite the weird goings on in the background, Ash battled with aplomb.
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He knew he couldn't just let Misty be mad with him. He had to find a way to let her vent her stress in a way that didn't end with him getting his eardrums blown up alongside getting hammered with a mallet that she'd somehow have on her person.
"Hmm…" Grabbing his phone, Ash texted her a question, then a request…
Misty blinked in surprise, but she still texted back a 'yes.' She was still puzzled, however. "Huh…? The hell does he have in mind?"
Ash grinned when he saw Misty at the meeting point. Luckily, she'd done as he suggested and wore sports clothes. "Bike shorts as you said… Where're we going?" she quizzed.
"You'll see," he smiled.
Ash made biking look easy as Misty kept up, trying to keep a rhythm to her breathing. He stormed a winding road furiously as he changed bike gears. "Pikachupi!"
He looked back and was relieved and pleased to see that Misty was keeping up with him, he'd always enjoyed that natural tomboy tenacity of hers. "Keep it up, Mist!" shouted Ash.
"Where are you even taking me?!"
"You'll see!"
She rolled her eyes but gritted her teeth all the same and peddled after him.
The destination soon came. At first Misty was cross at stopping in the middle of the road but before she could finish her sentence of indignation, Ash motioned to the side.
"Whoa," she gasped. Before her was a beautiful view of the valley toward Cerulean City. The ocean in the horizon, pretty wisps of clouds above, trees, grass fields, and buildings just able to be seen through the treetops. "Pretty."
"Yeah. It's the view I saw last time I came through here on my walk from the airport."
"That so? Gosh, can't really say if I can remember seeing such a nice view." That gave Ash a smug smile and Misty lightly slugged him for it much to Pikachu and Azurill's amusement. "Yeah, right… Is this all you have to offer on date."
"Only plan I have in your dreams," he muttered as he soothed the area of his ribcage where she'd elbowed him. "Our day's just started, Mist."
Unlike when they'd headed up the hill, Misty took delight in coasting downhill. As they roamed along Ash kept thinking and thought it strange how Misty's reaction had been slightly underwhelming.
"I'd have thought she'd have appreciated a pretty view." Then a line from Cilan's little manual struck him…
When she says something's beautiful like a view or another girl. Tell her she's more beautiful than that…
Ash mentally hit himself for that.
Though by the time they reached the next destination, Misty was noticeably in a better mood. "A…diner?"
"Yeah! It's said this place has the best sundaes around." To Ash's delight, Misty's eyes lit up as soon as she heard that.
It got even better once she dug into the sundae. Ash found himself taken in by her look of bliss as she devoured it and even a bit of shame as he had to point out smudges she got on her cheek.
The rest of the date went well and by the time the sun was nearing the horizon they were both exhausted. They sat, energy depleted, on a bench.
"So…" huffed Ash, "…had fun…?"
"Yeah, I did…thank you, Ash." She gave a small smile and paused. "So, who gave you the idea for this date?"
He shrugged. "No one, came up with it myself."
"Wow. Quite the idea."
"I just figured I'd do the sort of things we had fun with as kids and…a few…other things."
"Like…?"
"I took ya to see that view because I figured you'd like that sort of gesture. Showing you something…nice."
"…" Misty paused and thought about it for a second. Ash felt sweat dripping down his forehead as he waited for her answer. "Well, it certainly worked. It blew me away."
"You're welcome. That and they say exercise is a great way to work off a bad mood. I didn't want you to stay mad so I figured some long bike riding would make things more fun between us."
"Makes sense," she laughed.
"Hey, er…" Ash paused thoughtfully. "…why'd you ask for a date?"
Misty sighed and leaned back. "I got jealous hearing about that Serena chick. Did you…like the kiss she gave you?"
"I thought it was awkward, really. I see her as a friend, I only hope I can make that clearer next time I see her."
"What about you and me?"
"Well…" Ash trailed off and reverted his gaze up front. It was then he noticed the sun's setting rays lighting up the coastal view from the park they were at. "Now that's a sight."
"Yeah! The light, the water… Beautiful."
Ash looked down, ruminated for a second, and turned to Misty. "Not as beautiful as you."
The orange-haired girl went red and averted her eyes. "D-did you get that pickup line from someone else…?"
"I mean it, though."
"O-oh… so, do you…like me?"
"I…I su- I suppose I do." Ash blinked. The day flashed again before his eyes. "Yeah. Yeah, I do!"
"Prove it, then."
"Okay." Ash leaned in slowly, his face getting hotter and hotter. It felt weird but not wanting to let fear take over, went right for a kiss! It was warm and cozy. For a moment, Ash questioned if Misty even is liking it…
…then he felt her reciprocating just as lightly. He softly parted from her after a few seconds.
"Okay..." said Misty softly. "That's the answer then." She paused. "I love you, Ash."
"Love ya too, Mist," he replied. Without another word, Misty rested her head on Ash's left shoulder as he used that arm to gently hold her.
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Author's Note: You know, it wasn't until I began brainstorming for this day that I realized just how superfluous this theme is to me given my mistake of penning Left Behind just prior to getting down to writing these. It is a quintessential aspect of a relationship of course, so it would've felt wrong to immediately eschew this.
That and I also realized that Left Behind's dating scenes are surrounded by a more somber and thematically deep affair and tone, so I reckoned I owed it to myself and you the readers to write something more lighthearted and took a bit of inspiration from the recently adapted Tomo-chan is a Girl! At any rate it was a writing refreshing necessity to counterbalance that other fic whose conclusion is incoming in a short bit.
