Chapter 285: First Visit, Light Screen's New Feature—Private Chat!

"What's wrong?"

Ash noticed the complex gaze Misty cast his way; her eyes wove together joy, gentleness, bashfulness, and a hint of worry not easily detected—an expression he had never seen on Misty's face before.

Misty didn't answer; she merely lightly bit her lip, her gaze still locked on Ash.

Ash didn't know, but Xiaosheng did—whenever he called home, he was usually nearby, so he naturally knew Mom kept shouting for Sister to bring Ash home.

Well, we're almost home, and Sister is feeling Nervousness.

"I know, I know!" Xiaosheng shouted, drawing everyone's gaze toward him.

"Because......"

Xiaosheng blurted it out all at once, and Ash's face showed many expressions—far richer than anything seen during a Poké Ball battle!

Originally not very Nervousness, but after Xiaosheng said that, Ash became Nervousness.

Just now I was in the role of a challenger; now I am in the role of Misty's boyfriend.

"Nervous?" Misty, seeing Ash like this for the first time, gave a soft giggle, stepped forward, and asked.

"It's okay...... this is the first time meeting your family in this role; I feel a bit unaccustomed!"

Ash said seriously.

What about this first time meeting family in this role? And me?

You all forgot me?

Xiaosheng still wanted to speak up, but Brock pulled him away.

Let your sister talk to Ash.

No wonder she's Gangma—she can handle many things well.

He took Xiaosheng over to the Poké Ball training area.

Meanwhile, Misty's eyes shimmered with a bashful light, a faint smile playing on her lips; she glanced sideways with her peripheral vision at Brock and Xiaosheng, who had already walked off without looking back, and a feeling indescribable welled up in her heart, her cheeks involuntarily reddening a bit.

She gathered her courage, quickly stepped forward, like a light butterfly, and lightly kissed Ash.

"This should stop you from being Nervousness, right?"

She said this both to Ash and to herself.

She intended to joke around with Ash to ease her Nervousness.

Her lips felt a warm moisture, fleeting.

Ash was a bit stunned, then reacted, looking at Misty's crimson cheeks and bashful eyes, a warm flow he could not name rose in his heart. He gently touched the spot where she had kissed him, as if he could still feel the warmth of her lips: "I'm still a bit Nervousness."

"Ah?"

Misty's long lashes fluttered lightly; not understanding Ash's meaning, she froze for a moment, then immediately grasped the implication of his words.

Her face instantly turned bright red, like a ripe apple, tempting and dewy. She lowered her head, not daring to meet Ash's eyes, her heart both shy and sweet.

"I don't believe it."

Ash looked at her doubtfully; he was already Nervousness, and if it were just a Gym challenge, he definitely wouldn't be Nervousness, but since the role had changed, he definitely would be Nervousness!

He asked: "Why?"

"Looking at you like this, you don't look Nervousness, but I am Nervousness.... Mmm."

After a moment, Misty's face grew even redder, the corners of her eyes brimming with tenderness; she lightly punched Ash, wiped her slightly sore lips, and, embarrassed, turned and ran to look for the tail cat.

So...... Misty widened her eyes, her face also turned red.

"Oh ho, this time the brother-in-law won't get away!" Xiaosheng wore a sly grin, sneaked into the living room, and dashed straight to where Sister Misty stood before the proper ostrich, deliberately raising his volume as he shouted.

Now Misty ignored Xiaosheng, her cheeks slightly flushed, her eyes darting, as if she wanted to find a crack in the ground to disappear into. Although she could just watch that scene herself, the key was that her parents were nearby, and moreover, her mom watched and laughed, saying she should do the same.

Feeling waves of heat coming from her neck, especially hearing Xiaosheng's incessant chattering beside her, nonstop questioning and teasing, Misty felt her face burning up. She furtively glanced at the other end of the sofa, where her parents were smiling at her; her heart was both shy and helpless.

She gave Fire Chicken a look.

Fire Chicken immediately understood, dragging Xiaosheng out.

Meijinzi saw this, the corners of her mouth curling into a gentle smile, and she continued chatting with Misty about family matters, the topic unconsciously circling back to Misty's 'heartfelt concerns'.

"We can learn from Black World and bring Ash over like that."

Qianli said to Misty: "It's not coming over to challenge the Gym!"

The green feather bird, like Black World, has been captured; thus its relationship with Ash will surely change like Black World's did, though we don't know what that relationship is.

Misty touched the green feather bird, wondering what to do.

Pallet Town.

Are we about to meet?

Huazi was a bit stunned, seeing Ash and Misty's flirtation inside the Black Light Screen, and they were about to meet the girl's family.

Just as Huazi was daydreaming, the Light Screen also announced a feature: those who can send bullet comments can privately chat with Poké Ball, but only with the other party's consent.

Many people liked this feature.

This feature is great—it can be used to help Ash, after all, it's all Ash; why should my Ash fall behind?

Huazi began preparing.

Black World——

Ash and his group finally returned to Orange City.

They headed straight for the Orange Gym.

Looking at the Orange Gym ahead, Ash hesitated a bit; before, whenever he saw a Gym, he couldn't wait to go inside.

Pikachu sensed that its trainer's mood was off, feeling a bit doubtful.

"Let's go!" Misty pulled Ash inside; they'd met a few times over video calls, so there was nothing to fear—she had met Aunt Huazi several times already, now they were quite familiar, and if the chance arose, they could go play in Pallet Town.