Side Chapter: Pikachu’s Day in the Spotlight

It was a bright and sunny morning as Ash, Brock, and Misty strolled through a lively marketplace just outside Goldenrod City. 

The trio had decided to take a break from their journey to enjoy the peaceful streets, peruse the local stalls, and sample fresh snacks. 

Pikachu, as per usual, sat comfortably on Ash's shoulder, enjoying a light breeze and the occasional piece of fruit Ash handed it.

Their calm day, however, was about to abruptly change when a burst of high-energy enthusiasm came barreling around the corner. 

"ASH KETCHUM!" came the unmistakable excited yell. 

Ash turned just in time to see Casey, the fiery, purple-haired baseball fanatic, sprinting toward him like a woman on a mission. 

"Casey?!" Misty exclaimed, blinking. "What is she—"

Before anyone could finish a sentence, Casey skidded to a halt right in front of Ash, her hands on her hips and fire in her eyes—well, her eyes also sparkled, but it was the good kind of fire.

"I knew it! The rumors of a trainer with a Pikachu wandering through town had to be you!" Casey exclaimed, pointing dramatically at Ash before shifting her focus. 

"But who cares about you?! PIKACHU!" 

Pikachu twitched nervously as Casey's shining, near-obsessive gaze locked on it. The little yellow Pokémon instinctively scuttled closer to Ash's head, its tail flicking warily. 

Ash and Pikachu exchanged a wary glance—the first of many silent conversations to come.

Ash's expression: "Oh boy, here we go." 

Pikachu's expression: "This girl's energy is terrifying." 

Without hesitation, Casey suddenly clasped her hands together, stars in her eyes as her voice took on an audibly affectionate tone. 

"Pikachu, you're adorable! The CUTEST Pokémon ever! Can I hug you?! Please, please, pleaaaase?" 

Before Ash could even protest or Pikachu could bolt, Casey swooped in with startling speed. Pikachu squeaked in protest but couldn't wiggle free as Casey pulled it into the tightest bear hug imaginable. 

"Pikaaa-chuuuuu…" Pikachu wheezed, flailing slightly. It glanced over at Ash with wide, desperate eyes. 

Pikachu's expression: "HELP! I'm being suffocated!" 

Ash's expression: "Sorry, bud. You're on your own." 

---

Casey held Pikachu like a plush toy, lifting it into the air before giving it the biggest, most exaggerated smile Pikachu had ever seen. 

"You're even cuter up close!" she squealed before proceeding with rapid-fire actions. 

She spun Pikachu in a circle like a dance partner. 

She smooshed her cheek against Pikachu's, giggling uncontrollably. 

She kissed Pikachu on its forehead, leaving Pikachu wide-eyed and mortified. 

She even started playfully wiggling Pikachu's tail, cooing over how adorable it was. 

Pikachu stiffened with every rapid maneuver, fidgeting comically but unable to escape Casey's iron grip. 

Ash, standing a safe distance away, crossed his arms and stifled a chuckle. Brock whispered from the side, "She's got a lot of energy, huh?" 

"As usual," Misty muttered, rolling her eyes.

By this point, Pikachu was flailing like its life depended on it. "Pika! PIKA!" 

Casey misread the cries entirely. "Oh my gosh, you're soooo lively, Pikachu! It's like you just love all this attention!" Casey squealed again. Ash tilted his head, mischievously smirking as he watched the scene unfold. 

Ash's expression: "She's got you now, buddy. Have fun." 

Pikachu's expression: "Oh, so it's funny to you?! Your betrayal is noted, human!" 

---

"Alright, alright," Casey said, slowing down her antics for a moment but still holding Pikachu firmly. "You're probably tired! Let me show you how GREAT I am at taking care of Pokémon!" 

Casey rested Pikachu in her lap as she plopped down under a shady tree. Pikachu remained stiff, staring into the distance while clearly plotting an escape route. Casey didn't notice.

"Time for the best head rub you've ever had!" Casey announced cheerfully, rubbing her hands together like she was about to perform surgery.

Pikachu blinked and glared at Ash from across the clearing. 

Pikachu's expression: "Get me out of this, or I swear I'll Thunderbolt you into next week." 

Ash's expression: "Relax, enjoy this. It's a chance to be pampered—what's the worst that could happen?" 

Casey started the head rub with gentle, repetitive strokes of her fingers between Pikachu's ears. 

At first, Pikachu tensed, absolutely unwilling to give her the satisfaction of enjoying it. "Pi…ka…" it grumbled, half-heartedly twitching its ear in protest. 

But then... something changed. 

Pikachu's twitching slowed. Its small body slouched slightly. Its ears slowly dropped as Casey hit just the right spot between its ears, massaging softly in a rhythm Pikachu couldn't resist. A blissful sigh escaped its mouth. 

"Piiiii...kaaaaa," Pikachu purred involuntarily, its eyes closing in sheer contentment. 

The entire clearing went silent. Even Casey paused, staring down at Pikachu with awe. "Oh my gosh! You're LOVING this!" she exclaimed. 

Ash tilted his head, beaming wide with pure amusement as he watched. 

Ash's expression: "You melted! That's it, buddy. You can NEVER live this down." 

Pikachu's expression (a second later): "Oh, no…" 

Realizing what had just happened, Pikachu's eyes shot open, and it stiffened in Casey's lap again, utterly humiliated. 

It jumped out of her lap in an exaggerated panic and marched indignantly over to Ash, shooting him a killing glare. 

"Piiiii…" Pikachu hissed through gritted teeth, its little cheeks sparking lightly. 

Ash, barely containing his laughter, bent down and whispered, "'Head rubs, huh? I guess you're not tough enough to resist one of those." 

Pikachu flushed with embarrassment, swatting at Ash's face with its tail but missing entirely. 

"Okay, okay," Ash said, still laughing as Pikachu grabbed his arm and climbed back onto his shoulder, turning its back dramatically toward Casey. Its face was flushed, but it refused to let anyone else hold it again. 

---

Casey stood up, still brimming with excitement, and placed her hands on her hips. "That was SO fun! Your Pikachu is the BEST!! Seriously, Ash—you're lucky to have such an amazing partner!" 

Ash glanced at Pikachu with a teasing expression. "Yeah, Pikachu's pretty amazing. It's just super affectionate… Loves a good head rub. Isn't that right, buddy?" 

Pikachu turned to glare at Ash, its cheeks sparking slightly in warning. 

Ash's expression: "Haha, just keep pretending to pout. You're adorable when you're mad." 

Pikachu's expression: "Do you have a death wish, Ketchum?" 

"Well, let me know if Pikachu ever needs more hugs or head rubs!" Casey declared, giving the duo an exaggerated salute before jogging off, humming her favorite baseball tune.

As soon as she was out of sight, Brock chuckled, and Misty shook her head, grinning. "Poor Pikachu," she said, patting it sympathetically. 

Pikachu flopped onto Ash's shoulder with an exhausted sigh, glaring at him one last time. Ash couldn't stop the amused grin from spreading across his face. 

"Hey, don't look at me like that," Ash teased. "You're the one who melted. You were loving it!" 

Pikachu groaned loudly. "Pika…CHUUU," it muttered under its breath, cheeks sparking faintly. 

And so, with a thoroughly embarrassed Pikachu and Ash reveling in the hilarity of the situation, the group continued their journey, still chuckling about the day Pikachu became the ultimate object of affection. 

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