I can make you laugh

Wednesday Part 1- Visiting Triplets

The next morning, Ash sleepily ate his breakfast on the couch, watching Kukui speak on his phone.

"Yes Sima," Kukui nodded as he spoke through the phone. "We won't be going anywhere to exciting. Just to a gym. I promise Burnet and I will keep Mimo safe."

As Kukui listened through the phone, he looked at Ash. Kukui smiled before giving Ash a wink. Ash smiled back before picking up his glass of moomoo milk, drinking it slowly.

"Thank you, Sima," Kukui nodded before hanging up the phone. After putting the phone in his pocket, he sat beside Ash.

"Looks like everyone's parents are onboard for today," Kukui grinned. "Hopefully by now, Burnet has all the information needed for the Pokédexes. Also, Sima has asked us to look after Mimo today."

"That's fine," Ash smiled as he wiped his mouth with a napkin. "I hope Kiawe's okay with the idea of visiting somewhere new with his sister. I mean, remember how anxious he was when we went to DJ Leo's first concert?"

"Well, this is slightly different from a concert," Kukui smiled. "For example, it's a small group of people she knows, not a crowd filled with excited strangers. Plus, both Burnet and I will be there so Mimo will be constantly watched. She'll be perfectly safe. Kiawe has nothing to worry about."

"Try telling him that," Ash smiled. Kukui chuckled before turning serious.

Hey Ash?"

"Yes, Professor?" Ash answered.

"We should talk about last night," Kukui said.

"Which part?"

"The part where you came inside," Kukui reminded him. "And I showed you the articles and videos I found about you before all of us sat down and had that long discussion."

"Oh, that part," Ash said before looking around. "Where are the articles?"

"On the bench in a folder," Kukui answered.

Immediately, Ash looked over at the bench, spying the folder filled with articles that Kukui had created while Ash was out with Gladion. Ash sighed before looking at Kukui.

"Has Rotom seen those yet?" Ash asked.

"No, just me and Burnet," Kukui confirmed. Ash nodded with a sigh.

"I'm glad," he admitted. "I don't know if I'm ready to handle the excitement when it finds out how many legendary and mythical Pokémon I've met."

Kukui nodded.

"Yeah," he agreed. "Listen, Ash. I'm sorry that I caught you off guard with my research last night. I was so worried about you. You were so sad yesterday."

"Professor," Ash said gently as he took his hand. "I'm not upset that you looked into my past. And I'm sorry that I never told you about it. It's just not something I like to talk about. I mean, it was a struggle talking about it with Gladion last night. I'm surprised I didn't burst into tears talking about it. Well, the short version of it."

"You talked to Gladion last night?" Kukui smiled. "Like really talk to him?"

"A little," Ash nodded. "It was so scary. But at the same time, it felt so relieving to talk and not feel criticized because I just wanted to help."