chapter 2

paul pov :

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He told himself he hated Ash Ketchum.

From the first time they battled, from the first time that idiot smiled like the world was soft and worth saving—Paul told himself he hated him.

The way Ash yelled every attack like it was the end of the world.

The way he hugged his Pokémon like it mattered more than victory.

The way he kept winning, not through strength but through something messier.

Paul had rules. Discipline. Calculations.

Ash had hope.

And somehow… it kept working.

It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t logical.

So he told himself he hated him.

But hate had a shape. A temperature. A rhythm.

This wasn’t that.

After their full battle in the Sinnoh League, something shifted.

Paul should’ve felt satisfied. Closure.

But all he felt was cold.

He’d gone back to his room that night with his jaw tight and his pulse too loud. He remembered how Ash looked at him after the match—not smug. Not triumphant.

Just... open. Real.

He hated it.

He hated how Ash had gotten under his skin.

How he dreamed in sunlight and yellow. How he couldn’t stop seeing Ash’s mouth, soft and chapped from the wind, mouthing those stupid encouragements to his Pokémon.

How it wasn’t Ash’s victory that haunted him—but his smile.

The Camp Invitation

When the invitation came for the Nirai Training Camp, Paul knew Ash would be there.

Of course he would.

The professor who ran it was fascinated by “unorthodox trainers.” Ash might as well have been the poster boy.

Paul almost declined.

Almost.

But something inside him twisted too tightly to ignore. A coil of heat in his chest. A hunger without a name.

He had to see him again.

Not to beat him.

That part didn’t matter anymore.

He just needed to be near him.

To hear his voice. To watch him train. To get close enough to figure out—

> why you won't leave my f*ing head .

On the Boat

He watched Ash from across the deck.

Didn’t approach. Didn’t speak.

Ash was surrounded by others, of course. Laughing with that Coordinator girl, Dawn. Nudging his dumb Pokémon like everything was perfect.

Like Paul hadn’t been ripped apart from the inside out since the last time they fought.

> you forgot me , didn't you ?.

you moved on .

But I'm still here.i'm still..... burning.

When he saw the name Ketchum beside his on the door list, Paul stared at it for a full minute. He was little bit surprised not shocked. Like he knew it but wasn't sure .

Coincidence?

No. its was their fate , their destiny .

Or Maybe it was the sign he needed.

He closed his eyes and imagined:

Ash brushing past him in the cabin.

Ash half-asleep, hair messy, hoodie slipping off one shoulder.

Ash shirtless after a rain training session, skin shining, too unaware of what he was.

Of what he did to people.

To him.

Nightfall Arrival

He waited until lights dimmed before he entered the cabin.

He stepped in slow, quiet, the door creaking just enough to make Ash stir from the bunk.