It's Called Love, Right?

Chapter Three - Rivalry Formed

[May's POV]

"The battle between Ash Ketchum the transfer, and May Maple the S-Class student begins... NOW!" Iris exclaimed as she jumped up and down in excitement.

I prepped into my kicking stance while Ash just stood there with his hands in his pocket. Upon seeing his amateur posture, I smirked. This was going to be a piece of cake. Without wasting a second, I dashed towards him and aimed at his left arm with a tornado kick. However, he managed to dodge it by simply pivoting to the side.

"Tch." I spun around and threw at him a punch, which he caught it easily.

"Is that all you got? Miss Champion's Daughter?" He smirked. I knew he was trying to provoke me, but I couldn't help but clench my fist at his sarcastic tone.

This guy...!

I lunged towards him with multiple attacks, but he evaded them all with ease. This wasn't good. He was trying to waste my stamina and step in once I was overcome with fatigue, but I wasn't going to let his plans come into effect.

I had to end this quickly.

I backed a few meters away from him and prepared for my special combo kick. I started running towards him at my top speed, building a power momentum all around me. When our distance closed to less than a meter, Ash prepped into a defense stance. At that moment, I made a sharp turn and slid off to the side to confuse him. Before he got a chance to turn around, I came at him with my reversal hook kick and aimed right at his head. I felt my foot hit something.

Yes!

I silently cheered to myself before looking at Ash. My eyes widened at the sight in front of me. Even though I was using my special combo kick, he still blocked it with one of his arms with ease.

Heat flushed my face as I watched his indifferent expression morph into a grin. He stuck his tongue out at me. "Thought you scored, huh?"

"Why you...?!" I slid back and prepared to attack again when my foot slipped. I knew I was about to fall and I closed my eyes for impact. However, it never came.

What?

My eyes fluttered open as the realization hit me that Ash had caught me before I hit the ground. One of his hands were around my waist while the other was still in his pocket. We were in a leaned position, and his face was an inch away from mine. I felt my cheeks heat up.

"Whoops. Apologies, " he said as he let go of me and slid his hands back in his pockets. "But it looks like the match has been decided, hasn't it."

My gaze was casted towards the ground, too embarrassed to say anything. Not only was I unable to land a single hit, but he also saved me from falling! Recalling my overconfident statement from earlier, the inside of my stomach was churning in embarrassment.

"How did you dodge and block all of that so easily?" I managed to ask.

"The angles." Ash voice was flat as he spoke with nonchalance. "I calculated the angles of your kicks and how many second it will take to reach me."

Blinking twice, his answer that he had spoken with a matter-of-fact tone took me by surprise.

He calculated my moves? How could he do that during a combat situation?

I couldn't help but wonder about the extent of Ash Ketchum's capabilities.

"But you know..." He said as he started leisurely walking towards the exit. Ash was grinning. "It was the most fun I had in a long time."

I lifted my head at his words and my heart beat accelerated like a racing car drifting on the tracks. "Ju-just you wait, I'll beat you next time for sure!" Despite my enthusiastic statement, he just lazily waved without turning back.

I grinned. "See you tomorrow, Ash!"

[Third Person POV]

The arrival of Ash Ketchum had instigated a ripple at Pokémon Academy. As the five S-Class girls watched Ash's back get smaller and smaller in the distance, each of them had different thoughts filling their heads.

[Misty's POV]

Ash Ketchum, you're far more interesting than I thought.

[Dawn's POV]

I wonder what it will be like with a boy in our class?

[Iris's POV]

I can't wait to get to know him better!

[Serena's POV]

What a unique person. Perhaps I should ask him to be friends!

[May's POV]

Just you wait, Ash Ketchum—I will beat you tomorrow!

———

[edited x2]

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