"I love you."

Pikachu fainted, the usually cool, calm, and collected Glaceon had eyes the size of dinner plates, and the greenhouse suddenly stood still as all the Pokémon stopped playing.

May had to catch the wish maker as it nearly fell out of her hands. "What?!"

Ash recoiled. "Did I say that out loud?"

"Yes! Did you mean it?" May demanded, stepping closer to him.

Ash was suddenly more scared than he had ever been in his life, but he wasn't one to shy away from a challenge.

His face changed to one of determination.

"Yes, I did. I love you, May."

He scratched the back of head, a telltale sign that he was nervous or embarrassed.

"I just feel so silly that it took me this long to realize it."

May's eyes glimmered. "I love you too, Ash!"

She quickly set the wish maker on the ground and before Ash even knew what was happening, May jumped into his arms, kissing him.

Glaceon fainted.

Ash stiffened for a moment, before relaxing. He put his arms around her waist while she wrapped hers around his neck.

He looked dazed as they finally separated, still holding each other.

"Wow…" he whispered. May giggled, playing with the hair at the nape of his neck.

"Who knew that something like this is what it would take to break through your denseness?"

Ash got slightly offended. "Wait, what dense—?" He suddenly froze.

His recent revelation and unintended confession was like a switch had been flipped in his head.

He started to put two and two together for every hint and clue he had seen during his journey. Not just from May, but most of his other friends and family.

The knowing looks from his mother every time he introduced a female traveling companion, the "she is such a nice girl" comments, the hints some of those traveling companions threw his way, the teasing remarks from people like Oscar and Andi so long ago, as well as more recent examples of teasing from people like Miette, Shauna, and Lana's younger sisters. Then he remembered the biggest one of all… the kiss from Serena.

"Oh, Arceus..."

It was too much; Ash had to sit down.

He let go of May and plopped down onto the grass, resting his elbows on his knees and putting his head in his hands; eyes wide in shock.

May followed Ash to the ground, pulling him into a hug and soothingly rubbing his back. She had a vague idea as to what was going through his head. The brunette smiled as she felt him unconsciously lean into her touch.

Ash still couldn't believe it.

"I am an idiot."

This broke May and she laughed harder than she ever had in her life.