Man in the Mirror

Chapter 11: Can't Let Her Get Away

"May, why are you introducing yourself?" Ash was confused.

May retreated her hand and raised an eyebrow. "I thought it would be formal of me to introduce myself."

"But May, we already know each other. I've known you for a long time. We even traveled together. It seems silly to introduce yourself again." Ash rubbed the back of his head.

May placed one arm under her elbow and rested her chin on her fist. She looked at him with bafflement. "I'm sorry, but I don't recall ever traveling with you," May apologized.

"Pika?!" Pikachu gasped with Ash. They were at a loss for words.

"May, please talk to us too!" A man nearly burst out of the crowd until one of May's bodyguards held him back.

"May, the crowd is getting out of control," one of her agents whispered in her ear.

The coordinator nodded. "Please excuse me. I can't stick around any longer." May bowed at Ash, then motioned to her limo.

"May!" Ash almost grabbed her arm to stop her but used his better judgment.

"By the way, Ash. Thank you for the letter," May shared her appreciation before she entered the limo. With that, she was gone.

Ash and Pikachu remained frozen on the sidewalk amidst roaring crowds who celebrated gaining a glimpse of the performer. What just happened? Ash stared at where the limo was parked.

Ash ate a spoonful of his ice cream. "I don't get it, pal. Why was May acting like she didn't remember us?" The boy rested his elbow on the table. He couldn't savor his frozen treat with his mind on May.

"Chu," Pikachu lowered his head. He was also unable to enjoy the dessert.

The trainer gazed out the window. "Well, at least we know she got the letter now." May's words of the letter echoed in Ash's head. By the way, Ash, thank you for the letter.

"Pikachu pipi pika," Pikachu raised his head. The mouse flailed his arms to remind Ash they couldn't give up on their friend yet. There had to be a reasonable explanation for her behavior. Besides, from what May's family told them, May still needed a friend.

"You're right, pal. Maybe we need to jog May's memory. The important thing is that we don't give up," Ash's best friend helped him regain spirit when he abruptly stood up.

"Pikachu!" Pikachu made a fist with its paw.

"We're going to figure out what's happening around here." Ash radiated confidence when he pulled down the brim of his hat.

Noticing something, Pikachu shouted. "Pika chu!" Pikachu pointed right behind Ash.

Ash turned around to see what Pikachu was looking at. He chuckled when he saw the poster. The illustration was of a battle between May and Diantha tonight at the Prism Tower! "At least we won't have to guess where she's going next," Ash crossed his arms. He thanked Pikachu for his sharp eyes.

May patiently brushed her hair in the mirror minutes before the showdown. The outfit resembling her attire from the Wallace Cup accentuated her beauty. That boy from today, Ash. He seemed nice, May pictured him. I didn't expect we'd meet, especially so far from Pallet Town. She presumed he lived there. It was weird that he insisted we traveled together like in his letter. I'd remember, wouldn't I? The brunette believed.

The performer placed her finger on her chin. "I can't remember any Ash I met while traveling," she muttered. "Oh well. I doubt I'll ever see him again," the girl surrendered to her priorities.

Ash mingled in the crowd. He admired the packed arena and the battlefield, where he earned his badge from Clemont. The trainer overheard a pair say the Lumiose Gym Leader agreed to host Diantha's battle while they'd be out of town, which explained Bonnie and Clemont's absence. Everywhere Ash and Pikachu looked, people were waving flags with May's or Diantha's faces. They even wore apparel associated with the two trainers; some wore Gardevoir shirts or Beautifly hats. Some were a bit more extreme in their dedication. When Ash saw several people dressed like May, he couldn't help but cringe. It gave him flashbacks to when Harley did it.