Team Rocket’s interruption unexpectedly made the bond between Ash and his friends even clearer.
Ash walked beside Misty, helping her push the repaired bicycle as the three slowly made their way through the outskirts of Viridian Forest.
The setting sun stretched their shadows long across the road.
Misty suddenly spoke first.
“Ash, make sure you brush your teeth and wash your face properly every morning after you wake up.”
Ash laughed helplessly.
“Got it, got it.”
“And Pikachu, don’t eat too much ketchup.”
“Pika pika~”
Pikachu immediately puffed out its cheeks in protest.
“And Brock!”
Misty turned sharply.
“Stop getting distracted every time you see a pretty girl!”
Brock coughed awkwardly.
“I-I’ll try…”
“And Ash ”
Misty looked directly at him this time.
“Don’t keep acting reckless whenever something dangerous happens.”
“You always make everyone worry!”
Ash scratched his cheek awkwardly.
“But I already awakened Aura, remember?”
He pointed lightly at himself while smiling.
“I can protect myself now.”
“That’s exactly what worries me!”
Misty puffed her cheeks angrily.
“What if you get hurt because you push yourself too hard?!”
“Okay, okay!”
Ash raised both hands immediately in surrender.
“I’ll be careful.”
Misty huffed softly.
“If I don’t keep reminding you, nobody will.”
Then she lowered her gaze toward the bicycle beside her.
The atmosphere became strangely quiet.
“It all started because of this bike…”
Misty gently touched the handlebars.
“Togepi… do you think meeting Ash was just a coincidence?”
Ash immediately shook his head before Togepi could even react.
“No.”
He looked ahead quietly.
“We met each other…”
“We traveled together…”
“We argued all the time…”
“We went through all kinds of things together.”
Brock smiled knowingly beside them.
“What Ash means…”
“…is that we became true friends.”
Ash nodded lightly.
“The world’s huge.”
“So meeting both of you definitely wasn’t some random coincidence.”
“It feels more like fate.”
“The best kind of fate.”
Misty froze slightly.
Then
A bright smile slowly bloomed across her face.
“…Yeah.”
Since the day they met
They had created countless memories together.
Happy memories.
Painful memories.
Embarrassing memories.
But every single one of them had become precious.
Eventually, the three reached the crossroads where they would finally separate.
The atmosphere instantly became heavy again.
Ash suddenly remembered something.
“Oh right, Misty.”
He reached into his backpack and handed her a Poké Ball.
Misty blinked in surprise.
“Huh?”
“Isn’t this one of the Pokémon you received after winning the Silver Conference?”
Ash nodded.
“I chose Totodile.”
“And I want you to have it.”
Misty’s eyes widened.
“You’re giving it to me?!”
Ash smiled naturally.
“You want to become a Water Pokémon Master someday, right?”
“I figured Totodile would suit you better than me.”
Before Misty could refuse
Ash had already gently placed the Poké Ball into the bicycle basket.
Brock’s eyes instantly lit up with satisfaction.
“So Ash specifically chose Totodile for Misty…”
Ash nodded honestly.
“Of course.”
Misty immediately lowered her head.
“…Specifically for me…”
Her fingers tightened slightly around the basket handles.
She quickly turned away so the others wouldn’t notice the faint redness in her eyes.
At that moment
Her heart felt both warm and painfully complicated.
Ash and Brock quietly pretended not to notice.
After a long silence, Misty finally spoke again.
“Ash…”
“Can I have your hat?”
Ash blinked briefly before immediately removing it.
“Sure.”
He handed over the familiar cap without hesitation.
Then he smiled warmly.
“If you become an amazing Gym Leader someday and want to travel again…”
“Come find us anytime.”
Misty carefully hugged the hat against her chest.
“…Okay.”
“And thanks, Ash.”
Ash laughed lightly.
“Why are you thanking me?”
“No matter where I travel, I’ll always come back to Pallet Town eventually.”
“So we’ll definitely meet again.”
At the moment of parting
Thousands of emotions filled the air.
Yet nobody could fully express them aloud.
In the end, Misty simply handed Ash a neatly wrapped lunchbox Brock had prepared earlier.
“…Take care.”
“You too.”
Finally
They separated.
Thank you for everything, Misty.
Thank you, Brock.
Ash… next time, let’s travel together again.
Everyone silently carried their own feelings forward.
“Pikachu, we’re home.”
“Pikapi!”
Standing in front of his house in Pallet Town once again, Ash smiled brightly.
“I’m home, Mom!
Mimey!”
The door opened immediately.
Delia Ketchum greeted him happily while Mr.
Mime waved excitedly from behind her.
“Welcome home, Ash!”
“Miiime~!”
A large meal had already been prepared on the table.
The moment he returned home
The exhaustion he had accumulated throughout his journey seemed to melt away completely.
That night, Ash sat together with his mother while sharing stories about his travels across Johto.
Of course
He deliberately skipped over the more dangerous incidents.
After all, he didn’t want Delia worrying too much.
They chatted deep into the night before Ash finally returned to his room to rest.
The next morning
Ash woke feeling completely refreshed.
But almost immediately, he noticed loud commotion coming from outside.
Using Aura subconsciously
He sensed an enormous crowd gathered nearby.
“Huh?”
Just as he walked downstairs, Delia smiled knowingly.
“You’re finally awake.”
“Everyone’s been waiting for you.”
“Waiting for me?”
Before Ash could understand
The front door suddenly opened.
Gary Oak leaned casually against the doorway.
“You really slept in late today.”
“Don’t tell me becoming Silver Conference Champion already made you lazy.”
Another familiar face walked in behind him.
Casey waved energetically.
“Professor Oak informed the whole town early this morning!”
Ash still looked completely confused as everyone dragged him outside.
Soon
He discovered the entire town gathered around a huge outdoor celebration.
Professor Oak stood proudly on a temporary stage holding a microphone.
“Well then!”
“Our Pallet Town Champion has finally arrived!”
“To celebrate Ash Ketchum winning the Silver Conference ”
“Let’s begin the party!”
“CHEERS!”
The entire town erupted with excitement.
Delia covered her mouth while laughing warmly.
“Everyone, don’t hold back.”
“There’s plenty of food prepared.”
“Hahaha!”
“Ash really brought honor to Pallet Town!”
“The Silver Conference Champion!”
The townspeople praised him enthusiastically from every direction.
After briefly thanking everyone
Ash finally relaxed and joined the celebration properly with Pikachu.
“If I knew this was happening…”
“I should’ve invited Brock and Misty too.”
“Pikapi~”
Pikachu patted Ash comfortingly.
Ash smiled softly.
“…Yeah.”
“We’ll definitely meet again soon anyway.”
Halfway through the celebration, Gary quietly picked up his luggage.
Professor Oak explained that Gary’s ship ticket was for tonight.
He had delayed leaving solely to congratulate Ash personally.
Sometimes
Real friendship didn’t require many words.
Watching Gary leave, Ash quietly clenched his fist.
“We can’t lose either.”
Later that afternoon, Ash headed toward Professor Oak’s Laboratory together with Pikachu.
Professor Oak watched him quietly for a moment before smiling.
“Looks like your journey is about to begin again.”
The boy who once overslept on the first day of his adventure
The same reckless child who only charged forward blindly
Had truly begun to grow.
Nearby, Delia smiled helplessly.
“I guess I’ll have to prepare more clothes for him again.”
Inside the laboratory, Ash greeted all the Pokémon currently staying under Professor Oak’s care.
Then he released the Pokémon he had caught during his Johto journey one by one.
The atmosphere instantly became lively.
It was worth noting that after the Silver Conference:
Noctowl,
Totodile,
and Snorlax
had all grown significantly stronger.
Charizard had even reached a new level after the Finals.
Meanwhile
Pikachu remained Ash’s strongest and most reliable partner.
As for Bayleef
It had finally evolved into Meganium during the later tournament matches.
Only Totodile remained strangely unevolved despite intense training.
Ash sighed while rubbing his forehead.
“There’s still a long way to go.”
The upcoming Hoenn journey would be far more difficult than Johto.
He needed to prepare properly.
Ash’s eyes slowly sharpened with determination.
“Let’s go, Pikachu.”
“Pikachu?”
Ash smiled mysteriously.
“We’re going to pick up an old friend.”