As the sun dipped low over the city of Juban, Monarch Ash Ketchum and his faithful Pikachu strolled through the bustling streets. Ash's eyes darted from one storefront to another, taking in the unique sights and sounds of Tokyo. His ongoing quest to become the world's greatest Pokémon Master had brought him far from the familiar region of Kanto and Johto, and every new city offered exciting surprises.

Passing by a colorful electronic store, Ash caught sight of a large television screen displaying a commercial featuring a group of performers. "Hey, Pikachu, check this out!" Ash pointed excitedly at the screen, where the Three Lights were in the middle of their latest show, captivating the audience with their dynamic stage presence. "These guys are pretty cool, don't you think?"

Pikachu's ears twitched with curiosity as it glanced at the screen, its cheeks crackling with energy in agreement.

Before they could move on, Ash suddenly collided with someone, the impact sending both of them stumbling backwards onto the pavement.

"Ow! Watch where you're going!" a voice exclaimed, tinged with irritation.

Ash quickly scrambled to his feet, rubbing his head. "Sorry about that! I wasn't paying attention."

The young man he had bumped into, with striking blue eyes and long, hip-length raven hair which was tied in a low ponytail, shot Ash a fierce glare. "You should be more careful," he grumbled.

However, as their eyes met, Ash sensed a subtle shift in the young man's demeanor. The anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a strange warmth that the mysterious young man couldn't quite place.

Just then, two more figures approached—the first with short brown hair and a calm demeanor, the other with long silver hair and a mischievous grin.

"Seiya, what happened?" the silver-haired one teased.

Seiya's glare intensified as he shot a warning look at his companions. "Yaten, not now."

The brown-haired one, Taiki, chuckled. "Looks like you had a rough encounter, Seiya."

Ash, noticing the trio now, crossed his arms in deep thought. They seemed oddly familiar, but he couldn't quite pinpoint why.

Seiya, Taiki, and Yaten exchanged incredulous looks as Ash seemed lost in thought. Finally, Ash shook his head with a dismissive smile. "Nope, never mind. Must be my imagination."

Seiya's brow furrowed in disbelief. "You're kidding, right? Did he really just say that?"

Before the conversation could progress further, the Three Lights noticed Pikachu, who was curiously observing them with its trademark cheeky grin.

"What... is that thing?" Yaten asked, eyeing Pikachu with suspicion.

Ash chuckled. "Oh, that's Pikachu! He's a Pokémon."

The Three Lights exchanged baffled looks. "A Pokémon?" Taiki echoed, his expression uncertain.

Ash waved a hand dismissively. "It's a long story. Anyway, sorry again for bumping into you," he said, turning his attention back to Seiya.

Seiya hesitated for a moment before finally accepting Ash's help to get back on his feet. "Uh, thanks," he muttered, still visibly flustered.

As the awkward moment lingered, Pikachu hopped onto Ash's shoulder, drawing curious looks from the Three Lights.

"So, what's your name?" Ash asked, trying to diffuse the tension.

Seiya hesitated. "I'm Seiya. These are Taiki and Yaten," he replied reluctantly.

Ash grinned. "Nice to meet you! I'm Ash Ketchum, and this here is Pikachu."

The Three Lights exchanged glances, their earlier annoyance giving way to bemusement. "Well, Ash Ketchum, be more careful next time," Yaten quipped with a smirk.

Taiki chuckled softly. "You never know who you'll run into in Juban."

With a nod and a friendly wave, Ash and Pikachu resumed their exploration of the bustling city, leaving the Three Lights behind, still processing the unexpected encounter.

Seiya let out a sigh, his cheeks still tinged with embarrassment. "Can you believe that guy?"

Yaten shrugged. "Eh, he seems harmless enough. Just another curious traveler."

Taiki nodded in agreement. "Maybe we'll see him around. Juban is full of surprises."

Seiya watched as Ash and Pikachu disappeared into the bustling crowd, his mind swirling with unusual thoughts and sensations. He couldn't quite understand why he felt this strange pull towards someone he had just met. Was it merely curiosity, or was there something deeper stirring within him?

"Seiya, you're blushing," Taiki remarked, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

Seiya's cheeks grew warmer as he turned to face his companions. "I-I'm not blushing!" he stammered, his attempt at denial only fueling Taiki's amusement.

Yaten chimed in with a teasing smirk. "Oh, come on, Seiya. Don't tell me you've fallen for the kid already."Seiya's blue eyes narrowed in irritation. "Don't be ridiculous. The only person for me is Meatball Head," he retorted, referring to the nickname Serena was known for.

Taiki chuckled softly, sensing Seiya's defensiveness. "Relax, Seiya. We're just teasing."

But Yaten wasn't about to let up. With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he leaned closer to Seiya. "You know, you're protesting a little too much. Maybe you've got a secret crush on Ash."

Seiya's blush deepened, and he shot Yaten a glare. "That's absurd. You're the one blushing just talking about it. Maybe you're the one with a crush on Ash," he countered, his voice tinged with irritation.

Yaten's smirk faltered, and his cheeks turned a faint shade of pink. "Me? Nonsense! I was just making an observation."

Taiki chuckled again, enjoying the playful banter between his friends. "Alright, alright, enough teasing for now. Let's not make Seiya any more flustered."

Seiya huffed, crossing his arms defensively. "Yeah, whatever," he muttered, trying to regain his composure.

"Who knows," Yaten mused with a grin, "maybe Ash Ketchum will cross our paths again. Then we'll see if Seiya blushes again."

"Shut up, Yaten!"