Ash strolled through the halls of Beacon Academy with Pikachu perched comfortably on his shoulder. It was a nice change of pace to wander without someone challenging him to a battle or Coco critiquing his outfit. He'd recently bumped into Blake, who seemed nice enough, even if she'd been oddly insistent about him not touching her cat ears after he'd complimented them. He wasn't sure why people here were so particular about personal space—Pikachu loved ear scratches, after all—but he wasn't about to press the issue.

Unknown to Ash, a pair of curious eyes followed his every move. Velvet Scarlatina peeked around a corner, her floppy bunny ears twitching slightly as she watched him and Pikachu. She'd overheard the rumors about Ash earlier: a strange boy who wasn't a Huntsman but carried himself with a warrior's confidence, traveling alongside an odd yellow creature that could supposedly fire off lightning. What caught her attention most, however, was how quickly he'd warmed up to Blake—a fellow Faunus.

Velvet's curiosity grew as she noticed Pikachu nuzzle affectionately against Ash's cheek. Despite the rumors about Blake's reluctance to let Ash near her ears, Velvet couldn't help but wonder if he was different from the others at Beacon.

Ash stopped in the courtyard and stretched his arms wide, taking in the fresh air. Pikachu leapt from his shoulder to a nearby bench, chattering happily as it soaked in the sunshine.

"Pika pika!"

"Yeah, buddy, it feels great out here," Ash said with a grin. "Nice to have a break from all the chaos, huh?"

Velvet hesitated. She adjusted her camera strap nervously, unsure if she should approach. Instead, she stayed hidden behind a nearby pillar, trying to get a better look without being noticed.

Unfortunately for her, Pikachu's sharp senses picked up on her presence. Its ears twitched, and it turned toward the pillar, tilting its head.

"Pika?" it chirped, hopping off the bench.

Ash noticed Pikachu's reaction and followed its gaze. "What is it, buddy?"

Velvet's heart raced. She ducked back behind the pillar, clutching her camera as if it could make her invisible. Oh no! They saw me!

"Hello?" Ash called, stepping closer. "Is someone there?"

Velvet peeked out just enough to see Ash's confused expression. Her brown eyes widened, and she froze like a deer in headlights.

Ash spotted her almost immediately. "Oh, hi! Are you… okay?"

Velvet yelped softly and stepped out from behind the pillar, clutching her camera tightly. Her cheeks turned pink as she avoided his gaze. "I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to—um, I wasn't spying or anything! I was just… curious."

Ash blinked, completely baffled. "Curious? About what?"

Velvet fidgeted, her fingers twisting the camera strap nervously. "About… you. A-and your partner." She gestured awkwardly toward Pikachu, who was now perched at Ash's feet, staring at Velvet with an inquisitive look.

"Pikachu?" Ash asked, glancing down at his partner. "Why? He's just my buddy. What's so curious about him?"

Velvet's ears drooped slightly as she struggled to find the right words. "It's not just that. I-I heard about how you're friends with Blake, even though… well, some people say she's very particular about who she trusts. Especially with her ears."

"Oh, that?" Ash scratched his head, looking sheepish. "Yeah, she told me not to touch them, so I didn't. No big deal."

Velvet's eyes widened slightly. "That's it? You just… listened?"

"Of course," Ash said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Why wouldn't I? She said she didn't like it, so I didn't do it. It's not like Pikachu likes his tail being pulled either."

"Pika!" Pikachu agreed, crossing its tiny arms as if to emphasize the point.

Velvet stared at Ash in awe, her nerves slowly melting away. "That's… really kind of you. Most people don't respect boundaries like that."

Ash shrugged, smiling warmly. "I mean, it's just common sense, right? You treat people—and Pokémon—with respect, and they'll treat you the same way."

Velvet felt her cheeks heat up again, but this time it wasn't from embarrassment. "That's… really sweet." She hesitated for a moment, then added, "I'm Velvet, by the way. Velvet Scarlatina."

"Nice to meet you, Velvet," Ash said, offering a friendly wave. "I'm Ash, and this is Pikachu."

"Pika pika!" Pikachu chirped, giving Velvet a little wave of its own.

Velvet giggled, feeling more at ease. "Pikachu's adorable. I've never seen anything like him before."

Ash beamed with pride. "Yeah, he's one of a kind. We've been through a lot together."

Velvet hesitated, then held up her camera. "Would you mind if I… took a picture? You and Pikachu just look so unique."

Ash blinked in surprise but quickly nodded. "Sure, I don't mind. What about you, Pikachu?"

"Pika!" Pikachu grinned and hopped onto Ash's shoulder, striking a playful pose.

Velvet giggled again, lifting her camera. "Okay, just hold still… perfect." She snapped the photo, the camera clicking softly. "Thank you. I think this'll be a great addition to my collection."

"Collection?" Ash asked curiously.

"I like to photograph interesting people and moments," Velvet explained, her voice growing more confident. "It's kind of my way of telling stories."

"That's awesome," Ash said with genuine enthusiasm. "I bet you've got some great shots."

Velvet smiled shyly, her ears perking up slightly. "Maybe I could show you sometime… if you'd like."

"I'd love that," Ash replied. "And hey, if you ever want to know more about Pikachu or Pokémon, just ask. We've got plenty of stories to share."

Velvet's smile widened. "I'd like that. A lot."