"Can someone like her really be a shrine maiden and the heroine of the celebration? This era has truly changed..."
Carol sighed helplessly, glancing at her younger sister, Melody. If circumstances were different, she would never have wanted her rebellious sister to shoulder such an important role.
On Shamouti Island, not everyone was eligible to become a shrine maiden. Only women who had grown up on the island and had never left were allowed such an honor.
And while both Carol and Melody met these criteria, Carol had aged out of the role, leaving Melody as the island's only option.
Melody, however, had no interest in the responsibility.
"I didn't ask for this," she muttered with her arms crossed. "They're the ones forcing me into it."
Yet, despite her complaints, she hadn't outright refused the role. Deep down, Melody knew her people needed her.
But even so, she planned to wait until the last possible moment to put on the ceremonial outfit.
"That's right!" Carol snapped, glancing at her wristwatch before turning her attention back to Ash and his friends. Her eyes focused on Ash.
"Ah, congratulations, Mr. Ash!"
Carol's voice brightened, but she hesitated, unsure how to properly address him. Since she didn't recognize Ash, she went with formality.
"Congratulations on becoming the controller of the celebration!" she announced cheerfully.
"The controller?!"
Ash and his friends exchanged confused looks. Their brows furrowed in unison as they turned toward Carol, completely baffled by her statement.
"In ancient legends, the God of the Sea appears when the world is in peril. It follows an exceptional controller, who calms the gods' fury," a voice cut through the murmurs around them.
The crowd parted, and a man dressed in traditional ceremonial attire adorned with blue bird insignias emerged from among the people. He held a mask in one hand and approached the group with authority and ease.
"The controller is also known as the chosen Trainer," he continued, his deep voice resonating.
He then lowered his mask, revealing a face weathered with age—an elderly man with a thick white beard and sparking eyes brimming with vitality.
"Why me?" Ash asked in surprise, pointing to himself. He then turned toward Misty with confusion. "Misty's a Trainer, too! Why isn't she the one?"
"The controller must be a man," the old man replied firmly. "Tradition dictates that he pairs with the shrine maiden."
"P-Pairing?! With a shrine maiden?!" Misty exclaimed, a deep blush spreading across her cheeks.
Her eyes darted toward Melody on the slope, who was leaning casually against a post, watching with thinly veiled amusement.
A sense of unease crept over Misty.
"But… even if the controller must be a man, why me? I'm sure there are other Trainers nearby. What about them?" Ash questioned, still struggling to make sense of the sudden announcement.
"No other Trainers have arrived," Carol explained, glancing at the dock's clock. "Due to the storms, it was unlikely another ship would make it in time. You are the last Trainer to reach Shamouti Island."
As realization dawned on Ash, he frowned. "So, it's just dumb luck?"
"I thought it was because they recognized him," Maren chimed in with a wry smile. Her tone carried a mix of amusement and slight disappointment, as though she'd expected more from the moment.
"Recognized you?"
The old man, Carol, and several locals turned to Maren, confusion clear on their faces.
Melody, who until then had shown little genuine interest, finally shifted her gaze toward Ash, her curiosity piqued.
"Don't you know?" Maren asked, a hint of disbelief in her voice. She glanced at the others before continuing with an excited tone.
"Mr. Ash is one of the most renowned Trainers in the world right now. He recently defeated Master Lorelei on Little Orange Island!"
"WHAT?!"
The crowd erupted in gasps of astonishment. Even those unfamiliar with Pokémon battles had heard of Lorelei, an Elite Four member from the Kanto region.
The news of Ash's victory spread like wildfire among the islanders, especially the younger members of the crowd, who burst into applause and cheers.
"Defeating Master Lorelei?!" The old man's voice trembled with excitement. "It seems our controller is a truly remarkable Trainer. We've never had a controller of such skill and reputation!"
Melody's gaze settled on Ash more seriously now. Though younger than her, Ash carried himself with a confidence that intrigued her. Finally, she stepped down from the slope and walked toward him.
"So this is the Ash everyone's buzzing about online…" she said, taking off her sunglasses to study him closely.
"Uh, hi," Ash said, suddenly feeling self-conscious under her scrutinizing stare. He scratched the back of his head, unsure how to respond to the sudden attention.
Beside him, Misty stiffened, stepping closer to Ash. Her eyes narrowed as she studied Melody, her instincts warning her that trouble was coming.
Melody leaned in toward him, crossing her arms casually. "Hmm… maybe it's not so bad. If it's you, I guess I can tolerate it…"
"T-Tolerate what?" Ash asked hesitantly, his confusion growing.
Melody suddenly smirked. Without warning, she leaned even closer, her face mere inches from Ash's.
"It's tradition," she murmured with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "A welcome kiss for the shrine maiden's partner."
Ash jerked back instinctively, his face red. "H-Hey, hold on!" He raised his arms in protest.
He didn't have a chance to say more. Misty, seizing the opportunity, stepped in front of Ash, placing herself firmly between him and Melody. She glared at the other girl with fire in her eyes.
"What's wrong with you?!" Misty spat, her voice sharp. "What do you think you're doing?!"
Melody blinked, momentarily taken aback by Misty's aggressive tone. "What? Are you his sister or something?" she asked, genuinely confused.
"I'm not his sister!" Misty shot back, her voice firm. "I'm his girlfriend!"
A stunned silence fell over the dock. The weight of Misty's declaration left everyone momentarily speechless.
Ash froze as well, hearing Misty's bold statement, his cheeks reddening once again.
After several long moments, Melody shrugged nonchalantly, smirking. "Well, Grandpa, it seems they don't want to follow tradition. Not my fault, right?"
The old man chuckled, shaking his head. "Forget it, Melody. That tradition's old anyway. Perhaps it's time we let it go."
Carol raised an eyebrow at her grandfather, looking appalled. "Wait, what? Then why did "I" have to do it?!" she demanded in frustration.
Grandpa scratched his head awkwardly. "You never refused, so… I assumed you were fine with it?"
Carol opened her mouth as if to argue but shut it again with a frustrated groan. Finally, she sighed, muttering under her breath about unfair treatment.
______________________
Join my Patreon for more advance chapters