Ash's Story (Part 6: Unova)

Chapter 7: Trust in Motion

After Striaton, the road felt different because Cilan was walking with us now. He did not only walk, either. He evaluated the trail, the breeze, the berry bushes, and even the sound of Oshawott's footsteps like everything had a flavor only he could taste.

The road also felt more crowded than it had before Striaton. Cilan had joined with Pansage, Iris had stopped pretending she was leaving, and every Pokémon we had met seemed to add one more reason to slow down and listen before judging.

Iris walked ahead with Axew in her hair, pretending she was still our guide even when Golly had the map open. Eve stayed near Alice, and Alice stayed near me without making it feel like a cage.

We stopped in a forest clearing when Alice's stomach growled louder than Axew's training cries. She looked away, embarrassed, while Pikachu laughed softly from my shoulder.

"Ash, can we stop for lunch?" Alice asked, holding one hand over her stomach. "I am hungry."

"Sure," I said, already setting down my bag. "I guess it is lunchtime."

Cilan's eyes brightened when I took out the cooking utensils. "Ash, if you do not mind, may I assist? A first true traveling meal together deserves a balanced recipe."

"I would appreciate it," I said.

Cooking with Cilan was different from cooking alone. He measured aroma and timing with the same care I used when reading a battle. He noticed how much heat Tepig liked near his berries, how Oshawott wanted food arranged like a performance, and how Purrloin pretended not to care while stealing the best-smelling pieces.

Cilan looked over as we stirred the pot together. "How long have you been cooking?"

"Since I was seven," I said. "We have a big family, so everyone helped Mom when we could."

The word Mom quieted me before I expected it to. Cilan did not rush to fill the silence, and that helped more than another question would have.

He lowered the flame instead, giving the stew a slower simmer. It was such a small gesture, but it told me he understood that some grief could not be stirred faster just because people were hungry.

Alice stepped closer and touched my sleeve. "Your food always tasted like home."

I breathed through the ache and kept stirring. "Then today it can taste like the road too."

When lunch was ready, everyone gathered quickly. Golly ate one spoonful, paused, and looked at Cilan with professional seriousness.

"This is better," Golly said. "Ash's cooking was already good, but the seasoning structure improved."

Cilan placed a hand over his heart. "A precise compliment with a clean finish."

Iris took another bite and grinned. "If this is every day, traveling with you might not be so bad."

Oshawott raised his scalchop proudly, as if he had helped cook by standing near the pot.

Then I noticed one serving bowl was empty.

"I cooked a lot," I said, staring at it. "That should not be gone already."

Purrloin looked offended on principle. Eve's Purrloin looked even more offended, as if the theft had not been properly credited. Patrat's tail snapped toward the grass, and Pidove lifted from a branch.

A green shape sat beneath the bushes, calmly eating from the missing bowl. The Pokémon lifted her head with elegant confidence, not guilty at all.

Cilan leaned forward. "A Snivy."