" Unless you're too embarrassed."

" I'm not embarrassed!" Ash shot back.

" Ash, don't tell him." Misty whispered. " It's not his business."

" Actually it is." A calm voice said.

Everyone gasped and froze, and turned to the source of the voice.

There was a raven haired girl leaning at the doorway, one foot up on the doorframe and other on ground.

She was reading a book.

Ash lat out a sigh of relief. " Wisty! Why must you always scare us?"

Wisty didn't reply.

" What are you doing here?!" Oak asked as he crossed his arms

" Besides scaring you?" Wist asked as she casually walked to a chair in the corner and plopped onto it. " Nothing."

Then she took a small notebook from her pocket and gave it to Misty. " Look though it if you want."

Before Misti could say anything, Muk slid into the room and went to Wisty. She didn't even look up

" Wait ten more seconds."

Ash raised a brow. " For what?"

Oak smirked. " You'll see."

" Muuuk!"

Wisty put her book down and went outside and announced, " okay, everyone! It's cuddle time!"

Instantly, the atmosphere shifted. Pokémon of all shapes and sizes abandoned their previous activities and surged towards Wisty, surrounding her in a flurry of fur, feathers, and enthusiasm. Pikachu squeaked and darted forward, quickly followed by the others—Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and even a curious Charizard that landed with a gentle thud, trying to be careful not to step on anyone.

Misty watched with a soft smile as Wisty was engulfed in a mass of cuddly Pokémon, her laughter mingling with the sounds of happy chirps and playful barks. It was a sight to behold—Wisty, the seemingly aloof girl, transformed into a beacon of warmth and affection amidst her Pokémon friends.

“Wisty really has a way with Pokémon,” Brock commented, leaning against the wall with a smile. “They love her.”

As the Pokémon continued to snuggle up to Wisty, Misty turned her attention back to the notebook. Curiosity piqued, she slowly opened it, her heart racing with anticipation.

Inside, she was greeted by a collage of drawings and photographs, a collection of moments captured over time. To her surprise, there were numerous pictures of Ash and Gary—some candid, others posed.

One photograph showed Ash with a mouthful of cake, eyes wide with surprise as Gary, caught mid-laugh, pointed at him. Another picture depicted Ash, drenched from head to toe, standing beside a grinning Gary holding a hose, clearly proud of his handiwork. Misty couldn’t help but chuckle, remembering that day vividly.

“Wow,” she murmured, flipping through the pages. “These are really cute!”

“What’s in there?” Ash asked, peeking over her shoulder, a mixture of excitement and trepidation in his voice.

“Just a few pictures,” Misty replied, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “You and Gary seem to have a lot of fun together.”

Ash’s cheeks flushed slightly. “Yeah, well… it’s not like I was doing it on purpose!”

“Sure,” Misty teased, flipping to another page. This one featured a doodle of Ash and Gary as Pokémon battling each other, with exaggerated expressions and cartoonish effects. “This one is hilarious! Look at the way you’re both drawn!”

“I look awesome,” Ash declared, puffing out his chest proudly. “I mean, look at that pose!”

“More like a goofy pose!” Gary's voice echoed from the doorway. He had returned, eyebrows raised as he glanced at the notebook in Misty’s hands. “What are you doing with that?”

“Just enjoying your embarrassing moments,” Misty smirked, teasingly glancing at Ash.

Gary snatched the notebook from Misty, flipping through the pages quickly. “Hey! You’re not supposed to look at these!”

“Why not?” Ash challenged, crossing his arms defiantly. “It’s not like you haven’t done worse.”

“Still,” Gary grumbled, clearly flustered. “You’re not supposed to see the behind-the-scenes stuff.”

Misty raised an eyebrow, a smirk dancing on her lips. “What, you mean the real Gary?”

“Yes! Exactly!” Gary replied, a hint of panic in his voice. “This is private!”

“Oh, come on, Gary!” Ash laughed, playfully nudging him. “Lighten up! It’s just for fun!”

Wisty returned to the room, a smile on her face as she watched the exchange. “What’s happening? Are we having a party or just a fight?”

“Gary’s embarrassed because we’re looking at his secret collection,” Misty explained, barely holding back her laughter.

“Secret collection?” Wisty echoed, amused. “Sounds intriguing.”

“I wouldn’t call it a collection,” Gary protested, shifting awkwardly. “It’s just… some memories.”

“Right,” Ash teased. “Memories that involve you looking silly!”

“Stop it!” Gary exclaimed, trying to reclaim some dignity.

As the room erupted into laughter, Wisty shook her head, her raven hair flowing as she moved. “You guys are something else.”

“Welcome to the team!” Ash declared, arms wide open, an infectious grin on his face. “You’ll fit right in!”