"Mrs. Ketchum, is Ash home?"
Delia paused mid-stir as the knocking at the door echoed through the small kitchen. When she opened it, she found a brown-haired boy standing awkwardly at the doorstep, holding two neatly wrapped gift boxes.
"Oh, Gary—it's you!" she said warmly. "Ash just got back. He's upstairs in his room. Did you come to play with him?"
"I… uh…" Gary lowered his head, his voice barely audible as he shuffled his feet. His face turned red with embarrassment. "I came to… to…"
Delia smiled knowingly. "Gary, you've always been such a good boy. I know what happened the other day wasn't your fault. You didn't mean for Ash to fall into the river."
She crouched down slightly, meeting his hesitant gaze.
"I've known your mother for years—she's like a sister to me. And you and Ash were born on the very same day, almost at the same time! You two may fight and argue sometimes, but I can see how much you care for each other."
Her tone softened. "When some of the other kids teased Ash for not having a father, you were the one who stood up for him. He's never forgotten that, you know."
Gary's eyes widened in surprise.
"In fact," Delia continued, smiling, "Ash told me himself—'Gary's my best friend.' So I'm sure he doesn't blame you at all for what happened by the river."
Her hand gently ruffled his hair.
"R-really?" Gary asked, looking up in disbelief. "He really said that? That I'm his best friend? And that he doesn't hate me for pushing him into the river?"
"Of course," Delia said, her voice firm. "I would never lie to you. When he was in the hospital, he wouldn't stop asking when he could come home to play with you again."
For a second, Gary just stood there frozen—then a proud grin stretched across his face. The embarrassed boy from moments ago was gone, replaced by a confident smirk.
"Heh! I knew it! Ash wouldn't stay mad at me," he said, puffing out his chest like a Pidgeotto showing off its feathers.
"Well then," Delia chuckled, "go on up and see him. Stay for lunch too—I'm making something good today."
"Okay!" Gary grinned, nodding quickly.
He tiptoed down the hall, stopping outside Ash's room. Taking a deep breath, he pressed his ear to the door, stifled a laugh, and then knocked.
Knock knock.
"Who's there?" Ash called from inside, half distracted by the TV.
"Guess who~," Gary said, pinching his nose to disguise his voice.
"...What?" Ash blinked in confusion. "Guess? What am I supposed to guess?"
"You guess whether you can guess!" came the nasal, muffled reply.
Ash facepalmed. This idiot again. "If you're going to keep this up, I'm locking the door forever," he muttered, getting up to open it.
But the knob wouldn't budge.
"Huh? It's stuck?" He frowned. Then realization dawned on him. "Gary, you jerk, are you holding the door?"
"Ahahahaha!" Gary's laughter came from the other side.
"In that case," he began dramatically, still tugging at the handle, "since you've asked so sincerely, I'll show you mercy and reveal myself!"
"To prevent the world from devastation! To unite all people within our nation! To—"
"Oh, give it a rest!" Ash cut him off before he could finish the Team Rocket motto. "If you're that bored, blast off already! The white hole and white tomorrow are waiting for you!"
Gary released the handle, pretending to look offended. "Excuse me?! I'm not Team Rocket! I'm your dashing, unbeatable, amazingly handsome rival—Gary Oak!"
The door swung open with a click.
"Oh, it's you, Oak's grandson," Ash said flatly, just as the memories of his past life made the name sound all too familiar.
"Don't call me that!" Gary yelled, puffing up like a Mankey ready to fight. "You're so annoying!"
"Then what should I call you? You're the one who calls me 'loser' all the time," Ash shot back.
Gary smirked proudly. "From now on, you may address me respectfully as the great Gary Oak! But, since I'm in a generous mood, I'll let you just call me 'Gary.' See? I'm nice like that."
"Wow," Ash said dryly. "How considerate of you."
Gary strutted into the room like he owned the place, placing the two gift boxes on Ash's desk.
Ash sighed, shaking his head but smiling all the same. For all his arrogance, Gary wasn't really a bad kid.
In the anime, Gary had started off proud, cocky, and full of himself—but over time, he had grown into one of the strongest and most respectable Trainers in the world.
Now, living this life firsthand, Ash finally understood—beneath the rivalry and teasing, the bond between them was genuine. They were, without question, childhood friends through and through.
"Hey Gary," Ash asked, closing the door behind them, "you usually only come here when your mom makes you. What made you show up today?"
Gary froze mid-step.
"Eh—uh—I just figured you'd be bored, so I decided to grace you with my presence," he said, striking a smug pose to cover his embarrassment.
Ash folded his arms, smirking. "Really? Because it sounds more like Aunt May told you to come apologize."
"A-apologize? For what?" Gary's voice jumped an octave as his cheeks turned red again. He quickly looked away, pretending to study the posters on Ash's wall.
Ash grinned. "Uh-huh. Thought so."
Gary puffed his cheeks and muttered something under his breath, clutching one of the gift boxes tightly.
Even so, Ash could see through him. This was just Gary's way of saying sorry—and it was more than enough.
For the first time since waking up in this world, Ash felt something warm settle deep in his chest. Rival or not, Gary was family in his own way.
…
…