"You guys did great, Pikachu and Pidgeotto!"
"I didn't think you two were so reliable~" Misty couldn't help but praise them.
"Pi-Pikachu!" Pikachu wiggled its tail in a very human-like way, and Pidgeotto happily flapped its wings.
"Ash, that... that's not Misty's..." Ayumi pointed at the black, burnt thing at the door. It was vaguely in the shape of a bicycle.
Misty's eyes twitched: "Ah! My bicycle!!"
The thunderclap seemed to have been too powerful. A light breeze blew, and with a "whoosh," the black charcoal turned into a pile of scrap metal.
"So I can't escape the fate of being a bicycle killer after all..." Ash muttered.
"Pika..." Pikachu scratched its head, looking embarrassed.
But the next moment, it quickly hid behind Ayumi, because a certain violent girl was already clenching her fists and approaching: "Ash... look at what you've done!"
"Misty, let me explain..." Ash's forehead was dripping with cold sweat as he leaned back defensively, trying to keep his distance from Misty.
Misty's face was dark: "It's fine..."
"Huh?" Ash let out a sigh of relief and relaxed: "See? It's just a bicycle..."
"What I mean is, it's fine for you to explain after I've beaten you up!"
With that, Misty swung her arm at Ash.
"Ah! Help me-!" The two entered a chase.
Ayumi was also amused to see Ash in a predicament. She exchanged a look with Pikachu and winked.
Nurse Joy looked at the Pokémon Center, which was half-destroyed, and felt hopeless: "So, is anyone going to pay for my losses...?"
In the end, Misty didn't even manage to touch a single hair on Ash. She was exhausted and collapsed on the sofa.
"Grrr..." A roar like that of an ancient beast came from her flat stomach. The girl sat up suddenly, her face beet red.
"Alright, I'll make you some supper. Don't be mad anymore~" Ash said, ruffling her head.
"Pah, who wants your supper!" Misty crossed her arms over her chest and turned her head to the side, looking disdainful.
Ash smiled faintly and didn't expose her. He went into the undamaged kitchen and started cooking.
"Yay, supper!" Ayumi was already sitting down with her utensils ready.
Seeing her, Misty was a little curious: "Is it really that good...?"
But the aroma floating from the kitchen had already answered the question.
When Ash had finished and sat down to eat, Ayumi had already devoured a bowl of rice. Misty had also gotten her own bowl and chopsticks and was about to put a piece of braised pork into her mouth.
As if she noticed Ash's gaze, Misty quickly stuffed the meat into her mouth and said unclearly: "Hmph... this is interest for my bicycle! That's it!"
The next moment, the girl's blue-green eyes sparkled with delight: "Mmm... so yummy~"
"Gulp..." Ayumi swallowed a big mouthful of rice: "Right? Ash's cooking is so good~ I've decided, I'm going to stay with him forever, like... like a band-aid!"
Ash was speechless: "Hey, hey... have some shame, will you...?"
"Pfft..." Misty couldn't help but laugh, but the sound stopped abruptly. She quickly patted her chest and drank some water.
"Phew... I'm alive... Ayumi, I have one request. Can we not tell jokes while we eat...?"
Ayumi's mouth was full of food, and she mumbled: "I'll try!"
Ash smiled faintly: "Eat slowly. I made this specifically for you guys. No one's going to steal it."
Misty's hand paused. She felt a strange warmth in her heart: "Okay..."
It had been a long time since she had left home, and no one had cared about her like this.
"Um... if you don't mind, can I join you?"
Nurse Joy had unknowingly come to the table. As she smiled, her pink ahoge stuck up, making her look a little playful.
She looked at Ash with interest, seeming to be very intrigued by him.
"Of course~" Ash smiled faintly: "Just remember to pay for your food."
Nurse Joy's forehead was covered in black lines: "Uh... no problem..."
"Screech!" A braking sound came, and Officer Jenny jumped off her motorcycle: "Are you guys okay? Where are the criminals? Come out! Officer Jenny, the embodiment of justice, is here and won't let you hurt anyone!"
Everyone stared at her blankly. The scene was a little awkward.
"Slurp..." Ayumi ate the last of the noodles in her bowl: "Is it possible... you're a little late...?"
Misty and Nurse Joy, with oily lips, also nodded in agreement: "Yeah, yeah!"
"How about... you eat something?" Ash held up his chopsticks.
The young police officer then sat down and started eating.
"Don't forget to pay for your food... 20,000 yen for one meal."
Hearing this, Officer Jenny's chewing paused. She reached into her pocket. Her two large "buns" jiggled, causing Ash to look at them twice.
Just when everyone thought she was going to pull out her ID and accuse Ash of extortion...
"Slap!" She put a card on the table: "There's 500,000 yen in here. I'll cover you for a week, so you don't need to give me any change!"
With that, she continued to eat greedily.
Ash's eyes twitched. What is with this damn feeling of being taken care of by a rich woman?
No, I can't take it. If I do, I might get my kidneys "removed"!
But the doctor said I have a weak stomach...
Ash was torn.
Just as he was in a spiritual battle, Nurse Joy spoke: "Alright, just take it. It's the reward money for those three thieves, right?"
She then gave Officer Jenny a playful wink: "Sister Arashi, is it really okay for you to use public funds for your meals?"
"What can I do...? I'm a public servant... my salary isn't even enough to buy dog food for Growlithe..."
It turned out that before Ash and the others arrived, the trio had already caused trouble in Viridian City, so the Gym Leader, Giovanni, had offered a 500,000 yen reward.
Hearing this, Ash couldn't help but give a mental thumbs-up to Giovanni. It has to be you, Boss. This trick of "the thief yelling 'stop, thief!'" is so skilled.
Ash happily took the card. He was temporarily out of his financial crisis. He could now prepare more berries and wild-survival tools to deal with various situations and also develop some new recipes.
Oh, and Pidgeotto's Poké Ball.
Although he hadn't caught it yet, the Pokémon had already integrated into the team very well.
After the meal, Ash went out and came back with his backpack full of various berries and ingredients, and of course, five regular Poké Balls.
Even though he wasn't short on money anymore, he still had a habit of being frugal. Super Balls for 10,000 yen, Ultra Balls for 50,000 yen, and Luxury Balls for 300,000 yen... they were still too far out of his reach.
"Pidge~!" Pidgeotto, who had been waiting for him on a tree, swooped down and landed on Ash's outstretched arm.
"Pidgeotto, even though you've already said so, I have to make sure one more time. Will you come with me? To challenge a more vast land, pierce through heavy clouds, and soar through the sky..."
"Pidge~!" Pidgeotto happily nodded. Its beak touched the button on the Poké Ball.
It turned into a red light and was sucked in.
It didn't even shake. There was a "thunk," and it was caught!
Since everyone was already asleep, Ash held back the urge to cheer. He gently stroked the Poké Ball: "Welcome to the team, my partner..."