"Ash, that uncle just now seemed a bit strange."
Walking towards the Pokémon Center, Misty naturally noticed Takeshi's unusual behavior.
"He felt ashamed!" Ash replied indifferently upon hearing her.
Misty was a bit puzzled. Why would that uncle feel ashamed? Now that I think about it, what Ash said was also a bit strange.
"Why??"
"Can't you tell? That Uncle Takeshi is the irresponsible father," Ash had no intention of hiding anything. After hearing Ash's words, Misty was slightly startled and a little surprised.
"Ah! You mean, he... he's Brock's father? But Ash, how do you know?" She hadn't expected that uncle to be Brock's father.
"Although Brock is a Gym Leader, his parents leaving home isn't something that would be talked about everywhere!"
"If that uncle had no relation to Brock, how could he know so much about him?" Ash responded. He had known all along, of course, and didn't need to analyze it from these things. He was just explaining to Misty.
"That doesn't completely prove his relationship with Brock, does it?"
"Although a Gym Leader is the pride of a city, how would ordinary citizens, upon seeing a trainer about to challenge the gym, say such things? And he even knows Brock's dream."
Ash couldn't help but chuckle. If he wasn't one of their own, why would ordinary citizens constantly say, "You can't beat Brock, Brock is very strong"?
Brock being strong was one thing, but citizens, no matter how proud, wouldn't meddle in others' challenges.
"You're right!" Misty nodded slightly, agreeing. She herself came from a gym, so she probably understood.
"Ah!! So, what you just said, Ash, he heard all of it?" Misty exclaimed in surprise after realizing. Hadn't everything Ash said targeting Brock's parents just now been heard by the other party?
"I deliberately said those things in front of him. If he still considered himself a father, he should have gone home to apologize to his children by now."
If he didn't know, it would be that Takeshi didn't know Ash knew his identity, and Ash knew his identity, so he deliberately said those words.
"Oh~~~ So that's why you said that if you were Brock's parents, you would immediately go home and apologize to your children. So that's what you meant!" Misty had thought Ash was just angry at the irresponsible parents and said those things.
Now, hearing it, she understood that Ash had said it intentionally. She hadn't expected him to be so serious at the gym, but he actually sympathized with Brock's situation!
"Mm!" Ash just nodded slightly. Although he hadn't had much contact with this world, perhaps influenced by the anime, he naturally felt a sense of familiarity with these anime characters.
.....
Not long after, the two returned to the Pokémon Center and entered.
"Nurse Joy, I'm counting on you!" They arrived at the front desk, took out Eevee's Poké Ball, and also carried Pikachu onto the table.
Although they hadn't suffered too serious injuries, they had expended a lot of stamina. It would be better to have the Pokémon Center look after them.
"Alright! Please wait a moment. Is the Gym challenge over? What was the result?" Nurse Joy asked kindly, also inquiring about the challenge.
"We were lucky. We succeeded in the challenge," Ash replied humbly.
"You succeeded in the challenge? How amazing, as expected of Ash." You know, although Brock wasn't the strongest Gym Leader in the Kanto region, because he was very close to Pallet Town, he was the first target for many new trainers.
As a Gym Leader, she had taken care of many Pokémon whose trainers were defeated by Brock. Ash succeeding in his first challenge was quite impressive to her.
"Thank you! Then, Pikachu and the others are in your care."
"Alright, I'll have them full of energy in no time," Nurse Joy replied, then left with Pikachu and Eevee's Poké Ball.
Ash spent the entire afternoon at the Pokémon Center. After all, he had finished his Gym challenge today, and by the time Nurse Joy had revitalized Pikachu and Eevee, it was already afternoon, so he didn't plan to set off again.
After spending another night at the Pokémon Center, the next morning, after breakfast and packing, Ash prepared to set off again.
The closest city with a Gym to Pewter City was Cerulean City, where Misty lived. The shortest route to Cerulean City passed through Mt. Moon, but it wasn't easy to cross Mt. Moon.
So Ash didn't plan to waste time. He packed his things early in the morning and set off with Misty on the road to the next city. However, when Misty learned that Ash was going to Cerulean City, her expression changed a bit.
Outside the city...
"Wait a moment!! Ash!!!"
Just then, the two suddenly heard a voice. They turned around and saw a figure running towards them. Both of them paused.
"Brock? How are you here?" Misty asked in surprise, looking at Brock. At this moment, Brock had a large backpack on his back, clearly ready to go on a long journey. He came in front of them, slightly out of breath.
"I plan to go on a journey. Ash, if you don't mind, why don't we go together! How about having someone to look out for each other?" Brock looked at Ash, his expression filled with deep gratitude.
Clearly, Takeshi had returned home, and Brock also knew that it was thanks to Ash that his father had the courage to go home. So his heart was very grateful to Ash; Ash gave him the opportunity to pursue his dream.
"I don't mind! The more the merrier." Ash replied calmly. He hadn't expected the plot to change, and yet Brock still ended up following him.
"But, Brock, what about the gym and your younger siblings?" Misty asked curiously.
"Thanks to you, my father came home last night. We talked a lot. Now the gym and my family are in my dad's hands. I plan to join you and pursue my dream, Ash, thank you!"
Brock was in a very good mood, and also expressed his gratitude to Ash.
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