Pokémon: Ash's Sinnoh Reset

"..."

"..."

After Ash won the grand prize, proving his luck, the crowd of onlookers gradually dispersed. Ash originally thought Dawn would also leave, but he stood there for a few more minutes and still found Dawn secretly looking at the Poké Ball stickers in his hand, her eyes unblinking and full of envy.

So it really is a hot potato...

Ash still complained in his heart.

He didn't know Dawn now, and although it wouldn't matter if he took the initiative to talk to her, he always felt a little strange. But if he took the initiative to leave...

"(Stare~)"

Dawn's eyes were always on the stickers in his hand.

Ash also knew that these Poké Ball stickers were very popular in the Sinnoh region's Pokémon Contests. If the effect of the stickers matched the Pokémon itself, just the Pokémon's appearance could earn a lot of points from the judges. But even so...

"Pikachu, Aipom, let's go."

"Pika~ka~"

"Aipom~"

The two Pokémon thought Ash was now preparing to have a good meal at the restaurant, so they both became excited. The decadent look they had just now seemed to have never appeared on them.

He's leaving...

Dawn, who had been secretly casting envious glances at Ash, thought with some regret as she saw Ash preparing to leave.

If she wasn't mistaken, there seemed to be some of the most popular limited editions among the Poké Ball stickers he was holding. Dawn had originally thought about whether she could ask the other party if she could take a closer look, but now it seemed it was too late.

I can only go home...

Dawn regretfully prepared to go home, but just as she took the first step, she found that Ash was actually walking towards her.

Huh?

Dawn was a little stunned.

The place where she was standing was not the entrance of the supermarket, but a small corner, and there was no one else around her. Was he coming to find her? Was it because she had been staring at the Poké Ball stickers in his hand for too long and made him angry?

After thinking about this possibility, Dawn began to panic. After all, Dawn had never traveled alone, and she lived in Twinleaf Town, where there were few opportunities to communicate with strangers. Therefore, she didn't know what to do if she offended someone outside because of some small actions.

As the distance between Ash and her grew closer and closer, Dawn didn't have time to think too much. Just as Ash reached her and was about to open his mouth, Dawn spoke first.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean anything. I just thought there were a few rare ones among the stickers in your hand! It's my fault for staring for too long! I'm sorry!"

Ash: "???"

Feeling the curious gazes cast from all directions, Ash froze again. However, the experience accumulated from years of traveling allowed him to react the quickest in this moment.

"I'm not angry. I saw that you seemed to like these stickers very much... so if you need them, I can give them to you."

"Huh?"

Now it was Dawn's turn to be stunned.

So he wasn't angry with me? Hmm?! No, no! That's not the point! Did he just say...

"You said... you're going to give this to me? But isn't this the prize you won?"

Although Dawn wanted to accept it immediately, as soon as she thought that the other party might be forced to give out this gift that shouldn't belong to her because he couldn't stand her gaze, she felt a little awkward.

What's more, would anyone really give gifts to others so casually when traveling outside?

Dawn finally had time to size up Ash. He didn't seem to be a resident of Twinleaf Town. After all, there were only so many residents in Twinleaf Town. If there was someone around her age, there was no reason why Dawn wouldn't know them.

"Yeah, it's true that I won it, but I don't need it. My goal is the Pokémon League, not the Grand Festival."

"You know about the Grand Festival too?"

Dawn asked in surprise.

Because in her understanding, trainers whose goal was the Pokémon League basically didn't pay much attention to Pokémon Contests. Even if they knew what Pokémon Contests were, they generally didn't know what the Grand Festival was.

"Yeah, before coming to the Sinnoh region, I learned a little about it. One of the companions I traveled with in the Hoenn region also participated in the Hoenn region's Grand Festival."

"Really! The Hoenn region's Grand Festival?! What was her ranking?"

"Unfortunately, only top 8, but after all, it was her first year debuting, so it was amazing that she could achieve this result."

Ash's mind conjured up the figure of May. Before he time-traveled, May could be said to be the first person to realize her dream. Compared to her, there were still many things he hadn't done enough.

"The first year of debuting and she can get into the top 8... that's so strong, I don't know if I can do it."

Although Dawn was an optimist, she inevitably had the anxiety and worry unique to newcomers when facing a challenge she had never participated in.

"Hmm~ if you work hard, I think it should be no problem. You know, my companion was a very pure newbie when she debuted. She wasn't even familiar with how to command battles, and she was even a little afraid of Pokémon. Compared to her, you'll definitely be fine~"

Ash encouraged Dawn with a smile.

As for May, she wasn't here anyway, and besides, what he said wasn't a lie, so it was okay! As long as he and Dawn didn't say anything, no one would know about today's conversation!

"Yeah! No problem, no problem! I also think I'm very talented! Humph!"

After being encouraged by Ash, Dawn immediately returned to her usual self. When communicating and making eye contact with Ash, she no longer felt like she was talking to a stranger. Perhaps this was the power of having a similar age and common topics.

"So, do you still want this sticker? If you don't want it, I'll give it to..."

"I want it, I want it! Please give it to me! I promise I won't tarnish its value!"

So, communicating with Dawn was really a simple thing.

Ash's mood also improved with the smile that appeared on Dawn's face after she accepted the stickers.

....