Chapter 31: The Road Ahead and Unspoken Fears

I jolted awake as something heavy pressed against my chest. My eyes flicked open to find Pikachu and Splash curled up on top of me, their soft bodies rising and falling with each breath. I sighed, careful not to disturb them, and shifted them to the mattress beside me. The tent's cool morning air hit me as I unzipped the side, stretching my stiff limbs. Something poked at my back, and I turned to see Pikachu trembling, fear flickering in his wide eyes.

"Hey, don't worry," I murmured, running a hand over his head. "Your family's safe." His tiny body relaxed, but he still leaped into my arms, nuzzling close. His fur was warm against my chest as I carried him to the living area of the tent and set him gently on the table.

The scent of something sweet caught my nose. Alisha, busy at the small camp stove, didn't turn around as I approached. I grabbed a water bottle from the cooler and took a long drink, my eyes landing on the clock. 7 AM. "Morning," I called out, my voice hoarse from sleep.

"Morning," she replied, but something was off in her tone. Lighter than usual, maybe too light. I squinted at her back, trying to figure out what had changed since last night. Shrugging it off, I leaned against the table, watching Pikachu track my movements with wide, curious eyes.

After freshening up, I changed into a clean set of clothes and returned to the living area. Pikachu hadn't moved from the table, his eyes still glued to me. I chuckled, giving his head a gentle pat. "So, you know how to cook too?" I teased, glancing over at Alisha.

She smirked, her messy side ponytail bouncing as she stirred something in the pan. "Yes, I do. And I bet you do too. So, why don't you make breakfast?"

I leaned back in my chair, flashing a lazy grin. "Too lazy," I said, pulling out some Pokémon candies from my bag and handing one to Pikachu, who gobbled it up instantly. "By the way, why was Splash with me last night?"

Alisha turned slightly, her teasing smile still in place. "Oh, he left early. The Pokémon had a party last night while we were asleep and ate all the food."

I blinked, trying to process what she'd just said. "Wait, what?" I burst out laughing. "Of course they did. Let me guess, the two new Pikachu led the charge?"

She nodded, flipping a pancake onto a plate and handing it to me. "Pretty much. How's it taste?"

I took a bite, nodding in approval. "Good. Really good. Thanks for the food." I pulled out some Pokémon food from my bag, setting it on the table for Pikachu. "Make sure they eat too," I added between bites. 

As we finished breakfast, the sun was creeping higher in the sky. I stood up, stretching again. "We should get going. If we start now, we'll reach Pewter City by nightfall."

I stepped outside, Pikachu hopping back into my arms. The weight of him made me smile. "Meet me out here when you're ready," I called back to Alisha.

Fifteen minutes later, Alisha stepped out, her Squirtle, Splash, by her side, followed by Ivysaur and Pidgeotto. I pressed the button to activate the tent's auto-folding mode, and once it collapsed into a neat package, I tucked it into my bag. Returning Ivysaur, Pidgeotto, and Pikachu to their Pokéballs, I noticed Alisha watching me closely. She didn't say a word, but her gaze was intense, as if she was wrestling with something in her head.

We started walking, the trail winding ahead of us into the dense forest. The trees loomed tall, their shadows stretching across the path, but my thoughts were elsewhere. Alisha had been different all morning, quieter, less playful. It wasn't like her. I glanced sideways at her, trying to read her expression, but her face was set in determined focus.

"You're acting different today," I said carefully, watching for her reaction.

She stiffened but didn't respond immediately. We walked in silence for a while, the only sounds being the rustle of leaves and the distant cry of wild Pokémon. I was used to silence, to the solitary nature of my journey so far, but this felt different. This silence had weight.

"If something's bothering you," I added, "or if you feel uncomfortable, you can talk to me. We just met, but—"

"I'm fine," she cut me off, her voice sharper than usual. She shot me a quick glance, then focused ahead. "I'm just thinking."

"Thinking about what?"

Alisha hesitated, her fingers brushing the Pokéballs at her belt. "About yesterday. About this... journey. About you."

I raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. Instead, I let her continue at her own pace.

"I've always been excited about becoming a Pokémon Trainer," she started, her voice softer now, more vulnerable. "But this... it's different when you're actually out here. It's not just fun and battles. It's... hard. Scary, sometimes."

"Welcome to the real world," I muttered under my breath, though not unkindly. I understood where she was coming from. This world wasn't the same as the one from my past life. It was dangerous. But I had my cheats, my advantages. I wasn't scared. I was determined.

"I'm not scared," she said suddenly, as if reading my mind. "It's just... I thought I was ready, but now that we're here, walking this road, I'm starting to question things."

"What kind of things?"

She stopped, turning to face me fully. Her dark eyes met mine, a spark of that competitive fire back in them. "Like, why am I doing this? Why do I want to be the best so badly? And what if I fail?"

I looked at her for a long moment, considering my response. "Everyone questions themselves at some point," I said, my voice low. "But the difference between those who succeed and those who fail is how they handle those questions. Do they let them stop them? Or do they push through, regardless?"

She blinked, taking in my words. Then she nodded, her expression hardening into determination again. "You're right. I won't let anything stop me. I'm going to be the best."

I smirked, satisfied. "Good. Because I don't have time to carry dead weight." I turned and kept walking, hearing her footsteps follow closely behind.

The path stretched ahead of us, leading toward Pewter City. But something told me that the real journey had only just begun.