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The Pokémon Summer Academy looked different in winter.
Ash noticed it the moment he stepped through the gates.
The familiar training fields were dusted lightly with snow, the grass peeking through in uneven patches where students had clearly already started running battle drills despite the cold.
Lanterns and strings of lights had been hung across the walkways, and a large decorated tree stood proudly in the courtyard where the academy normally held assemblies.
Pikachu perched on Ash’s shoulder, tail flicking as he looked around.
“Pika.”
Ash grinned.
“Pretty cool, huh?”
He hadn’t expected to come back here.
But when Professor Rowan had mentioned the academy was hosting a winter exhibition battle event and inviting past students…
Well.
Ash had never been very good at saying no to a battle.
Students moved around the courtyard excitedly, some carrying Poké Balls, others helping hang decorations or carry boxes of supplies toward the dining hall.
The atmosphere buzzed with energy.
Ash stretched his arms.
“I wonder who else showed up.”
Pikachu tilted his head.
“Pika?”
Ash laughed.
“Hopefully someone strong.”
Almost immediately-
“ASH!”
Ash turned.
He barely had time to react before someone stormed across the courtyard toward him like a small, furious thundercloud.
Angie.
Her eyes locked onto him with the intensity of someone who had just spotted their greatest rival walking casually into their territory.
“There you are!” she snapped.
Ash blinked.
“Oh, hey Angie!”
She stopped a few feet away, hands on her hips.
“You’re late.”
Ash glanced around.
“…For what?”
“The exhibition battles.”
“They don’t start for another hour.”
“That’s still late.”
Ash scratched the back of his neck.
“…You’re the same as ever.”
“And you’re still too relaxed,” Angie shot back.
Pikachu raised a paw.
“Pika.”
Angie’s eyes flicked toward him.
“Well, at least Pikachu looks ready.”
“He’s always ready.”
Angie crossed her arms.
“Good.”
Ash tilted his head.
“…Good?”
“Because I’m battling you first.”
Ash laughed.
“You already decided that?”
“Obviously.”
“Angie, we just got here.”
“Exactly.”
Her eyes gleamed.
“No warm-ups.”
“No excuses.”
“Just a proper battle.”
Ash grinned.
Now that part did sound good.
“Alright.”
Pikachu’s ears perked up.
“Pika!”
Angie smirked.
“I knew you’d say yes.”
“Of course I would.”
She stepped closer, lowering her voice slightly.
“You still owe me a win.”
Ash blinked.
“…Do I?”
“You beat me last time.”
“That’s how battles work.”
“That was a fluke.”
“It wasn’t a fluke.”
“You got lucky.”
“I didn’t get lucky.”
“You absolutely did.”
Ash laughed.
“You’re already making excuses.”
Angie’s eye twitched.
“I don’t make excuses.”
“You just did.”
“I’m explaining reality.”
“You’re explaining losing.”
Pikachu giggled.
“Pika pika.”
Angie jabbed a finger toward Ash dramatically.
“This time will be different.”
Ash crossed his arms, smiling confidently.
“Looking forward to it.”
Angie turned sharply.
“Follow me.”
Ash blinked.
“Where are we going?”
“The training hall.”
“The battles aren’t starting yet.”
“So?”
“So we’re practicing.”
Ash laughed.
“You’re serious?”
Angie stopped and looked over her shoulder.
“Are you backing out?”
Ash’s grin widened immediately.
“Not a chance.”
“That’s what I thought.”
She continued marching toward the academy buildings, Ash and Pikachu falling into step behind her.
The hallway inside the academy was warm compared to the snowy courtyard outside. Decorations lined the walls, pine branches, ribbons, small ornaments hanging from beams overhead.
Students moved in and out of the rooms, laughing and carrying supplies.
Ash glanced around.
“They really went all out with
decorations.”
Angie barely looked up.
“Yeah, yeah.”
Ash kept walking.
Then paused.
“…Huh.”
Angie stopped when she realized he wasn’t beside her anymore.
“What now?”
Ash pointed upward.
“Look.”
Angie glanced up.
A small sprig of mistletoe hung from the wooden beam above the hallway intersection.
Tied neatly with red ribbon.
She stared at it.
“…What is that.”
Ash blinked.
“You don’t know mistletoe?”
“No.”
He scratched the back of his neck.
“Well… there’s a tradition.”
Angie turned toward him immediately.
“What tradition.”
Ash hesitated.
Because suddenly-
Suddenly he had a feeling this was about to become a problem.
“Well…”
“If two people end up standing under mistletoe…”
Angie raised an eyebrow.
“…Yeah?”
Ash pointed upward.
“They’re supposed to kiss.”
There was a moment of silence.
Angie looked up again.
Then slowly back at Ash.
Then she stepped forward.
Directly beneath it.
And crossed her arms.
“…Well then.”
Ash blinked.
“Well then what?”
Angie smirked.
“If you walk away first,” she said calmly,
“I win.”
Ash stared at her.
“…Win what?”
Angie’s grin widened.
“Everything.”
Pikachu blinked.
“Pika?”
Ash slowly smiled.
“Oh.”
And just like that-
The exhibition battle hadn’t even started yet.
But somehow…
They had already found a competition neither of them was willing to lose.
Ash folded his arms.
Angie stood directly beneath the mistletoe, planted there like she’d just claimed territory.
Neither of them moved.
The hallway around them continued its usual winter bustle. Students passed by carrying decorations, someone laughed from a nearby classroom, and the scent of hot cocoa drifted faintly through the air from the dining hall.
But right in the middle of the corridor, two trainers were locked in a silent standoff.
Pikachu looked up at Ash.
Then at Angie.
Then at the mistletoe.
“Pika…?”
Ash scratched the back of his neck.
“…You’re serious.”
Angie raised an eyebrow.
“I’m always serious.”
“You’re turning mistletoe into a battle.”
“You’re the one who explained the rule.”
“That’s not what the rule means.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
She tapped her foot once against the wooden floor.
“You said if two people stand under it they’re supposed to kiss.”
“Yeah, but-”
“So if you walk away first,” Angie said smugly, “you lose.”
Ash laughed.
“That’s not losing.”
“That’s retreating.”
“It’s not retreating.”
“It is in a competition.”
Ash tilted his head.
“…Who said this was a competition?”
Angie stared at him like he had just said the most ridiculous thing imaginable.
“Everything is a competition.”
Ash couldn’t help smiling.
“Of course you’d say that.”
Angie leaned back slightly against the wall under the mistletoe, crossing her arms confidently.
“Well?”
“Well what?”
“Are you leaving?”
Ash shrugged.
“…No.”
Angie smirked.
“Good.”
“Because if anyone’s leaving first, it’s you.”
Her smirk sharpened.
“Oh really?”
“Yeah.”
“Why would I do that?”
Ash gestured at the hallway around them.
“Because people are starting to stare.”
Angie glanced around.
A few nearby students had definitely slowed down.
Not enough to be obvious.
But enough to watch.
Two trainers standing awkwardly beneath mistletoe was apparently interesting.
Angie shrugged.
“Let them stare.”
Ash laughed.
“You’re unbelievable.”
“You’re stalling.”
“I’m not stalling.”
“You are.”
Pikachu leaned over Ash’s shoulder and whispered quietly,
“Pika…”
Ash whispered back,
“I know.”
Angie tapped her foot again.
“Clock’s ticking.”
“There’s no clock.”
“There is now.”
Ash glanced up at the mistletoe again.
“…You really won’t move.”
“Nope.”
“You’re just going to stand there.”
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“As long as it takes.”
Ash sighed.
“You’re ridiculous.”
“You’re scared.”
“I’m not scared.”
“Then do it.”
Ash blinked.
“…Do what.”
“You know what.”
She pointed upward at the mistletoe.
“Rule’s a rule.”
“That’s not the point of the tradition.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
Angie leaned forward slightly.
“You told me the rule.”
Ash scratched his head again.
“This is not how most people handle mistletoe.”
“Well you’re not dealing with most people.”
Fair point.
Ash shifted his weight.
“…So if I leave, you win.”
“Yes.”
“And if you leave, I win.”
“Yes.”
“And if neither of us leaves…”
Angie smiled slowly.
“Then someone has to kiss first.”
Pikachu’s ears perked up.
“Pika!”
Ash laughed nervously.
“That’s not really how it works.”
“It is now.”
He studied her.
Angie’s expression was confident.
Determined.
Completely unwilling to back down.
Which was exactly how she looked during a Pokémon battle.
Ash felt a grin slowly creeping across his face.
“…You’re serious.”
“Very.”
“You’re treating this like a gym battle.”
“If that’s what it takes.”
Ash leaned casually against the opposite wall.
“Alright then.”
Angie blinked.
“…What.”
“I’ll stay.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“You’re bluffing.”
“I’m not bluffing.”
“You’ll crack first.”
“You will.”
“I won’t.”
“You will.”
“I won’t.”
They stared at each other.
Neither moving.
Neither blinking.
Pikachu slowly looked back and forth between them like he was watching a tennis match.
A group of students walked past.
One of them whispered,
“…Are they going to do it?”
Another whispered back,
“I think they’re fighting.”
Angie didn’t even glance at them.
Her focus stayed locked on Ash.
“You’re sweating.”
“I’m not sweating.”
“You are.”
“It’s warm in here.”
“You’re nervous.”
“I’m not nervous.”
Angie smirked.
“Then prove it.”
Ash opened his mouth to reply, then stopped.
Because suddenly…
He realized something.
Angie had stepped slightly closer during the argument.
And now-
Now they were both standing directly beneath the mistletoe.
Very close.
Much closer than they had been a moment ago.
Ash’s brain caught up.
“Oh.”
Angie noticed.
“What.”
“You stepped forward.”
“So?”
“So now we’re both under it.”
Angie smiled.
“…Exactly.”
Ash exhaled slowly.
“…You planned that.”
“Maybe.”
“You absolutely planned that.”
“Maybe.”
Ash laughed again.
“You’re impossible.”
“You’re still here.”
“…Yeah.”
Neither of them moved.
The hallway grew quieter around them.
The tension between them shifted slightly.
No longer just a competition.
Something else.
Something neither of them had quite acknowledged yet.
Angie tilted her head slightly.
“…You’re still not leaving.”
Ash met her gaze.
“…Neither are you.”
Her smile sharpened.
“Good.”
Because suddenly, neither of them was thinking about winning anymore.
And that made the situation a lot more dangerous.
The hallway had grown quieter.
Not empty, students still moved around the academy preparing for the evening events, but quieter.
Because word had clearly spread.
Two trainers locked in a standoff under mistletoe was apparently far more entertaining than whatever decorations people had been hanging five minutes ago.
Ash stood with his back lightly against the wall.
Angie stood directly across from him.
Neither had moved.
Neither had stepped away.
And the mistletoe still hung innocently above them.
Pikachu shifted slightly on Ash’s shoulder.
“Pika…”
Ash exhaled slowly.
“…This is ridiculous.”
Angie tilted her head.
“You’re the one still standing here.”
“So are you.”
“That’s because I’m not losing.”
Ash smirked.
“You already lost.”
Her eyes narrowed instantly.
“Oh really?”
“Yeah.”
The kiss was quick, over as soon as it started. One swift motion that caught them both off guard
“You just kissed me.”
“You were stalling.”
“That’s not losing.”
Angie leaned forward slightly.
“It is if you had to force the ending.”
Ash laughed.
“You call that forcing?”
“You wouldn’t have done it.”
“You don’t know that.”
Angie studied him for a second.
Then crossed her arms again.
“…You were hesitating.”
“I wasn’t hesitating.”
“You absolutely were.”
Ash scratched the back of his neck.
“…Okay maybe a little.”
Angie smirked.
“I knew it.”
“You kissed me because you were impatient.”
“I kissed you because you were dragging the moment out.”
“Those are the same thing.”
“Not even close.”
Ash pushed himself off the wall.
Now they were standing only a couple steps apart.
The mistletoe still hung between them.
He pointed upward.
“You know this isn’t how mistletoe works.”
Angie shrugged.
“It worked.”
“That’s not the point.”
“What is the point?”
Ash opened his mouth, then paused.
Because suddenly…
He wasn’t actually sure.
The original standoff had been about winning.
About who would back down first.
But now…
Now that the kiss had already happened…
The competition had shifted.
Angie watched him think.
“…You’re doing that thing again.”
“What thing?”
“Overthinking.”
Ash blinked.
“I am not.”
“You absolutely are.”
Pikachu nodded.
“Pika.”
Ash sighed.
“…Thanks buddy.”
Angie leaned slightly closer.
“Still thinking about it?”
“…Maybe.”
“Why?”
Ash rubbed the back of his neck again.
“…Because it wasn’t just about the competition.”
Angie blinked.
“…What.”
Ash looked at her.
“You could’ve just left.”
“So could you.”
“Yeah.”
“But you didn’t.”
“…Neither did you.”
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Angie looked up at the mistletoe again.
Then back at Ash.
“…You know something?”
“What?”
“You’re still standing under it.”
Ash glanced up.
“…So are you.”
Angie took one slow step forward.
Now they were much closer.
Ash’s heart gave a small, unexpected jump.
“You’re not backing away,” she said.
“You’re not either.”
Angie smiled slightly.
“Good.”
Ash raised an eyebrow.
“Why’s that?”
She shrugged casually.
“Because if we’re both still here…”
She gestured upward.
“…Then technically the rule still applies.”
Ash laughed.
“You already kissed me.”
“That was the first move.”
“There’s a second move?”
Angie tilted her head.
“Depends.”
“On what?”
“Whether you’re brave enough.”
Ash blinked.
“…Brave enough?”
She smirked.
“To actually finish the moment.”
Pikachu’s ears perked straight up.
“Pika?!”
Ash stared at her for a second.
Then slowly smiled.
“Oh.”
Angie raised an eyebrow.
“Oh?”
Ash stepped forward.
Now they were standing directly beneath the mistletoe again.
Only inches apart.
“You think I won’t?”
Angie’s voice dropped slightly.
“I think you’re still hesitating.”
Ash leaned closer.
“…You’re wrong.”
For the first time since the standoff began, Angie looked genuinely surprised.
Just for a second.
And then, Ash closed the distance.
The kiss this time wasn’t rushed.
It wasn’t competitive.
It wasn’t a sudden impulsive decision
like it had been earlier.
It was slower.
Warmer.
And when Ash finally pulled back, the hallway behind them erupted in quiet gasps and whispers.
Someone clapped once before quickly stopping.
Pikachu covered his mouth again.
“Pika pika!”
Angie stared at Ash.
Completely stunned.
“…You-”
Ash rubbed the back of his neck again, cheeks faintly red.
“…Guess that means it’s a draw.”
For a second Angie said nothing.
Then slowly, a grin spread across her face.
“…Next time,” she said,
“I’m still winning.”
Ash laughed.
“We’ll see about that.”
And judging by the way neither of them stepped away right away, the competition between them had definitely just changed.
For a moment after the kiss, neither of them moved.
The hallway around them had gone very, very quiet.
Ash stood frozen beneath the mistletoe, Pikachu perched on his shoulder with his ears standing straight up.
Angie had stepped back half a pace after kissing him, but she hadn’t looked away.
Ash blinked.
Once.
Twice.
“…Huh.”
It was not the most articulate response he had ever given.
Angie folded her arms, trying,very obviously, to look completely unaffected.
“You were taking too long,” she said.
Ash stared at her.
“…So your solution was to just kiss me?”
“You weren’t backing down.”
“You weren’t backing down either!”
“Exactly.”
Pikachu covered his mouth with both paws.
“Pika pika…”
Ash rubbed the back of his neck,
cheeks faintly pink.
“…That doesn’t really explain why you kissed me.”
Angie’s expression flickered for half a second.
Then she shrugged.
“It solved the problem.”
Ash blinked again.
“What problem?”
“The stalemate.”
“…You could’ve just left.”
“And lose?”
Ash laughed.
“You are unbelievable.”
“Thank you.”
He glanced up at the mistletoe again.
“…You know most people don’t treat mistletoe like a competitive strategy.”
Angie smirked slightly.
“Well maybe most people should.”
Behind them, someone whispered.
“I knew it.”
Another voice giggled.
“They actually did it.”
Ash turned his head.
Students had definitely noticed now.
Several of them were watching from further down the hall, whispering excitedly.
Ash sighed.
“…Great.”
Angie didn’t seem bothered in the
slightest.
She tilted her head slightly.
“So.”
Ash looked back at her.
“So?”
“You still owe me a battle.”
Ash laughed.
“That’s your takeaway from this?”
“Obviously.”
“You just kissed me and you’re talking
about battling.”
“It was a strategic move.”
“That was not a strategic move.”
“It ended the stalemate.”
Ash shook his head.
“You’re impossible.”
“You’re still smiling.”
Ash froze slightly.
“…What?”
Angie pointed.
“You are.”
Ash hadn’t noticed.
But she was right.
He was.
He cleared his throat quickly.
“Well-”
“You started it,” she said.
“I did not.”
“You explained mistletoe.”
“That doesn’t mean-”
“You stayed.”
“So did you!”
Angie grinned.
“Exactly.”
Pikachu looked between them.
“Pika…”
Ash sighed, but he couldn’t stop the smile returning.
“…You know that wasn’t really winning.”
Angie tilted her head.
“Oh?”
“You didn’t beat me.”
Her eyebrow rose.
“You sure about that?”
Ash crossed his arms.
“You kissed me first.”
“Because you wouldn’t.”
“That doesn’t count as a victory.”
Angie leaned slightly closer.
Her voice dropped just a little.
“You didn’t stop me.”
Ash’s brain short-circuited briefly.
“…I-”
He didn’t actually have a comeback for that.
Angie straightened, satisfied.
“Thought so.”
Ash shook his head again, laughing quietly.
“You’re going to hold that over me forever, aren’t you?”
“Probably.”
“Wow.”
“You should’ve moved first.”
“I wasn’t losing!”
“You still lost.”
Ash pointed toward the training hall.
“Alright.”
Angie blinked.
“Alright what?”
“You want to settle this properly?”
Her eyes lit up instantly.
“A battle?”
“A battle.”
Angie grinned.
“Now you’re talking.”
Pikachu pumped a tiny fist.
“Pika!”
Ash started walking toward the training hall.
Angie fell into step beside him.
For a few seconds they walked in comfortable silence.
Then-
“…Hey Ash?”
“Yeah?”
Angie kept looking straight ahead.
“…Don’t think that changes anything.”
Ash smiled slightly.
“What do you mean?”
“You’re still my rival.”
“Good.”
“Next time we’re under mistletoe,” she added,
“I’m still winning.”
Ash laughed.
“We’ll see about that.”
Pikachu giggled.
“Pika pika!”
And as they pushed open the doors to the training hall, both of them were smiling.
Even if neither of them was quite ready to admit why.
The training hall buzzed with energy.
Students filled the stands that circled the battlefield, chatting excitedly while they waited for the exhibition matches to begin. The winter event had turned the academy into something closer to a festival than a school day, lights strung along the rafters, banners hanging from the walls, and the faint smell of hot cocoa drifting in from the courtyard.
Ash rolled his shoulders as he stepped onto the battle floor.
Pikachu balanced easily on his shoulder, tail swishing.
“Pika pika.”
Ash grinned.
“Yeah, yeah. I know.”
Across the arena, Angie stepped onto the opposite side of the field.
Her expression was exactly the same as always.
Focused.
Confident.
Competitive.
Like the hallway incident had never happened.
Which somehow made it even more obvious that it had.
Students whispered in the stands.
“Those are the two from earlier.”
“The mistletoe thing?”
“Yeah.”
“They’re battling now!”
Angie cracked her knuckles slightly before reaching for a Poké Ball.
Ash crossed his arms.
“So.”
“So,” Angie replied.
“Still think you won?”
Angie smirked.
“You kissed me back.”
“That made it a draw.”
“That made it interesting.”
Ash laughed.
“You’re impossible.”
“You keep saying that.”
Pikachu jumped down from Ash’s shoulder, landing lightly on the battlefield.
“Pika!”
Angie tossed her Poké Ball into the air.
“Quilava, let’s go!”
The Poké Ball burst open in a flash of light.
“Quiiiii!”
The Fire-type Pokémon landed confidently, flames flickering along its back.
Ash grinned wider.
“Alright Pikachu, you ready?”
“Pika!”
The referee, one of the academy instructors, raised a flag.
“This exhibition battle will be one-on-one!”
Students leaned forward in anticipation.
Angie pointed forward.
“Quilava, Flame Wheel!”
“Pikachu, Quick Attack!”
The battle exploded into motion.
Flames spun across the battlefield as Pikachu dashed forward in a blur of speed, dodging past the attack and circling wide.
Ash shouted commands.
Angie countered instantly.
Their strategies clashed with the same fast rhythm they’d always had.
Back and forth.
Strike and counter.
Neither trainer giving an inch.
But every now and then, between commands, their eyes met across the battlefield.
And each time it happened, they both smirked.
The match ended minutes later in a brilliant burst of sparks and flame.
Pikachu skidded to a stop, breathing hard but standing tall.
Quilava lowered its head slightly, flames dimming.
The referee raised a hand.
“The winner- Pikachu!”
Cheers erupted from the stands.
Ash pumped a fist in the air.
“Nice job Pikachu!”
“Pika pika!”
Across the battlefield, Angie returned Quilava to its Poké Ball.
She walked toward Ash, stopping a few feet away.
“…You got lucky.”
Ash laughed.
“You said that last time too.”
“You still got lucky.”
“Sure.”
She crossed her arms.
“I’ll win next time.”
Ash grinned.
“Looking forward to it.”
For a moment, they just stood there.
Then Angie leaned a little closer, lowering her voice so the nearby students couldn’t hear.
“…Next time we run into mistletoe…”
Ash blinked.
“…Yeah?”
Her smirk returned.
“I’m still winning.”
Ash chuckled.
“We’ll see about that.”
Pikachu tilted his head.
“Pika?”
Angie turned toward the exit of the training hall, waving lazily over her shoulder.
“Don’t get too comfortable, Ash.”
He watched her leave, shaking his head with a smile.
“…She’s unbelievable.”
Pikachu jumped back onto his shoulder.
“Pika pika.”
Ash laughed softly.
“Yeah.”
He glanced toward the doorway she had just walked through.
“…But I think I like that.”
And somewhere in the academy hallway, the mistletoe still hung quietly overhead.
Waiting for the next round.