Pokemon : Rewind

The sound of running water echoed in the bathroom, indicating that Misty was washing up.

Ash chose to stay outside on the balcony, leaning against the railing and gazing at the night sky.

Their dormitory was located at the back of the Pokémon Center, away from the bustling battlefield at the front.

Here, the tranquil surroundings provided a respite from noise, allowing trainers in the dormitory to rest peacefully.

"I've experienced so much today…" Ash rested his arms on the railing, propping his chin on it as he stared blankly into the distance, reflecting on the day's events. 

He thought about acquiring Pikachu, battling Gary, setting off on their journey, receiving the Soaring in the Sky Dragon inheritance ability from Osiris, encountering the Spearow flock, meeting Misty, and finally, the majestic sight of Ho-Oh. 

Ash felt as if the pull of destiny was strong.

His own actions seemed to echo those of his anime counterpart, suggesting that this world was intricately linked to the stories he had watched. 

To be honest, Ash couldn't recall what would happen next.

Despite the memories being vivid, he couldn't grasp every detail. He remembered recovering Caterpie and Pidgeot in the Viridian Forest, but many other moments remained hazy.

"Hey, Pikachu…" Ash turned to his loyal companion, who stood beside him on the railing, gazing into the distance as well.

"Pika…?" Pikachu looked up at Ash, puzzled by his call.

"Do you think, in the future, we'll stand on the highest peak and see sights no one else has ever seen?"

Ash asked, a smile forming on his lips.

"Pika—!" Pikachu nodded enthusiastically, even if it didn't fully understand what Ash meant by "sights." It felt the need to support Ash unconditionally.

"Really? If you believe we can, then I believe we can too! Even without a system or inheritance, I know we can do it!" Ash's smile grew brighter, determination gleaming in his eyes.

His goal had never changed: to become the most powerful Trainer in the world, a legend among legends, just like the mighty Chi hidden deep in the mountains of the games. 

"What are you talking about?" Misty's voice interrupted as she emerged from the bathroom, towel in hand, her hair damp and cascading down her shoulders.

She had opted not to change into her pajamas since they would be heading to dinner shortly.

"Oh, it's nothing…" Ash stuttered, momentarily taken aback by Misty's softer appearance. Compared to her usual energetic look, she seemed gentler now.

"Then hurry up and wash up! We need to eat soon. After dinner, we can either go shopping or rest," Misty said, unaware of Ash's gaze as she continued to dry her hair.

"Right!" Ash quickly nodded, picking up Pikachu and heading back inside to find his clothes. He dashed into the bathroom to take a shower.

"Why do you look a bit flustered…?" Misty tilted her head, curious about Ash's demeanor. But as soon as he closed the bathroom door, her expression changed.

Her eyes widened as a thought struck her, and her cheeks flushed red.

She suddenly recalled that she had left her changed clothes in the bathroom, which meant her underwear might have been seen by Ash!

Inside the bathroom, Ash did notice Misty's clothes but didn't delve into them. He simply cast a quick glance before focusing on getting cleaned up.

When Ash came out, Misty hurried into the bathroom to retrieve her clothes.

Noticing Ash was distracted, she quickly stuffed them into her backpack and let out a sigh of relief. 

However, she couldn't shake the feeling that Ash had seen her clothes and was aware of her actions, which made her heart race with embarrassment.

After drying Pikachu's fur, Ash quickly wiped his own hair. Boys typically didn't fuss over their appearance as much as girls did, so his hair looked a bit tousled.

"Honestly, you should at least use a hairdryer…" Misty shook her head in exasperation, picking up the hairdryer and handing it to Ash.

"No thanks! Let's just go eat; I'm starving!" Ash replied, shaking his head dismissively. After the long day filled with excitement and being chased, he felt famished.

"Okay…" Misty sighed, knowing there was no changing his mind. She tidied up her appearance, tied her hair back, and they both left the dormitory with Pikachu in tow, heading toward the restaurant.

The restaurant was spacious, although smaller than the main hall, covering about four to five hundred square meters.

The Pokémon Center occupied a significant area, and the restaurant served as a central hub for trainers.

Meals at the Pokémon Center's restaurant were free, allowing trainers to order whatever they liked.

After placing their orders, they received a notification when their meals were ready.

Pokémon food was generally simple and catered to the tastes of small Pokémon, while larger Pokémon required special diets that trainers usually prepared themselves.

After ordering their food, Ash and Misty found a table and chatted while waiting. Soon, the intercom announced that their meals were ready for pickup.

"This is really delicious!" Ash exclaimed, his eyes lighting up as he bit into a fried pork chop.

He hadn't expected the food at the Pokémon Center to be of such high quality, comparable to restaurants outside—and it was free!

"Of course! This is one of the benefits the League provides to trainers!" Misty replied, pride evident in her tone as she enjoyed her curry rice.

"Can other people stay and eat here, or is it just trainers?" Ash asked, curious.

"Of course!" Misty nodded, enjoying the chance to share more about their surroundings.

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Adios