章節 9: Chapter 9 : A Broken Bike and Broken Trust
The silence of the Pokémon Center's waiting room was abruptly shattered by the slam of the double doors. Misty burst in, her face a fierce storm of anger and frustration. She dragged behind her the mangled remains of her bicycle, its wheels bent at awkward angles and its frame twisted into a sorry mess.
"What happened to my bike?!" she demanded, her voice sharp enough to cut through the antiseptic smell that filled the room. Her eyes, stormy and relentless, zeroed in on Ash and Blaze.
Ash froze, his face paling as he stared at the wreckage. His hands instinctively rose in a defensive gesture, fingers trembling slightly. "I-I'm sorry, Misty, but Pikachu was in danger!" he stammered, his voice trembling with both guilt and desperation. "I had to get him to safety!"
Misty's eyes narrowed. "I don't want any of your lame excuses, kid!" she spat, her voice laced with venom. "This is what's left of my bike because you couldn't be bothered to think ahead!"
Blaze, leaning casually against a wall, studied the scene with a calculating gaze. His protective instincts flared at the sight of his younger brother's distress. "Misty, it wasn't intentional," he said, his voice calm but firm. "Ash was trying to save Pikachu. It was a tough situation."
Misty's fury didn't waver. "Oh, yeah? Well, it's not like I have a spare bike lying around. This thing cost me—"
The tension in the room shifted as Ash, struggling to find words, glanced at the floor. "Pikachu... he's not too good right now," he said quietly, his gaze dropping to the ground. The room's clamor seemed to dampen as Misty's angry façade began to falter.
Her gaze softened ever so slightly, her anger giving way to concern. Her shoulders drooped as she let out a heavy sigh, her grip on the bicycle loosening. "Is Pikachu really that bad?" she asked, her voice now tinged with genuine worry.
Before Ash could answer, the Pokémon Center's doors slid open again. Nurse Joy entered, flanked by two Chansey, who carefully pushed a stretcher through. Pikachu lay on it, his body bandaged and his breathing shallow but steady.
Nurse Joy approached with a reassuring smile. "Pikachu's going to be okay, but he'll need to stay here for a while to recover."
Misty's anger dissolved completely as she saw Pikachu. Her eyes softened further, and she let the wrecked bicycle fall to the floor with a clatter. "I didn't realize it was that bad...," she murmured, her voice trembling with regret. Turning to Ash, she hesitated. "Okay, maybe I can give you some time before you have to pay for the bike. But you owe me, big time."
Blaze observed this shift with a mix of relief and curiosity. He stepped aside, allowing Ash and Misty some space. He approached Riolu, who lay nearby, eyes bright despite his fatigue. Blaze reached into his bag for Pokémon food and crouched beside his partner. Pidgeotto fluttered down, landing gracefully next to Riolu.
Blaze offered the food to Riolu, his movements gentle and deliberate. Riolu sniffed the offering before taking a cautious bite, his eyes meeting Blaze's in a silent exchange of reassurance. Blaze ruffled Riolu's fur affectionately, feeling a surge of pride for his loyal companion. Pidgeotto pecked at the food too, his sharp gaze vigilant as he kept watch over the room.
Ash let out a long breath, the weight of his earlier guilt beginning to lift. Nurse Joy's reassurance about Pikachu's condition gave him a small measure of relief, but the sense of having let everyone down lingered. He glanced at Misty, noting the softness in her eyes now, but the knot in his stomach remained.
As Ash turned to follow Nurse Joy, Misty hesitated. She reached out, touching his shoulder lightly—a gesture heavy with unspoken apology. Ash looked back, surprised by the gentleness in her eyes. "I didn't mean to blow up like that," Misty admitted quietly. "I was just so upset about my bike, but I didn't realize how bad things were with Pikachu. I'm... sorry."
Blaze, observing the exchange, decided to intervene. "It's okay, Misty," he said, his tone steady and reassuring. "We've all been through a lot today. Let's just focus on making sure Pikachu gets better. We can figure out everything else later."
Misty nodded, her shoulders relaxing slightly as Blaze's words provided a practical comfort. The tension in the room began to dissipate as the three trainers found themselves in a rare moment of quiet. Ash sat beside Pikachu's recovery bed, gently stroking his partner's fur. Misty stood nearby, her earlier anger replaced by a mix of relief and lingering guilt.
Blaze, after ensuring that Ash and Misty had their space, stood up and stretched. He glanced over at Ash, who was still absorbed in watching Pikachu. "We should get some rest too, Ash," Blaze suggested, his tone gentle but firm. "Pikachu's going to need us at our best when he wakes up."
Ash nodded, though his gaze remained fixed on Pikachu. Misty, too, nodded in agreement, finally releasing the last remnants of her earlier frustration. The three trainers began to make plans to stay at the Pokémon Center for the night, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. The atmosphere in the room had shifted from a storm of conflict to a quiet, subdued camaraderie, as the trainers prepared for the next steps in their journey.
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