Pokemon: A different Ash

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"Ash, I want to visit this perfume shop today." After scolding Brock, Misty excitedly took out a leaflet and showed it to Ash.

"Alright! Since we'll pass by the Gym, we can check it out too!" Ash agreed without hesitation.

The Gym Badge wasn't going anywhere, so there was no urgency. Ash also knew that the supplier of the perfume shop was actually the Celadon Gym, meaning they'd naturally pass the shop on their way. 

Unlike in the anime, where he often seemed in a rush to collect Badges, Ash now approached the journey more leisurely. He wasn't as reckless as he had been in the show—dressing up in women's clothing to sneak into the Gym felt like a distant memory of low emotional intelligence. While watching the anime, he had cringed at his own words, "Misty, if you don't need perfume," knowing they would only anger her. Back then, there was no commentary from viewers, but the thought of it now made him chuckle, imagining the chat filled with teasing remarks.

"Great!!" 

Hearing Ash's agreement, Misty cheered and hopped up and down the stairs in delight.

"You don't need to be that excited!" Ash quipped.

Brock and Ash followed Misty, who maintained her energetic pace. After about 20 minutes of walking, they finally arrived at the perfume shop Misty had been so eager to visit. Without hesitation, she stepped inside.

"Welcome!" 

As they entered, a gentle voice greeted them, and several stylishly dressed young women appeared, warmly attending to the customers.

"How can we help you? We have a wide variety of perfumes!" one of the clerks asked enthusiastically.

"Well..." 

"Beautiful lady, please grant me a perfume that will make your heart race!" Brock, now wide awake, dramatically slid forward and knelt on one knee, speaking with overflowing affection.

"Uh..." The clerk, startled and visibly embarrassed, didn't know how to respond. Meanwhile, Ash and Misty facepalmed. Ash muttered to himself, wishing he hadn't woken Brock up—it was too embarrassing.

"Although that's very flattering, we only sell women's perfume here, and I'm currently on the job."

The clerk maintained a polite but awkward smile as Brock turned to stone upon hearing her words.

"Could you recommend the most popular perfume here?" Misty quickly interjected, ignoring Brock's antics.

"Of course! Please follow me."

The clerk eagerly led Misty to a display of perfumes. Ash found a seat and sat down. While he wasn't interested in perfumes, he was more patient now than he had been in the anime. He no longer blurted out thoughtless comments.

From his seat, Ash noticed some clerks glancing at him and whispering among themselves, occasionally covering their mouths to stifle giggles. He couldn't tell what they were discussing, but it didn't bother him.

Misty, on the other hand, was captivated by the shop's offerings. One clerk brought over a bottle, opened it, and sprayed a light mist onto Misty's wrist.

"This floral fragrance is perfect for a young and lovely lady like yourself! It's not just appealing to humans, but Pokémon love it too."

"Using it will definitely help Pokémon feel closer to you," the clerk added enthusiastically. Misty sniffed her wrist and smiled, clearly enjoying the scent.

Even from where he sat, Ash could catch a hint of the perfume's fragrance. Though uninterested in perfumes, he could distinguish between good and bad scents, and this one was undeniably high quality.

Of course, the key lies in how perfume is used. Some people wear it excessively, as if worried others won't notice. They might use half a bottle at a time, creating a strong, overwhelming scent detectable from several meters away.

This becomes especially unpleasant in confined spaces like elevators. It's no longer a pleasant fragrance but a stifling assault on the senses. Ash often wondered how such people weren't bothered by the overpowering scent themselves.

However, Ash knew that this shop's perfumes weren't just about fragrance; they incorporated Aromatherapy technology. The perfumes not only emitted pleasant scents but also helped to relax the mind. This unique quality ensured that visitors to the city felt not overwhelmed by any aroma but instead experienced a soothing sense of tranquility. Ash respected this approach.

"This smells amazing!" 

Misty exclaimed, clearly pleased as she sniffed her wrist. Pikachu, curious as ever, hopped over. Seeing this, Misty extended her hand toward Pikachu, who took a whiff and looked equally enchanted by the scent.

"We have other fragrances! Would you like to try them?" one of the shop assistants eagerly asked.

"Yes, yes!" Misty replied, her excitement growing. She had always been enthusiastic about things like this, and Ash realized she could easily spend hours deciding.

"Hmm, Misty, you pick your favorites first! How about I meet you after finishing my Gym challenge?" Ash suggested. If Misty truly planned to stay for hours, he could complete his battle and return with time to spare.

"Ah? Oh, alright then!" 

Though slightly torn, Misty understood. She didn't want to hold Ash back, knowing the Gym challenge was important to him.

"Well then, I'll head out first. Pikachu, let's go!" Ash said, standing up. Pikachu immediately leapt onto his shoulder, responding with a cheerful, "Pika-pika!" The two left the shop together.

Brock, of course, decided to stay, captivated by the beautiful shop assistants.

"Your boyfriend is quite impatient!" one clerk remarked with a chuckle.

"Right? He's not very thoughtful or understanding of your feelings," another added sympathetically, shaking her head as they watched Ash leave.

"Ah! No... no, you've got it all wrong!" Misty stammered, her cheeks turning red. "Ash and I aren't like that. We're just... just traveling companions!" Her voice faltered as she tried to explain, her confidence waning the more she spoke.

"And... Ash isn't inconsiderate at all..." 

Misty still stood up for Ash, knowing his priority was the Gym challenge. She appreciated that he had taken the time to accompany her here in the first place.

"Haha! Don't be nervous, little sister. We've seen it all before. It's just a shame you're stuck with such a clueless boy."

Hearing Misty defend Ash only made the shop assistants more sympathetic toward her. To them, Misty seemed so understanding and patient that it tugged at their heartstrings, even if they couldn't help silently criticizing Ash in their own minds.