"Wow!! So this is Cerulean City? It feels completely different from Viridian City!"
Carrying her small shoulder bag, Green stepped out through the ticket gates and into the open plaza outside the station. She looked up at the grand mermaid fountain statue in the center, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Well, of course," Gary Oak replied with a grin. "Viridian City is inland, while Cerulean is a coastal city. Naturally, the atmosphere's totally different."
Even Gary couldn't hide his curiosity as he looked around. It was his first time traveling this far from home.
Ash felt the same.
Only Clarissa Joy appeared calm and composed.
After all, she came from Saffron City—the bustling metropolis of Kanto, far more prosperous than Cerulean. As a direct descendant of the Joy family, she had long been accustomed to traveling between major cities. Compared to Ash and the others, this was nothing new to her.
And yet—
Coming to Cerulean with Ash…
To attend the contest.
And to meet another girl close to his heart—
She wasn't upset at all.
Instead, her face carried a gentle, relaxed smile.
"I know a seafood restaurant here that makes amazing crab roe rice. We should all go try it later."
"Sounds good," Ash nodded, taking out his phone. "Let me call Misty first. She said she and her sisters would come pick us up."
Just as he opened his contacts—
His phone rang first.
The caller ID read: Misty.
Ash smiled slightly and answered.
"Hey, Misty."
"Ash… I saw that your train has arrived. Where are you now? Have you exited the station yet?"
Her voice carried a hint of nervousness.
This was their first time meeting in person.
After all the time spent talking online…
Now—
They were finally going to see each other face to face.
Of course she was nervous.
What if she wasn't cute enough?
What if Ash didn't like her when they met?
After all—
His other girlfriends—
The Kalos girl Serena from Professor Oak's summer camp, and Clarissa Joy from the Pokémon Center—
They were both undeniably beautiful.
And her own sisters always teased her, calling her a "little ugly duckling."
As the heir to the Cerulean Gym, Misty always put on a confident front—declaring that she would one day become the world's greatest Water-type Pokémon Master.
But deep down—
Only she knew how uncertain she truly felt.
Right now—
Her palms were sweating.
Her heart was racing.
But Ash understood.
Because—
He was excited too.
Only, having lived two lives, he didn't show it as openly.
"We just came out of the station," Ash said. "We're standing on the platform facing the mermaid fountain in the plaza. Are you here already?"
"Mm! We're already here—right next to the fountain."
"I see them!" a lively voice suddenly chimed in from Misty's side—it was Lily.
"Haha… I see you too."
Ash chuckled.
From their elevated position, the plaza below was clearly visible.
And sure enough—
Standing beside the mermaid fountain—
Were four stunning girls.
Ash recognized them instantly.
He had seen them countless times in the original story.
The one with flowing golden hair—
Was Daisy.
The one with bright blue hair—
Was Violet.
The one with soft pink hair—
Was Lily.
And the girl with orange hair—
Was Misty.
Ash hung up the phone, and the four of them quickly headed down toward the fountain.
"Misty—!"
The moment he saw her—
Ash's gaze locked onto her instantly.
Unlike the confident, bold Misty from the original timeline—
The six-year-old Misty standing before him now was far more shy and delicate.
Her orange hair was tied into a simple side ponytail.
She wore black knee-high socks, red sneakers, green shorts, and a light yellow Psyduck T-shirt layered under a pink hoodie.
At a glance—
She looked fresh, lively—
And incredibly charming.
But being stared at so intently—
Misty's cheeks flushed bright red.
Her face turned completely pink.
She looked even more adorable.
"Hehe~"
Seeing the two of them, her three sisters exchanged knowing smiles.
"Well, Ash?" Lily teased playfully. "Isn't our little sister adorable?"
"Uh… yeah," Ash scratched his head awkwardly. "She really is."
Even though they were already close—
And even technically a couple—
Being stared at like that in front of so many people…
Still felt a bit embarrassing.
Especially with both sides having company.
Ash had Gary, Green, and Clarissa with him.
Misty had her three sisters.
So naturally—
He reined himself in.
"Let me introduce everyone," Ash said, breaking the awkwardness.
"These are my friends—Gary, Green and Clarissa."
Misty glanced at them and smiled.
"Ash… Gary, Green… and Clarissa… can I call you all that?"
"Of course!" the three replied in unison.
"Welcome to Cerulean City," Misty said warmly. "Make sure you enjoy your time here."
"Let me introduce my sisters too."
"This is my eldest sister, Daisy. My second sister, Violet. And this is my third sister, Lily."
As she spoke—
Her nervousness faded.
And her natural confidence as the heir to the Cerulean Gym shone through.
"A pleasure to meet you," the group responded politely.
And just like that—
Under the soft spray of the fountain and the golden glow of the setting sun—
Two worlds that had only existed online—
Finally met in reality.
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T/N:
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