Gary hurried through the hallway, muttering under his breath. As he approached the reception area, he spotted a familiar figure sitting on the floor. Ash was shivering, his cheeks flushed from the cold, but it wasn’t himself he had bundled up. Instead, Pikachu was nestled snugly in Ash’s jacket, wearing Ash’s hat and wrapped in a makeshift scarf of some kind.

Ash, on the other hand, was only wearing his jeans, shoes, and a short-sleeved black shirt. His arms were crossed tightly against his chest, and he looked up at Gary with a sheepish grin.

“Well, hey, Gary,” Ash started, his voice shaky from the cold. “I, uh... didn’t mean to bother you or anything. Just had to drop this off.” He gestured vaguely toward the bag sitting beside him, his fingers trembling. “So... yeah. Guess I’ll be on my way now.”

Ash made a move to stand, wobbling slightly, but before he could take a step, Gary grabbed the back of his shirt.

“Oh, no, you don’t,” Gary said firmly, dragging Ash back toward the hallway. “What were you thinking, coming out in this weather dressed like that?! Are you trying to get yourself sick?!”

“Gary, I’m fine,” Ash protested, trying to wriggle free. “Seriously, you don’t have to—”

Gary cut him off with a sharp look, his grip unyielding. “Save it, Ash. You’re freezing, and you’re not going anywhere until I make sure you’re okay. Honestly, sometimes I wonder how you’ve managed to survive this long.”

Ash sighed but didn’t fight him anymore as Gary led him into one of the clinic rooms. Pikachu peeked out from under the layers of clothing, letting out a small, concerned “Pika?”

Gary shook his head as he guided Ash onto the examination table. “Pikachu’s the one who’s warm and cozy, huh? Figures. You’d risk hypothermia just to make sure your Pokémon’s comfortable.”

Ash shrugged, offering a weak smile. “Pikachu was cold. I couldn’t just let him freeze.”

Gary rolled his eyes, pulling a blanket from the cabinet and wrapping it around Ash’s shoulders. “You’re unbelievable,” he muttered, though there was no real malice in his tone. “Sit tight. I’ll get something warm for you to drink.”

As Gary left the room, Ash leaned back slightly, letting out a long breath. Pikachu climbed onto his lap, nuzzling against him.

“Pika pi,” Pikachu said softly, its large eyes filled with worry.

“I’m fine, buddy,” Ash reassured him, scratching Pikachu behind the ears. “Gary’s just overreacting like always.”

Moments later, Gary returned with a steaming cup of cocoa. “Drink this,” he ordered, setting the cup on the table beside Ash. “And don’t even think about arguing.”

Ash gave a small laugh, taking the cup gratefully. “Thanks, Gary.”

Gary crossed his arms, leaning against the counter. “You’re lucky you didn’t catch pneumonia,” he said, his voice softer now. “Seriously, Ash, you’ve gotta take better care of yourself. What was in that bag, anyway? It better be worth all this trouble.”

Ash blinked, suddenly remembering the bag. “Oh, right!” He reached down, grabbing it and handing it to Gary. “It’s from your grandpa. He said it was important, so I came straight here.”

Gary took the bag, inspecting it for a moment before setting it aside. “I’ll look at it later. Right now, my priority is making sure you don’t keel over.”

Ash smirked, sipping the cocoa. “Guess I owe you one, huh?”

Gary shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. “You owe me more than one, Ashy-boy. But for now, just sit there and warm up. And next time, put on a jacket for yourself, too. Got it?”

Ash chuckled. “Got it.”

Gary huffed, but there was a hint of fondness in his gaze as he watched his friend. “Unbelievable,” he muttered again, but this time, there was no hiding the warmth in his voice.