[Lance: Say what you will, but Ash really does have some skill when it comes to training Fire-types.]
[Misty: Heh, that's not quite right. Ash is actually the worst when it comes to handling those stubborn Fire-types. His Charizard only just started listening to him not long ago!]
[Gary: Hahaha, I remember now. Wasn't it at the Kanto League, when his Charizard refused to battle?]
[Misty: Exactly! Such a shame too—Charizard's refusal left Ash stuck in the Top 16.]
[Ash: Misty, c'mon, don't bring that up! I did win the Orange League Championship after that, didn't I?]
[Gary: Tch. A championship from a backwater place like that counts?]
Ash's defense earned nothing but Gary's disdain.
In his eyes, only a regional league championship was worth even half the title "Champion."
After all, his brother Green was a true League Champion!
Ash? He was bragging about a vacation trophy.
[Ash: At least I have a championship. Gary, do you? What title do you hold?]
[Gary: ???]
That one nearly made Gary faint with rage.
Does a fishing tournament championship count?!
—On screen—
After catching Scorbunny, Ash immediately knocked on Koharu's door.
Inside, Koharu had just changed into pajamas and climbed into bed.
Hearing the knock, she ran barefoot to open it.
Who could it be this late at night?
But when she saw Ash standing there—
Her sleepiness vanished in an instant.
Ash? At this hour?
Her heart pounded.
No way—things can't move forward this quickly!
Koharu bit her lip, bracing for what he might say.
[Professor Sakuragi: Daughter! Don't you dare throw yourself at him!]
[Cynthia: Uh… are we even allowed to watch this?]
[Serena: Ash! No— not there!]
But the scene the audience imagined never happened.
After all, Ash's emotional IQ was… legendary.
Even with Koharu standing there in an adorably pink nightgown, Ash didn't spare her outfit a glance.
His head was completely filled with the thought of the Battle Frontier.
Tomorrow, the long-awaited battles would begin, and the fire in his chest burned hot.
He rattled off their plans for the next day with shining eyes.
Koharu could only nod along instinctively.
And just when she nervously bit her lip, waiting for his next move—
Ash simply turned around and went back to his room.
Leaving Koharu standing at her doorway, utterly bewildered.
Only Ash could pull something like that.
—The next morning—
Koharu yawned as she left her room, only to bump into Ash and Pikachu, already brimming with energy.
But this time, there was another Pokémon at Ash's side—
A small red-and-white rabbit hopping proudly beside Pikachu.
"Koharu, let's go! Rotom already booked our tickets!"
Before she could react, Ash grabbed her hand and dragged her toward the train station.
From there, they'd take the train to Slateport City, then fly to Hoenn.
Bleary-eyed and with dark circles under her eyes, Koharu trudged along behind him.
"Ash… didn't you sleep at all last night?"
"Hm?" Ash tilted his head, then noticed Koharu's exhaustion.
"Yeah." She gave him a long, resentful look.
"It's fine," Ash grinned. "I still know plenty of people in Hoenn. Once I defend my Battle Frontier title, I'll introduce you to them!"
"Pikachu!"
Pikachu raised a paw proudly.
In Hoenn, who didn't know to show respect to Grandmaster Pikachu?
"You've already challenged the Hoenn League, Ash?"
"Of course! I even made it to the Top 8!"
There was still some regret in his voice.
His opponent Tyson had been ridiculously strong…
Even Pikachu couldn't take down that Meowth in boots.
As they traveled, Ash shared stories from his past journeys.
Koharu caught on to something important.
"Who's May?"
"Oh, May? She was my partner back then."
"It's been a long time since we met. Once this Battle Frontier tournament's done, I'll introduce you."
"…Okay."
Koharu's "okay" came out a little sour.
[May: Eh? So Ash was my partner back then?]
[Serena: Ugh, another one?! Ash, you idiot, why do you attract so many girls! You're impossible!]
[Delia: My Ash is surprisingly popular, isn't he?]
[Cynthia: Seems like he really does have a certain charm… Does that mean every League he visits, a new girl falls for him?]
Cynthia's words sent Serena's crisis level skyrocketing.
She'd been the first to fall for Ash—
So why did it feel like everyone else was competing with her?
Misty was already a problem, with her home-field advantage.
Koharu was from the future, but still…
Now May too?!
Unforgivable!
Serena puffed her cheeks out like an angry little quail, adorably tempting fate.
—On screen—
The Battle Frontier was established in almost every region, though the names differed—Battle Tower, Battle Center, and so on.
In Kanto and Hoenn, though, it was always called the Battle Frontier.
Anyone who conquered it was titled a "Frontier Brain."
And Ash—
Had once reached that summit himself.
Now, with an invitation in hand, he entered the Frontier once more.
The Glass Whistle Cup's format was 2v2, requiring each participant to use two Pokémon in rotation.
Ash currently had only Pikachu and Scorbunny on hand.
Going solo would be dull.
Besides, Koharu wasn't as scared of Pokémon as before.
This was the perfect chance to show her the true thrill of battle.
After explaining his idea, Ash's starry-eyed enthusiasm made it impossible for Koharu to refuse.
"Great, Koharu! With us together, we'll definitely win the championship!"
"Pikachu!"
"And Pikachu too!"
So Ash led her to the Pokémon Center.
After a quick call with Professor Oak, the professor pulled up the data from his ranch.
"Koharu, take a look. Which two Pokémon should we bring?"
The display filled with the Pokémon Ash had stored there—
Bulbasaur, Charizard, Infernape, and countless others.
Among them, thirty Tauros crowded the screen, impossible to ignore.
Faced with such an overwhelming lineup, Koharu's head spun.
Too many choices—decision paralysis incoming.
[Misty: Wow… Ash's Charizard. I didn't think it could coexist peacefully with the others now.]
[Gary: You mean that Charizard? The one that cost him Top 16?]
[Lance: Pfft, that's going to be his eternal black mark.]
[Brock: Shame we don't see Butterfree or Pidgeot in the lineup.]
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