"Do you like flower arranging?"
Erika tilted her head with a gentle smile, Viquine buzzing happily beside her like a sparkly little bodyguard bee. Maybe it was that gentle bond she saw between me and my Pokémon that made her talk so openly—she began to chatter about her favorite hobby: flower gardening.
She spoke about decorating vases and basins with blooms, blending colors and scents to create something that wasn't just pretty, but harmonious. The way her voice softened as she spoke, it was almost like she was talking about a dear friend rather than flowers.
"Flower arrangements are used a lot for weddings and funerals," she said, tapping her finger against her chin. "It's a way of expressing emotions without words."
We walked down the mountain, janggu drums tapping somewhere in the distance—soft, rhythmic, like a heartbeat.
And then—ta-daaa —Rainbow City came into view. The streets glittered with life. A department store towered over one side, a casino flashed with gaudy lights on the other. People with tired faces and kids with excited eyes filled the place. That dangerous thrill that lives in places where money spins around like autumn leaves… I could feel it in the air.
But our destination wasn't the casino. Nope! We were headed to a perfume shop—which, to my surprise, Erika managed herself.
Apparently, their top-seller was perfume extracted from the sweet honey breath of a smelly worm Pokémon. That sounded… questionable at first, but hey, people here clearly loved it.
"People seem more attractive when they smell good," Erika said, lifting a delicate bottle. "Pokémon too. My partners love sweet scents, so I always use fruity fragrances on them."
At first, I waved her off—me, wearing perfume? Ehh, too fancy. But then she gave me those sparkly puppy-dog eyes… and, well, my tough heart is not that tough. I caved.
"Perfume isn't just about smelling nice," she said softly. "It calms your body, mind, and spirit."
She wasn't lying. The scent wrapped around me like a warm hug. It felt… cozy.
Then a group of cheerful shop girls—probably employees—flitted over like a little flock of Pidgey.
"Waaah, your skin is so white!"
"It's so soft too!"
Their chatter was loud but not malicious. Just… honest awe. And maybe because of the perfume, or the atmosphere, or Erika's soft laugh—it didn't feel bad at all.
Human affection is sweet… dangerously sweet, like honey hiding sharp thorns.
The memory of the first time I saw Erika —so tired and guarded—flashed in my mind. Now, she was glowing. Like lavender swaying in the wind.
"Everyone has a different scent," she said, smiling wide. "If you find the one you like, it can make you even more radiant."
"I think so too," I replied, tilting my head. "But where do they make all this perfume?"
"I make it myself. At the Rainbow Gym."
"…oh?" I blinked.
Her perfume… was her battle flag.
And maybe, just maybe, it smelled like something I could trust.
Huh…?
A familiar woman's voice brushed against my ears like a soft breeze, and my mind jolted awake. I turned my head toward the sound.
"Wonderful. How can such a wonderful scent be?"
"Pica!"
It was unmistakable. Misty's voice, and ash's Pikachu chirping right next to her. They hadn't noticed me yet—just talking, surrounded by a cluster of perfume shop staff.
I'd said before that we'd meet again, but I didn't think it'd be this soon. Kanto really is such a small world sometimes.
If Misty was here, then Ash couldn't be far. While chatting with Erika, I subtly let my eyes sweep the crowd. But there was no sign of Ash or Brock anywhere. Pikachu was right there, so he had to be nearby. Maybe he'd slipped in quietly.
"It suits you well," one of the employees cooed.
Misty brought her perfumed hand to her nose again. Just watching her face soften like honey melting over warm bread was enough to know how much she loved the scent.
"Would you like to buy one?"
"Pika, Pikachu!"
Before Misty could reach for her wallet, Pikachu's urgent voice cut through the sweetness. And then Ash appeared, moving straight toward her with that unmistakable frown of his.
"Stop it."
His words were sharp, clean, like a knife slicing through silk. He stood between her and the perfume, expression twisted as if the whole thing offended him.
"It's pointless to use things like perfume."
The tension snapped like a stretched rubber band. Misty's frown mirrored his now, irritation lighting up her eyes. Just as she was about to spit back something sharp, another woman—one of the employees—stepped forward, brows drawn tight.
"That's an intolerable remark," she said, voice low and cold.
"This is our perfume. Wouldn't it be a great disrespect to say it has no meaning?"
Her tone sharpened, and Ash narrowed his eyes in return. Anger flared between them, faint but real. His thin lips trembled, not with fear, but something heavier.
He hesitated for just a second… then stepped back and answered, almost like he was forcing the words out.
"Isn't something like perfume just covering your body with an artificial scent? What's so good about that?"
At this rate, Erika's first impression of Ash was going to be branded into her memory—loud, blunt, and just a little reckless.
As expected, the moment those words left his mouth, Erika fell silent. I stole a glance at her, and when our eyes met, her expression—which had frozen like a calm lake in winter—softened into a faint smile. A quiet, unreadable smile. Even I couldn't tell what it meant.
"What does that mean?" she said softly, almost too calm. "Perfume has the power to make people feel comfortable, healthy… even bring peace of mind."
Ash's words had stirred more than just her. The other employees quickly rallied behind her, their voices sharp with indignation.
"Exactly!"
"That's right!"
"Pica!"
Even Pikachu had abandoned Ash's side, chirping its agreement with the perfume staff. I'd half expected Ash to shrink under their stares… but no. He just waved his hands in that carefree, infuriating way of his.
"I don't need it. I'm always healthy, healthy, healthy."
Misty, still standing close to him, gave a long-suffering sigh and linked her arm through his.
"Health is the only thing you've got going for you," she teased.
The employees, however, were less amused. Their frustration boiled over.
"You—who can't understand the greatness of perfume—don't belong here!"
The lead employee's voice rang out sharply. Her eyes flashed like flint, and the rest of the staff followed her lead like a pack.
"No delicacy!"
"No wonder he's not popular!"
The perfume shop's bright atmosphere curdled into something heavier. It wasn't just glares anymore—it was the kind of invisible pressure that made the air feel tight. Ash stood at the center of it all, a stubborn boy who had no idea how cornered he looked.
He was still young, still used to picking fights with the world instead of talking things through. Maybe that same boldness he showed in battle had slipped out at the worst possible moment.
I thought about stepping in—but Erika, the store manager, hadn't said a word. So, I didn't move.
"Okay, okay, I get it! I'll just go to the Rainbow Gym first!" Ash finally barked, spinning on his heel and dashing out of the perfume shop like a wild Pidgey escaping a net.
Brock and Misty exchanged quick looks, murmured something to Pikachu, and hurried after him until they vanished down the street.
…Great. The Gym Leader was right here, and Ash had just made a dramatic exit in front of her.
Meanwhile, Ash's remaining teammates, who'd been poking around the shop like curious kids at a candy stall, turned their wide eyes toward Erika and me.
"Huh? Platinum!"
"It's nice to see you again, Sister. And Erika too… You were here…!"
Their excitement was as bright and open as Ash's stubbornness had been loud. The contrast made the whole scene feel almost comical. Almost.
Misty and Brock lit up the moment they spotted me, but their cheerful greetings faltered the second their eyes landed on Erika. Their smiles stiffened, and an awkward silence hung in the air.
They clearly hadn't expected her to be here.
I suppose we all know the Gym Leaders, one way or another.
But more than that, the real reason they were flustered was obvious — the Gym Leader Ash was supposed to challenge was standing right here, having witnessed every second of his perfume shop meltdown.
Erika tilted her head slightly, her expression calm and unreadable as ever.
"Do you know these people?" she asked.
I could only watch as she looked between us, assessing.
"Yes," she answered herself with a soft nod. "We've met before."
"Really? So… are you aiming for the League?" she asked, her gaze flicking toward me.
I quickly shook my head, trying to keep the mood light. "Nope. These two just met by chance. Right, guys?"
"Y-yeah. That's right!" Brock blurted.
"Yes, yes, by chance!" Misty added quickly, nodding so fast I thought she might get dizzy.
Good kids. If either of them had blabbed about the Aerodactyl, I'd have been in real trouble.
I shot them a quick wink behind Erika's back. Thanks for keeping quiet, I mouthed. They didn't say anything, but the way they stared at me told me they understood perfectly.
Erika studied them for a moment, her eyes narrowing just slightly.
"Didn't you say earlier that Ash was entering the Gym challenge?"
"Yeah," I said simply. "That's what they said."
"I see."
Her lips curled upward — not in her usual soft, serene way, but with a quiet amusement that made the hairs on my neck prickle. There was a glimmer in her eyes, sharp and calculating.
"Let's see," she murmured. "Let's see how badly he wants this Gym."
For just a heartbeat, her expression shifted — elegant on the outside, but something a little fiercer flickered beneath the surface. I'd thought she was just a gentle, soft-spoken young lady, but… maybe I'd underestimated her.
We left the perfume shop together, the faint scent of honey and flowers clinging to the air. Brock, Misty, and Pikachu followed close behind us. Ash was already headed toward the Rainbow Gym, so it wouldn't be long before we caught up.
Sure enough, by the time we arrived, I overheard the story from the trainers at the entrance.
They'd refused to let Ash in.
"Any trainer who insults perfume isn't welcome here," they'd said.
Ah… so that's what she meant earlier.
If Ash were the kind of protagonist in an anime, he'd probably find some ridiculous, over-the-top way to slip past them. But this wasn't my problem — not directly, anyway.
I kept my attention on Erika instead, curious about what kind of expression she'd wear next.
She had said that flower arranging was her hobby — and she wasn't exaggerating. The vases and basins around the room were decorated with carefully chosen flowers, arranged so artfully that it was hard not to admire them.
Even for someone skilled, it's not easy. If two or more types of flowers don't harmonize properly, the whole thing ends up looking awkward to the viewer. Different flowers bloom in different seasons, and to create a truly beautiful arrangement, everything — color, texture, shape, and atmosphere — has to blend seamlessly.
Just listening to her explanation made my brain want to shut down. I hate delicate, fiddly things. Art takes effort, and honestly, I didn't have the patience for it.
An awkward little laugh slipped out before I could stop it.
"Erika, you are the challenger."
A voice called out behind me. I turned and lifted my head, and there — standing with the gym staff — was someone I never thought I'd see like this.
A woman, or… at least, that's what it looked like at first glance.
My breath caught in my throat, and I coughed, nearly choking on air. If I'd been drinking water, I would've sprayed it everywhere. I quickly wiped the corners of my mouth, blinking in disbelief.
Was I seeing things?
"Uh?"
The gym staff introduced the challenger as Ashley.
But I wasn't fooled. No one else noticed, but I knew exactly who that was.
Ash.
The A-line skirt in soft orange, the delicate lace trimming, the low-heeled women's shoes — they all worked together in a way that almost completely transformed him. The boyish energy I'd always associated with him had melted away, replaced by an elegant, refined silhouette.
It was… honestly kind of impressive.
For just a second, Ash's eyes met mine. His whole body stiffened, like he'd been caught red-handed.
He must have seen the amusement in my expression, because his face twisted into a panicked look — the kind you get when your entire plan might crumble at any second.
I just smiled.
I'll keep it a secret.
I mouthed the words silently, and he froze for a beat before his shoulders relaxed just slightly. His disguise might've been ridiculous, but the determination behind it was real.
I decided to play along and pretend I hadn't noticed.