As they watched Gary left, Ash felt a pang of sadness. He turned to Goh and Oak.
" I.... have to go somewhere. Keep Pikachu safe, will ya?"
Before anyone could say anything, Ash had thrust Pikachu into Goh's arms and he ran, wiping his face.
And out of his jacket came a letter.
Goh picked it up and waved it. " Hey, Ash! You left something!"
But Ash was gone.
Goh furrowed his brow as he unfolded it. A bunch of words came staggering to him.
I can't believe you're the famous Pokemon Master. You're not any master! You put your Pokemon in danger and yet they still love you.
Goh said each word out loud.
Loud enough for Gary to hear.
" What?!" He ran back and snatched the letter and read it.
" I.... I can't believe Ash never said anything!" Goh said as he rubbed his hair.
" Ash never says anything." Oak replied.
Gary handed Goh the letter. " Let me handle this. I know exactly where Ashy- Boy is."
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Gary’s heart pounded as he sprinted through the woods, his mind racing. He clutched the letter tightly in his hand, the cruel words etched into his brain. How had Ash been carrying this pain for so long without saying a word? Gary didn’t care where Ash was hiding; he was going to find him and make sure he knew the truth.
It didn’t take long for Gary to reach the clearing near the old tree by the riverbank, a familiar place where Ash often retreated when things became too much. As he approached, Gary could hear faint sobs, and his chest tightened at the sound. There, huddled beneath the tree, was Ash. His shoulders shook violently as he tried, and failed, to hold back his sobs. Every few seconds, another sharp sob tore through him, his face buried in his hands.
“Ash,” Gary whispered, kneeling beside him. He gently placed a hand on Ash’s shoulder, feeling the tremors of his friend’s anguish.
Ash flinched at the touch, but when he realized it was Gary, he didn’t pull away. Instead, he turned and buried his face into Gary’s chest, his sobs growing louder, more desperate. “G-Gary,” Ash choked out between sobs. “I—I can’t—”
“Shhh, Ashy-boy,” Gary murmured, wrapping his arms around him in a tight embrace. “It’s okay. I’m here.” He could feel Ash’s tears soaking through his shirt, but he didn’t care. All that mattered was letting Ash know he wasn’t alone.
Ash clung to Gary as though he were a lifeline, his body trembling with each sob that escaped him. “I... I don’t understand,” Ash whispered through his broken voice. “Why do people hate me? Why am I never good enough?”
