Champion's Confidant

On Being Yourself

Chloe stood at the bus stop near her school, holding Eevee to her chest. She was breathing deeply. 'I'm so nervous...' She was dressed in the pink top and jeans Ash had said 'suited' her a few days ago, with her yellow jacket tied around her waist in case it got particularly cold but mostly because she liked the look of it. On her shoulder she carried a handbag shaped like a cherry blossom flower, though it was mostly empty since she could carry her wallet and Eevee's Poké Ball in her pockets. She had even given herself a spritz of the Roselia perfume that Chrysa had shown her all those weeks ago. She took a deep breath and her grip on Eevee tightened.

"Vui..." Eevee repeated, that nervousness being felt in stereo.

'It's not a date or anything. It's just the two of us going to the museum together. And maybe a few other things. But it's not a date...!'

In her chest and against her wishes, her heart pounded, betraying her true thoughts to herself. "As soon as Ash gets here, I'll relax... I know it."

Taking out her phone, she looked at the time. It was only a little past noon now. Well within the window of arrival. 'I guess I don't know how punctual he is or not... There's so much I don't know...'

Eevee's ears twitched, as though she heard something, and she turned to look in the direction of the laboratory. Running down the sidewalk with Pikachu on his shoulder was Ash, but Chloe had to do a double take to make sure it was him. He was dressed like he normally was, except his cap was on Pikachu's head, and his hair...

'His hair...'

Ash's hair was not it's typical messy self. It looked like someone had been trying to comb it - 'probably Goh,' Chloe thought - and gave up halfway before relying on hair gel for the rest of it. It was angular, pointing down, and looked like a mess. 'But it means that he at least tried to look a bit fancier for this...' Her heart skipped. 'Does he think this is a date?'

Ash came to a stop right in front of her. "Sorry! Gettin' ready took a bit longer than normal," he said, hand shyly behind his head.

She shook her head. "Hey, you're fine, Ash. It's not like you're an hour late or anything," she said, smiling. "Why don't we get going?"

He nodded. She noticed his eyes dart to the Eevee in her arms, and she could tell that he relaxed a bit. "Heh, I guess I shoulda figured that you'd have Eevee with ya, huh?"

She giggled, amused. "Why would I not have Eevee with me?" she asked rhetorically. "It's not like you'd go anywhere without Pikachu."

Ash chuckled, his wide smile beaming at her. "You understand," he said. "Goh said y' might be by yourself, though."

'Of course he would,' she thought. 'He's thinking this is a date.'

Ash reached out and scratched Eevee's head. "I think it's good t' have a Pokémon with ya, though. It's like always havin' someone with you so you never get lonely." As Eevee cooed gently under his touch, he turned to Pikachu. "Right, buddy?"

"Pikapika," he agreed.

Ash's stomach then grumbled loud enough to startle Eevee and Chloe both. The two of them stepped back and Ash looked very embarrassed once again. "S-Sorry! I took so long gettin' ready... I guess I missed breakfast."

"Pikapi..." Pikachu shrugged, shifting the hat so that he could give Chloe an apologetic look.

She shrugged, smiling. "You wouldn't be Ash if you weren't hungry, would you?" she asked. "Luckily I know a great little cafe near the school that my friends and I go to sometimes. We can get something to eat there before we head more towards the museum."