For the next few weeks, Ash and Serena began to text and eventually email each other almost regularly. And for the most part, Ash has grown to be content as he sends messages and otherwise hangout with the girl he likes.

To:

From:

Hi Serena,

So I had to really dig through the internet, but I found out what Fool's Gold is. Apparently, it's this sandwich where you take an entire loaf of white Johtoian bread (has to be white, very important), then you coat it with butter and cook it, then you cut it in half and take the inside out. Next, you fill one half of it with an entire 10 oz jar of peanut butter and the other half with an entire 10 oz jar of jam then you stuff it with a pound of bacon. The website says it serves 8-10 people or one DJ Leo. So now we know.

Hey, I was also wondering, when did you decide you wanted to be an animator?

Also, there's a sushi place that opened last week if you'd like to check that out with me.

Sincerely,

Ash

To:

From:

Wassup, Ash?

Heck yeah, I'm a girl that's always down for sushi!

Thanks for looking that up. Honestly, I don't know whether or not I should be fascinated with this information or to shout 'Ew, gross!' Fool's Gold sounds like a really unique sandwich, and you had me at an entire jar of jam. But the peanut butter and bacon... I mean, for one thing, peanut butter has like, 6,000 calories and bacon is technically just fat, so it doesn't even count as food. So I don't know if we should either find a place where they serve that or make it ourselves, or decide that it's not worth the calories. Definitely should make an appointment with our cardiologists if we do try it! I refuse to die like DJ Leo, you hear?

Honestly, I just always liked the idea making cartoon drawings move. I could not trade doing that for anything. In fact, you know what? My boss, Palermo recently offered me a job to transfer to Sinnoh for a year for some managing position and I said no because I want to stay an animator.

Keep on texting me! I command it!

Serena

To:

From:

Heya Sere,

Hey, sushi was great. We should definitely visit that place again.

I doubt we would need a cardiologist if we're going to try just small portions of Fool's Gold as opposed to a whole loaf for each of us.

Wow, that's cool that you wanted to stay an animator. Honestly, I've never been good at saying no to my superiors at practically anything. If it were me, I'd say yes even though I get uneasy about staying in another region even with the raise I would get for that kind of job. So I could never do what you do.

Ttyl,

Ash

To:

From:

Ash

Dude, don't call me Sere. I hate that nickname. My friends in high school called me that all the time and I've hated it since. It's just too short and blunt.

No offense, but what do you know when you're a medical school drop out?

Speaking of which, I haven't found how much feces were in DJ Leo's colon when he died, but I did find out how he heard about Fool's Gold. Apparently, he was dating the super actress, Diantha at the time and she learned about the sandwich while guest starring in some murder drama TV show where the episode was partly about Fool's Gold. The couple got so interested when she told him about it that they asked the writer and he said he got the inspiration from this small restaurant he went to in Viridian City. So, because they're super rich and all, they made an order for two of the sandwiches on the phone and so they flew from Alola to Viridian City in a private jet, pick up the food which was delivered to the place, eat them, and fly back without ever leaving the plane. FYI, it turns out that the day they did that was the day my parents got married, so how about that? :p

You sound like my coworkers Shauna and Nini when you bring up the raise like that. But even with that raise, I wouldn't do it because I love being in Kalos and I just couldn't stand being a whole year away without my friends and especially my Calem. The poor guy would break into tears without me in his arms before it's been a month. (P.S. if you ever meet Calem, don't tell him I said that.)

BTW, there's a yogurt place down in Bessy Street that's supposed to be pretty good. I haven't tried it yet because Calem is lactose-intolerant, but if you have the time, I could use the company.

Later,

Serena

To:

From:

Serena,

Oops sorry. :(

True, but my dad is a cardiologist and since he couldn't find a babysitter most of the time, I had to spend a lot of time in hospitals long enough to know that a smaller cut of Fool's Gold will not be as deadly as eating the whole loaf.

All the way in my home region of Kanto you say? Interesting. Maybe I should look into it if I ever decided to go back for a visit.

My lips are sealed.

Yeah, I'd be happy to.

Ttyl, Ash.

To:

From:

Ash,

All good, just don't call me that again or I'll kick your foot the next time we hang out.

Well, aren't we a Mr. Smarty Pants? :p lol.

By the by, we are soooooooo going to that yogurt place again. No questions, that was just too good.

Also, Calem and I are having a little dinner party with my sister at his place on Saturday. Do you wanna come?

Laters,

Serena

Ash stares at Serena's latest email through his phone nervously. He feels both flattered and uneasy that Serena is inviting him to hang out with her boyfriend and sister after sending emails to each other over the course of a couple of weeks. He wants to maintain the friendship he's been building with her if for no other reason than to please the snarky honey blonde woman, but at the same time, he knows he's falling in love with her the more he spends time with her or talks to her online.

As he thinks about this from his attic bedroom, however, his phone vibrates and he takes without to find he has a message from Brock.

Brock: Hey, I'm going to get Holly a housewarming gift. Help me find one.

******************************************************************************

"If it starts dirty, then it ends dirty," Brock says as he and Ash browse through a shop. "A relationship that starts with a breakup will ultimately end with a breakup. Do you know who said that?"

"Me, after you made out with Ivy during her boyfriend's keg party, and you wanted her to ditch him and date you," Ash says while looking at a strange painting. "And I recall you openly ignoring that advice and calling me silly and messing with my hair before professing your 'undying love' to her."

"Right, and how did that end up?" Brock asks.

"It ended very dirty. 'Fistfight and you crying like a little boy' dirty to be exact," Ash answers. "But this isn't the same thing. I'm not trying to break Serena and her boyfriend up. I'm perfectly happy just being her friend."

Brock scoffs and turns to Ash with a raised eyebrow.

"Sure you are," he says nudging Ash's side with his elbow. "Seriously though, this dinner party is a terrible idea. Normally, I wouldn't mind you trying to mess things up between a girl and her boyfriend. Heck, with her sister there, I would rejoice at the statistically tiny but mathematical possibility of you hooking up with both of them if for no other reasons than to help you out of your shyness and to really show Miette if you ever have the misfortune of seeing her cheating face again. But Serena is my cousin."

"But you're taking this way out of proportion," Ash protests. "You're just saying that because you can't say anything without screwing things up without making out with every pretty woman you meet but I can because I'm more mature than you."

Brock laughs uncontrollably and runs his fingers through Ash's hair much to the shorter shy man's annoyance.

"That is really cute that you think so, little buddy," Brock coos. "Anyway, do you think Holly will like this?"

Brock presents an oddly shaped rock statue of a seagull holding a large green branch.

"Uh... it's different," Ash answers scratch his head. "Why are you getting get a housewarming gift anyway? She's moving to your house."

"Yeah, but girls are really into this stuff and I'd rather overcompensate just in case," Brock says with a grin.

Ash shakes his head in disbelief.

"I still find it hard to believe you're this serious about you two living together," he tells his friend honestly.

"Really? I thought you'd be happy for me," Brock says.

"Well, I guess I am, but it's hard to believe that you are taking things this far after a month," Ash says hesitantly. "I mean in the years that we've known each other, you've never been this serious with any woman at any point whatsoever. Not with Jenny, Joy, Summer, Sophie, Lisa, or even when you managed to date all seven of Gary's ex-girlfriends at once back when the three of us were still roommates."

"Well, I am really crazy about Holly," Brock says.

"That's what you said about Florinda before you found out about her boyfriend,"," Ash points out dryly.

"Yeah, but I connect more with Holly," Brock says sincerely. "We just... I don't know, we enjoy each other's company more than I have with any other woman. It's weird I know, but so is a shy guy like you enjoying time with a no-nonsense, snarky woman like Serena."

Ash opens his mouth to protest, but he closes it knowing saying he's not going to try to break Serena and Calem up will fall on deaf ears and even then Brock has a point.

"Alright, I guess that's fair," he says defeated.

"So are you still going?" Brock asks.

"Well, I already said I would, so yeah," Ash says. "Besides, odds are Serena will hunt me down and drag me to her apartment if I don't."

Brock chuckles in amusement.

"You're walking in dangerous waters, little buddy," he says before he turns to call out to the store manager. "How much for the stone seagull?"

************************************************************************************************

Later that night, Serena is in her apartment with her boyfriend, Calem and her younger sister, Lillie. Calem is cutting vegetables to get ready for the dinner party with a friendly smile while Serena and Lillie as sitting on the couch with Lillie drinking wine with a bitter look on her face.

"This is such a travesty," she snarls. "It's the worst thing that's ever happened in world history!"

"Worse than a meteor killing the dinosaurs?" Serena asks with an amused smirk.

"Yes, obviously my breakup is worse than a big rock killing a bunch of dumb lizards," Lillie rebukes.

Serena keeps her amused smirk before she sighs and looks at her sister sympathetically.

"I can't believe Kiawe cheated on you," she says. "And I really liked him too."

"I know, right? And he cheated on me with some Alolan waitress no doubt!" Lillie whines. "She must have been figuring out how to make rat-faced whore stew or something. I mean I liked Kiawe so much that I don't even want to make out with all of his guy friends as payback...well I mean I will, but I won't enjoy it."

Serena frowns at her sister's words.

"You know, I get that you have your own unique way to rebound, but I think there's a less...skanky way to get back at Kiawe," she says.

"Nope, this is something I have to do," Lillie says firmly. "I'm making out with his friends and that's that."

"Even that short annoying one, Sophocles?" Serena asks.

Lillie opens her both before she realizes what her big sister is getting at and hesitates.

"Yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeesssssss, even Sophocles," she says reluctantly.

Serena shakes her head disapprovingly as Lillie empties her glass, her mind clearly still debating on making out with Sophocles.

"Anyway, I better go," Lillie says with a hiccup. "I don't want to ruin your dinner party with my grief."

"No, stay," Serena says, stopping Lillie from standing up. "It'll be fine. It's not even really a dinner party. It's just a little get together with my new friend, Ash. Right, Calem?"

"Yeah, stay," Calem says with a bright smile as he cuts an onion. "Maybe this Ash could be a good rebound for you."

Lillie's eyes widen and she turns to Serena with a look of interest to Calem's idea. Serena looks at her sister worryingly as Lillie quickly stands up and runs over to the bathroom, likely to hang her jacket and look in the bathroom mirror to make herself look nice. For some unexplained reason, Serena feels uneasy about her boyfriend's idea and stands up and walks over to the kitchen to confront him.

"Why would you say that to her?" She asks, sounding displeased.

"What? What's the big deal?" Calem asks with a cheerful look. "I mean you want her to do something less slutty to move on, and Ash sounds like a really good guy who would be the last person to cheat on anyone, so what's wrong if they become an item? It sounds to me that it could do both of them good. I mean he's single, right?"

"Right..." Serena admits reluctantly. "But he's also pretty delicate. I don't know if he could handle Lillie's... charisma."

"Why not? He apparently can handle yours," Calem says with a playful smirk.

Serena turns to her boyfriend with a mean glare which doesn't faze his playful attitude.

"You're lucky you're a tall figure of pure cuteness," she growls poking his nose.

"And I'm lucky I'm your tall figure of pure cuteness," Calem says kissing her finger.

"Yes, you are," Serena says pleased with his response before she leans in to give Calem a firm kiss.

Suddenly, the doorbell rings and Serena loudly announces, "I'll get it!" before running to the front door to find Ash on the other side.

"There you are," she greets before looking at her watch. "And look at that, 6 o'clock on the dot just like I demanded. Thank you."

"Yeah, you're welcome," Ash replies bashfully as Serena walks over to hug him, making him blush without her noticing. "I brought some wine."

"Ah, excellent," Serena says eagerly as she takes the bottle of wine from Ash's hand and looks at it with a grin while Ash hangs his coat. "We can always use some around here."

Ash gives Serena a nervous grin before she takes his hand and leads him to the kitchen.

"Calem, this is Ash, Ash, this is my boyfriend, Calem," Serena introduces. Before she walks away to fetch Lillie.

"Hi, Cale - YIKES!" Ash shouts as Calem turns to him with the cutting knife pointing right at his chest.

"Sorry about that, bro," Calem says with a cheeky grin as he puts away the knife, wipes his hands with a towel and shakes Ash's hand. "So you're Ash. Serena has told me everything about you."

"Oh, I certainly hope not," Ash says with an uneasy grin as Serena reenters the room with Lillie.

"Hey, Ash, this is my sister, Lillie," Serena introduces.

"Hi, Lillie," Ash greets as he takes out his hand with a friendly smile.

"Hi, Ash," Lillie says with a flirty grin as she hugs Ash and pecks him on the cheek. Ash blushes furiously for a brief moment before she breaks the hug and walks to the other side of the table to help Serena.

"Uh...duh...duh... is there anything I can do to help?" Ash manages to ask, still in a daze from Lillie's 'greeting.'

"Actually, yeah, would you mind opening that big window over there, buddy?" Calem asks in a neighborly tone. "It's getting kinda stuffy in here."

"Uh, yeah sure," Ash answers before walking over to the other side of the room to open the tall window next to the door connected to the hallway before joining the group.

"So, Ash," Calem says while cutting some peppers. "What are your thoughts on Kanto?"

"Kanto the region?" Ash asks confused.

"Ha! See? I told you!" Serena shouts boastfully.

"What?" Ask asks even more confused.

"Calem here thinks it shouldn't be called a region just because it's connected with Johto," Serena explains.

"Uh...well, if it isn't a region, then why is it called a region? Ash asks.

"Isn't it obvious?" Calem challenges with a grin. "The Kantoians just didn't want to be associated with the Johtoians and since they technically hold superiority in terms of government they claimed that the two are separate regions even though they are connected by land unlike anyone else. But in reality, they should just combine as one big region and be called Kanjohto."

"Typical Calem," Serena says shaking her head before turning to Ash. "My guy is always trying to turn the United Regions from the inside out."

"That's right, baby," Calem says proudly before he and Serena air kiss. Ash secretly winces at their affection before turning back to Calem.

"So what is it that you do Calem?" He asks.

"Oh, I'm a part of an international consortium of lawyers with a U.R. mandate to negotiate global copyright standards," Calem answers before giving Ash a suspicious glare and whispers. "But more importantly, are you trying to date my girlfriend?"

Ash's eyes widen as he freezes in place. Calem keeps his glare at him before he chuckles.

"It's okay, buddy. We're just having guy talk," he says in an assuring tone while turning to Serena and Lillie. "They still think we're talking about international copyright law. But seriously, I've no problem with the concept of Serena having guy friends, but if you're trying to split us up so that you can..."

"N-n-no, of course not," Ash manages to blurt out. "I wouldn't try anything if I could. I just want to be friends with her... and you."

"Good," Calem says pleased. "Friends is good. Friends is fine."

Ash sighs in relief and nods to Calem. Calem nods back and then rubs his eye to get rid of an itch.

"Ow...ow...OOOOWWW!!!!!!!" Calem screams as he drops the knife and shuts his eye in pain.

"Honey, are you alright?" Serena asks worryingly as Calem begins banging on the counter in pain. "Did you touch your face after cutting a jalapeno?"

"Yeah, I did," Calem whines in pain. "Ow! It's really burning!"

"Ash, you're the medical expert," Serena says determinedly, turning to Ash. "What do we do?"

"Uh...okay, well, do either of you have any saline solutions for contacts?" Ash asks, struggling to be calm.

"Yeah, I do. It's in the bathroom!" Calem squeals. "It's through the door next to the big window! Please hurry!"

Ash nods and runs to the entrance to the hallway next to the big window and finds his way to the bathroom. He opens the mirror door and starts looking through the cabinet while hearing Calem scream in pain as Serena and Lillie try to help him.

"Honey, try rubbing it with the rag," Ash hears Serena suggest.

"AHHHH! IT'S IN THE RAG! IT'S ON THE OTHER EYE! OH I'M BLIND! OW! OW! OWIE! OOOOOOWWWWWWW!!!" Calem screams hysterically.

Ash can't help but chuckle before he finds the medicine. He exits the bathroom and runs down the hall. But then he stops for a moment and notices pictures of Calem and Serena together hanging on the wall. He frowns and shakes his head sadly as he stares at a small picture of Serena hugging Calem from behind with a flirty smirk while Calem smiles happily. Ash continues to stare at the picture, not hearing Serena and Lillie trying to lead Calem to the door before he runs toward it on the other side.

Ash bashes the door open but feels it hitting someone on the other side. Serena and Lillie yelp and Ash looks around just in time to see Calem groaning in pain from getting hit by the door. Ash, Serena, and Lillie only have a moment to realize what's about to happen before Calem leans too close to the big window and falls off.

"CALEM!!!" Serena screams as she and Lillie run over to the window to find Calem lying on his front groaning.

"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry!" Ash cries, panicking. "It was an accident and -"

"Just call 911 already!" Serena screams.

"911. Right! At once!" Ash says as he takes out his phone and waits for an operator to answers as he looks to see Calem with his hand twitching.

"I'M SORRY, CALEM!" he calls out. "YOU LOOK OKAY!"

************************************************************************************************

"OOOOOHHHHHHH, IT HURTS ME! IT HURTS ME!" Calem cries loudly as he lies in bed inside the ambulance with Ash, Serena, Lillie, and a paramedic. "WHAT IF I NEVER WALK AGAIN!?! WHAT IF I'M PARALYZED!?!"

"You're not paralyzed," the paramedic says calmly. "I'm about to give you something for the pain to help you relax."

"But what if relax too much and I lose all my bodily functions and poop myself?" Calem weeps as Serena pets his head for comfort.

The paramedic sighs and turns to Serena, Ash and Lillie.

"You know, that sadly happens more often than you think," he says with a frown. "It's by far my least favorite part of this job."

Serena looks away from her injured boyfriend and gives the man a death glare.

"Dude, is that really the best thing to bring up when my man is crying in fear of crapping his pants in front of me?" She rebukes loudly. "Show some common sense and give him the shot already!"

The paramedic winces before he gulps and injects the medicine. Calem's cries begin to quiet down as he slowly loses consciousness. Serena sighs content and kisses Calem's forehead. Ash and Lillie sigh, relieved to no longer hear Calem's screams, but Ash secretly frowns at the sight of Serena lovingly comforting Calem.

Ten minutes later, they make it to the hospital. Serena, Ash, and Lillie sit down in the waiting room while the doctors work on Calem. Lillie rubs Serena's back for support as Serena stares at the wall eager for any news for her boyfriend's condition. Ash's guilt rises as he watches the woman he cares for be so worried.

"Serena, I'm really sorry," he whines. "I didn't mean to -"

"Don't," Serena says sharply, not looking at Ash. "Just...just don't, Ash. You didn't know that we were trying to guide him to the bathroom and we left that stupid window open. And it was Calem's fault for rubbing his eye after cutting jalapenos even though an idiot can figure out that was a bad idea. It was an accident so don't go crying over it."

Ash sighs, feeling a little better as a doctor enters the waiting room, making Serena stand up eagerly followed by Lillie and Ash.

"Give it to me straight, doc, how is he?" Serena demands worryingly.

"He's fine," The doctor says calmly. "His right arm had the most broken bones, so he'll need the cast for a few weeks. He'll have to wear a neck brace as a precaution for a few days, but he'll probably be out in the morning."

Serena, Lillie, and Ash sigh in relief.

"Can we see him?" Lillie asks.

"Yes, you can," the doctor says. "He's just down the hall, third door on the left. He's under a lot of medication right now, so he's not going to wake up until early in the morning."

Serena doesn't bother to thank the doctor as she storms to Calem's hospital room followed by Lillie and then Ash after he silently thanks the doctor. The three of them enter the room and stare at Calem as he sleeps soundlessly with a cast on his right arm, his right eye patched and the neck brace around his neck. Serena stares at her boyfriend with a sad look as she starts petting his head and running her fingers through his long, black hair. Lillie walks behind her sister and puts her hand on Serena's shoulder for support.

"Are you gonna stay here all night?" Lillie asks.

Serena nods her head robotically.

"How about you, Ash?" Lillie asks turning to the short man.

"Uh...yeah, I think it's only fair after I did knock him out of the window whether I meant to or not," Ash says. "Besides, even if Serena forgives me, I'd like to formally apologize to him when he wakes up.

The two Yvonne sisters turn to Ash and give him small appreciative smiles before Lillie turns back to Serena.

"Well, if the two of you are going to spend the night, I can wait here with Calem to let you guys get something to eat," she suggests.

Serena hesitates at the idea of leaving Calem behind but eventually sighs and nods in agreement.

"The cafeteria is closed by now, but I did see a sandwich vending machine near the elevator," Ash suggests.

"Sure, whatever. Let's just go," Serena mumbles as she takes Ash's hand and drags him out the room. Ash, sighs, used to this before he points to where the vending machine is. He begins looking through the options while Serena stares over at where Calem's room is.

"What are you going to get?" she asks without looking.

"I guess I'm gonna do with the tuna salad," Ash says as he puts money in the slot and makes his selection before Serena turns around to make her decision.

"Ash, have I mentioned how much I hate hospitals?" she asks.

"A couple of times from our past get-togethers," Ash answers.

"Well, I do," she says bluntly. "I just hate all the waiting and seeing people sick or injured. It's just so unsettling to me."

"Yeah, well remember I used to go to hospitals a lot when my parents couldn't find a babysitter, so I think I have it worse," Ash points out.

"Oh yeah, I remember you mentioning your dad worked at one," Serena says, turning to Ash with a sad look.

"Actually, both of my parents did," Ash says.

"Really?" Serena asks sounding slightly surprised.

"Yeah, they met as surgical interns," Ash replies. "He does cardiology like I said while she does orthopedics. He actually proposed to her on the roof of Charing Cross Hospital in Vermillion City."

"That sounds romantic," Serena says with a small smile.

"Yeah, until the affairs happened," Ash says glumly, making Serena frown. "She cheated on him, he cheated on her. The whole thing was just a big mess."

"I'm sorry," Serena says sympathetically. "How old were you when they got divorced?"

"About seven," Ash says, staring at his sandwich coldly. "Frankly, Dawn and I rarely ever talk to them anymore. They may have influenced me to go to medical school, but either way, we're both pretty disgusted with them to say the very least. Honestly, a lot of my views about love comes from the way my parents felt about each other both before and during the time they cheated on each other."

Serena's frown deepens, feeling devastated that such acts from her friend's parents affect his views on love in such a way. Without thinking about it, she wraps her arm around him and pulls him into a side hug. Ash whimpers quietly, taken aback by her action before smiling at Serena appreciatively and accepting the hug. The two of them stay like this, enjoying each other's presence until they hear a female voice coming from behind them.

"Ash?"

Ash's heart sinks hard and his frown returns as he and Serena turn around to look at who is speaking to him. Standing right behind them wearing a doctor uniform is a woman with short blue hair and orange eyes that stare at Ash with a look of pain and anguish. Ash struggles to keep his feelings under control as Serena looks back and forth between Ash and the blue-haired woman.

"Ash, what are you doing here? Are you sick?" the blue-haired woman asks before turning to Serena, feeling disquieted by the honey-blonde woman's presence. "And who is she?"

Ash takes a deep breath before he calmly answers her.

"No, I'm not sick. This is Serena and we're here because her boyfriend fell out of a window."

He takes another deep breath before reluctantly turning to Serena.

"Serena, this is Miette, my...well nothing in particular," he introduces.

Miette winces harshly at the way Ash introduced her. She turns to Serena with a pleading look.

"Do you want me to look in on your boyfriend? " she asks.

"No, that won't be necessary," Ash says sharply before Serena speaks. "He's okay. He just needs to rest for the night."

Serena turns to Ash, shocked at seeing this harsh side of him. She turns back to Miette who sighs and looks at the two of them with a look of defeat.

"I gotta go. We only get 15 minutes to eat lunch," she says before looking at the vending machine. "Don't get the bagel with smoked salmon, or the tuna salad or really anything is seafood in it. The company that stocks the vending machine has failed four health inspections but the manager's brother works for the mayor's office."

Ash and Serena look at each other and then look at their containers of sandwiches, suddenly not feeling hungry.

"I'm sorry," Miette says, realizing what she said. "I've been on shift for 18 hours and I'm really tired and I had so much coffee, and when I saw her, I thought she was your new girlfriend and that made me want to bawl my eyes out right here...it's weird that I'm saying this out loud, right?"

"You are and it is," Ash growls quietly.

Miette's frown deepens as she walks a step closer to Ash, making him take a step back. Serena stands there, uncomfortable with what is going on.

"Look, Ash, I just...I just want to be friends," Miette begs. "If I can't get you back, then I would like nothing more than for us to at least be friends. Maybe not today, but someday."

Ash looks away from Miette with a cold look, which seems to break Miette's heart even further. She turns to Serena and gives her a look of pure desperation.

"Don't believe everything he's told you," she claims. "Whatever he said about me, it wasn't a black and white situation."

"He hasn't said anything about you," Serena says. "In fact, he's never even mentioned you."

Miette's eyes widen and she whimpers softly at this information. She turns back to Ash who doesn't say anything.

"Oh...okay," Miette says sadly. "I...I hope your boyfriend gets better."

"Thank you," Serena says as Miette walks past Ash and Serena and gives Ash one last sad look before exiting the hall.

Ash and Serena remain quiet for a few seconds. Serena looks at her raven-haired friend, feeling uneasy after seeing him act so coldly towards someone. It's a side of him she hopes she's never seen before and hopes she never sees again.

"So..." she says, trying to break the tension.

Ash sighs before turning to Serena with a sincere apologetic look.

"I'm sorry for the horrible awkward situation you just witnessed," he says.

"That's...that's okay," Serena replies, secretly thankful that he's starting to act like the Ash she knows. "So Miette is...?"

"My ex-girlfriend," Ash answers for her.

Serena nods in acknowledgment before she looks away and struggles to think about what to say next.

"Do you...want to talk about it?" she asks.

For a moment, Ash doesn't say anything. Then he finally looks at Serena in the eye and gives her a small smile.

"That sounds nice," he says appreciatively. "But...no, I don't. Not right now anyway. But...someday."

"Promise?" Serena asks.

"Yeah, promise," Ash says.

Serena gives a small smile, feeling that he means what he's saying. Then, with a big sigh, she wraps her arm around him again and tries to act in control of the situation again.

"Come on, let's start waiting for you to apologize to Calem," she orders as she leads Ash back to Calem's room. All the while, Ash feels a sense of happiness to have Serena by his side in a supportive way.

Even if he doesn't want to admit it, He wishes this moment could last forever.