Chapter 71: Beneath the Moonlight
When Dragonite landed on the coast of Lilycove City, the setting sun had painted the entire sea gold and crimson.
Misty jumped down from Dragonite’s back. The soles of her shoes pressed into the damp sand, while her heart pounded wildly in her chest.
She looked around.
The beach was deserted. Only the waves repeatedly struck the reefs, accompanied by the distant cries of Wingull.
Then, farther ahead, she saw him.
Asher stood atop a flat reef, dressed in a black coat. The ocean breeze had blown his black hair slightly out of place.
Misty stood on the beach with both hands clutching the hem of her clothes.
She had rehearsed this meeting throughout the entire journey—what her first words should be and what tone she should use.
But now that he was standing right in front of her, she couldn’t remember a single line she had prepared.
Asher jumped down from the reef and walked across the sand toward her.
He didn’t say anything.
He merely reached out and gently brushed aside the strands of hair the sea breeze had blown across her cheek.
Then he pulled her into his arms.
Asher enclosed her completely within his embrace, resting his chin atop her head. One hand pressed gently against the back of her head, while the other wrapped around her waist.
Misty buried her face against his chest. His white shirt carried the faint scent of laundry detergent mixed with the salt brought in by the ocean breeze.
At first, her fingers clutched both sides of his shirt. Then they slowly loosened before wrapping around his waist instead.
"I haven’t even said anything yet," she murmured against his chest.
"You flew all the way from Kanto to find me. Is there really anything else you need to say?"
The waves rolled toward them one after another, breaking into white foam several meters away.
"Are you cold?" Asher’s voice came from above her head.
"...A little."
Asher released her, removed his coat, and draped it over her shoulders.
The coat was far too large. Its sleeves hung well past her hands, while the collar nearly slipped from her shoulder.
Misty rolled the sleeves up twice. When that proved useless, she simply gave up and withdrew her hands inside them.
Then she realized that he had been wearing the coat only moments ago and that it still carried his warmth.
The tips of her ears began to burn.
"Um..."
Her voice was soft and gentle.
"Are you planning to stand here in the wind all night?"
"Where would you like to go?"
"I don’t know."
Misty turned her head away, her voice slightly muffled.
"...Anywhere is fine, as long as we don’t keep standing here."
Asher took her hand, and they slowly walked along the shoreline.
They followed the coast for a long time. Two rows of footprints appeared in the damp sand—one deep and one shallow—only to be washed away by the foam carried in by the waves.
Eventually, they sat down atop a flat reef.
Misty sat beside him with her legs hanging over the edge, swaying them gently while supporting herself with both hands against the rock.
The sea had grown completely dark, and moonlight spread across its surface.
"When I was little, my sisters always said I was too short-tempered and would never find a boyfriend," Misty said quietly.
"They were right."
"Hey!"
She reached over and punched him.
"Can’t you say something nice?"
"All right, all right."
Asher raised both hands in surrender.
"They were wrong. You aren’t short-tempered at all. You’re gentle, considerate, understanding, and the most perfect Gym Leader in the entire Kanto region."
"You’re just humoring me."
Misty turned her face away, but she could no longer suppress the smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
The sound of the waves filled the silence between them.
"Actually, I have something for you."
Asher took a small box from his pocket and placed it in her palm.
It was a tiny box covered in pale-blue velvet, without a logo or any other decoration.
Misty opened the lid.
Inside was a teardrop-shaped gemstone.
Moonlight passed through its facets, casting tiny fragments of light across her palm.
"...What is this?"
"Nothing particularly valuable."
Asher’s tone was casual.
"I saw a raw stone at Steven’s house and thought its color resembled your eyes, so I polished it."
"You polished it yourself?"
"Mm. I had nothing better to do."
Misty removed the teardrop-shaped gem from the box and held it up beneath the moonlight.
Its facets weren’t perfect. Some areas had been ground too deeply, while others still carried faint scratches. It lacked the rigid, flawless shine of something cut by a machine in a jewelry store.
She could imagine him sitting on the balcony of some island hotel, holding polishing tools and carefully working on the stone little by little.
"It’s hideous."
Misty was overjoyed inside, but her words remained merciless.
"Then give it back."
She clenched the gemstone in her palm and withdrew her hand into the oversized sleeve.
"You can’t take back something you’ve already given away."
Asher smiled and looked back toward the sea, resting his hands against the reef behind him.
Misty carefully returned the gemstone to its box, closed the lid, and tucked it into the coat’s pocket.
Then she gently rested her head against Asher’s shoulder.
Asher said nothing. He merely adjusted the angle of his shoulder slightly so she could lean against him more comfortably.
"The moon is quite bright tonight," Misty murmured against his shoulder.
"Mm."
"The sea looks beautiful too."
"Mm."
"...Can’t you say more than one word?"
"You’re right."
Misty raised her hand to hit him again, but Asher caught her wrist.
The moment his hand closed around it, her entire body stiffened.
She didn’t pull away. She merely lowered her eyes, her voice even softer than before.
"What are you doing?"
"I love you," Asher said.
A wave struck the reef, shattered into white foam, and retreated into the sea.
Misty froze. Her lips parted slightly as though she wanted to say something, but no words came out.
She quickly turned her face away and muttered:
"What is wrong with you? Saying something like that so suddenly... I wasn’t prepared—"
"What did you need to prepare?"
Misty turned back and glared at him.
Then she grabbed his collar, pulled him down slightly, and leaned closer.
When her lips met his, they carried the coolness of the sea breeze, but they were incredibly soft.
Asher placed a hand against the back of her head and deepened the kiss.
Misty’s fingers slowly loosened around his collar before her arms wrapped around his neck.
Her eyes were tightly closed, and her eyelashes trembled faintly.
When Misty finally released him, she rested her forehead against the hollow of his shoulder, her breathing still slightly unsteady.
"...You said you loved me."
"Mm."
"Say it again."
"I love you."
Misty buried her face even deeper against his shoulder, her voice muffled.
"Say it again."
Asher held her tightly.
"I’ll say it a hundred times if you want. I love you, Misty."
"Then come back to Cerulean City with me."
"All right."
Beneath the moonlight, the two held each other tightly.
...
TL: sob sob Brock, my brother... let’s go grab a drink. These couples are out here assaulting us with PDA.
Last Chapter of Raina Arc btw.