Man in the Mirror

Chapter 31: Ours

Serena took Ash and Pikachu window-shopping through the streets of Castelia City to make time until May finished her meeting with Wallace. Serena didn't want to shop without May because they planned to do it together. Ash and Pikachu patiently followed Serena as she hopped from window to window. Any time Serena saw something she liked or complimented, Ash agreed with the Kalos girl. It was rare for him to engage in such a way, but Serena seemed to bring it out of him without any complaints. It was reminiscent of when they window-shopped through Lumiose City.

In one of those moments, Ash did think about May. "I wonder what May is dealing with right now," Ash put his hands behind his head as they walked.

"I know," Serena thought of her friend. "When she spoke to Wallace the other night, he seemed interested in her unannounced performance at the festival. If I'm correct, I think the governing body for Pokémon Contests also requested an audience with her today," the blonde-haired girl noted. The unexpected call by Wallace and the governing body caught May off guard that night they talked in private.

Ash pensively crossed his arms, "I hope everything works out for her." The raven-haired trainer wanted people to stop leeching off May's abilities and charm.

"Me too. May deserves everything she wants," Serena agreed with a soft voice. She thought of Ash and May as a couple until Ash snapped her out of it.

The auburn-eyed trainer put his hand on her shoulder, "Serena, why don't we grab some desserts while we wait for May? We can window shop while we eat." Ash suggested; it sounded like the old days.

"Sure, Ash," Serena giggled over Ash's bottomless stomach.

"Pikapi!" Pikachu noticed the familiar area within Castelia City. He immediately tapped his friend.

"What's up, Pikachu?" Ash became puzzled by his behavior.

Pikachu leaped off his shoulder and ran. "Pi!" the mouse shouted, running ahead of his friends.

"What's gotten into Pikachu?" Serena was surprised by the Electric-type's sudden actions.

"Let's find out," Ash ran after his best friend alongside Serena.

Pikachu bolted through the city's bustling streets without a concern for who he almost tripped or who he made his friends almost bumped into. Then, the mouse ran the crosswalk on a green light. "Pikachu, wait up!" Ash thought his friend lost it.

Serena and Ash got honked by oncoming traffic when they crossed, "Sorry!" Serena nervously waved to the drivers.

"Watch where you're going! Jackasses!" a driver waved his fist at them, giving them a friendly Castelia City welcome.

"What's wrong with Pikachu?" Serena became annoyed with the mouse when they reached the other side. She saw Ash's Pokémon enter a building.

"I'm not sure," Ash frowned at his friend's peculiar actions. They nearly caught up with him when they entered the building. Suddenly, his frustration with Pikachu was replaced by nostalgia upon entering. He recognized the setting, from its regal staircase to the colorful hanging lamps shaped like cubes. So this is where you were trying to bring us, buddy, Ash realized when he looked at his best friend.

Pikachu stopped in his tracks to look at the pair. "Pikachu!" the Electric-type smiled.

"What was that about, Pikachu?" Serena put her hands on her hips with annoyance. Her anger also vanished upon noticing the beauty of the building's interior. She was just as mesmerized as Ash.

"Here you go," Ash happily handed Serena a vanilla ice cream cone. The trio sat at the ice cream bar near the hanging lamps.

"Thank you, Ash," Serena sweetly received the frozen treat.