Gary stormed into the waiting room, the sound of his shoes echoing against the clinic's polished floor. His eyes immediately fell on the bag sitting awkwardly by the front desk. He glanced around, searching for Ash, but the room was empty. He frowned, grabbing the bag and muttering under his breath, “What is this idiot up to now?”

Pikachu’s soft sneeze caught his attention, and Gary’s brow furrowed. He pushed open the clinic’s front door, a gust of cold wind slapping him in the face as he stepped outside. There, in the distance, was Ash, trudging down the snowy sidewalk. The sight made Gary groan in exasperation.

“Ash! What are you doing?!” Gary called, his voice carrying through the chilly air.

Ash stopped in his tracks and turned slowly, his face flushed from the cold. “Oh, hey, Gary,” he said, his tone casual. “Don’t worry about me. I won’t bother you. Bye!”

Gary blinked, his eyes widening as he noticed what Ash was wearing—or rather, what he wasn’t wearing. Ash stood there in jeans, shoes, and a short-sleeve black shirt, completely unprotected against the freezing weather. Meanwhile, Pikachu sat nestled in Ash’s jacket, hat, and what looked like half the contents of his backpack. The little Pokémon waved at Gary with a muffled “Pika!” as if this was completely normal.

Gary pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a frustrated sigh. “Ash, get back here. Now.”

Ash hesitated, his breath visible in the cold air. “I’m fine, really,” he said, shivering. “I just... came to drop this off. Your Grandpa wanted you to have it, and, well, Pikachu needed to be warm, so...”

Gary stomped forward, the snow crunching under his feet. “Pikachu’s warm, but what about you, genius? You’re going to freeze out here!” He reached Ash and grabbed his arm, pulling him back toward the clinic. “Come on, inside. Now.”

Ash resisted slightly, glancing at Pikachu. “But—”

“No buts!” Gary snapped, his tone sharp but concerned. “Do you have any idea how ridiculous you look? You’re going to get sick, if you’re not already.”

As they stepped inside, the warmth of the clinic enveloped them, and Gary turned to face Ash. “Sit down,” he ordered, pointing to one of the waiting room chairs.

Ash reluctantly obeyed, placing Pikachu on his lap. “I’m really fine, Gary,” he said, though his chattering teeth betrayed him.

Gary crossed his arms, glaring at him. “Fine? You’re practically an icicle! What were you thinking, walking around like that in this weather?”

Ash shrugged, a sheepish smile creeping onto his face. “I didn’t want Pikachu to get cold.”

Gary sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I get it, Ash, but you can’t just sacrifice yourself like that. You need to take care of yourself too.”

Ash looked down at Pikachu, who gave a worried “Pika pi.” “I guess I didn’t think about it,” Ash admitted.

Gary shook his head, walking over to grab a blanket from a nearby closet. He draped it over Ash’s shoulders, his voice softening. “You never think about it. That’s the problem.”

Ash looked up at him, a small smile forming. “Thanks, Gary.”

Gary rolled his eyes, though a hint of a smile tugged at his lips. “Yeah, yeah. Just don’t pull a stunt like this again, okay? Next time, wear a coat.”

Ash chuckled, pulling the blanket tighter around himself. “Alright. Deal.”

Gary smirked. “Good. Now, let’s see what’s in that bag you dragged here in the middle of a snowstorm.”

Ash grinned, his cheeks still red from the cold. “You’re gonna love it. Trust me.”