Passing through the lobby, Ash quickly made his way to the classroom where he had spent the past month training at the Pokémon Center.
The door wasn't closed.
Inside, only two people remained—his instructor over the past month, Amelie, and the girl who had trained alongside him, Clarissa.
The two were chatting.
Ash didn't step in immediately. Instead, he stood at the doorway and knocked lightly.
"Knock, knock~"
"Ash, you're here! Aunt Amelie and I were just talking about you!"
The moment Clarissa saw him standing at the door with Pikachu in his arms, her face lit up with a bright smile.
"Oh? Talking about me?" Ash asked with a relaxed, easygoing smile.
"We were just saying how you only spent one month completing what normally takes others four or five years to finish. And now you've already earned your Pokémon Physician certification—you can even open your own clinic and start practicing independently."
Clarissa rested her chin in her hands, her expression carrying a hint of admiration—and something deeper.
"I still have so much left to learn… I don't even know when I'll reach your level."
Though she sounded envious, what she truly felt wasn't jealousy of Ash's healing abilities.
It was reluctance.
They had trained together, studied side by side—and now, with Ash graduating, she would no longer have those days with him.
Just thinking about it stirred an ache in her heart.
"I only managed this because of my abilities," Ash said gently, trying to comfort her. "You're talented too, Clarissa. It won't be long before you finish your training. When that happens, I'll have to start calling you Nurse Clarissa."
"That day still feels so far away…" she murmured softly.
"And you've already become a Pokémon doctor. I won't even be able to assist you anymore like before."
She had already anticipated this moment.
After finishing her shift in the emergency room yesterday, she knew that today Ash would complete his training, receive his certification, and leave.
She had told herself she was ready.
Just moments ago, before Ash arrived, she had been chatting happily with her aunt.
But now—
Seeing him in person shattered the fragile composure she had built.
The sadness she had been holding back quietly surged to the surface.
Her mood, once light and cheerful, grew heavy.
…
"Hey now," Amelie said softly, stepping in.
"Just a moment ago, you were so happy talking about Ash finishing his training. Why are you upset now that he's actually here?"
"Today is a day worth celebrating. Ash has officially become a registered Pokémon doctor under the Kanto League's medical department. You should be happy for him."
Though her words were gentle, a trace of concern flickered in her eyes as she looked at her niece.
"Sorry… I'm sorry…"
Clarissa lowered her head, quickly wiping the corner of her eyes with her sleeve.
When she looked up again, her radiant smile had returned—bright and beautiful, as if nothing had happened.
Turning around, she took two brown-covered documents from Amelie.
Holding them carefully in both hands, she walked over and handed them to Ash with solemn sincerity.
"Ash, congratulations on graduating… and on officially becoming a Pokémon doctor."
"I wish your clinic great success."
"Thank you."
Ash accepted the documents—the tangible proof of everything he had worked for.
Yet as he looked at Clarissa's smiling face, a flicker of hesitation crossed his expression.
…
He didn't need to read minds.
Even without using his Aura for intrusive thoughts, he could still sense emotions.
And what he felt—
Was unmistakable.
Though she smiled brightly, the sorrow and reluctance surrounding her hadn't faded at all.
If anything, it had grown stronger.
Ash wasn't the emotionally oblivious version of himself from the original story.
He understood her feelings.
He knew exactly why she was hurting.
And yet—
He chose not to respond.
Because of who she was.
…
He didn't know Clarissa's exact standing within the Joy family.
But he could tell—
It wasn't ordinary.
Not long ago, the Joy family had even tried to arrange a match for him through Daisy Oak, hoping to tie him to their lineage and gain access to the Healing ability.
But Viridian Power was a gift of nature.
It couldn't be inherited through bloodlines.
After explaining this, Ash had refused.
And now—
If he were to become emotionally involved with someone like Clarissa—someone clearly important within the Joy family—
It would only invite unnecessary complications.
Even trouble.
Clarissa was kind, gentle, intelligent… and undeniably lovable.
But Ash didn't want to create problems for himself.
Nor did he want to risk offending the Joy family.
So he forced himself to treat her as nothing more than a friend.
And her feelings—
He pretended not to see them.
"…Let's not think about this right now."
There were more important things to focus on.
Ash shifted his attention.
After all, Clarissa wasn't the only person in his life.
There was Serena, far away in Vaniville Town.
And recently, through helping a certain Gym Leader's Magikarp learn Tackle, he had grown closer to the "orange-haired mermaid" from Cerulean City.
Their relationship had already become… somewhat ambiguous.
He had even promised that when he turned ten and officially set out on his journey, she could travel with him.
With all that—
Ash chose not to dwell further on Clarissa.
Even if he did like her.
…
"I've already agreed to an interview with the Viridian TV reporters. I'll head over now."
After receiving his certification and medical license, Ash bid the two farewell and turned to leave.
"Ash—"
Behind him, Clarissa instinctively raised her hand, wanting to stop him—wanting to say something.
But in the end—
She said nothing.
Out in the hallway, Ash walked forward as if he hadn't heard anything.
He took out his phone and summoned Rotom.
"Rotom, install and activate the plugin we had designed earlier."
"I've received my Pokémon Physician certification. I'll send you a photo of the medical license."
"The Third Clinic—officially opens now."
"Roger that—Rotom!!"
Rotom responded energetically and immediately got to work.
Within moments—
The plugin was installed.
And just like that—
A brand-new clinic section appeared on Ash's skill shop.
A new chapter—
Had officially begun.
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T/N:
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