Man in the Mirror

Chapter 24: Begin Again

May found Ash resting on the edge of the bed, much like the first day they met. The girl adjusted herself a bit to give him some more space to rest. Unfortunately, it had the opposite effect because her moving caused Ash to wake up. "Damn," the girl whispered with regret over disturbing his peaceful slumber.

Ash slowly opened his eyes, but as soon as he saw May sitting, he jolted back up. "May, you're awake!" Ash's eyes came to life with relief and happiness. He knew she'd come back to them.

The moment the brunette made eye contact with the raven-haired boy, she stared at him with wobbly sapphire eyes. Everything started sinking in for May as she looked into his auburn eyes. She remembered him, she knew everything Ash had done to help her grow in her journey. Ash noticed her teary eyes with worry, "Are you alright, May?"

"I could hear everything you were saying in my sleep. You've been nursing me since Tyranitar's attack," May expressed gratitude through her eyes.

Ash modestly rubbed the back of his head, "It wasn't just me. Chansey, Wigglytuff, and Audino helped too, they-," he got interrupted by the coordinator.

"But you're the one who's here. You were always here. As much as I wanted to wake up, I didn't have the strength, but you never left me. Your hope was strong enough to make you believe I'd wake up any moment," May clarified that Ash had gone above and beyond for her.

The trainer lowered the brim of his hat a bit to hide his light blush. Ash softly smiled at her, "Friends don't leave friends behind."

The coordinator unexpectedly reached for Ash's hands to squeeze them. Her action surprised him, "Do you know how I found the strength to wake up, Ash?" He nodded sideways with confusion. May warmly smiled, "You gave me the strength. Listening to you, especially now, gave me everything I needed to come back from such a close call."

Ash curiously raised his eyebrows. He did not expect his words to hold that much weight, "Wow, May."

May's glistening sapphire eyes started to release a few tears as her warm smile widened. "That's not everything. Ash, I remember."

Ash's eyes were perplexed, "Remember what, May?"

Her tears dropped on Ash's hands. She took a deep breath to speak without crying, "I remember everything. I remember we met the day I got my Torchic. I remember all of our traveling together up until the Wallace Cup."

"Really, May?" Ash's heart started to race as he realized his old friend had returned. He squeezed her hands while she still held them.

May slowly nodded with her loving smile. "You've always been there for me, haven't you?" the brunette spoke softly.

Ash started to blush again, but he laughed nervously. He made his confession, "I care about you, May. I always have, but I messed up as your friend because I didn't stay in touch. I wish I had arrived sooner to support you more through all this."

May shook her head in disagreement. "Don't be so hard on yourself, Ash. You're here now. That's enough to show that you never forgot me." Her heartbeat started to quicken as she said it.

"May, I-," Ash tried to follow up, but May lunged at him with an unexpected kiss. His shocked eyes grew when he felt her lips press against his.

Coincidentally, Pikachu popped up at the window that moment, but the mouse's jaw dropped without alerting them. Pikachu's eyes couldn't believe what they were seeing. Not only did he discover May was awake, but she was kissing his best friend. He quickly hid under the window sill to avoid detection.

May held Ash's face with both hands as she pressed her warm lips on his. She thought her heart would burst out of her chest as she felt the warmth of his body. Ash put his hands on her waist while he absorbed the passion May was giving him. He could feel his heart rate match May's. The adrenaline from their kiss transported them to a different reality for a moment, but that reality was incredible.