The dinner table morphed into an impromptu battlefield, with Misty and the three sisters of Sakura vying for Ash's attention.
Each sister kept piling various dishes into Ash's bowl with playful taunts aimed at Misty, who retaliated by doubling the portions in Ash's bowl whenever she had the chance.
"Enough is enough! I can't eat any more!" Ash protested, anxiety creeping into his voice. No matter how hard he tried to eat, the towering heap in front of him only seemed to grow.
The three sisters eventually relented, laughing as they realized Misty was not going to back down without a fight, yet they also sensed Ash's discomfort.
While Misty was competitive, she knew when to let it go, especially seeing Ash's overwhelmed expression.
Brock, seated beside Ash, couldn't help but feel a surge of envy. "All these beautiful sisters, and yet they're all here fussing over Ash?" he lamented internally, feeling overshadowed and unappreciated.
Once dinner concluded, Misty stayed behind at her home while Ash and Brock headed back to the Pokémon Center.
It wasn't that there weren't guest rooms available at the Gym, but Ash thought it was best for Misty to enjoy some time with her family.
After all, the connection among the sisters had not been something Misty had taken for granted, and Ash didn't want to intrude.
"It wouldn't matter if you stayed. They still wouldn't like you," Ash said teasingly as they strolled back, catching Brock's envious gaze.
"Pika!" Pikachu echoed in agreement with a nod, as if he understood the dynamics of affection much better than most humans did, perhaps through sheer observation even if it was somewhat misguided.
Back at the Pokémon Center, Ash didn't head to his room immediately. Instead, he made his way to the reception area where the telephone sat waiting.
He realized it had been a while since he'd called home to check in with his mother.
When he had arrived in Pewter City, Delia had requested he make a quick call whenever he reached a new city.
With all the excitement around him, he had completely forgotten to do so.
"Yeah, I had a good meal, everything is fine, and I've made another friend who's with me, Brock." Ash chatted happily with his mother, introducing Brock with pride.
"Hello, Ash's mother. This is Brock!" Brock chimed in, his demeanor shifting to one of respect and politeness, a stark contrast to his usual infatuated self around the sisters.
"Oh my, Ash, you're truly a handful, you know? Is he giving you trouble?" Delia's loving voice chimed through the receiver, instantly easing Ash's mind.
"No, no! Ash has been a great help! I should thank him!" Brock replied quickly, hoping to make a good impression.
"That's not possible," Delia laughed lightly. Knowing her son, she could read between the lines. "It seems he's matured a lot since several years ago. It makes it easier for me, that's for sure."
After their light banter, Delia curiously inquired, "By the way, where's Misty? I haven't heard her mentioned yet."
"Misty's home is in Cerulean City. We just had dinner at her house and came back to the Pokémon Center," Ash explained.
Her teasing tone returned, "Oh, so it's time for you to meet the parents, hmm?"
Ash groaned in embarrassment, "Come on, Mom!"
After catching up for a little longer, Delia's tone shifted. "Oh! Professor Oak asked me to remind you to contact him. He said he needs to ask you something important."
"Professor Oak? Got it." Ash nodded, feeling curious about what Oak might need.
Once he hung up, he turned to Brock, who looked intrigued.
"You have a close relationship with Professor Oak?" Brock asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Yeah, he's my mentor and has been really helpful throughout my journey," Ash replied, dialing Oak's number while Brock nodded, now realizing that Ash's success wasn't merely due to luck.
Soon, the call connected, and the image of Professor Oak came into view.
He was casually eating instant noodles in his home, not exactly the pristine image one worldwide would expect from a renowned Pokémon Professor.
"Hey, Ash! Long time no chat. How's everything with you?" Oak greeted with a smile, his warmth reflecting through the screen.
"I'm doing great! The Pokémon are growing strong, and I've gotten two Badges!" Ash shared, his pride evident.
"Excellent! I knew you would do well. You and Gary are sure to accomplish wondrous things!" Professor Oak chuckled, sharing in Ash's joy.
Gary had also acquired two Badges in a similar time frame, which made Oak quite pleased.
After some casual chit-chat, Ash introduced Brock to Oak. "This is Brock, my friend from Pewter City," Ash said.
"Ah, so you're the one taking care of Ash! Good job!" Oak responded cheerfully, clearly impressed by Brock's maturity and responsibility.
"Thank you, Professor. I'm just doing what I can," Brock replied with respect.
"Anyway, Ash, I did call you for a reason," Oak said, a more serious tone taking over. "There's something I want to entrust to you."
As it turned out, researchers had discovered a Pokémon fossil site located in the vast valley between the Safari Zone and Cinnabar Island.
They had sent important information to Professor Oak, hoping that he could help study these fossilized Pokémon.
However, Oak had struggled to reach Bill, a fellow researcher known for his expertise in fossils, to share this information.
Bill had gone missing, and despite trying to locate him, Oak couldn't get a hold of his whereabouts.
But Professor Oak had a hunch where Bill might be—a small lighthouse built by Bill himself situated in the northeast of Cerulean City, near the Cerulean Channel.
Professor Oak believed that if Ash was in town, he could act as a courier to deliver vital information and materials to Bill.
As Ash listened, he felt excitement mixed with the weight of the task ahead. This was an opportunity to help not only Professor Oak but also his fellow researcher, Bill.
"Sure, Professor! I'd be glad to help! I'm actually in Cerulean City right now, so I can head over there," Ash replied enthusiastically, feeling challenges lay ahead.
"Great! Be cautious, and I'm looking forward to hearing from you soon!" Oak said before ending the call, leaving Ash and Brock with a newfound sense of purpose for the journey ahead.
"This could be a really fun adventure!" Ash grinned, as Brock nodded, finally feeling a bit rejuvenated, ready to tackle whatever awaited them in Cerulean Channel.
________________
Adios