Chapter no.38 Are We on A Date?

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Misty sat on the smooth bench outside the Cerulean City Bank, her gaze distant as the sun glinted off the cobblestone streets and shimmering canals. Around her, the city hummed with its usual rhythm—people walked briskly past, their conversations blending into a soft murmur, while Pokémon filled the air with their unique calls. A pair of Seels slid playfully across the fountain nearby, their laughter-like cries carrying through the square. A Poliwhirl led a parade of smaller Water-types, splashing happily in the midday heat.

She tapped her foot against the pavement, a habit she'd picked up when her thoughts were louder than the world around her. Today, those thoughts were deafening.

Austin.

The memory of his words lingered in her mind like the taste of sweet berries: "You're cute, so I want to help you." Simple words, but they tugged at something deep within her, something she rarely allowed herself to feel. She bit her lip, unsure whether to laugh or groan.

"He's got to be joking," she muttered under her breath, shaking her head as if that would banish the thought. But the image of his lopsided grin and the sincerity in his eyes refused to leave her alone. Was he serious? Or was this some ploy?

Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her shirt. She'd heard words like that before—too often, in fact. Boys at the gym had tried to use their younger siblings to get close to her, usually to win over her sisters' favor. Those words had always felt hollow, like stones skipping across water, never sinking in. But with Austin… it felt different.

Still, the doubts crept in. Maybe he's just pretending to help me become a Gym Leader to get closer. She glanced at the passing crowd, trying to distract herself, but the thought persisted. He's younger, inexperienced… but no one's been this nice to me just because.

She let out a soft, humorless laugh. "At least someone appreciates the beauty that is Misty." The words were meant to be light, but they felt heavy, weighed down by years of comparison to her sisters. Daisy, Lily, and Violet—they'd always been the stars of Cerulean, the radiant ones. Misty was just the tagalong, the "ugly Psyduck" they'd teased her about.

Maybe Austin was different. Or maybe I'm setting myself up for disappointment.

Her tapping foot kicked a small stone, sending it clattering across the pavement. She closed her eyes, trying to calm the storm in her mind, focusing instead on the world around her. The laughter of children, the splash of water, the faint breeze carrying the salty tang of the sea—it grounded her, if only for a moment.

"Pika!"

Misty's eyes snapped open at the familiar cry of alarm. She turned to see Pikachu darting behind the bench, trembling as if he'd seen a ghost. Austin followed close behind, balancing a paper plate in his hand and laughing softly.

"Come on, Pikachu, it's tasty," he coaxed, though his voice was more teasing than convincing. Pikachu hissed, darting further behind Misty like she was a shield against whatever monstrosity Austin was holding.

Misty raised an eyebrow, the corners of her mouth twitching upward despite herself. "What's that?"

"Oh, some local dish I picked up from a vendor outside the bank," Austin replied, gesturing vaguely behind him. He held up the plate, revealing dark, glossy noodles coated in black ink sauce. "Tentacool Ink Vermicelli. Pikachu got a taste and wasn't a fan."

Misty's eyes lit up. "Tentacool Ink Vermicelli?" The words came out almost reverent, her mind flashing back to childhood dinners in the kitchen with her mom. It had been one of her favorite meals, the rich umami flavor always lingering long after the last bite. She smiled, the memory wrapping her in warmth.

"It looks delicious," she said, her voice softer now.

"Want to try?" Austin offered, holding the plate toward her with a plastic fork.

She hesitated for only a moment before accepting the fork, her fingers brushing against his. Twirling the glossy noodles, she ignored Pikachu's horrified stare and took a small bite. The flavor exploded on her tongue—rich, salty, and just the right amount of tangy. It tasted like home.

"Just like how Mom used to make it," she murmured, more to herself than anyone else.

Austin tilted his head. "Your mom made this?"

"Yeah," she said, her smile softening. "It was her favorite. She used to cook it all the time, and I'd help. Well, I'd mostly make a mess, but she let me think I was helping."

Austin chuckled. "Sounds nice."

"It was," Misty said, her voice quieter now. The memory felt bittersweet—something she treasured, but also something she missed dearly.

"Want me to get you your own plate?" Austin asked, his smile easy and genuine.

The question caught her off guard. Her cheeks warmed, and she nodded before she could second-guess herself. "Yeah, that'd be… nice."

Austin stood, handing Pikachu a plate of noodles drenched in ketchup before heading back toward the vendor. Misty watched him go, her thoughts swirling.

Was this a date?

The idea sent her heart racing, though she giggled at the thought.

"Pika?"

Misty glanced down at Pikachu, who was watching her with an expression that could only be described as amused disbelief.

"What's that look for?" she asked, folding her arms.

Pikachu's ears twitched, and he began a series of exaggerated gestures—pointing at her, crossing his arms, shaking his head, and miming eating.

Misty stared at him, her jaw dropping. "Are you trying to tell me this isn't a date?"

Pikachu nodded emphatically, squeaking with what sounded suspiciously like laughter.

She couldn't help but laugh, the sound bubbling up despite herself. "Wow, even you're calling me out, huh?"

By the time Austin returned with her plate, Misty was still smiling, her doubts temporarily pushed aside.

"Here you go," he said, handing her the plate.

"Thanks," she said softly, her fingers brushing his again.

"And for you," he added, placing a plate of ketchup-smothered noodles in front of Pikachu.

The electric mouse lit up instantly, diving into the meal with unbridled enthusiasm.

Misty shook her head, watching the two of them. She laughed softly, the sound light and fleeting, as she watched Pikachu devour his ketchup-drenched noodles with unrestrained joy. But her amusement faded when she caught a sharp, disapproving glare cutting through the crowd.

She turned her head and immediately spotted the source—the vendor who had sold Austin the vermicelli. His arms were crossed, his mouth set in a tight line, and his narrowed eyes were locked squarely on them. There was no mistaking it. That glare was meant for Austin.

"What's his deal?"

"Uh, I may have, um, altered the dish a bit."

Misty raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to elaborate.

"Well, I didn't want to waste Pikachu's ketchup, so I, uh… just asked the guy for a plain plate of raw vermicelli and dumped ketchup all over it." Austin motioned to Pikachu, who was happily licking his plate clean. "Guess he didn't appreciate my culinary innovation."

Misty blinked, then sighed. "Austin, you essentially desecrated a Cerulean specialty. The vendor probably thinks you're mocking his craft or his culture."

"All because I added ketchup? Isn't that a bit extreme?"

Misty shrugged, her lips twitching with the hint of a smile. "You're in Cerulean City. We take food very seriously here. And by 'we,' I mean other people. Personally, I wouldn't die on that hill."

"Good to know," Austin muttered, twirling a forkful of his ink-stained noodles. "Well, at least someone enjoyed it." He motioned toward Pikachu, who was now sprawled out on his back, belly visibly bloated, his paws twitching in delight.

The two of them ate in companionable silence for a while, Misty savoring the rich, briny taste of the squid ink noodles. The flavors were nostalgic, tugging at memories of simpler times spent in her mother's kitchen. She didn't realize how much she missed that until now.

"Man, that hit the spot," she said, wiping her mouth with a napkin. She glanced at Pikachu, now in a blissful food coma as Austin gently rubbed his belly. The little Pokémon's contented expression was infectious, and for a moment, Misty let herself forget about her doubts and frustrations.

But then Austin broke the quiet. "So, I got the money."

"Money? For what?"

"The plan."

Misty froze, her fork halfway to her mouth.

The plan?

She repeated dumbly, "Oh, right. The plan. The one you came up with. For me." She laughed nervously, scrambling to recover. "Of course, I remember. Totally didn't forget."

Austin gave her a flat look.

Misty panicked, searching for an excuse. "I didn't forget! I was just… captivated by Pikachu's charades!" she blurted, pointing to the electric mouse as if he were the most fascinating thing in the world. "I didn't even know you could bypass the language barrier like that."

Austin raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why would that distract you?"

Misty blinked, flustered, as Austin lightly tapped Pikachu's belly. The electric mouse giggled, his cheeks sparking faintly, and Misty suddenly found herself wondering if Pikachu was silently judging her.

"Well," she said, "it's just… impressive, I guess. I mean, you've got Pikachu understanding you so well. That takes skill."

Austin smiled faintly, glancing down at his Pokémon. "It's just practice. I've been working on it since I heard about Team Rocket's Meowth."

Misty perked up slightly at that. "Oh, I remember hearing about that. The talking Meowth, right? That's wild."

"Yeah," Austin said, scratching behind Pikachu's ear, earning a happy squeak. "Figured if a Meowth could learn human language, then I could at least figure out a game of charades with my team."

"Are you serious about this plan?!" she blurted, her voice sharper than she intended.

Austin, however, didn't flinch. He met her eyes calmly, his tone as casual as if they were discussing what to order for lunch. "Yeah, I already withdrew the 20K." His hand shifted toward his pocket, and for a horrifying second, Misty thought he was about to pull out the money right there in public.

She raised her hand in a hurry, as if to stop him. "No, no, I believe you!" she said quickly, her chest tightening as her mind raced. He wasn't joking. He really had withdrawn that kind of money—for her.

Austin's plan played back in her mind like a bad movie on repeat. Set up a public tournament. Offer 20,000 Pokédollars as the prize. Draw in as many challengers as possible so I could rack up the 300 wins I still need to qualify as Cerulean's Gym Leader.

On paper, it was straightforward. But in reality? It felt like an enormous weight pressing down on her chest.

"I don't think we should go through with this," Misty finally said, her voice quieter now, but edged with unease. Her hands tightened into fists at her sides.

Austin tilted his head, studying her. "Why?"

Misty's stomach churned. How could he not see it? How could he not understand what he was asking her to do? "Because..." She hesitated, trying to put the swirling mess of emotions into words. "What if I lose? That's 20K, Austin! That's the kind of money people save up for years, and you're throwing it at this like it's... like it's no big deal."

"You won't lose," he said simply, like it was a fact.

His unwavering confidence made her head throb. Misty's breath hitched as she forced herself to continue. "I don't know that! What if some insanely strong trainer shows up? Or—what if I choke under the pressure? I'm not afraid of losing, Austin. I've lost plenty of times before. But if I'm the reason you lose everything..." She trailed off, her voice faltering as her throat tightened.

Austin didn't say anything at first, and the silence felt heavier than it should. Pikachu let out a soft yawn, rolling onto his side, oblivious to the weight of the conversation above him.

"Yeah," Austin said finally, his voice slow and thoughtful. "You're right."

Misty blinked, surprised at his agreement. Relief started to seep in, but it was quickly replaced by confusion when he added, "If you lose, you can just pay me back by selling your kidney."

Her jaw dropped. "Excuse me?"

"If you lose, you sell your kidney. Problem solved."

"I'm not selling my kidney!" Misty snapped, her voice pitching high enough to make Pikachu's ears twitch.

"Then don't lose," Austin replied with a smirk, the corner of his mouth quirking upward.

Misty stared at him, utterly dumbfounded. Was he joking? He had to be joking. But his delivery was so deadpan that she couldn't be sure.

"Austin," she said slowly, pinching the bridge of her nose. "This isn't funny."

He shrugged again, that infuriatingly calm expression still plastered on his face. "I'm just saying, it's not the end of the world if things don't go as planned."

Misty's frustration bubbled over, her thoughts spiraling.

"Look," she said, her voice quieter now but strained, "I can't do this. I can't risk it. You're putting so much on the line for me, and I—"

"Misty, it's fine," Austin interrupted, his tone softer now, almost reassuring. "It's just money."

"Maybe to you," she shot back, her voice trembling. "But to me, this is everything. This is my dream, and I can't let it come at the cost of someone else's failure. If I lose, I can live with that. But if I drag you down with me..."

Her words trailed off as she turned her gaze away from him, unable to meet his eyes.

The silence between them stretched, broken only by the distant chatter of the city and Pikachu's soft breathing.

"Thank you for everything," Misty said at last, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I can't go through with this."

She turned on her heel, her steps quick and decisive as she walked away.

Austin didn't try to stop her, and for that, she was grateful. Her heart was pounding, her mind spinning with what-ifs and second guesses. But she kept walking, determined not to look back.

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Pikachu watched with wide, curious eyes as his human, Austin, sat in silence. The conversation with Misty had been heavy, and now a blank expression settled over the boy's face as he processed the sudden departure.

"Let's go," Austin said finally, his voice flat as he stood and tossed their trash into a nearby garbage can. He began to walk deeper into the city, his steps a bit slower than usual.

As they moved through the bustling streets, Pikachu considered the oddity of human behaviors. His human was different—how he interacted with the world, the Pokémon, and the people in it often left Pikachu puzzled. He couldn't fathom why Austin was so intent on helping that girl.

Was this some kind of mating ritual? Pikachu wondered, though the idea seemed far-fetched even to his small electric brain. And frankly, Pikachu felt the boy could do so much better with a different mate.

"Let's get some gelato," Austin announced, a hint of cheer returning to his voice.

"Pika," Pikachu chirped, instantly brightening at the idea. He then performed a small charade, mimicking squeezing a bottle and drizzling something—his universal sign for ketchup.

"No, I don't think they have ketchup gelato."

Pikachu's ears flopped down in disappointment.

"You know what, let's try to find a new flavor that'll be better than ketchup."

That statement caused Pikachu to burst into a fit of laughter, the sound squeaky and infectious. The laughter shook him so much that he toppled right off Austin's shoulder, landing softly on the ground. "Pika!" he exclaimed, still chuckling, his tiny paws clutching his belly as if the joke was the funniest thing he'd ever heard.

Meanwhile, Austin's mind was elsewhere, calculating. The private investigator he'd hired had assured him the job would be done in a week, which left Austin to focus on the other pieces of his plan. For everything to fall into place, he needed every variable accounted for—especially Misty.

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Author's Note: What do you think Austin's grand plan is? The hints are all laid out in the previous chapters. I'm curious if any of you have figured it out.