Are you kidding me? Healing that? I tolerated the eyelid surgery comment, but you—seriously? You want Ash to use his powers to heal your circumcision wound?"
"Are you trying to insult him? Or provoke all of us fans? Say one more word and I might just 'help' you redo that surgery myself."
"Whoa, whoa—calm down! I was just joking! I just thought… you know… no scars would be nice."
"…Actually, is there really no chance? If I spend more on his skill shop, maybe he'd agree?"
"Dream on. You think Ash's shop is something you can just casually spend money on? There's a queue. I booked Magikarp training months ago—it's scheduled for next year."
"By the time you get your turn, whatever you're worried about would've healed on its own."
"Exactly. Stop fantasizing. Ash won't treat humans. I was at the Pokémon Center earlier—I saw him being interviewed."
"When the reporter asked if he'd treat humans in the future, he clearly said: probably not."
"And when they asked if it was because of that 'Goh betrayal incident' from the summer camp…"
"He only said, 'Maybe,' but it was obvious. That incident left a scar."
…
"Damn that Goh…"
"What a piece of trash. Ash treated him like a friend, saved his life—and that's how he repaid him?"
"Anyone would be hurt by that."
"Hey, why are you all still chatting?!"
"Today is Ash's clinic's first official consultation day!"
"If your Pokémon has any hidden injuries or chronic issues, go get a number at the Pokémon Center right now!"
"I've already got mine—my Raticate is going to be the first patient Ash treats today!"
"I'm keeping this ticket forever—HAHA!"
"WHAT?! You sneaky bastard! Where do you get the number?! Pokémon Center?! I'm going right now!"
"Same! My Machoke injured its joints years ago—chronic arthritis. Traditional treatment hasn't worked. Maybe Ash can finally heal it!"
"Stop talking and go get a number, idiot!"
"Wait—when the stream started, I was already at my local Pokémon Center."
"Thanks to the reminder, I got my number."
"I'm number 2."
"And yeah… I'm keeping this ticket forever too."
"…Damn."
"You've got to be kidding me…"
"So I'm the only clown here…"
"Hurry up! Any Pokémon Center in Kanto can issue numbers!"
"They're connected—queue order is shared across the region!"
"The earlier your number, the sooner your Pokémon gets treated!"
"And don't forget—when registering, describe your Pokémon's condition clearly so Nurse Joy can make notes!"
"Got it—going now!"
"I'm number 3!"
"I'm number 4!"
While the chat exploded with excitement, scrambling, and competition…
Ash was already deep into preparation.
The first consultation of his online clinic wasn't something he could take lightly.
Everything had to run smoothly.
The preparation was divided into three main parts.
First—backend coordination.
Ash contacted Rotom at home, assigning it to manage the clinic's backend system.
It would receive Poké Balls transmitted from across Kanto, organize their origins, and compile medical details for each case.
…
Second—securing a treatment room.
Ash coordinated with the Viridian City Pokémon Center to allocate a consultation room for his use.
As a top-priority talent recognized by the Kanto League—and after a full month of training here—he had already built strong relationships with the staff.
From assistant to emergency room physician, he had proven himself.
So when he made the request—
The Pokémon Center agreed without hesitation.
They even asked if he needed anything else, offering full support to ensure the success of his first consultation.
…
Third—regional coordination.
For the clinic to function properly, all Pokémon Centers across Kanto needed to cooperate.
Trainers had to register locally, obtain a number, and receive a preliminary diagnosis from their nearest Pokémon Center.
If a Pokémon's condition was critical, it had to be treated immediately on-site—not sent to Ash.
This system inevitably increased the workload for Nurses Joy across the region.
But thanks to support from the Kanto League and the Joy family—
Everything was quickly arranged.
By the time preparations were complete—
Over 500 registrations had already been submitted.
Ash took a quick trip to the restroom, then changed into a dark green sterile uniform.
Everything was ready.
He was about to begin—
His first official consultation.
But just as he stepped toward the treatment room—
Someone rushed in.
Clarissa.
Already dressed in her own sterile uniform, she hurried toward him, slightly out of breath.
"Dr. Ash, you're really going to start without your assistant? Aren't you afraid of overworking yourself?"
She placed her hands on her hips, trying to sound composed—though there was a faint warmth in her tone.
"Even though your training here is over…"
"As long as you're still working at the Viridian Pokémon Center…"
"I'm still your assistant."
She paused, then added softly:
"And besides… we're still friends, right?"
"Today is the first day your clinic is officially open."
"As your friend, it's only natural that I help you."
"Just like before… in the emergency room."
Then her lips curved into a faint smile, lightening the mood.
"Although… being your assistant today seems a bit more demanding."
"Handling Poké Ball transfers alone is already a lot of work."
She tilted her head slightly, her tone turning playful.
"So after work…"
"Don't forget—you owe me dinner, Dr. Ash."
…
Outside—
The live broadcast numbers continued to skyrocket.
Inside—
Ash's clinic was about to begin.
And with it—
A new chapter in his journey.
--------------
T/N:
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