"Goldenrod City is fine," Ash muttered as he and Sabrina walked through the bustling streets, "but why is the Gym all the way out here? If I'd known, I would've entered the city from the route closest to the Gym instead of detouring through downtown."
They were currently in the city center of Goldenrod City, and Ash looked visibly tired.
Sabrina, on the other hand, was in excellent spirits.
"I think it's nice," she said calmly, glancing at the rows of fashion boutiques lining the street. "It's good to shop once in a while."
Because of their travels, they hadn't brought many clothes. But ever since Ash released his new storage reels—compact space-compression devices that were immediately embraced by Trainers everywhere—packing had become effortless.
After buying several reels, they could store large amounts of supplies while saving both space and weight in their backpacks.
Naturally, Sabrina had secured at least one reel specifically for clothing.
Ash had long since given up resisting.
If battling a Champion was exhausting, then accompanying a woman shopping was an entirely different level of endurance trial.
After more than two hours of stop-and-go wandering, the two finally arrived at the Goldenrod Gym.
Sabrina still looked refreshed.
Ash felt more tired than after fighting a Legendary Pokémon.
The Goldenrod Gym stood at the edge of a central square near the border of downtown. Its structure was semi-circular, cleanly designed but quiet.
Few people lingered nearby. The residents of Goldenrod were already familiar with the Gym. Unless a challenger had arrived, there was little reason to visit.
Ash stepped toward the entrance—
And froze.
A sign hung prominently on the gate.
Closed for Vacation.
"…What?"
Ash stared at it in disbelief.
"Seriously? The Gym is on vacation? Since when do Gyms take vacations?"
Gyms could temporarily close—but only for special circumstances. Even then, the League usually assigned a substitute Gym Leader to ensure challengers weren't delayed in their journey.
Even the Gym Ash established on Fantasy Island never fully closed. It had been handed over to Mewtwo's management to ensure continuous operation.
Yet Goldenrod Gym was simply… shut.
No substitute.
No notice beyond a wooden sign.
That either meant the Gym was severely understaffed—
Or someone didn't care.
"Sabrina, it's already past one in the afternoon," Ash muttered.
Sabrina placed a hand lightly over her stomach.
"I think we should eat first," she said calmly. "Then we can ask around."
She had been hungry for a while but hadn't interrupted him earlier.
Ash nodded. "Alright. I'm not in a rush."
They entered a nearby restaurant not far from the Gym.
Ash ordered fried rice.
Sabrina chose a light porridge.
As for their Pokémon—they had already eaten earlier. Ash never delayed his Pokémon's meals unless under extreme circumstances. Maintaining optimal condition was fundamental to a Trainer's responsibility.
"Pika?"
Pikachu, already full, had nothing to do. He scanned the room curiously and suddenly noticed another Pokémon behaving much the same way.
"Pippi!"
Across the dining area stood a Clefairy, waving its small hands cheerfully. Its round pink body bounced slightly as it smiled.
Ash glanced over while taking another bite of fried rice.
"Clefairy? That's rare in Johto."
Wild Clefairy populations were limited and often associated with mountainous or moonlit areas like Mt. Moon in Kanto. While not particularly strong by default, a properly trained Clefairy—or its evolution, Clefable—could become surprisingly versatile due to its broad move pool.
"Wow! What a cute Pikachu!"
Before Ash could finish his thought, a cheerful voice burst beside him.
A girl with pink twin ponytails suddenly rushed over and scooped Pikachu into her arms, rubbing her cheek against his.
She wore a sporty outfit—a fitted T-shirt, short shorts, and bright red sneakers—radiating energetic enthusiasm.
Pikachu's expression stiffened immediately.
His ears twitched.
"Excuse me," Ash said evenly, chopsticks pausing midair. "May I ask what you're doing?"
Pikachu did not like strangers touching him.
Only those Ash trusted—or those Pikachu personally approved of—were allowed close.
The air around Sabrina subtly shifted.
Not aggressively.
But noticeably.
If the girl didn't let go soon—
This lunch might become far more eventful than expected.
If not for the fact that the girl appeared harmless, Pikachu would have already unleashed a full-powered Thunderbolt.
Taking advantage of Ash questioning her, Pikachu twisted free and leapt straight into Sabrina's arms.
"Pika!"
He nuzzled against her comfortably.
Compared to an overenthusiastic stranger, he much preferred staying with his mistress.
"Ah—! I'm so sorry!" the pink-haired girl quickly stepped back and bowed slightly. "My name is Whitney. I'm really sorry. Your Pikachu is just so cute—I couldn't help myself."
Ash studied her for a moment. Her apology was sincere, without arrogance.
"It's fine," he said calmly. "I just want to remind you—my Pikachu doesn't like strangers touching him suddenly. Electric-type Pokémon react instinctively. In the wild, that kind of action could get you seriously injured."
Whitney nodded repeatedly. "I understand! This is actually my first time seeing a Pikachu in person. I've only seen them in photos before."
That explained her excitement.
Pikachu weren't native to Johto in large numbers. Most wild populations were concentrated in Kanto's Viridian Forest. Trainers in Johto rarely encountered one unless it was imported or specially bred.
Ash took another sip of water before asking casually:
"By the way, do you know what's going on with the Goldenrod Gym? We went earlier, but it's closed for vacation. Is there some special situation?"
Whitney stiffened almost imperceptibly.
"You're looking for the Gym Leader?" she asked carefully. "Are you a traveling Trainer?"
"Yes," Ash replied. "I'm Ash from Pallet Town in Kanto. I'm challenging the Johto League, so I need to collect Gym Badges first."
He raised his hand slightly, signaling for the waiter to prepare the bill.
Whitney blinked.
Pallet Town.
Challenging the Johto League.
Something flickered in her eyes—surprise, then hesitation.
For a moment, she looked like she wanted to say something… but stopped herself.
Sabrina, quietly observing, sensed the subtle emotional fluctuation.
Nervousness.
Conflict.
Whitney clasped her hands behind her back and forced a light laugh.
"Well… about the Goldenrod Gym…"
Her tone shifted—no longer casual.
"It's not exactly a simple situation."