Little by little, Ash's feelings grew for Gary as they hung out with each other more often. They had what could have been considered and called dates, if not for the fact that they were best friends and they were both boys. Gary took Ash to picnics and cafes, where they laughed about life and talked about new Pokémon being discovered in the recent Kalos Region. Ash continued to talk about his own travels across the existing five regions, giving Gary an insight to what it would have been like if they travelled together, just like they had originally planned as childhood friends.

They were currently in an ice cream parlour, chatting about past experiences as they waited for their ice cream sundaes to be served. Ash was trying hard not to snort away at Gary's ridiculous story about being chased by a Bouffalant for wearing red clothes to a research meeting.

"...And so I ran like crazy trying to find some place to hide but I wasn't looking where I was going so guess what happened afterwards?"

"W-whaat?" The Pikachu Trainer managed to say, even after almost running out of breath from laughing.

"Well, I fell into a pond of Frillish. They weren't very happy back then. I wasn't either. I had to keep away from research for a few days after that from their ghastly stings..." Gary replied, cringing a bit as he remembered the pain he had to go through.

"Ouch... It sounds awful..."

Just as they finished their conversation in hopes of starting on a new topic, their sundaes arrived and were decorated into the most beautiful looking desserts they have ever seen. Ash decided to take a double scoop mango sundae that resembled his Pikachu, complete with a marshmallow nose, strawberry cheeks and a cute yellow wafer for a tail. Gary had picked out a chocolate and vanilla craze, with licorice gumdrops for eyes to represent his adorable little Eevee.

They ate heartily, not stopping their little chitchat from a while ago. Somewhere in the process they had gotten into spoon fencing as Ash wanted a taste of his best friend's sundae as well.

"Angarrr! Take that, Gary!"

"Haha, you suck at blocking! That's my ninth spoonful of mango and three from you."

"No fair! You keep distracting me!"

The brunette grinned widely. "And I'll keep distracting you for the freedom of Gary's Eevee Sundae!"

"You named your ice cream?" Ash chipped in as he fought valiantly, the clink clank of spoons still audible between them.

"Yeah. Got a problem?"

"No." A pout came, then a reply, "You won't defeat my Pika-I-Choose-You-Cream!"

"Dear Arceus, Ash, that was a terrible name."

"I don't care. Angarr! Hah, I got one again! Yess! That's nine to four, Professor Gary Oak!" Ash boasted, licking at his spoon before letting his eyes travel at the scene before him.

A blonde boy dressed in formal attire was kneeling down on one knee, a tiny purple box subjected at his right hand. A beautiful black-haired girl stood before him, her hands covering her inevitably crimson face. Every face at the parlour turned to witness the boy opening the box to reveal a sparkling gold pearl ring, and among these included Gary's.

"YES YES YES YES! Oh thank you so so much!" The girl beamed happily, tears of happiness in her blue eyes as she threw her arms around the boy to hold him closer to her. It seemed though that she wasn't the only one getting teary-eyed, as the ravenette had some tears sprouting from his eyes as well, clapping happily for the newly engaged couple.

"Aww, that's sooo cute. Isn't it adorable Gary? I just love scenes like that..." The Pikachu Trainer cried giddily. He kept staring at the older boy for some reason, the expression of hope written all over his hazel orbs.

Gary returned to finishing his already melted sundae. "I'm guessing you're hoping for an ending like that too? A beautiful happily ever after with this mysterious crush you have?" He teased, consciously noticing a yellow dribble of mango sundae from Ash's chin.

He reached over, wiping away the liquid nuisance with the pad of his fingers. Ash giggled at the touch, turning into a cherry again.

"Nooo... That's not true... It's just cute! Nothing else, sheesh."

"Are you sure?"

"Shut up Gary."

The older boy chuckled happily to himself.

He still hadn't the slightest clue of who Ash was crushing on. It was kind of sad, how the younger's situation kept making the brunette feel a tinge of envy simmering at the bottom of his heart. Yes, he liked Ash, a lot, but the latter already had a crush on some unknown girl he hadn't bothered to question about at all. Perhaps he should do it now, before he had another chance of forgetting. Besides, the researcher had to know what kind of competition he had, right?

"You'd never tell me who she is, even if I forced you to tell me, wouldn't you?" He sneered before letting one hand travel to Ash's hair, twirling the straight raven locks in a caressing manner.

"M'sorry, Gary... I just-"

"It's alright... Tell me when you're ready. No problem at all."

A stupidly uttered lie.

The ravenette pouted, feeling a bit guilty for hiding a personal secret. Gary was supposed to be his best friend who knew everything about him and wouldn't judge him even if he were to commit a crime. But the brunette couldn't know what he was feeling. Not yet anyway.

"A bit of advice, Ashy. You'll listen to me right?" The Pokémon Researcher droned in bluntly. He got up from his seat, deposited forty Poké Bills on table before reaching his hand out to his best friend to help him up.

"Of course, Gary. What is it?" Ash took his hand before standing up to join the emerald-eyed boy.

"As much as you'd like fairytales to come true, liking someone beyond measure takes commitment you know. You have to keep your promises and be there for them. But they have to do that to you vice versa. I hope this girl loves you just as much."

"I hope so, too. But it will never happen."

"Why not?"

"Just because."

Ash appeared dejected as he decided to walk a few steps ahead of the brunette. He wouldn't understand. Gary would never love Ash just as much, just because it wasn't meant to be.

"That's not true... If some girl ever ripped your heart out I swear on my name to make her whole life miserable! Don't you dare lose hope, Ashy. Don't."

Gary had caught up to him, taking the Pikachu Trainer's hands into his own. The younger boy shriveled up in embarrassment at having his hand held in public by Gary like that. They bumped at each other playfully, competing with one another who could make the other fall over first.

'I love you, Gary. May you be my happily ever after.'

They walked away hand in hand, happy and content. Ash had to be hopeful, despite the impossibility of it all. Gary would never love him, and the latter didn't even know. What he didn't know couldn't hurt the emerald-eyed boy, right?

But Ash shouldn't lose hope, like Gary had said. His best friend had given him advice, even just a little. And he definitely shouldn't let go of that hope. Not even a bit.

************************************************************************************

A.N. Hallo. :) If you've gotten this far, thank you so much! I hope you continue reading till the end!