Feeling Delia's hands ruffling his hair, Ash felt that same familiar warmth spreading through his body, a comforting sensation he had missed dearly. He leaned into her touch, a genuine, bright smile lighting up his face, and said, "Glad to be of help, Mom." His eyes sparkled with genuine happiness at her praise.
Seeing him smile so warmly, his eyes sparkling with innocent happiness, Delia giggled softly and said with a playful wink, "Ash, can you not smile so adorably like that? Your wives here are about to get a serious case of the sweeties!" She chuckled, enjoying their reactions.
Hearing her words, Ash turned his head towards the girls.
May dramatically clutched her chest, her eyes wide and sparkling with playful exaggeration, pretending to faint onto a nearby chair.
Misty had leaned against a wall, fanning herself with her hand, a lovesick sigh escaping her lips as she rolled her eyes playfully.
Serena had covered her mouth with her hands, her cheeks flushed a rosy pink, giggling behind her fingers, while Dawn had playfully fallen back onto a chair, kicking her feet in the air with unrestrained laughter.
They were all putting on an exaggerated show, mumbling things like, "Oh, my heart!" and "He's too cute, I can't handle it!"
"Oh, Mom, he really is!" Dawn chimed in, still giggling, wiping a tear from her eye. "He's going to be trouble when he gets older."
"Tell me about it! I think I need some actual sugar now," May added dramatically, reaching for a nearby jar of candies on the counter.
Ash was just about to tell them to stop their overdramatic act, a small chuckle already forming in his throat, when the restaurant door opened with a gentle chime, a soft breeze rustling the curtains.
Delia, ever the attentive owner, quickly turned, a welcoming smile on her face, thinking it was another customer eager for a delicious meal.
"Welcome to Pallet H- Ah, Lina, it's you!" Her smile widened with genuine surprise and warmth as she recognized the figure standing in the doorway.
It was a young woman with distinctive pink hair, styled in a neat bun under her nurse's cap, wearing the familiar uniform of a Pokémon Nurse. It was the Nurse Joy of Pallet Town, Rosalina Joy.
"Good morning, Mother-in-law! I came to deliver the healed Pokémon," Nurse Lina said with a charming and gentle smile, her eyes crinkling at the corners.
"Lina! Good morning!" Serena exclaimed, her face lighting up with genuine pleasure. "How are you doing today? It's so good to see you."
Dawn rushed over, a bright smile on her face. "Hey Lina! Did you bring back my Piplup? I've been missing her so much!" She bounced on the balls of her feet with anticipation.
Misty nodded in greeting, a small, friendly smile gracing her lips. "Morning, Lina. Thanks for always taking such good care of the Pokémon. We really appreciate it."
May also chimed in, her playful demeanor softening slightly with genuine concern. "Lina! It's good to see you. How's Chansey doing? She looked a little tired last time I saw her. Is she feeling better?"
Nurse Lina chuckled warmly at their friendly greetings, her smile widening.
"Good morning to all of you! I'm doing well, thank you for asking. And yes, Dawn, your Piplup is back to her energetic self, causing all sorts of trouble at the Center already!"
She winked playfully. "Chansey is doing much better too, May, she just needed a little extra rest and some of my special blend of herbal tea."
She then held up a small carrier, which was gently swaying. "I have all your Pokémon here, all healed up and ready to go."
They conversed like sisters, their voices a comfortable blend of laughter and shared stories, creating a truly harmonious atmosphere in the bustling restaurant.
They spoke about the Pokémon, exchanged news about the town, and shared a few lighthearted jokes, their bond as close as any family.
....
But in Ash's mind, a war was raging. His earlier amusement had vanished, replaced by a growing sense of urgency.
'ANOTHER ONE? And this time, a Nurse Joy?' he shouted inside his head in utter disbelief. His eyes widened slightly as he looked at Lina, another beautiful and kind woman who was apparently also his fiancée. It was all becoming too much to comprehend.
Even though he had the memories of this life flooding his mind, it seemed his brain was still finding it incredibly difficult to process all of this information. It was like trying to fit a giant Snorlax into a tiny Poké Ball – impossible. He felt a headache starting to form behind his eyes.
But then, amidst the internal chaos, he realized something important. His gaze drifted towards the Pokémon carrier in Lina's hands.
"Pokémon?" he mumbled, rubbing his head as he tried to recall the details of this world. He remembered snippets of conversations, glimpses of his fiancées with their own Pokémon, mostly given to them by their families when they were younger. May had her Torchic, Misty her Poliwag, Serena her Fennekin, and Dawn her Piplup. Even Green, he vaguely remembered, had an Eevee.
'Wait… am I the only one without a Pokémon?' The realization hit him like a Thunderbolt, a sharp pang of longing going through him. He was four years old, surrounded by his fiancées and his mother, in a world where Pokémon were an integral part of everyday life, and he was the only one without a partner.
"That can't happen," Ash thought to himself, a new wave of determination washing over him, eclipsing his earlier confusion. He needed a Pokémon, and he needed one now.
He was in the past now, and of course, he would want to make a better start this time. More importantly, a pang of something akin to jealousy hit him. He watched Dawn excitedly take Piplup from Lina's carrier.
Yes, it wasn't very manly to be jealous of his wives, but he really wanted a Pokémon of his own. The thought of embarking on his journey without a partner felt wrong, incomplete.
Although, if it were before he regained his memories, he would have gladly waited a few more years to grow up before reuniting with his partner, Pikachu. The memory of his best friend sparked a wave of warmth in his chest, but also a renewed urgency. He couldn't wait that long this time.
But if he didn't take advantage of this chance, could he even call himself a worthy regressor? He had knowledge of the future, and he should use it to his advantage. He wouldn't let this opportunity slip away.
And advantageously, he was now the grandson-in-law of Professor Oak. Surely, Gramps would spoil this grandson of his, right? A mischievous glint appeared in Ash's eyes. He had an idea, a plan forming rapidly in his young mind. He needed to see the Professor.
He rushed towards the door while shouting, "Mom, I am going to Grandpa Oak's lab!" He threw the door open with surprising strength for his age and ran out at full speed, completely ignoring their surprised calls.
"Ash, you are leaving your clothes here!" Delia tried to call him back, pointing to the changing room, but he was already far down the road, a small figure in a white t-shirt and shorts disappearing into the distance.
"Ah, that idiot son of mine. When will he ever grow up?" she sighed, shaking her head with a mixture of exasperation and fondness, rubbing her forehead as if trying to ward off a headache.
"Running in a waiter uniform, that's so like Ash," May said with a giggle, covering her mouth with her hand to stifle her laughter. Then, her expression turned slightly concerned. "Mom, give that to me. I'll catch up to that dummy before he causes any trouble."
"Ah, I am grateful to have such a dependable daughter-in-law," Delia said with a breath of relief, handing May the clothes she retrieved from the changing room. "Please make sure he gets there safely, dear."
With that, May hopped on her bright red bicycle, which was parked just outside the restaurant, and took off after Ash, her ponytail flying behind her in the wind.
Delia turned back inside and clapped her hands together, a firm but loving look on her face. "Alright girls, forget about your idiotic husband for now and get back to work! We have hungry customers to feed!"
"Alright!" Misty replied energetically, grabbing a stack of menus.
"Roger!" Serena echoed with a smile, heading back towards the kitchen.
Dawn nodded with a determined, "Hmm, hmm!" already clearing a nearby table.
"Then I should leave. Chansey can't handle all the work at the Pokémon Center alone," Lina said with a guilty expression, glancing at the carrier of healed Pokémon. "I wish I could have helped you guys more, especially with how busy it is."
"You are plenty of help just by being you, Lina," Misty said, playfully scolding her with a gentle nudge.
Serena also chimed in, her voice warm and reassuring. "Yes, go back. We don't want Chansey to collapse from overwork again. We can manage here."
Dawn nodded her head in agreement, giving Lina a thumbs-up.
"Thanks, everyone," Lina said gratefully, her smile returning.
Then she bid them farewell with a warm wave and headed out the door, the Pokémon carrier gently swinging by her side.