"Get up, Yu Feng!"
Ash was already awake early the next morning, standing outside Yu Feng's door, calling him to get up.
"Ugh, what time is it?"
Yu Feng, who was still groggy, was woken up by Ash's shouts. He pulled out the clock beside him and saw it was just six o'clock, instantly feeling a bit speechless.
If Ash had this much energy on the day he was supposed to receive his Pokémon, he wouldn't have missed out on Charmander.
Although he really didn't want to respond to Ash's shouts, he considered that he had indeed promised to go out with Ash today.
He had no choice but to get ready and get up, casually returning his Shiny Kirlia, who was still sleeping, to its Poké Ball before opening the door.
"Ash, you're full of energy."
Yu Feng stepped out and gave Ash a thumbs up. In all his life, he had never seen anyone wake up before six o'clock when they didn't have school or work.
"Shh! Shh! Keep it down."
Ash pressed his hand over Yu Feng's mouth, looking left and right, as if he was hiding from someone.
When he didn't see anyone appear, Ash seemed to let out a sigh of relief, releasing his hand from Yu Feng's mouth, and patted his chest reassuringly, whispering, "Good, she didn't wake up."
"I advise you to give me an explanation, or my fists won't recognize anyone."
Seeing Ash's actions, Yu Feng raised an eyebrow. Was it really necessary to be so cautious just to take him out for a stroll? But what could Ash be hiding from others, and besides, waking him up so early, he also had a bit of morning grumpiness.
"Ahem, well, it's like this, I'm going to take you to my secret base."
"But Mom definitely won't want me to take you."
Ash lifted the fishing gear in his hand and then scratched his head. After all, he had come back completely soaked yesterday, and if he took Yu Feng out again today, his mother would definitely give him a good scolding.
"This is really... I don't care."
Yu Feng pouted. Although his mind was still a bit fuzzy from just waking up, did he really think he wouldn't be punished by Delia when he returned?
But Yu Feng was too lazy to remind him. After all, who told him to disturb his beautiful day?
"Okay, then let's go together. I also brought your share."
Ash was overjoyed. Today he could go fishing for Water-type Pokémon, and he also fulfilled his mother's instructions—it was a win-win!
Ash stealthily walked towards the door, afraid of waking his mother and revealing his little secret.
Yu Feng watched Ash's actions from behind, speechless. What was the point of being so careful now? His actions this morning had already woken his mother up.
Yu Feng also followed behind Ash, but strangely, he didn't make a sound.
Upon closer inspection, he was always a little distance from the ground, though this distance was not great and wouldn't be noticeable without careful observation.
Just as Ash reached the doorknob, his face filled with a smile of a plan accomplished, a devil-like voice sounded behind him: "Ash, where are you going?"
Delia yawned as she came down from the second floor, looking bewildered at Ash and Yu Feng, who were about to leave, not quite understanding what was happening.
"Mom, I'm taking Yu Feng out for a walk. You don't need to make lunch for us!"
Ash quickly pulled open the door, grabbed Yu Feng, and vanished in a flash from Delia's sight, leaving only a trail of dust slowly dissipating.
"Oh, this child, he hasn't even eaten breakfast yet."
Delia looked at the disappearing Yu Feng and Ash in a daze, sighed helplessly, closed the door, and began her day... Ash, dragging Yu Feng, had already run to the edge of the town before stopping to catch his breath.
"There's no need for this, Ash."
Yu Feng looked at Ash squatting and panting, not wanting to say anything. There was no need to run so fast.
"It's nothing, it's just that if she found out, I'd get a scolding."
Soon, Ash recovered, full of energy. This made Yu Feng look at him with surprise; his recovery ability was even more exaggerated than his own. If he ran this far in one go, it would take him at least ten minutes to be so energetic.
"Next, I'm going to take you to my secret base!"
Ash wiped the tip of his nose, grinning at Yu Feng.
"Alright, alright, you lead the way."
Yu Feng was a bit at a loss for words, but since things were this way, he still had to let him lead the way.
The two walked along the road towards the outskirts of the town and encountered a small, not very wide river.
Seeing the river, Ash was delighted, which meant they were not far away.
Walking downstream along the river, they reached a field, and not far away, there was a small bridge spanning both sides.
"We're here! This is my secret base!"
Ash placed his fishing rod on the ground, stretched, and breathed in the fresh air. He turned to show off to Yu Feng how good his eye was.
But he saw Yu Feng lying on a recliner, drinking black tea, with an Indeedee beside him, cutting a fruit cake for him.
"Hey, where did all this stuff come from!"
"We came here to fish for Water-type Pokémon!"
Ash was a bit exasperated. Where did all this stuff come from! But he still had to emphasize what they came here for.
"Want a piece? You dragged me here so early, and I haven't had breakfast yet. Aren't you hungry?"
Yu Feng first blew on the black tea in his hand, slowly taking a sip.
Then, the Indeedee beside him took the finished black tea and offered him a piece of fruit cake.
Yu Feng held up the fruit cake, gesturing for Ash to have a piece too.
"I'm not hungry."
"Grumble~~~~"
Ash had just said he wasn't hungry when his stomach betrayed him, making even Ash blush deeply.
A moment of silence.
"Give me a piece too."
Ash gave up on explaining. After all, his stomach had betrayed him. Ignoring Yu Feng's teasing gaze, he asked the Indeedee for a piece of cake as well.
Indeedee first looked at Yu Feng's actions, and seeing him nod, it cut a piece of cake and handed it to Ash.
After a whirlwind of eating, Ash quickly finished his meal.
Wiping his mouth, Ash's fire was rekindled. He pointed at the river with one hand and declared, "Today, I'm definitely going to catch a Water-type Pokémon!"
"Then you're great!"
Yu Feng applauded from behind as encouragement. He had already grown tired of fishing for Water-type Pokémon.
"What are you saying! You come along too, or I'll have trouble explaining when I go back."
Unexpectedly, Ash turned to Yu Feng and handed him a worn-out fishing rod, signaling him to join in.
"No, I won't... well, okay, I have nothing to do today anyway."
Yu Feng weighed the worn-out fishing rod in his hand, a look of disdain on his face. Could this fishing rod really catch Pokémon? He turned to Indeedee and had it retrieve his superior fishing rod. Yu Feng pulled his chair to the water's edge, cast his rod, and comfortably waited for a Pokémon to bite.
Ash didn't pay attention to Yu Feng's actions. After casting his rod, he focused intently on the water.
Originally, Yu Feng hadn't planned on fishing for Water-type Pokémon, but then he suddenly remembered that Ash didn't have that half of the Poké Ball yet, which meant that classic scene hadn't happened.
Perhaps it would be today? He had to look forward to it.