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The lights blinded Ash from all directions. People asking him multiple questions at once before he fully processed the first round.
He tried to grin through all of it. Covering his face slightly to make him able to see properly again. Pikachu on his shoulder mutters a quiet “Pika…” signaling that the lights and commotion was making the Pokemon uneasy as well.
He liked attention, praise. But it could get excessive.
An interviewer stood by the end of the red carpet, eagerly waiting the champion.
“Hi! Hello, how are we feeling tonight?” The interviewer asked. He had a buzzed scalp, olive skin, a slight Paldian accent and a fun bright green suit.
“Yeah it’s going good,” Ash nodded, “Can’t wait for the event!”
“So fun to hear!” The interviewer beamed, “I have some questions I wanted to ask you, some the fans are eager to know!”
“Fire away.” The monarch chuckled.
“Who is your celebrity crush?”
Ash paused for a moment, letting it sink in. But he knew he couldn’t ponder too long, all eyes were on him after all.
“Does everyone have one?” It stumbled out of him, a bit sheepishly. Pikachu snickered.
“Why, of corse- there has to be one famous star you admire?” The interviewer teased.
One he admired huh? Someone he thinks is pretty?
He leaned forward to the microphone. “I guess I’d have to say…” he paused, then grinned.
“Serena, the Kalos queen.” he answered simply.
The interviewer got an intrigued expression, “But isn’t it so you traveled together in the past- as in you know her personally?”
“When I was in Kalos, yes.” Ash confirmed. “We’re close friends.”
The interviewer gave the camera a knowing look, “Looks like there’s something going on behind scenes.” he said playfully.
Ash laughed, “Who knows?”
The champion winked at the camera.
-
At first Serena didn’t know where the rumors came from. They had always been there- but in a small, predictable amount.
The next day Serena was bombarded with articles and news about her apparent secret relationship with Ash.
She blinked confused at the claims. Her cheeks blushing ever so slightly. Serena couldn’t say that she hated the rumor, it simply…existed… And it was the fact that she hoped for it one day.
But why in such a sudden rise? Before she could properly read an article, Shauna burst into her room.
“Serena!” She yelled out of breath. “Have you seen the news?”
“About the rumors?- yeah but-“
“No I mean- what Ash said, at the battle conference last night” Shauna took a seat next to Serena on her bed.
Serena couldn’t help her heart beating slightly faster. “What did he say?”
“Look,” Shauna leaned closer and scrolled on Serena’s Rotom phone, which had one of the articles open already, “Look at the video”
Shauna’s tone was clearly excited, which only furrowed Serena’s curiosity.
A video popped up, Ash in a suit talking with an interviewer. The question was- if he had a celebrity crush.
To Serena’s surprise, he answered- her?!
Her face burned up immediately, Serena thought she had the overly blushing on control by now.
And when the interviewer pressed for more- he…didn’t deny it?! Already Serena thought she was going to die, but then he winked at the camera. Winked.
She dropped the phone on her lap as her hands flew up to cup her face. “Oh my gosh-“ she breathed.
Shauna squealed, “I know right?”
She picked up Serena’s phone and smirked at the picture of Ash getting interviewed, “Are we sure that that’s Ash Ketchum?”
Serena giggled, and snapped her phone back. Looking down at the picture.
“He’s…grown up, I suppose.” Serena said quietly. Then she shook her head.
“I shouldn’t get my hopes up too high. It is still..well…Ash.”
Shauna gaped at her, “What do you mean?! That was basically confession!”
“You have no idea how oblivious he can get” Serena sighed.
“Like with the kiss?”
“Like with the Kiss.”
Shauna shrugged, “Maybe you’d just have to kiss him on TV, that seems to knock some romantic sense in him.”
Serena flung a pillow her way, “Shauna!” She laughed, blushing.