Ash tapped his foot impatiently on the floor, but he couldn't deny he felt nervous.

After all, who knew what Gary could do to Ash?They were rivals, after all.No. They were best friends.Have been since they were little.They was no way Gary would do something.... Would he?I mean he has all these different Pokemon.... And some of them were poisonous.Wait..... What if Gary poisoned him?!His thoughts were interrupted when a guy wearing a white lab coat on top of a purple shirt stood in front of him, arms crossed. " Let's go, Ashy-boy."Ash's eyes twitched. " Uh.... Sure, I guess."Gary smirked and lent him an arm, and Ash took it and followed Gary, albeit a bit slow.He was thinking of his fate Could Gary poison him?Gary was five months older.And this was a check up......Argh! Ash didn't know anymore! Gary could, Gary might not..... WHO KNEW?!Gary turned and saw Ash dragging his feet while staring into space, dazed out. Gary sighed. This always happened. " Ash, snap out of it!" Gary exclaimed as he waved and arm in front of Ash's eyes.Ash shook his head. " Yeah?*" Hurry up!*Ash sighed and nodded. Gary sighed and turned, waking until he came to a room." 345. This is the one." He turned to Ash, who was now biting his nails. Gary sighed." Hey, buddy. You okay?* He asked, nudging Ash." Huh? Oh, yeah. I'm fine."Gary raised an eyebrow at Ash, clearly unconvinced. "You sure? You look like you're about to faint or something."Ash forced a weak smile, rubbing the back of his head. "I'm fine, Gary. Just... y'know, thinking."Gary let out a small laugh. "Thinking? Ash Ketchum, actually thinking? Now that's something new." He gave Ash a playful nudge, trying to lighten the mood, but Ash didn't respond the way he usually would. There was no comeback, no sarcastic remark. Just a weak chuckle."Come on," Gary said, turning to open the door to room 345. "It's just a routine check-up. Nothing to worry about."Ash hesitated for a moment, his fingers fidgeting nervously. He glanced at Gary's back, trying to read his body language. What if Gary really was planning something? He was always unpredictable.But then again, this was Gary. They had known each other for so long. He wouldn't actually hurt him... right?Ash's stomach churned as he followed Gary into the room. The sterile smell of the doctor's office hit him immediately. The clinical white walls, the examination table with crinkling paper, and the dull hum of the fluorescent lights didn't help his nerves at all.Gary pointed to the table. "Hop up," he instructed. "It'll be over before you know it."Ash swallowed hard and sat down, his legs swinging slightly as he tried to calm his racing thoughts. Gary handed him a clipboard with a standard health questionnaire, but Ash could barely focus on the words. He was too busy eyeing the various tools on the counter—hypodermic needles, vials of unknown liquids, and strange-looking devices he couldn't identify.Gary noticed Ash's nervous glance. "Dude, relax. It's not like I'm going to dissect you or anything."Ash's face paled slightly at the thought, and Gary quickly added, "That was a joke, Ash."Ash blinked, forcing himself to laugh awkwardly. "Yeah... a joke." He fiddled with his hat, adjusting it nervously. "I knew that."" I have to get something. Be right back." Gary exited the door, leaving Ash by himself.

Ash sat on the examination table, his foot tapping nervously against the metal frame as he watched the door. The sterile smell of the room seemed to intensify his nerves, and his mind was racing with worst-case scenarios. What if Gary really was planning something? Ash thought, biting his lip. What if this wasn't just a normal check-up? What if it was a trap?

Gary had stepped out a moment ago to grab something, but Ash's mind had been running a mile a minute ever since. His thoughts bounced between different paranoid possibilities: What if Gary was secretly trying to poison him? What if it was all some kind of twisted joke? Or worse—what if Gary, his so-called best friend and rival, actually wanted to get rid of him?

The door creaked open again, and Gary walked back in, wearing his lab coat, his usual smug grin plastered across his face. The moment Ash saw him, a knot of anxiety tightened in his stomach. Gary was just so confident, so calm—nothing like Ash felt at that moment. It made him even more suspicious.

Gary strolled into the room and leaned casually against the doorframe. "Let's get this over with, Ashy-boy," he said, his smirk widening at the nickname.

Ash's eye twitched at the sound of the playful jibe, but he forced a tight smile. "Uh, sure... This'll be quick, right?" He tried to sound nonchalant, but it came out more like a question, his voice betraying his nerves.

Gary raised an eyebrow, clearly noticing Ash's unease. "Totally," he said with an exaggerated tone of amusement. "You nervous, Ash?"

Ash froze for a moment, his thoughts racing. He didn't want to admit it, but there was no hiding it. "N-no... I'm fine," he stammered, attempting to brush it off. "Just... a little bit of the usual, y'know?" He rubbed the back of his neck nervously, avoiding Gary's gaze. He wasn't sure if Gary could see right through him, but the fact that his rival seemed to be enjoying his discomfort made it worse.

Gary didn't buy it. He stepped closer, his smile now one of mild concern that Ash had never seen from him before. "Ash, you've been my friend, and my rival, for years. I know when something's up. You're definitely nervous. Why?"

Ash hesitated. He didn't know if he could actually say the real reason. After all, this was Gary—his best friend, his longtime rival. But the thought of Gary doing something... strange, or maybe even dangerous, was gnawing at him.

"I—I just don't really like... doctors," Ash muttered. It was a half-truth, but it would have to do. He couldn't exactly tell Gary that he was wondering if he was secretly plotting something.

Gary's smirk faltered slightly, his usual cocky demeanor softening. "Seriously, dude? This is just a check-up. Nothing weird is going to happen."

Ash glanced up at him, studying his expression, trying to figure out if Gary was telling the truth or just putting on a front. Gary didn't seem to be hiding anything, but then again, that was what made him such a skilled rival.

"Look," Gary said, dropping his playful attitude, "You're overthinking this. I'm not going to poison you, okay? You're my friend... and besides, we both know you can handle anything."

Ash blinked, surprised by the seriousness in Gary's tone. He could feel his pulse slow down, the tension in his shoulders easing just a bit. But the nagging thought still lingered—Could he trust Gary?

"Thanks," Ash murmured, forcing himself to relax. "But... I'm still nervous. I just can't help it."

Gary smiled and shook his head, walking over to the counter where the medical tools were laid out. "Alright, Ashy-boy. Just sit tight, and we'll get this over with. I promise it won't be as bad as you think."

Ash hesitated for a second, but then he nodded, trying to convince himself that Gary really was just being his usual annoying self. This is Gary, he reminded himself. He wouldn't actually do something like that... right?

Gary grabbed a stethoscope from the counter and moved toward Ash, his demeanor now back to normal. "Ready for your check-up?" he asked, his usual teasing grin returning.

Ash swallowed, but forced a smile. "Ready as I'll ever be."