004: Gary's Visit
"Delia Auntie, is Ash home?"
Delia, who was stirring a pot of warm vegetable stew in the kitchen, paused and wiped her hands on her apron before answering the door. Standing there was a boy with neatly combed chestnut-brown hair, holding two wrapped present boxes and looking unusually hesitant.
"Oh? Gary! What a surprise." She smiled kindly at the sight of Professor Oak's grandson. "Ash just returned from the hospital. He's upstairs resting. Are you here to visit him?"
"I… I'm here…" Gary shuffled nervously, eyes fixed on his shoes. His fingers tightened around the presents. He'd been strongly encouraged by his mom, Mieko, to come and apologize.
Delia's smile didn't waver. "Gary, you've always been a smart, responsible boy. Auntie knows what happened the other day wasn't intentional. When Ash fell into the river outside town, no one blamed you."
She stepped aside to let him in, setting her spatula aside as she knelt to meet him at eye level.
"Your mother and I go way back—we're like sisters. And you and Ash, well, you were born on the same day, at the same time. Even if you two bicker and compete, I can see how close you really are."
She gently patted his head. "You've always been there for Ash. When the other kids called him 'the boy without a dad,' you were the only one who stood up for him."
Gary's face turned pink as he listened, his eyes darting up in surprise. "A-Aunt Delia… is that true? Did Ash really say I was his best friend… even after I pushed him in the river?"
Delia chuckled. "Of course it's true. He told me himself. When he was in the Viridian City hospital the last two days, all he wanted was to get home and play with you."
That did it.
Gary's face lit up with boyish pride, the earlier embarrassment melting away. His chest puffed out and he looked like a Growlithe puppy who had just been praised.
"Hmph~" he huffed, trying to act cool. "Then I'll go up and check on him."
"Go ahead," Delia said warmly, returning to the kitchen. "And stay for lunch! I'm making enough for both of you."
"Okay!"
Bounding up the stairs with the presents tucked under one arm, Gary reached Ash's door, took a breath, and knocked—his excitement poorly masked by a failed attempt at a stern expression.
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Knock knock!
"Who is it?" Ash called out from inside, distracted by a Pokémon League news segment on the small TV.
"Guess~" Gary pinched his nose and answered in a nasal, dramatic tone.
"Huh?" Ash blinked, recognizing the silly voice but pretending otherwise. "Guess? What is this, a game show?"
"I am…" Gary coughed and cleared his throat, still holding the door shut from outside. "I am the shadow that pierces evil, the flame that lights justice! To protect the world from devastation…"
Ash groaned. "Really? You're doing a full Team Rocket motto now? Should I finish it for you?"
"To unite all peoples within our nation—yeah, yeah, you've been watching too many cartoons, Gary."
"Hey! I'm not Team Rocket! I'm your dashing, brilliant future Pokémon Master—Gary Oak, at your service!" With a triumphant laugh, Gary dropped the act and loosened his grip on the doorknob.
Click.
The door opened to reveal Ash, raising an eyebrow. "Grandson of Professor Oak, what brings you to my humble dojo?"
"Don't call me that!" Gary shouted, red-faced. "So annoying!"
"Then what should I call you? 'Crane Tail' is what you usually call me."
Gary held up a finger dramatically. "You may now call me by my true name… Gary. But only because I'm in a generous mood."
"Oh wow," Ash said flatly, stepping aside as Gary strutted into the room. "What an honor, your majesty."
Gary, holding both present boxes like trophies, marched in with the air of someone who already owned the place. Ash, arms crossed, watched him with a tired but amused expression.
Despite his usual arrogance, Ash didn't mind Gary's presence. In fact, he was genuinely glad to see him.
In the manga, Gary starts off with a haughty attitude—especially in Pokémon: The Electric Tale of Pikachu, where his competitive nature is even more exaggerated than in the anime. But as time goes on, particularly after the Indigo Plateau and the events of Mt. Silver in Johto, Gary matures into a true rival and even a supportive figure.
Ash now understood the bond he shared with Gary went deeper than rivalry.
Thanks to the inherited memories of his younger self, Ash now realized that even as kids, their paths had always been intertwined born on the same day, raised in the same small town, their moms like sisters.
If their relationship had seemed antagonistic, it was only because they were both trying to outdo each other in everything. In truth, it wasn't an exaggeration to call them childhood sweethearts—just the rival kind.
"So, Gary…" Ash said as he closed the door, "what brings you here? You don't usually visit unless your mom drags you over."
Gary turned, grinning. The fact Ash had called him Gary instead of Oak's grandson made his chest swell.
"Oyé~" he cheered internally before quickly regaining his 'cool' facade.
"I figured you were probably bored at home, so I came over to bless you with my awesome company."
Ash squinted suspiciously. "You sure it wasn't your mom who told you to come apologize?"
"Apologize? What for?" Gary said, straightening up and refusing to meet his eyes. "I have no idea what you mean."
Ash sighed and rolled his eyes. "Riiight…"
They both knew the truth. But neither said it outright.
Instead, Ash walked over to the floor mat and plopped down, gesturing for Gary to join him. "Alright, 'Master Gary.' Show me what you brought. Don't tell me you came empty-handed."
Gary grinned, placing the boxes down like precious loot. "Hey, I come bearing gifts! One for you, and one for your future rival me."
Ash laughed. For the first time since waking in this new life, he felt something familiar. Something real.
And he realized… no matter how much had changed, some bonds rivalry or not were meant to last.
…
…
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