After a few quiet days had passed, on one particularly quiet night, May sat atop Ash on her bed, her skilled fingers working their magic, kneading away the knots and tension from his back muscles after a rigorous training session.

"I told you you're overdoing it," she chided gently as Ash yelped in response to her ministrations.

"Ack!" he groaned as she found a particularly sensitive spot.

"It's like a minefield back here," May remarked, her hands deftly navigating through the tightness in his muscles.

"Do you gotta use so much pressure…?" he complained.

"Sit tight. Just a few more," she assured him, teasing in her voice as she focused on releasing the last few knots. Ash winced and let out a breath of relief as May finally finished her task.

"There." she declared as the last knot released and she bent down to kiss his cheek. "All done."

"That was good…Thanks," he admitted, his voice filled with gratitude.

"You're welcome." May smiled and kissed his cheek affectionately. As she climbed off of him and snuggled into his side, May couldn't help but notice the time on the clock tower outside the window, which was just a few minutes until midnight. "Now that I've pampered you, it's your turn," she teased, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "Because I don't want to be too obvious, but someone's birthday is due to start in just a little while…"

"You know I've never done this before right…?" Ash blushed deeply at her words, his heart pounding with anticipation.

"Yes." she smiled, undeterred.

"Where...should I start..?" he asked carefully. May pecked his lips playfully and winked.

"Surprise me."

"On your stomach then…" Ash suggested, with a shy smile.

"Yes sir," May replied teasingly, rolling onto her stomach and resting her head on her arms. Ash rested his hands over her lower back and began to work her muscles with gentle, firm strokes. May sighed contentedly, reveling in the sensation of his touch. "That feels good…" she murmured appreciatively.

"Yeah?" Ash replied, his voice tinged with relief.

"Absolutely… I always knew you had strong hands," May teased, her cheeks flushing with pleasure. Ash blushed at her compliment. "So tell me… when do I get to know about plans for tomorrow…?" May inquired, her curiosity piqued.

"You'll find out tomorrow," Ash replied cryptically, his lips brushing against her neck in a tender kiss. May pouted playfully.

"It is only a few minutes away… couldn't we fudge a few numbers?"

"When you wake up tomorrow, silly," Ash insisted, his tone firm yet loving. May chuckled and leaned her head against him, enjoying the warmth of his embrace.

"Do I at least get to know if I'll like it…?"

"You're going to love it," Ash assured her confidently, his hands moving up her spine in soothing motions.

"I'm intrigued…" May murmured, a smile playing on her lips.

"Heh…" Ash chuckled softly, his touch becoming more gentle as he continued to work out the kinks in her back.

"Mm...I haven't heard you this confident in a while…" she purred, shivering softly as his fingers grasped the skin on her back.

"I know you," Ash smirked as he worked her shoulders.

"Do you now...?" she teased amid a soft moan just on the edge of her lips.

"By now? Absolutely," he assured her.

"I'm intrigued…" she smiled softly.

"Heh…" he chuckled as she relaxed into his touch. As Ash worked out the last kinks in her back, a soft giggle came from her mouth.

"Mm… you might've missed your real calling…" May teased.

"Maaayyy…" he playfully complained. Her giggles of response echoed in the room as the clock tower outside chimed for the midnight hour. "Alright, birthday girl," Ash relented, smiling fondly at her. May flipped over onto her back to face him, her eyes shining with excitement.

"First birthday sight is you… yay."

"Heh…" Ash chuckled softly, his heart overflowing with love.

"I love you," May whispered, her voice filled with warmth and affection.

"I love you too," Ash replied, his lips meeting hers in a sweet, tender kiss. He adjusted himself in the bed, laying back down beside her and pulling her into his arms and holding her close. As May's eyelids grew heavy with sleep, she smiled at him amid her tired features.

"I suppose I should get some sleep so I can be ready for whatever you have in mind," May murmured softly, a hint of anticipation in her voice. "Will you be staying...?"

"Of course I will. Though I must say I'm surprised you're cutting me off," he replied, a playful glint in his eyes. May chuckled softly, reaching out to stroke his hair.

"Well, since your secrecy has me intrigued, I figured I could hold off for a bit to make sure I have enough energy for anything," she admitted, her smile radiant in the dim light.

"Well played," Ash conceded with a smile, his admiration for her evident in his gaze. As May snuggled closer, their bond deepened, the silence between them filled with unspoken affection and understanding. With a tender kiss to her cheek, Ash expressed his gratitude for her trust.

"My Aura Boy," May whispered, her voice a soft melody that echoed in the stillness.

"My Ninja Girl," Ash replied, his words a testament to their shared journey. With a contented sigh, May surrendered to sleep. As she slept peacefully in his arms, Ash marveled at her beauty, his heart overflowing with love for the woman who had captured his soul. "She's so cute when she's asleep," Ash remarked softly, his gaze lingering on her peaceful face. Gently, Ash caressed her side, savoring the intimacy of the moment as he debated whether to revel in their closeness or get up and focus on the plans ahead for the big day. With each gentle breath, May drew him closer, and he eventually made a compromise with himself. "I suppose I can give it an hour…"

As the morning light filtered through the curtains, May slowly opened her eyes, greeted by the sight of Ash sleeping peacefully beside her. A tender smile graced her lips as she leaned in to place a gentle kiss on his cheek.

"Mm…" Ash stirred, nuzzling against her as he began to wake. May's smile widened, and she whispered softly in his ear.

"My lloovvee…" With a tired sigh, Ash slowly opened his eyes, meeting May's gaze. "Hi…"

"Good morning," he greeted, returning her smile. May leaned in to kiss him happily, feeling his lips meet hers in a tender embrace. As their kiss deepened, Ash's hand wandered up her torso, sending a shiver of pleasure through her body. She moaned softly, lost in the sensation of his touch. But then, a slight draft caught May's attention, and she glanced down, only to realize that she was completely naked. Blushing furiously, she looked up at Ash, her voice trembling with surprise and confusion.

"A-Ash…?"

"Yes?" Ash looked at her, feigning innocence as his smile widened.

"D-Did you… undress me?" May asked, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.

"What on Earth would give you that impression?" Ash chuckled softly.

"Well… if it wasn't you, then either someone else was touching me or I'm developing a case of sleepwalking… and if it's the second one, you may never get a full night of sleep again…" She teased him, attempting to draw a better answer out of him.

"Well, I can tell you that one of your two guesses is the correct one," Ash replied, leaning in to kiss her cheek. May smiled softly, her eyes curious about his intentions.

"Well then… I guess I'm at your mercy…"

"Some people would do nefarious things in this scenario," Ash teased.

"Indeed they would…" May's voice trailed off, a hint of excitement in her tone. "I suppose I'll be learning if my boyfriend is one of those people…"

"Guess so," Ash agreed, his own excitement evident as he leaned in to kiss her once more. Their lips met in a passionate embrace, tongues dancing together in a fiery exchange of desire. May moaned softly, her body pressing eagerly against his as she surrendered to the intoxicating sensation of his touch. Ash's hand trailed down her side, sending shivers of pleasure through her body. May gasped and moaned into his mouth, her desire building with each passing moment. But then, Ash pulled away, leaving May panting softly, her eyes locked on his with longing.

"I hope you're not just teasing me…" she whispered.

"Taking my time," Ash replied, his voice husky with desire.

"You're sounding more like me all the time…" May smiled, her heart racing with anticipation.

"It's your birthday," Ash reminded her softly. "I want you to feel really good." He leaned in to kiss her neck, sending shivers of pleasure down her spine. May gasped and moaned softly, her body responding eagerly to his touch.

"Careful… I might get used to this kind of treatment…"

"Like you're not already…" Ash teased her back, his desire evident in his eyes.

"I've heard you like that…" May teased, giggling softly as Ash kissed down to her chest.

"When it's from the right person," he smirked.

Later on in the morning, as they caught their breath, May and Ash gazed into each other's eyes, their chests rising and falling with the rhythm of their panting. Despite the intensity of their passion, a soft smile played on their lips, their connection deeper than mere physical desire.

"How was that?" Ash asked, his voice husky with emotion.

"Wow…" May replied, still trying to steady her breathing.

"Heh…" Ash chuckled softly, a contented smile spreading across his face.

"Setting a pretty high bar for today right off the bat, huh…?" May remarked, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

"You could say that," Ash agreed, returning her smile with a knowing look.

"Then do you know where my clothes are…? Or do you still need me here for a bit…?" May inquired, her laughter bubbling up as she tried to catch her breath.

"The answer to both questions is yes," Ash teased, his eyes sparkling with playful anticipation.

"You are full of mystery…" May giggled, her heart fluttering with excitement.

"It's my turn to play sneaky," Ash admitted with a mischievous grin.

"Well, you definitely have my attention…" May replied, her smile widening as she leaned in to peck his lips. Ash returned her kiss happily before suggesting new action be taken.

"Now then… Do you want a show, or would you like to take care of it?" May considered his offer for a moment before responding with a sly smile.

"Well… I certainly like today's show so far… I think I'll vote for option one."

"Heh," Ash chuckled softly, his cheeks tinged with a faint blush.

"And I'm very curious what an Aura Boy show looks like." she teased as his blush intensified. "You offered," May teased, her eyes dancing with amusement.

"That's not what gets me…" Ash admitted, his smile softening as he gazed at her lovingly.

"What does then?" she asked playfully.

"Same person who always gets me." May's heart swelled with affection, and she smiled back at him tenderly.

"You're sweet," she murmured, her voice filled with love. With a shy blush, Ash sat up and removed the blankets from his body before standing up from the edge of the bed. May watched him with eager anticipation, her cheeks flushing with excitement. "Nice to see you, kind sir," she teased playfully as Ash stood before her in nothing but his pride. Ash blushed at her comment, his gaze meeting hers with a mixture of embarrassment and desire. "I'm glad I'm not the only one who's excited…"

"Shush," Ash playfully warned her as he took a minute to stretch his body in front of her before he then climbed over her, pinning her down gently against the pillows. Their lips met in a fervent kiss, their moans mingling together in the air as their passion ignited once more, consuming them both in its fiery embrace once more.

After another stretch of time consumed by their desire for one another, they found themselves once again laying there in bed, their breaths again coming in ragged pants. Ash and May exchanged contented smiles, their bodies tingling with the remnants of their shared passion.

"Now that's a show... I really, really like…" May whispered, her voice filled with admiration.

"Heh…" Ash chuckled softly, his eyes sparkling with satisfaction. May leaned in to peck his lips affectionately.

"You certainly know how to start a girl's birthday off right…"

"I thought you'd like it…" Ash replied, his smile softening as he gazed at her lovingly.

"Well, you managed to surprise and impress me all before breakfast… you're on a roll…" May teased, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

"How long we stay here depends on you…" Ash murmured, running a nail up her stomach, eliciting a soft moan from May.

"I thought I was... at your mercy…" May replied, her voice tinged with desire.

"Partially," Ash admitted with a smirk, leaning in to peck her lips once more. May returned his kiss, her lips curling into a playful smile.

"I'd say a bit more than that… after all, you're the one that took my clothes…" Ash chuckled softly at her remark, his fingers tracing patterns on her skin. "And I have a feeling you know what's going to happen today a lot better than I do…"

"Most likely," Ash agreed, stroking her cheek tenderly.

"So I'd say my fate for today is in your hands…" May smiled up at him, her eyes filled with trust and affection. "I trust you…" Ash returned her smile, though a hint of mischief danced in his eyes.

"A horrible decision really," he joked before leaning in to kiss her again. May giggled under his lips, her heart overflowing with love and happiness as they surrendered to the magic of the moment, knowing that whatever Ash had in store for her, it was going to be an amazing day.

As the tender moment between Ash and May unfolded, Ash leaned in to peck her lips softly, a gentle smile playing on his face. May, feeling pleasantly exhausted from their activities, returned his kiss with equal tenderness.

"Alright. I think you've had enough…" Ash murmured, his hand caressing her cheek lovingly. May smiled and rested her head in his hand, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Is that the reason… or are you just hungry…?" Ash chuckled at her teasing remark, the sound filling the room with warmth. "Or I suppose it could all just be part of whatever plan you have brewing up there in that pretty head…"

"Now you're getting there," Ash replied cryptically, his eyes dancing with mischief.

"A plan that goes beyond the bedroom… I'm very curious…" May mused, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "But I won't be going anywhere until you finally give me my clothes back."

"Then, I'm afraid you're not leaving, because I'm not 'giving' them back," Ash declared with a smirk, his tone teasing. May raised an eyebrow at his response, her curiosity piqued.

"I hope you don't expect me to go outside naked. That honor is for only you."

"Step one on today's to-do list: find your clothes," Ash revealed, his smirk widening into a mischievous grin.

"There's a list is there?" May's eyes widened in surprise.

"Sure is," Ash confirmed, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

"The mystery deepens it seems…" May remarked, her smile growing wider.

"I had to play your game at least once," Ash admitted with a smile. May returned his smile with a knowing look.

"Today will be interesting indeed." With a stretch to alleviate the soreness in her body, May got up from the bed, her movements graceful and fluid. Ash watched her with admiration, his gaze following her every move. "Well, you don't have the skills to get them into the rafters I don't think…" May teased as she glanced up at the ceiling. Ash smiled knowingly, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Probably too obvious, but it couldn't hurt to check," May reasoned, walking over to her closet and opening it. To her surprise, every article of clothing from her closet was missing. May's eyes widened in disbelief as she turned to face Ash, who was laughing softly. "Oh my gosh, you didn't…" May exclaimed, a mixture of amusement and admiration in her voice.

"I did." Ash smiled at her reaction, his eyes shining with affection.

"Well played, Mr. Ketchum," May praised, leaning in to peck his lips affectionately. "What else do you have in store for me today?"

"You'll have to find out," Ash replied, with a playful smile. Determined to uncover the whereabouts of her clothes, May began to search the room, her keen eyes scanning every corner with precision and speed.

After a decently long search, as May slipped into the swimsuit she found under her bed, she couldn't help but chuckle at the sneaky antics of her boyfriend.

"Well, it's a start," she remarked with a grin before heading out into the hall. Ash laughed softly as he got dressed, following her with a playful smile.

"Interesting choice," he commented as they made their way to his room.

"Ease of access increases odds of use," May replied, earning a kiss on her cheek in response. "Oo. I like Affectionate Ash," she added with a smile.

"I'm trying to be brave today," Ash admitted, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

"You're always brave. You're dating a ninja after all," May teased, nudging him playfully.

"Heh... I guess you're right," Ash chuckled softly, his eyes filled with warmth. As May jumped up and hoisted herself onto a support beam in his room, Ash settled onto his bed, watching her with amusement. "Something on your mind?" he asked, smirking teasingly.

"Just debating something with myself," May replied, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

"Is that right?" Ash laughed, intrigued by her cryptic response.

"It is indeed," May confirmed with a nod, her smile growing wider.

"Mind sharing with your audience?" Ash inquired, his curiosity piqued.

"Just trying to decide whether or not my honorable Aura Guardian boyfriend would be devious enough to hide a pair of my underwear in his bed for his own enjoyment," May teased, a mischievous glint in her eyes. Ash blushed furiously at her words, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"I don't have to be responsible for that to happen…"

"Well, you are the one that took them," May pointed out with a playful grin.

"I guess I can't argue with that," Ash admitted sheepishly. Giggling, May jumped down from the beam and flipped before landing on his bed, where she found every pair of her underwear hidden among the blankets and pillows.

"Do my parents know you sleep with my underwear?" she joked, laughing until tears formed in her eyes. Ash grumbled in response, his cheeks still red with embarrassment.

"If you say that to your parents…" he warned, trailing off with a smirk.

"Maybe I'll let it slide if I can get a room hint about my dress," May replied with a playful smile, kissing his cheek before hopping off the bed to continue her search. Ash sighed and briefly glanced under his bed, where Pikachu greeted him with a knowing look.

"Not a word to anyone," Ash whispered, his voice low.

"Just wanted to let you know everyone is in place. I'm on my way to the Grande finale spot now." Pikachu replied in a hushed tone.

"We still have a long time to go until then if you want to stick around," Ash whispered back, grateful for Pikachu's reassurance.

"I might make some appearances. But remember you put me in charge of operations for a reason," Pikachu reminded him, smiling warmly.

"Thanks, buddy," Ash replied, his heart swelling with gratitude.

"Just don't get cold feet. Everyone's worked hard to make this happen," Pikachu cautioned, his eyes filled with determination.

"I know," Ash murmured, his gaze drifting over to where May was busy searching the room. As May climbed up one of his bookshelves to check the top, Pikachu turned to Ash with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Still want to marry her?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Not out loud, no matter how quiet you are. It's May we're talking about," Ash replied, his eyes softening with love as he looked at her.

"I think she's a little preoccupied. But we can do this via Aura Bond if you want," Pikachu suggested, a playful smile tugging at his lips.

"No need. I'll meet up with you soon." Ash responded. Pikachu nodded and snuck out of the room and Ash turned his attention back to his beloved girlfriend. As May discovered her ninja gi tucked away in a familiar spot, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of nostalgia mingled with bittersweet memories.

"Well, we're getting closer anyway," she remarked, hopping down with the gi in hand.

"That's one well-acquainted with this room..." Ash observed, a hint of understanding in his voice.

"It is… but also with some more bitter memories these days too," May admitted softly, her smile faltering.

"I never thought you'd feel that way about your ninja days…" Ash murmured, his expression reflecting his surprise.

"A year ago I would've agreed with you," May confessed, her gaze drifting to the floor.

"Right…" Ash replied, his voice filled with empathy. May sighed and set her gi aside, her thoughts lingering on the complexities of her past. "Hey…" Ash's gentle voice interrupted her thoughts as he pulled her into a warm embrace. Blushing softly, May wrapped her arms around him, feeling a sense of comfort in his presence. Ash pecked her on the lips, his affectionate gesture bringing a smile to May's face.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring down the fun of your game."

"It's your birthday. Just want you to be happy," Ash reassured her, his voice filled with sincerity.

"I am happy with you. Guess I'm just still sorting some things out with my past," May admitted, her voice tinged with vulnerability. "I really do want to be better than I was…"

"You already are…" Ash pecked her cheek lovingly, his gesture conveying his unwavering support. May smiled faintly at his words, feeling a surge of gratitude for his understanding.

"Heh… I can't tell if you're just saying that because you're my boyfriend or if you're just saying that because it's my birthday."

"What about because it's true?" Ash countered, his gaze softening with affection.

"Maybe one day," May replied, resting her head on his chest.

"Now I'm curious what you know that I don't," Ash remarked, a playful glint in his eyes.

"Well… I just think that one year of being a Princess isn't going to be enough to wipe out the 16 years of being a ninja," May explained, her voice tinged with introspection.

"I guess so…" Ash murmured, his expression thoughtful.

"I want to do right by you...and for your home…" she admitted gently.

"How about doing right by yourself..?" he offered. May looked up at him curiously, her eyes searching his.

"Huh…?"

"You deserve to treat yourself well," Ash continued, his voice gentle yet firm. "To still be who you want to be."

"Well, I… I've always worked for others… I stole to help my tribe and my family. Now I work hard for the dragons and the Kingdom… it's just what I do," May explained, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Ash squeezed her slightly, his touch reassuring.

"You matter too, May…" Blushing softly, May met his gaze, feeling a surge of warmth in her chest.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice filled with emotion. Ash kissed her softly, his lips conveying his love and admiration. May melted into his embrace, feeling a sense of peace wash over her. "I love you…"

"I love you more," Ash replied, his voice filled with tenderness.

"I love you most," May teased, a playful smile tugging at her lips. Chuckling softly, Ash held her close, his heart overflowing with love and gratitude. As May enjoyed Ash's embrace and comfort, she realized she had a good idea of where Ash must have hidden her dress. "I think I know where you hid my dress…"

"Do you now?" Ash asked with a knowing smile as May led him to the window. With a triumphant grin, May pulled back the window curtains to reveal her newest dress hanging on the hanger.

"This is who I want to be now," May declared softly, gently taking the dress down from the hanger. Ash smiled softly at her words, his eyes shining with pride and love. "If that's a version of me you can still love of course," May added, her voice tinged with more teasing.

"By all means," Ash replied, his voice filled with conviction. With a chuckle, May kissed his cheek before disappearing into the bathroom to change. After a brief moment to change, May emerged from the bathroom, her hair neatly arranged in pigtails, and twirled for Ash to show off a little.

"Honest opinion?" she asked, a hopeful smile playing on her lips.

"Very pretty," Ash replied, his eyes filled with admiration.

"Gotta look my best for my birthday, right?" May remarked with a smile, kissing Ash's cheek affectionately. Ash nodded in agreement, returning her smile warmly. "So do I keep looking until I find the rest? Or is there somewhere we need to be?" May inquired, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"The rest is here," Ash replied, his smile widening. With determination, May quickly moved through Ash's room, using special spots from their previous battles as a guide to her outfits. Eventually, she found every dress she owned, celebrating with a triumphant cry.

"Bam! Woo hoo!" Ash applauded her accomplishment, and May giggled with delight. "That was so fun! I love scavenger hunts!"

"You do, do ya?" Ash teased, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Of course!" May exclaimed, her laughter echoing through the room. "You know I love puzzles and adventures. It shouldn't be a big surprise." Ash smiled softly, his heart swelling with affection for her adventurous spirit.

"Before we go, tell me what do I have to do to make sure this escapade doesn't leave this room?" Ash asked, hinting towards his prank of hiding her clothes. As understanding as the royal family had been about their unusual relationship, he didn't really want them to know he had sent their daughter on a naked scavenger hunt.

"One more kiss and an 'I love you'," May replied playfully, leaning in for another kiss. Ash happily obliged, holding her close as they shared a moment of quiet intimacy. As they slowly pulled away, May smiled up at him, her eyes shining with love.

"I love you," Ash whispered, his voice filled with sincerity. May smiled and blushed, her heart fluttering with happiness.

"There it is. Your secret is safe with me. Promise."

"I hope so," Ash murmured, a hint of uncertainty in his voice.

"Hey. You know about me and promises, remember?" May reminded him, her smile playful. Ash smiled softly, his doubts melting away.

"I remember." With their secret safe between them, Ash and May gathered up her dresses and headed back to her room, their laughter filling the air as they then made their way to breakfast. May entered the dining hall first with a bright smile, her eyes lighting up as she spotted Janine.

"Janine!" she exclaimed, rushing over to her sister. Janine returned the smile, though it was tinged with a hint of mischief.

"Happy birthday!" May giggled in response, wrapping her arms around her sister in a tight hug.

"Thanks!" she grinned. "It's great to see you. But what are you doing here? I assumed everyone else would've already eaten by now," May inquired curiously, noticing the rope on Janine's belt.

"I'm here for you, silly," Janine replied with a mischievous grin.

"For me? What do you—" May's words were cut off as Janine swiftly sprang up and tied her arms behind her back, surprising both Ash and May.

"Ack!" May exclaimed, though she couldn't suppress her laughter for long.

"For the record, I had nothing to do with this," Ash interjected, holding up his hands in mock surrender.

"No, of course not." May smiled at him. "This is a tradition we had for birthdays back in the tribe," she explained, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she glanced at Janine. "I can't believe you remembered. And took Koga's place for me."

"We had fun with this one," Janine admitted with a grin.

"Probably the only 'fatherly' game he ever had with us," May remarked, earning a sweatdrop from Ash. May quickly began working her way out of the ropes as quickly as she could as Janine rushed towards the kitchen door. May finally managed to break free and took the ends of the rope in her hands, tying them off into a loop as she kept track of Janine's movements towards the kitchen. May threw the loop up and snagged one of the rafters with her rope. With a swift swing, she swung past Janine and into the kitchen.

"Whoa!" Janine gasped as she hastily entered the kitchen after her sister with Ash hot on her heels. Inside, May flew through the air and as she passed by the counter, she grabbed a lone cupcake from a platter before landing triumphantly on the window sill.

"Ha!" May exclaimed, holding up the cupcake in victory.

"Hey!" Janine protested with a playful pout. May laughed and ran over to her sister, hugging her tightly.

"You're the best! Thank you!"

"I'm glad!" Janine hugged her back, her smile softening.

"You're the best sister ever! I loved it!" May declared, her eyes shining with gratitude.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it, sis," Janine replied, giggling. May offered her the cupcake, but Janine shook her head. "It's yours. You won it fair and square." May smiled and took a bite of the cupcake, savoring the familiar flavor.

"Mm. Told the chef my favorite flavor, huh?"

"I have to be the one to take care of you sometimes," Janine teased gently.

"I'm so glad you're here with me…" May smiled fondly at her sister.

"You couldn't keep me away, sis," Janine reassured her, squeezing her in a tight hug. May returned the hug, feeling grateful for the bond she shared with her sister as they celebrated her special day together.

"Thank you again...it was nice to remember one of the good things from home," May said with a smile, her eyes reflecting the warmth of the memory. Janine returned her smile softly, a glimmer of nostalgia in her eyes. Out of curiosity, May turned to Janine with a playful grin. "Did Ash put you up to this?"

"He was telling the truth," Janine confirmed with a smile. "He had no idea what our game would entail. All I told him was it needed to be done for your birthday breakfast." Ash sweatdropped slightly at the revelation, earning a playful chuckle from May.

"You didn't tell him the entire game, did you?"

"I didn't know a thing," Ash admitted with a sheepish smile. Laughing at the situation, May her sister.

"That's just like you to not mention that the game involves minor kidnapping."

"He'd have freaked out," Janine added with a chuckle.

"When you put it that way..." Ash trailed off, his expression a mix of amusement and embarrassment. May smiled, feeling a sense of warmth seeing her sister and boyfriend working together.

"You two working together is a rare sight. I like it."

"It might get more common," Ash suggested with a smile.

"I hope so," May replied, her smile growing wider as she took another bite of her cupcake.

"Like it...?" Ash asked, still recovering from the surprise.

"It's the only cake we got each year. And only if we won the game. So you can bet we'd always savor every bite." May nodded enthusiastically. Ash smiled slightly, happy to have contributed to May's enjoyment of the special treat. May finished her cupcake with a delighted squeal, earning a smile from Ash.

"Someone enjoyed herself."

"Today has been full of you, puzzles, and games. What's not to enjoy?" May remarked, her smile radiant with happiness. "So where do we go next, Mr. Birthday Guide?"

"The table to actually eat a proper breakfast," Ash replied with a sheepish grin.

"Ah. Guess I'm not used to actually feasting on my birthday." May chuckled. Ash pulled over a chair for her, and they both sat down to enjoy their breakfast. "I like a breakfast buffet. Maybe we can make this a new birthday tradition," May suggested between bites.

"I'm sure we can arrange that. If you don't eat off my plate," Ash teased, earning a giggle from May.

"I only steal as part of games now. That and kisses," May replied playfully, pecking his lips. Ash blushed slightly, but smiled warmly at her.

As they finished their meal, May climbed up on a support beam and dangled her legs, smiling down at Ash.

"Having fun up there?" Ash asked, looking up at her with amusement.

"Always. Mostly because you look hot upside-down," May replied with a giggle. Ash blushed again, but couldn't suppress a smile. "Do you have more plans for today?" May inquired, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

"Absolutely," Ash confirmed with a grin.

"Ready when you are," May replied, her adventurous spirit shining through.

"You gotta come down first," Ash teased gently. May released her grip and spun midair, landing gracefully on the ground with a smile.

"Done."

"Impressive form," Ash remarked, admiring her agility.

"Kinda my thing," May replied with a smile, feeling a surge of confidence.

"Fair enough," Ash agreed with a smile, ready to embark on the next adventure of the day with Janine waving them off.

To be Continued...