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"No, it's Ash who's been taking care of us. This time, it's thanks to Ash for saving us!" Misty and Brock quickly waved their hands in response to Delia's words.
It was true—Ash had helped not only when they were on the ship, but also when they were captured by Team Rocket. However, Ash only mentioned the incident on the ship and left out the part about Team Rocket.
Misty and Brock weren't foolish; they knew Ash didn't want to worry the adults, so they wisely kept quiet as well.
Hearing Misty and Brock's response, Delia beamed with pride. Although her Ash had grown more reliable since the summer camp three years ago, it still made her happy to hear others speak highly of him.
"Mom, when are you and Professor Oak heading back?" Ash asked, trying to shift the conversation away from their adventures, worried that if they talked too much, they might reveal the truth about Team Rocket.
"Well..." Professor Oak mused for a moment, considering the question.
Before he could answer, Delia suddenly burst into exaggerated tears. "Ohhh, my poor boy! How could you not want me around anymore?"
"Uh... Don't take it the wrong way, Aunt Delia. Ash didn't mean it like that," Professor Oak, Brock, and Misty hurried to explain, looking a little flustered at the sudden turn of events.
Ash sighed. After so many years, he was well aware of his mother's dramatic flair.
"Alright, alright! I didn't mean anything by it, so you can stop acting now," Ash said helplessly.
Though usually mature and composed, his mother could sometimes be as sensitive as a child.
"Since you put it that way, Ash, it's rare to visit a city like this, so of course, I want to enjoy the trip," Delia replied with a triumphant look, her earlier sadness quickly disappearing.
Misty and Brock were so startled by Delia's quick change in mood that they nearly fell over. No wonder Ash hadn't seemed nervous at all earlier.
Now that they were sure Ash was safe, Delia and Professor Oak could finally relax after waiting anxiously for news over the past few days.
After a bit more conversation, Delia and Misty left first. Ash stayed behind at the Pokémon Center, waiting for his Pokémon to recover. Once they were fully healed, he collected his Poké Balls and headed out.
When he arrived at the beach, it was much more crowded than it had been that morning. Last time, they had been there to train, but now Ash had a rare chance to unwind. After changing into his swimsuit, he joined Misty and the others.
"Ash! Come over here!" Misty called from the water, waving excitedly as she, Brock, and Delia enjoyed themselves. Professor Oak was relaxing in the sun not far away.
"Got it!" Ash shouted back as he was about to dive into the water.
"Huh? Isn't that Ash? So, you're still alive!" A familiar voice called out just as Ash was about to jump in. He turned to see several figures standing nearby.
In front of him stood Gary, also wearing swimming trunks and crossing his arms, looking at Ash with a smug grin. Surrounding Gary were six girls, all in different swimsuits, creating quite the spectacle on the beach. Many men couldn't help but glance enviously in their direction.
"Gary! Long time no see," Ash said, recognizing him instantly, though Gary's teasing attitude hadn't changed a bit.
As sharp-tongued as Gary was, Ash knew that once you earned his respect, he'd be as loyal as anyone. But until their rivalry was settled, the banter would continue.
"I heard you were in a shipwreck! Still the same as always—trouble follows you wherever you go, huh? You even managed to cause a scene for everyone else," Gary teased, walking up to Ash with a smirk.
"Huh? I don't remember causing you any trouble! You're traveling by car, right? Shouldn't you have just passed through here? Why did you come all the way here? Are you worried about me?" Ash responded, keeping his cool as usual in the face of Gary's teasing.
Ash always handled Gary's taunts with a calm, almost playful attitude, knowing Gary enjoyed seeing people get riled up. But Ash wouldn't give him the satisfaction.
"Who...who said I was worried about you, you idiot!" Gary snapped, clearly flustered. "I was just worried you'd delay my grandfather's research."
As expected, Gary hadn't actually gotten mad at Ash but instead at himself. In truth, Gary had been concerned when he heard about the situation. Seeing Ash was fine now, he was relieved, though he'd never admit it. Just like Ash, he wasn't great at expressing care directly.
"Looks like Professor Oak's having a great time!" Ash pointed out with a grin, glancing at the professor, who was snoozing peacefully under the sun not far away.
"You..." Gary clenched his fists, grinding his teeth in frustration.
"Who's that guy?" Misty asked curiously, watching from the shallow water along with Brock and Delia.
"Him? That's Gary, Professor Oak's grandson," Delia said with a smile. She had watched Ash and Gary bicker since they were little, but she knew that deep down, their bond was stronger than anyone realized.
"So that's Gary? Wow, what a show-off!" Misty said, a little annoyed. She'd heard Ash mention Gary before, but seeing him surrounded by six gorgeous girls, she couldn't help but feel a bit of envy.
"I want that kind of attention too!" Brock said, his eyes practically sparkling as he ogled the Stephanies standing by Gary's side.
"Here we go again," Misty muttered, rolling her eyes. "One day, I'll be just as impressive!" she added, though there was a hint of competitiveness in her voice.
Delia chuckled at the exchange, not teasing Misty but agreeing silently. "Our Ash sure has good taste," she thought to herself.
However, Delia's thoughts wandered as she recalled how Ash still seemed to remember that little girl he'd met at the summer camp all those years ago. What should she do about that? Would Misty be heartbroken if she found out? Or maybe, just maybe... could they welcome both girls into the family? But they weren't exactly wealthy, and both Girls were wonderful in their own way.
As Delia's mind drifted further down this imaginary path, Ash remained blissfully unaware of his mother's musings.