The Sakaki's and Ash arrived at the villa. Ash asked annoyed as they were walking to the entrance, "Are you seriously not even a bit angry that Silver choose my starter? If the Trubbish was that much of an issue, I was willing to compromise on a Bulbasaur or something! Just not a Sprigatito..."
"What is your problem with the Sprigatito?", asked Silver, as he walked though the door frame of the entrance. He saw something shining on the floor. "Hey, what is this?" Picking up, he realized it was money. "Why is here money on the ground?"
"Wait a minute, is that the money I gave you this morning, Ash?", asked Ariana annoyed.
"Well, uh, yes...", admitted Ash.
Ariana just sighed and collected it. "Get changed, you two. Then get back down. We need to discuss a few things.", she said, "Right, Giovanni?"
"Of course!", agreed her husband.
Ash and Silver walked upstairs in their respective rooms, getting changed into their normal clothes. Ash dumped his school stuff and the Sprigatito's Poke-ball on his bed. Pikachu jumped into his bed.
"No emotional support from you? Eh, I can't be mad at you.", he told Pikachu before leaving his room again and going down.
He, Silver, Ariana and Giovanni sat in the living room. The parents on one couch and the teen boys on another couch in front of them.
"Before we start, I want to know why you dumped the money in the entrance, Ash?", said Ariana.
Ash took a deep breath. "I didn't think you really gave it to me. Alexander tricked me often enough with money.", explained Ash, "I'll only accept money from Giovanni, as he is my legal guardian, not you."
Ariana looked to her husband. "I, fine. I give you money, then. But don't do that when Ariana cooks for you.", said Giovanni. "Now. Regarding this morning. Ash, we will drive you. If Silver gets his license, he'll drive you. If one of us can't or Silver just won't or you're just being utterly stubborn for no reason, please use the bus or train. Again, I will give you an allowance to pay for that."
"Mm, fine.", replied Ash.
Ariana than said, "The next matter is, you need to eat more, Ash. We already asked Silver to make sure you do."
"About that...", muttered Silver guilty.
"Silver, what happened?", asked Ariana accusatory.
"A teacher misunderstood me motivating Ash, so, um, I am banned from interacting with Ash at lunch break...", admitted Silver sheepishly.
"Motivating? More like forcing me to.", said Ash annoyed.
"Silver? Seriously?", said Ariana disappointed. "You're as hopeless as your father sometimes."
"Hey! Anyway, Ash, you need to stop avoiding Silver. At home and at school.", demanded Giovanni from his son. "Now, regarding your surname change. We wanted to ask you for your permission, but Delia demanded you'll ditch her maiden name."
"Even though she doesn't use it anymore.", said Ariana while rolling her eyes. "A weird woman."
"Now, Ash, I've noted your phone is, well, borderline e-waste. You'll get a new phone. As well as a laptop or desktop for school work, whichever you prefer, or both if you want.", said Giovanni.
"I just want to exchange the Sprigatito against a Pokemon that is actually my choice and not Silver's control issues."
"My what now?", asked Silver offended. "I just did you a favor with it."
"We'll won't exchange the Sprigatito. Simply because it is against the rules of the school.", said Giovanni.
"Seriously, why do you want that Trubbish?", asked Silver.
"I didn't want it, actually.", admitted Ash, "I just didn't want to outshine you."
"Huh? Outshine me? What do you mean, Ash?", asked Silver even more confused than before.
"Well..." Ash felt suddenly sick in the stomach. "Not your business!", he yelled as he was bolting to his room.
Ash rushed up the stair case and into his bathroom, giving Pikachu a scare. He hastily closed the door to the bathroom and then puked into the toilet. It felt weird, not like puke, but like leaves. Taking a look at what he puked, he saw flower petals in the toilet. He recognized the tulips, but not the other. His botanical knowledge is limited. Not that he cares. Not that he realized it. The petal in physics.
"Fuck. I have Hanahaki.", he muttered before puking out more petals. "Should I tell them?"
He sat besides the toilet, unsure what to do. If he tells them, what then? When he told Delia he was down with a cold, she ignored it and told him to pull though, no doctor visit.
"Looks like I'm just gonna live it out.", he decided. "I better figure out what variant I have and what causes it. Thanks for your lesson, Mrs. Adolphi."
Giovanni told Silver he can do as he pleases now. He stayed on the couch, thinking about his son's weird behavior. Namely what he said about outshining Silver. He then decided to go to his study, to make a call he wanted to avoid.
"I got a hunch Delia and her family caused this.", he thought.
Walking in, he closed the door, even locked the door to make sure he won't be interrupted. He took his phone and typed Delia's private number.
"Hello?", he heard Delia asking.
"It is me, Delia. We need to talk about Satoshi.", he explained.
"But he's your responsibility now!"
"I know. I just have a question. Sato said something weird and I hoped you could give context.", he explained his ex mistress. "He got his Goldenrod Prep Starter today and wanted to choose a Trubbish. He said something about 'not wanting to outshine Silver'. May you know what he means with outshining?"
"Oh, that! We told him not to choose something more special than Riko. She deserves better things than Satoshi. After all she is not the affair baby.", explained Delia.
"You were the one who had to throw themselves at a married man, Delia. You shouldn't punish Ash for your choices. Well, now it doesn't matter. Unlike you, I treat my kids the same." Well, he tries to. Ash's stubbornness complicates the matter, but Delia does not need to know that. "They even go to the same school. Oh, and Delia? Thanks for telling me the wrong food, you bitch."
"I'm not a bitch!", she yelled. "Now, same school you said?"
"Yes. Unlike you, I'm a fair parent." With that, he ended the call.
Once again it was dinner time. Silver decided to fetch Ash, wanting to take some work from his parents. But then he saw Ash was asleep on his bed. Unsure if he should wake Ash, he asked his father.
"Dad? Ash is asleep."
"Don't wake him. But you can fetch his Pokemon for dinner.", said Giovanni.
Silver returned to Ash's room. Pikachu was jumping off his bed. "Hey, Pikachu, I am asked to fetch you and Sprigatito for dinner.", said Silver. "Do you know where Sprigatito is?"
Pikachu jumped onto Ash's desk, digging out Sprigatito's ball from Ash's backpack. Silver took it. "Seriously? He didn't let her out? Well, let's get downstairs."
Silver, as well as the two Pokemon, then walked to their dinner. Afterwards, when both Pokemon returned to their bed – Sprigatito decided to sleep on Ash despite Pikachu telling her not to. Giovanni then locked the door of Ash's room when the Pokemon were asleep like their trainer.
"You're an idiot, Giovanni.", said Ariana seeing this. She crossed her arms.
"I just want that he doesn't sneak out again in the middle of the night.", reasoned Giovanni.
"You do realize we want Ash to like us? You may cause the opposite. You know what Silver told us.", said Ariana disappointed of her husband. "He said he hates Silver."
"Ash was just angry about the Sprigatito.", said Giovanni nonchalantly. "Now, let's go to bed. We'll need to be rested if tomorrow is anything like today."
Ash woke up, sweaty and in pain. He stumbled out of his bed, throwing off his Sprigatito who followed him into the bathroom. As he was puking out flowers, he remembered he has Hanahaki. He tried to pull them out, but it hurt. Ash stopped and returned to his bed, trying to sleep. Or tried to. He could not. Sprigatito noted his discomfort and jumped besides him onto the bed.
"Go off, Sprigatito. Shoo, shoo.", he demanded. But Sprigatito just ignored his demands. She then gave off a smell, a sweet floral smell that seemed to weaken his discomfort. He got tired, then fell asleep without a hitch.
His alarm rang and Ash woke. He saw Sprigatito sleeping besides his pillow and sighed. He woke her up and put her down, "You aren't allowed on the bed."
Then he got ready for the day, "Let's hope they really drive me. I don't want to get late on my second day." Then he sneezed. A tulip petal accompanied by extremely small yellow petals. Yeah, he needs to read up on the flowers if he wants to know whose favorite flower he is coughing up. He only knows his mom's and Riko's flowers. Dahlia's and roses, red specifically.
Both flowers match perfectly. Delia's name literally means Dahlia, at least they are similar and Riko, she is like a rose. Pretty to look at but many painful thorns and can be poisonous at times. Maybe this is why Riko loves red roses so much, she loves herself the most.
"Come on, Pikachu. Breakfast is supposed to start.", said Ash. But Pikachu remained in his bed. Ah, that kind of day again. "Shit, looks like I need to use Sprigatito in class..."
Ash then proceeded to open the door, but it won't budge. Even after more violent attempts, the door stayed closed.
"Oh, right! Sorry!", he heard Giovanni say. Giovanni then opened the door. "I'm sorry, I forgot I locked the door."
"Why did you close it to begin with?", asked Ash angrily.
"I wanted to avoid that you're leaving again.", explained Giovanni. "Where's Pikachu?"
"The lazy potato does not want to get up. Looks like I'll have to navigate class without him.", said Ash, then he walked down the corridor and down the stairs to the dining room. Sprigatito was following him, Ash did not bother to carry her.
At breakfast, he just ate a few pieces of baguette. Apparently Ariana is convinced baguette is the only type of bread he eats. But she is too happy to say anything about his eating behavior. "Look at you! The first time you're eating breakfast with us!", she pointed out.
Ash looked annoyed at her and asked, "Ariana, did you ask Giovanni to look my bedroom door?"
"No, in fact I told him not to.", she explained. "But Gio decided to be an idiot. What, did this Alexander lock you in and now you assume I do the same?"
"Well, yes.", admitted Ash nonchalantly. "Seems to be something step parents like to do."
After the breakfast, Silver noted something. "Ash, where is Pikachu?", he asked his brother, "You said he won't go into his ball."
"Pikachu decided he won't come to school with me. He has his lazy days sometimes.", explained Ash. "Which means I have to use the weed cat you forced me into choosing, Silver."
"I just meant it well! Wait, what did you call her?", he asked, trying not to laugh, "That isn't her nickname, right?"
"I do not nickname my Pokemon.", stated Ash, "On the other hand, I do not consider her my Pokemon."
"Oh, Ash!", said Silver annoyed. He starts to understand how his mother feels.
They were on their way to the boy's school, when Ariana said, "Ash, let me give you your allowance and don't throw it away again."
"Then let me tell you again that I won't accept money from you.", said Ash to her, he was clearly annoyed.
"Why in the world are you rejecting money?", asked Silver confused, "Especially since you were poor before you moved in with us."
"Simple. It is simply not the step parents job to give an allowance.", explained Ash to Silver.
Ariana asked annoyed, "So if Giovanni gives you money, you accept it then?" Ash nod. "Will that change when I adopt you?"
"Considering that I would need to agree for that to happen, bold of you to assume it just would! That won't happen so don't bother considering if.", replied Ash. "Plus, if you would adopt me, mom won't be able to take me back."
"She taking you back?", asked Giovanni shocked, "How do you think would that happen?"
"This isn't the first time I'm taken from mom, just the first time I am placed with you.", explained Ash, "Which is also why I asked the social worker about being placed in an orphanage. Weren't you informed?"
"Well, do you want to return?", asked Silver carefully, as if he was worried the question would trigger his brother in any way.
"Of course I want to.", answered Ash, "She's my mom after all. I've lived with her my whole life. Well, besides these three years which I doubt happened as you said."
"But! Seriously? You think that?", asked Giovanni worried. "Did Delia ever say something about your first years of life?"
"But they treat you so bad! You said yourself you were in the shed because you weren't in allowed in that guy's house.", said Silver shocked. "And Delia didn't stand up for you to live in the house."
"Silver. No. They just treat me like anyone else would treat their affair child.", said Ash nonchalantly, "You're the odd ones so far."
"That isn't-", said Ariana but she was interrupted by Ash.
"Ariana, please keep out of my familial matters, this doesn't really relate to you how Delia and Alex treat me.", he said. "Oh, we are here." He jumped out of the car and ran to the building, leaving the Sakaki's behind, who were still fuming from what he said. Especially Ariana, who he disregarded over and over as anything. Not to mention the constant comparisons to Alex Kawashima.
Ash's first period was Basic Pokemon Care. He didn't learn much new about the subject, just that Sprigatito loves nuts. Seeing this could be a great treat for her, she seems to be as food motivated as his Pikachu already is, he bought a pack of nuts at a vending machine in his recess. He had a few dollars from Delia still left. Unbeknownst to him, Silver – who he was trying to avoid – saw that. He didn't see that he was giving them to Sprigatito, though. He was training her to follow him, as he doesn't want to carry her. He didn't feed her all nuts, though. Partly because he wanted the few peanuts in the mix for himself.
His periods after that was cooking. Apparently because he was from a poor background – his class knew because of his name wasn't recognized to be the surname from someone rich, which Ash took as proof that the school is made from nepotism babies – they were surprised that he is a good cook. He always assumed rich people were bad cooks because they just pay someone to do it. Ash was good because Delia and Riko liked to pretend they can pay someone to cook for them. Ash was the one who often cooked for them.
The recess after that, he decided to spend in the school's library. There he walked into a hall monitor. Tall and buff guy, scary appearance and purple hair. He remembered he'll need to research the petals he pukes and will puke. He kept the petals in a little plastic bag to identify them later on. While he was looking for a book on flowers, Silver was looking for Ash. Silver didn't even think about the possibility of Ash going to the library. On the other hand, Silver never considered the possibility of Ash suffering from Hanahaki – hence needing to read up on botany – either.
While patrolling though the corridors of the school, Silver passed a board. Posts of this were generally news about the school, announcement of events, forms to sign up for stuff and what not. Silver stopped in front of it when he read a name he somewhat recognized. 'Riko Kawashima' was on a list.
That list was of new students who won a scholarship to attend, poorer students who are given the chance to attend Goldenrod Prep. Like his friend Paul Shinji. And Ash's half sister was on top of that list. These students will join their ranks after the winter break. This can't be good, it just can't. Not after what he heard of that girl.
The recess ended and Ash – without a book as this would just cause suspicion – made his way straight to Battling. There the nuts came to use when training Sprigatito. After that was the lunch break. On his way there he saw Silver and told him, "Oi, Silver! Remember you aren't allowed near me while on lunch break."
"Ah, don't remind me...", replied Silver.
They split their ways again. Silver still was able to watch Ash, though. He was relieved to see that Ash ate. He even had a salad and a dessert! Albeit small portions. He messaged his mother that Ash ate something. Unbeknownst to Silver, Ash fell in love. With a soup. "Mm! I think I have now a favorite dish. Mm, I need to learn how to cook Miso soup."
After that was History for Ash. Nothing happened. History was his last class for the day. After that he saw Giovanni waiting for him. Getting in the car, Giovanni started to drive off the school grounds. Ash asked confused, "Won't we wait for Silver?"
"He has training or some of his dozen clubs. Ariana will pick him up later.", explained Giovanni. "Unless you want to join a club as well, or stay in the library and study, you two will be picked up separately on some days."
"Oh, makes sense.", replied Ash. Right, Silver has like a dozen subjects, clubs and is part of the Battling team. Not to mention the clubs he unofficially partakes in. Yet he has time to stalk him in recess.
Arriving at Giovanni's estate and getting changed, he made his home work. Pikachu was still snoozing in his bed – or again, according to Ariana – so he tried to do his homework as silently as he could. Well, he could just do them outside his room, but that would mean he may walk into either Ariana or Giovanni. He knows they're still fuming from the morning.
The fume was even there when Giovanni came in and said Maria is coming back. Ash does not understand that lady. It feels as if she just left and yet she is already back. Giovanni seems to be surprised with her return as well. Giovanni didn't bother him further, seeing Ash was doing his homework.
The only one who didn't get the memo to be silent was Sprigatito. Ash took to call her Spriga, as her species name was pretty long. He considered to call her 'Tito', but according to Riko – she learns Paldean – words ending on -o are male. But Spriga is female, so he won't call her Tito. Anyway, Weed Cat decided to jump on his desk and played with his pencil as it was scribbling on his history homework.
"Stop it, Spriga.", he said, taking her off the desk. He breathed in some of the pollen she was fabricating and then he sneezed. Which woke up Pikachu – he jumped out of his bed with a scare and landed on the floor - who was quite pissed at that. He sparked a bit and then vanished under Ash's bed.
"I am sorry, Pikachu!", said Ash, seeing how Pikachu ran under the furniture. Ash looked back on his home work and saw a few petals on it. Another tulip and small yellow leaves,
"Maybe I should have borrowed a botany book. No, I don't want to seem suspicious.", he said.
He just finished his homework, in time for dinner, when Giovanni walked into his room. "My mother just arrived. She wants to see you. Please come down, Ash.", he explained. "You won't miss dinner. Well, either way you won't."
"Let me guess, if I had fallen asleep, you would have woken me?", he asked annoyed.
"No, my mother would, though.", replied Giovanni. "Come down."
He followed Giovanni to the dining room. He then sat away from Maria. Over the dinner, he didn't eat much, not enough some would say. Maria tried to strike a conversation with Ash, even ask him why he still doesn't eat much, but he just ignored her. As soon as Giovanni allowed him to go – even if Ariana said he could not – Ash left and got to sleep. Ariana just sighed. "Introducing Ash to my extended family will be something."
Started: 12th August 2023
Edited: 27th August 2023\
Finished: 14th August 2023
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