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Traveling trainers tended to fall into easy rhythms.
Shared meals.
Shared routes.
Shared stories around Pokémon Center tables.
But Misty and May had never quite fallen into that rhythm.
It wasn’t that they disliked each other.
Not really.
It was more that their personalities kept colliding.
May leaned forward across the
Pokémon Center table.
“I’m just saying contests take more creativity.”
Misty crossed her arms immediately.
“And I’m saying Gym battles take more skill.”
May pointed her fork dramatically.
“Coordinators train just as hard as trainers!”
Misty leaned forward too.
“Yeah, but you’re not battling a Gym Leader.”
May squinted.
“You’ve never even tried a contest!”
Misty lifted her chin.
“And you’ve never fought a Gym Leader!”
Across the table, Ash sighed.
“Here we go again.”
Pikachu nodded.
“Pika.”
Brock chuckled quietly.
“At least they’re consistent.”
The debate had started earlier that afternoon.
And somehow it had continued through dinner.
May finally leaned back in her chair.
“Okay.”
Misty narrowed her eyes.
“Okay what?”
May grinned.
“Maybe we should settle it.”
Misty blinked.
“…How?”
May tapped her chin thoughtfully.
“One contest move.”
“One battle move.”
“Same Pokémon.”
“Winner decides which is harder.”
Misty stared at her.
“…You’re serious.”
May shrugged.
“Why not?”
Misty smirked.
“You’re on.”
Across the room, Ash suddenly looked excited.
“Ooooh!”
Brock laughed.
“This should be interesting.”
Later that evening, the Pokémon Center lobby had cleared enough space for the small challenge.
A few trainers gathered to watch.
Not a full crowd.
But enough to make it fun.
May stepped forward first.
“Beautifly, ready!”
The butterfly Pokémon fluttered gracefully into the air.
May spun slightly as she gave the command.
“Silver Wind!”
The attack filled the room with sparkling currents of light.
Several people clapped.
Even Misty had to admit it looked impressive.
But she crossed her arms stubbornly
anyway.
“Okay.”
Her Poké Ball opened.
“Starmie!”
The star-shaped Pokémon spun
forward smoothly.
Misty pointed confidently.
“Rapid Spin!”
Starmie whirled across the floor with precise control.
The watching trainers murmured approvingly.
May tilted her head.
“…Okay, that was pretty cool.”
Misty smirked.
“Told you.”
Their Pokémon returned.
The mini-challenge ended.
And neither of them actually declared a winner.
Because somewhere along the way…
The argument had stopped feeling like a real argument.
May laughed first.
“You know what?”
Misty raised an eyebrow.
“What?”
“You’re actually fun to compete with.”
Misty blinked.
“…You’re not bad either.”
May smiled.
Misty tried very hard not to smile back.
Later that night, the Pokémon Center quieted again.
Most trainers had gone to their rooms.
Snow fell gently outside the windows.
May wandered down one of the hallways, stretching her arms after the earlier practice.
“…That was fun.”
A voice behind her replied,
“Yeah.”
May turned.
Misty stood a few steps away.
Hands in her jacket pockets.
May grinned.
“Round two?”
Misty scoffed.
“You wish.”
But she walked closer anyway.
And neither of them noticed the mistletoe hanging quietly above the hallway doorway.
Not yet.
May slowed her steps.
Not because the hallway was particularly interesting.
But because something above the
doorway caught her eye.
She tilted her head.
“…Oh.”
A small sprig of mistletoe hung from the frame, tied neatly with a red ribbon.
May’s grin appeared immediately.
Behind her, Misty walked a few steps closer, hands still tucked casually in her
jacket pockets.
“What?”
May didn’t answer right away.
Instead she leaned casually against the doorway.
Directly underneath the mistletoe.
Then she gestured upward.
Misty followed her gaze.
“…Seriously?”
May shrugged innocently.
“Holiday tradition.”
Misty rolled her eyes.
“Yeah, I know what mistletoe is.”
May’s grin widened.
“Oh good.”
Misty crossed her arms.
“…Don’t start.”
“Start what?”
“You know exactly what.”
May tapped her chin thoughtfully.
“Well… technically speaking…”
She pointed upward again.
“…we’re standing under it.”
Misty scoffed.
“And?”
May tilted her head.
“You know what that means.”
Misty snorted.
“It means someone hung a plant in a doorway.”
May laughed.
“Well yeah.”
Misty smirked slightly.
“You’re just looking for an excuse.”
May blinked.
“…Excuse?”
Misty shrugged.
“To win the argument.”
May narrowed her eyes playfully.
“You think this is about the contest debate?”
“Isn’t it?”
May considered that for a moment.
Then she grinned again.
“…No.”
Misty blinked.
“…No?”
May stepped a little closer.
“Actually I think it’s about something else.”
Misty raised an eyebrow.
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.”
May pointed upward again.
“You’re stalling.”
Misty crossed her arms tighter.
“I’m not stalling.”
“You totally are.”
“I’m not kissing you because of a plant.”
May laughed.
“You’re scared.”
Misty’s eyes widened.
“…Excuse me?”
May folded her arms now too.
“You heard me.”
“I am not scared.”
“Prove it.”
Misty stared at her.
The challenge hung in the air between them.
May’s grin was shameless.
Misty groaned under her breath.
“…You’re unbelievable.”
May leaned slightly closer.
“But you haven’t walked away.”
Misty realized she hadn’t.
And somehow that made the moment feel very different from their earlier playful argument.
May’s voice softened just a little.
“So what’s it gonna be?”
Misty sighed dramatically.
“…You are never going to let this go, are you?”
May shook her head.
“Nope.”
Misty looked up at the mistletoe again.
Then back at May.
“…Fine.”
May blinked.
“…Fine?”
Misty stepped forward.
“If it shuts you up.”
May smiled slowly.
“Deal.”
And suddenly the playful challenge didn’t feel quite so playful anymore.
Misty stepped forward.
“If it shuts you up.”
May blinked once.
“…Fine?”
Misty lifted her chin stubbornly.
“Deal.”
For a second the hallway went completely quiet.
May had expected Misty to argue longer.
Or walk away.
Or drag the conversation back into another competitive debate.
But Misty had accepted the challenge.
And now they were standing very close beneath the mistletoe.
May’s grin softened slightly.
“…You know you don’t actually have to prove anything.”
Misty snorted.
“Oh please.”
“You literally called me scared.”
May shrugged innocently.
“Well…”
Misty rolled her eyes.
“You’re impossible.”
May leaned forward slightly.
“And yet you’re still here.”
Misty paused.
She had been ready for the playful challenge.
Ready for the teasing.
What she hadn’t expected was the sudden quiet.
The moment where the joking faded just enough to reveal something else underneath it.
May wasn’t laughing now.
She was watching her carefully.
Curious.
Interested.
Misty huffed under her breath.
“…You really don’t back down, do you?”
May smiled.
“You started it.”
“That’s not true.”
“Pretty sure it is.”
Misty sighed.
“…You’re insufferable.”
May grinned.
“You like it.”
Misty opened her mouth to argue.
Then stopped.
Because that part might actually be true.
Which was incredibly annoying.
Misty rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly.
“…This is stupid.”
May tilted her head.
“Then walk away.”
Misty glanced toward the hallway behind her.
She could leave.
No problem.
Challenge over.
Argument finished.
Except…
She didn’t move.
May noticed immediately.
Her grin returned, slightly softer this time.
“…Thought so.”
Misty groaned quietly.
“You are never letting this go.”
“Not a chance.”
Misty glanced up at the mistletoe again.
Then back down at May.
“…You’re enjoying this way too much.”
May shrugged.
“Maybe.”
Another small pause.
Then Misty muttered,
“Fine.”
May raised an eyebrow.
“Fine what?”
Misty stepped forward.
“If this is what it takes to win the argument.”
May laughed.
“You’re not winning anything.”
“We’ll see about that.”
And before May could reply… Misty grabbed the front of her jacket and kissed her.
It wasn’t delicate.
Or shy.
It was confident.
Impulsive.
Very Misty.
May froze in surprise for exactly half a second.
Then relaxed into the kiss with a quiet laugh against Misty’s lips.
When they pulled apart, Misty looked extremely pleased with herself.
“…There.”
May blinked.
“…Wow.”
Misty crossed her arms smugly.
“See?”
May laughed.
“I definitely didn’t expect that.”
Misty smirked.
“You challenged me.”
May studied her for a moment.
Then smiled slowly.
“…You know what?”
Misty raised an eyebrow.
“What?”
May leaned closer again.
“That might actually be the first argument I’m happy to lose.”
And suddenly the mistletoe above them didn’t seem quite as important anymore.
For a moment after the kiss, neither of them spoke.
Misty folded her arms again, trying very hard to look like that had been nothing more than a competitive victory.
Which it absolutely had been.
Obviously.
May, however, was still smiling.
Not teasing.
Just… smiling.
“…You’re unbelievable,” May said.
Misty shrugged.
“You challenged me.”
“I didn’t think you’d actually do it.”
Misty scoffed.
“Why not?”
May laughed quietly.
“Because you spent half the night arguing with me.”
Misty raised an eyebrow.
“And you spent half the night arguing back.”
May considered that.
“…Fair.”
They both glanced up briefly at the mistletoe.
May shook her head with a small laugh.
“Imagine if Ash saw that.”
Misty groaned immediately.
“Oh great.”
“Yeah.”
“He’d never shut up about it.”
May grinned.
“And Brock would probably start giving
advice.”
Misty rubbed her temples dramatically.
“Okay, now I regret it.”
May laughed again.
“You don’t regret it.”
Misty opened her mouth to argue. Then stopped.
Because May was watching her again.
That curious, thoughtful look.
The same one she had earlier.
“…What?” Misty asked.
May shrugged.
“Nothing.”
“That’s not nothing.”
May leaned back against the wall beside the doorway.
“Just thinking.”
Misty narrowed her eyes.
“That’s dangerous.”
May laughed.
“Maybe.”
Another quiet moment settled between them.
The playful tension from earlier had faded into something softer.
May glanced at Misty again.
“…So.”
Misty raised an eyebrow.
“So?”
May tilted her head.
“You know that wasn’t really about the argument anymore, right?”
Misty froze slightly.
“…What do you mean?”
May smiled.
“You’re competitive.”
Misty crossed her arms again.
“So are you.”
“True.”
May pushed herself away from the wall.
“But you wouldn’t have kissed me just
to win.”
Misty opened her mouth.
Then stopped.
Because she didn’t actually have a good comeback for that.
May noticed immediately.
Her smile widened just a little.
“…Thought so.”
Misty groaned quietly.
“You’re reading way too much into this.”
“Am I?”
“Yes.”
May stepped closer again.
Close enough that Misty suddenly became very aware of the small distance between them.
“…Then why didn’t you walk away?”
May asked softly.
Misty looked at her.
Then glanced briefly up at the mistletoe again.
Then back at May.
“…Maybe I didn’t want to.”
May’s expression softened.
“…Good.”
They stood there quietly for another moment.
Then May gestured toward the lobby.
“We should probably head back before someone notices we disappeared.”
Misty nodded.
“Yeah.”
They started walking back down the hallway together.
For once neither of them argued.
When they stepped into the lobby again, Ash was still talking excitedly with the others.
“And then Pikachu used Thunderbolt and-”
“Pika!”
Ash noticed them returning.
“Oh hey! Where’d you two go?”
May answered casually.
“Just talking.”
Ash nodded.
“Cool!”
And immediately went back to his story.
Misty sat down beside the group.
May took the seat next to her.
Nothing looked different.
Except… when their hands brushed briefly on the table…
Neither of them pulled away right away.
And somehow, for the first time that evening. They didn’t feel like arguing anymore.
The next morning arrived quietly.
Snow had settled across the rooftops outside the Pokémon Center, and the early sunlight reflected softly through the lobby windows.
Most of the trainers were still asleep.
Which meant the lobby was peaceful for once.
Misty sat at one of the tables near the window, sipping a cup of hot tea and staring thoughtfully out at the snow.
She was not thinking about the mistletoe.
She was absolutely not thinking about the mistletoe.
She was definitely not replaying the moment from the hallway in her head.
Not even a little.
“…You’re doing it again.”
Misty nearly jumped.
May slid into the chair across from her, smiling.
“Doing what?”
“That thing where you stare at something while clearly thinking about something else.”
Misty rolled her eyes.
“I’m looking at the snow.”
“Uh huh.”
May leaned forward slightly, resting her chin in her hand.
“So.”
Misty sighed.
“So.”
May grinned.
“You started it.”
Misty blinked.
“I did not.”
“You literally kissed me.”
“That was to prove a point!”
May raised an eyebrow.
“Was it?”
“…Yes.”
“Sure.”
Misty rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly.
“…Okay maybe not entirely.”
May laughed softly.
“I figured.”
The quiet between them felt easier now.
Less like a challenge.
More like… understanding.
May tapped her fingers lightly on the table.
“You know something?”
Misty narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
“That sounds dangerous.”
May smiled.
“You’re actually really fun to argue with.”
Misty snorted.
“That’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said about my arguing.”
May laughed again.
“But I think we discovered something yesterday.”
Misty tilted her head.
“What?”
May leaned back casually.
“Sometimes arguments turn into other
things.”
Misty crossed her arms.
“Don’t get used to it.”
“Why?”
“Because I still plan on winning the next
one.”
May grinned immediately.
“Oh really?”
“Really.”
“Challenge accepted.”
They stared at each other for a moment.
Then both of them laughed.
May stood up from the table.
“Come on.”
“Where?”
“Outside.”
Misty raised an eyebrow.
“For what?”
May gestured toward the snowy street.
“Snowball fight.”
Misty stood immediately.
“Oh you’re definitely losing that.”
May smirked.
“We’ll see.”
They walked toward the door together.
Behind them, Ash stumbled into the lobby half-awake.
“Huh? Where’s everyone going?”
May waved without turning around.
“Battle!”
Ash perked up instantly.
“Oh! Wait for me!”
Pikachu followed right behind him.
“Pika!”
Misty glanced sideways at May as they stepped outside into the snow.
“…You know this is probably going to turn into another argument.”
May smiled.
“Good.”
Misty smirked.
“Why?”
May tossed the first snowball.
Because sometimes the best challenges…
Were the ones you secretly hoped would never end.