บท 57: Chapter 57: Tangled Fates: Erin and Punit

It was well past noon, and the sun beat down through the gaps in the trees as we trudged through the thick underbrush. Erin was light in my arms, but I could feel every ounce of her weight as I carried her in a princess style. Her oversized green hoodie flopped against her legs with each step. She didn't say a word. I didn't expect her to—she'd been asleep for a while now.

Behind us, Ash, Misty, and Brock bickered. Again.

"We should rest for a while to find a way out," Brock said, rubbing his forehead like he was massaging away the headache that came from their constant arguments.

Misty groaned, her voice rising like a siren, "Why are we getting lost again and again? Seriously, Ash, it's like you have a talent for this."

Ash, as usual, wasn't going to take that lying down. "It should be this way, Route 24 is right over there. I'm sure of it!" His Pikachu, perched on his shoulder, chirped in agreement, though I wasn't sure if Pikachu was really that confident or just being loyal.

I set Erin down gently on the forest floor, her calm, serene face resting against her folded arms as if the world wasn't closing in around her. I turned to the group with a relaxed tone. "Misty, why do I feel like this is somehow related to Ash?"

Ash gulped and snatched the map from Brock's hands, fumbling to unfold it. "See, see? We're on the right path. Look! There are so many Spearows around. That's got to mean we're close."

Erin stirred, blinking sleepily as she sat up, her hazel eyes locking onto the rest of us. I caught the barest glimpse of unease in them before they settled back into their usual calm.

"Hungry," she said, her voice quiet, yet somehow it sliced through the noise.

I knelt beside her. "What do you want to eat?"

Her reply was as direct as ever, "Chocolate."

I raised an eyebrow but kept my tone even. "You can't keep eating chocolate. Here." I dug into my bag, pulling out a sandwich and handing it to her. Erin unwrapped it with careful precision and started munching, her face expressionless as ever.

I shared the rest of the sandwiches with Ash, Misty, and Brock, and of course, Pikachu darted over, eyes bright and eager. But when he saw Erin, he hesitated, those sharp little ears twitching. I could see Pikachu's loyalty warring with his instinct to avoid Erin's uneasy presence.

I walked over to Pikachu, offering him two sandwiches. "Here you go, little buddy." His eyes lit up as he accepted them, tail flicking with joy as he stuffed his face.

After we finished eating, Brock turned to Misty with a mischievous grin. "Uh, there's a bug right on your—"

"GAAAAH!" Misty shrieked, leaping onto Ash's back like she was trying to scale a mountain. "Get it away! Get it away!"

Brock chuckled, and I saw that sly smirk tugging at his lips. "It was just a piece of grass."

Misty's face twisted in a second, and she launched a swift kick to Brock's face, sending him sprawling to the ground. "AGH! Ohhhh…"

I couldn't help it—I laughed. The sound escaped before I could stop it. "Hahahaha!"

After the dust settled, I approached Ash, who was still staring at the map like it held some secret code he hadn't cracked yet. I swiped it out of his hands without warning, making him jump.

"Give me that," I said, looking over the map and then at the surroundings. Something wasn't adding up, but I had a better idea. I pulled out a Pokéball. "Pidgeot, come out!"

Pidgeot burst from the ball, a rush of wind scattering the leaves around us. He kept his distance, smart enough to know Erin wasn't exactly thrilled with Pokémon being too close. I walked over and patted his head, feeling the strong feathers under my hand before swinging myself onto his back. Erin's voice cut through the noise like a knife.

"Don't leave."

I saw it for a split second—fear. Her calm, blank mask cracked, just enough for me to see the anxiety flicker beneath.

"I'm going up to find a way out," I reassured her, keeping my tone steady. I glanced at Misty, who was still glaring at Ash. "Misty, why don't you try to teach your little sister some common sense while I'm gone?"

Misty perked up, clearly eager to redirect her frustration. "Oh, sure! I'll teach her, and I've got a surprise for you too!"

I raised an eyebrow, sensing trouble. Brock and Ash exchanged a look that said they were thinking the same thing.

"Bad idea," Brock muttered.

I shook my head. "Do you two think you're any better?"

They both nodded like idiots.

Misty was quick to snap back, "You guys are just jealous I'm going to teach her something useful. You'll take advantage of her specialness, Brock."

Brock raised his hands defensively. "I wouldn't dare."

"Then why are you grinning?" Misty shot back, crossing her arms.

I turned to Pikachu. "You want to go for a flight?"

Pikachu's ears perked up, but he turned to Ash.

Ash shrugged. "It's your call, Pikachu."

Pikachu didn't hesitate, bounding into my arms with a happy "Pika!"

I climbed onto Pidgeot's back, Pikachu nestled against my chest, his small body vibrating with excitement. "Take us up, Pidgeot."

The sky stretched out wide as we soared above the forest. Pikachu clung to me, chattering in his usual, indecipherable language. "Pika, chu, chu, pika, pika."

I glanced down at the map again, aligning it with the direction of the sun. After a few hours, we spotted what looked like a Pokémon Center tucked within the forest's edge. I motioned for Pidgeot to circle back.

As we descended, Pikachu was fast asleep in my arms, his small face pressed against my jacket. Pidgeot touched down lightly, and I jumped off, tossing him a few apples as a reward. He chirped happily before pecking at them.

Ash silently took Pikachu from me, his movements careful. But before I could move, someone's arms wrapped around me from behind. I froze, my mind racing as I turned, expecting trouble.

It was Erin, her calm, unblinking eyes staring up at me. She held onto me tightly, her grip surprising for her small frame.

"Don't leave," she said again, her voice almost mechanical, but there was something deeper this time.

I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. "I made a deal with your grandfather. I'm not going anywhere."

Without missing a beat, she asked, "Boyfriend kiss?"

I blinked, dumbfounded, as Misty burst into laughter behind me. "HAHAHAHA!"

I shot Misty a glare. "What did you teach her?"

She held her hands up in mock innocence. "I just taught her what you wanted me to."

"I did not say that." I groaned, reaching into my bag. I pulled out an apple and handed it to Erin. "Here, this is your kiss."

She shook her head, pointing to her lips instead.

I stared at her, completely dumbfounded. Then, with a snap decision, I tossed the apple at Misty, who barely dodged it. "You're going to get me beaten up by Professor Oak!"

Misty just kept laughing.