"So? How come Serena changed completely her mind and got back home to fetch her things for college?"

Ash watched his thirty-eight years old cousin Sarah look through the clothes in front of her. Every time Sarah came to Goldenrod city, she made Ash take her out to the malls. Even though Ash hated going to the mall and anything related to shopping (the woman often bought him clothes as gifts for a good reason), he can't refuse Sarah anything when she puts her hands on her hips.

"How would I know?" Ash shrugged.

Sarah turned around and slapped Ash.

"Hey!"

"Don't play that dense idiot with me." Sarah slapped his arm and turned her attention back to the clothes. "Speak up."

"Don't do this in front of people." Ash complained.

Sarah turned toward him again, glaring.

"I told her she should go to Goldenrod University instead of marrying me." Ash confessed. "She's got great grades. She deserves a scholarship. She has a bright future awaiting. Is there a problem with the things I said?"

"No, Ash. I think you did right," Sarah commented. "You'd make her go nuts anyway."

"Yeah, I would." Ash rolled his eyes.

Sarah grabbed a few shirts and put them in the bag. "Can you try some shirts for Ray? He's the same size as you."

"Is this why you asked me to come?"

"You're just going to wear shirts, Ash. What's the big deal?"

"Why didn't he come anyway?" Ash sighed. He grabbed the shirts.

"He's been out of Celadon for a few days." Sarah made her way toward the changing rooms. "He took Mason on a camping trip."

"And why didn't you go?"

Sarah made a face. "I don't want my beautiful body all covered in bugs bites."

"So beautiful body."

"I won't kill you because I still need you to try these." Sarah opened the curtains of a changing room.

She spoke up after Ash got in. "You know... there is a woman in this store who's been watching us since we stepped in."

"Huh? What?"

"Nothing." Sarah slid the curtains shut. "We're taking the ones that fit you! Okay?"

"I knew it wasn't for your husband..." Ash mumbled.

"Don't be a dick. I'm doing you a favor!" Sarah looked to her left from the corner of her eye. "You need clothes anyway."

Sarah took a deep breath. She walked up quickly and put her hand on the woman's shoulder. "You."

She turned around. "Huh?"

"Is there a reason why you've been watching us all the time?" Sarah crossed her arms over her chest. "Do you have a problem? Huh?"

"I-it's not what you think-"

"It's not what I think? Then what is it? You tell me!"

"Sarah? This on-..." Ash stopped talking when he saw the two women. He quickly headed toward them and dragged Sarah by the arm.

"This freckled woman has got a problem, Ash!"

Ash was shocked to see Misty. He instantly said, "This is Misty, my colleague..."

Sarah blinked. She said, "Oh."

"Oh! Hi Ash!" Misty greeted, panicking. "I think your girlfriend got everything wrong!"

"Sarah is my cousin..."

"What are you saying? You were following us everywhere!" Sarah gasped. "You're a stalker!"

"Sarah!" Ash hissed. He spoke to Misty. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine! I'm sorry for the misunderstanding." Misty smiled sweetly. She put her hand on her purse. "It was nice meeting you, Sarah."

Sarah looked the redhead up and down. "Yeh."

"I'm sorry." Ash whispered to Misty again.

"Don't mention it." Misty shook her head and walked toward the door of the store. She was wearing a very short fluffy skirt.

"You're nuts! You know that?" Ash shouted at his cousin and walked back to the changing rooms.

"She wasn't going to buy anything! She left!" Sarah looked toward the boutique entrance. Misty was outside, typing quickly on her phone. "With that short skirt of hers..."

"Hah!"

Misty gasped when someone put their hand on her shoulder and made her turn around. It was Sarah.

"Your problem is Ash." Sarah smirked. "You thought I was his girlfriend!"

"Excuse me?"

"You don't hide anything from me. It's all over your freckled face." Sarah pointed at Misty's face. "You kept following us because you thought I was Ash's girlfriend."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Misty chuckled.

Sarah nodded. "You left when you learned we were cousins."

"I'm confused right now."

"Sure you are." Sarah chuckled. "Bye. We'll meet in a year or two. Good luck with my aunt."

Misty watched with big eyes Ash's cousin walking back inside the boutique. The redhead let a high pitched voice and walked quickly away.

"Did Misty leave?"

Sarah glanced over at Ash. They were paying for the clothes. "Why are you asking?"

"I'm just asking." Ash shrugged. "She works with me."

"Look at me, Ash."

Ash looked at her.

She slapped him. The girl behind the counter looked down.

"What—hey!" Ash stepped to the back. "What was that for?"

"I'm disappointed in your taste in women." Sarah grabbed the shopping bags. "You're so shallow when it comes to women you'd literally bring shame to the family name and make of us the talk in Pallet town."

Ash felt really uneasy, especially that she was speaking in front of everyone else. "You mean Misty? Seriously?" He let a nervous laugh out. "Whatever."

"Yeah, whatever." Sarah made her way toward the exit. "I'll remind you about today when I see her next year painting her toenails in your mother's living room."

"What is this bullshit?" Ash walked past his cousin and rushed ahead of her. "Whatever!"

Sarah smiled to herself and caught up with Ash, putting her hand on his back.

-

"Her breasts are the size of two grapefruits!"

"Interesting." May watched her friend pace and forth in her office.

"So I thought Ash was that kind of guys, you know?" Misty crossed her arms over her chest. "The guys who go out with older women."

"Well, who said he isn't?"

"The woman turned around to be his cousin, May."

"I know. You told me." May shrugged. "But does this mean he doesn't go out with older women?"

"If I were a guy and I had a cousin like that witch..."

"A witch?" May laughed. "Is it because she caught you?"

"She's scary!"

"Why did you follow them anyway?"

Misty licked her lips. She stood straight. "If I want to get closer to Ash for my promotion, I need to make sure there isn't a woman in his life."

"You're too charming. He'd two-time for you." May grinned.

"No." Misty huffed.

"You're not serious about Ash. Why would you want to be the only woman in his life?" May spun on Misty's chair. "He should be seeing someone. You'd only be wasting his time!"

Misty pouted. "Whatever."

"You should use this opportunity to get closer!" May slammed Misty's desk. "Go see him."

"You're not going to tell me what to do!" Misty stuck her tongue out and headed out of her office.

She found Ash at her door, just about to knock.

"Oh, hi!"

"Hi!"

"Hi..."

"Hi..."

"I hope you're not busy with work."

"I just finished checking some reports. It's fine." Misty closed the door of her office.

"I... uh, I need to talk to you—if that's okay, of course." Ash pointed toward his office. "In my office, if it's possible."

"Sure, Ash. It's fine."

May opened the door slowly and watched as Misty and Ash walked toward the latter's office. They discreetly got inside after Ash talked a little with Raja, probably telling her not to bother him with any calls.

"There, Misty; it's going the way you want it!"