CHAPTER 3.5:
                 PLAN FAILED BUT...
                WORD COUNT: 855
                   CW: DECEPTION     
      PUBLISHING DATE：30/12/2023
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"Ash, it's time for dinner" Delia knocked at Ash's room informing him.

"Mhm....I'll pick Squirtle!" Ash talking in his sleep, and then he suddenly sat up and reached out his hand saying. "Squirtle I choose you!" Ash's hand smashed at the table and a loud bang appeared.

"Ouch!!!" Ash awoken, awoken because of the pain he felt coming from the palm of his hand.

"Is everything okay Ash?" Delia asked feeling concerned as she heard a sound inside his room.

"I'm fine mom, I was just dreaming and accidentally hit something...I'll come down later Mom" Ash watched the clock and replied to his mother.

"If you say so Ash" Delia went downstairs after hearing Ash's reply.

"Damn it! To think I slept while writing the plan!" Ash was upset with himself, thinking that he should've just slept when it was noon, and in the afternoon he'd definitely wake up to continue with the plan.

"Is okay, the plan's already in my head, so I can do it" Ash comforted himself and went downstairs to eat dinner.

In the dining room,

When Ash was eating, Ash kept zooming out and Delia noticed it.

"Ash Ketchum! What's gotten into you today?" Delia questioned with a serious tone because today Ash didn't act like himself at all after the visit to Professor's Oak. First going out and coming home late, frequently dazing off, and lastly, Delia feels that Ash is hiding something from her.

Ash was thinking of his plan when his mother suddenly questioned him very seriously. Ash was startled because his mother rarely used this kind of tone. 

"Mom....I...." Ash was thinking of an excuse to make up and thought of a perfect excuse.

"I'm sorry Mom...It's just..." Ash lowered his head and started apologizing. His mouth opened like he wanted to confess something, but then closed his mouth not knowing how to say it.

"Tell me, Ash." Delia took a deep breath and softened her tone, hoping Ash would tell her the truth.

"..." Ash still lowered his head and became silent. And then Ash raised his head, and looked like he was about to cry, Ash seemed to take a lot of effort to say the "truth"

"Well..... The reason I went out in the morning was to..... feed the Pokemons in Route 1..."  Ash muttered.

"Just this small situation? Then why didn't you tell me the truth, Ash?" Delia asked, a little disappointed Ash lied to her because of such a small situation.

"Because.....I...I was scared you wouldn't let me.... since you'd be scared of the Pokemon hurting me...But the Pokemon are harmless and really nice!" Ash muttered while explaining to his mother, then a few drops of tears dropped from his eyes.

"Oh Ash, you could've just told me! I wouldn't get mad, since what your going to do is a good thing after all!" Delia still wanted to say a few words to Ash, but when she saw Ash's tears starting to drop, the words she wanted to say got stuck in her throat, her heart softened. Delia went to hug Ash, comforting him. 

"Don't cry, Ash..." Delia hugging Ash while patting his head, trying to calm him down."

"I'm sorry that I lied to you Mom..." Ash apologized once again, full of sincerity in his brown eyes.

"Is okay Ash, I understand, I forgive you" Delia smiled and kissed Ash's forehead. "Now let's eat alright? Or else the food will get cold" Delia sat back to her sit, and added an egg to Ash's bowl.

"Okay Mom" Ash wiped his "tears" away, and started eating dinner. His mother even added an egg to his bowl, Ash replied his mother with a smile, and added some pork into Delia's bowl.

"Mom...Can I ask you something...?" Ash asked in the middle of dinner, with a low and careful tone.

"What is it Ash?" Delia asked, looking at Ash with regret, regretting she used such a tone just now, that made Ash like this.

"Well.....I was hoping you can buy Pokemon food for me Mom.....I want to feed the Pokemon in Route 1...." Ash used a timid attitude to ask his mother, while lowering his head continuing his dinner. Only Ash knows how hard he's trying to not burst out a smile and laughter in front of his mother.

"Let me think about it Ash..." Delia sighed, knowing Ash's kind and helpful personality he had ever since he was young, but being to kind isn't good as well, Delia's now more worried about Ash's journey. But in the end, Delia still promised to buy Pokemon food for Ash to "feed the pokemon in Route 1."

"Really Mom? You'll buy it for me? You're the best Mom!" Ash burst out in happiness, with laughter as well, but Ash's laughter was a little weird.

After dinner and a short conversation with his mother, Ash went back into his bedroom. The moment he step in his bedroom and locked the door, Ash jumped on to the bed and stuffed his head in it, Ash was laughing. He kept laughing until he stopped, and turned his body to see the ceiling.

"Didn't know Mom was so easy to fool" Ash thought with a grinning smile on his face, as it is a smile of victory.

             TO BE CONTINUED...