"Ash! What is this?!"
Elesa's scream made Ash's ears ring, but thinking of what he was about to say, he stepped out of the tent. Meowth thoughtfully used a mechanical device to hold an umbrella over him.
"Thanks, Meowth. What are you talking about?"
"What is the meaning of these share certificates for the Unova Continental Hotel?! Do you have any idea how much even one percent of those shares is worth? And you gave me five percent?!"
Elesa's female manager, standing nearby, felt her eyelids twitch. The Continental Hotel was a world-renowned chain with branches in every region. More importantly, its shares were held only by top-tier powers: the Oak family, the Pokémon League, and two mysterious blocks of shares whose owners were unknown. It seemed one of those owners was the boy on the other end of the line.
Elesa was a member of the prestigious Nimbasa family, and this manager was a high-ranking retainer sent to look after her.
"Ash, explain yourself. If you've gone crazy, I'll hire a doctor—and my electrotherapy is quite effective." Elesa wasn't joking anymore. While the wealth was staggering, she was truly worried about Ash's mental state.
Ash looked out at the rain-slicked forest and said, "I'm fine, perfectly sane. But we've known each other a long time. You know I'm not exactly a good guy, so I'm starting my move to pressure you."
"Huh? What do you mean?" Elesa was confused, but the manager had already guessed something and was secretly contacting the Nimbasa estate.
"There's a small box in the package, right? The one that looks plain and unassuming."
Following his directions, Elesa found a tiny, nondescript box. "I see it. Is this a new toy Meowth made?"
"Meowth will cry if he hears that. Just open it and you'll understand."
"So mysterious... Gasp!"
Elesa's confusion vanished the moment she saw the contents. Inside was a diamond ring.
"You..."
"I told you I'm the slow-burn type, remember? So... will you wear it?"
Elesa stared at the ring and suddenly burst into laughter—a laugh that quickly turned into tears of joy. "So you knew all along. You were playing dumb this whole time!"
Ash gave a helpless explanation. "I didn't have a choice. I wasn't an adult yet, so I couldn't say anything or make promises. Now that I'm of age, of course I have to strike. I'm terrified someone else might steal you away, Elesa."
Elesa wiped her reddening eyes. "Smooth talker. Tell me... does Diantha have one too?"
"Yes."
"Aren't you even going to try and lie to me?"
"I don't want to. Lying about something like this would make me a real scumbag."
Slipping the ring onto her finger, Elesa calmed her breathing. "What about Daisy? And the Jenny and Joy families?"
"I already sent one to Daisy. As for Joy and Jenny, I've told them—I'm waiting for them to choose their representatives."
Admiring the ring on her finger, Elesa asked, "Where did you even get a diamond this big?"
"Don't even get me started. To get Steven Stone to help, I had to observe his Pokémon for a year to develop a specialized nutritional meal for them. Do you know how hard it is for me and Meowth to communicate with Rock and Steel types? I had to consult dozens of scientists just to identify the minerals beneficial to them!"
"So that's why I always heard banging on the walls when I called you that year."
"Exactly. So, you'd better wear it well. It's a custom design. Though, if you lose it, I'll just order another one."
"I won't lose it! I really don't know if you're brilliant or a fool. I'll inform my family." She glanced at her manager, who was already aiming a phone at her. "Well, they already know. Once things are settled, I'll go public with the news." At this, she felt a bit nervous, worried it might negatively affect Ash.
Ash's reply set her mind at ease. "Go ahead. It's not like it's a secret."
"Fine. It's all your fault—I won't be able to sleep at all now!"
"My apologies. Get some rest. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
As Ash ended the call, Meowth couldn't help but ask, "Boss, was that a marriage proposal?"
"Yeah. What else would it be?"
"I wanted to learn how to confess, meow! So I can find my own Madonny, meow."
"Just bring her one of my specially grilled delicious fish. Won't that work?"
"That's a bit crude, Boss, meow."
"I'm not a Pokémon! How am I supposed to know your courtship rituals?!"
"Pika-pi!"
Just then, Pikachu walked out carrying three cups of hot milk. Ash took one. "Thanks. Let's enjoy the view. Honestly, I quite like this scenery."
And so, the three men—Ash, Meowth, and Pikachu—stood together, watching the rain and sipping hot milk, feeling an unexpected sense of fulfillment.