Chapter 49: S.S. Anne
Hearing someone call his name, Ash turned his head and saw Brock walking towards him, holding a bottle of mineral water. Ash then replied, "Nurse Joy is treating my Pikachu right now. We have to wait until she comes out to know the results."
Hearing Ash, Brock just said, "Oh. Well, you wait here slowly then! I'm going back to the room to rest first. Bye-bye!" After speaking, Brock walked away.
Melanie saw Brock come in just now and then leave without even giving her a greeting. She thought, _Doesn't he like me? And did he not understand what I said that day?! But I thought I made myself very clear that day! I must find him and get a clear answer._ Having decided this, Melanie said to Ash and the others, "Ash, Misty, Daisy. I'm going to rest too." After speaking, she also left.
Ash and the others heard Melanie leave but didn't notice anything unusual. They continued waiting there for Nurse Joy to come out.
By now, Brock had returned to his room in the Pokémon Center. Just as he sat down on the bed, he heard a knocking sound at the door. Thinking it was Ash returning, he didn't think much of it and went to open the door.
After opening the door, he saw Melanie standing at the entrance. He asked her doubtfully, "Melanie, isn't your room somewhere else? What are you doing here? Do you need something?"
"I came looking for you! Let's talk inside?" Melanie said, barging into the room.
Brock watched this scene, stunned. He thought, _Isn't Melanie usually gentle and kind? Why has her personality changed so much today? Could it be that the Melanie I knew before was just fake?_ Finishing this thought, Brock also walked into the room.
Brock sat on the edge of the bed and saw Melanie blushing shyly. Looking completely clueless, he asked, "Melanie, what are you thinking about? Why are you blushing? Also, why did you come to my room?"
Hearing Brock, Melanie's face turned even redder. She lowered her head and said softly, "Brock... I like you. Can you be my boyfriend?"
After speaking, Melanie lowered her head even further, awaiting Brock's answer with anticipation in her heart.
Hearing Melanie's words, Brock thought, _I didn't expect Melanie would be so direct this time! What should I do? If I don't agree, she'll be heartbroken. If I do agree... but I don't want to find a girlfriend right now! I need to think of a way to satisfy both sides..._
"Melanie... you're a good person, but I'm not worthy of you. Actually... I like men. I'm sorry," Brock replied seriously.
Hearing Brock's words, Melanie was utterly stunned. After snapping back to reality, she burst into tears and ran out of the room.
Seeing Melanie finally leave, Brock patted his chest in relief, then muttered to himself, "She's finally gone! That scared me to death! I finally managed to brush her off. Huh? Why did I say I like men?! I'm a normal guy! How could I possibly like guys?! Oh well, as long as I managed to brush it off... I should just go to sleep!" After speaking, Brock hid under the covers on his bed. Perhaps because he was very tired, he fell asleep shortly after.
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Melanie returned to her own room, crying. She lay down on her bed and continued to weep. Soon after, Misty and Daisy returned to the room and heard the crying sounds. They walked over and saw Melanie lying on the bed crying. Seeing this, Misty asked Melanie, "Sister Melanie! Why are you crying? Who upset you? Quick, tell me! I'll teach them a lesson for you!"
Hearing Misty, Melanie sobbed in reply, "Brock... he..." Before she could finish, she broke down crying loudly on the bed again.
Seeing this, Misty asked impatiently, "Sister Melanie! Hurry up and tell us already! What did Brock do to bully you?! This is making me anxious!"
Hearing Misty's urging, Melanie told them what had happened. Gasps of surprise were heard from Misty and Daisy: "What?! You said Brock likes men?!" "What?! You confessed to Brock?!"
Hearing Misty and Daisy, Melanie confirmed, "That's right... Brock told me himself, with his own mouth... And just like that, I was rejected."
Hearing Melanie start crying again, Misty tried to comfort her, "Melanie, don't cry! Isn't it just being heartbroken? It's no big deal! Next time, just find a better man than Brock!"
Hearing Misty's words, Melanie cried even harder.
Seeing this, Daisy pulled Misty aside and said, "Misty, stop trying to console her for now. Just let Melanie cry for a while!"
Hearing Daisy, Misty replied, "Okay, Sister Daisy." She then walked over to her own bed and lay down.
Daisy watched this, didn't say anything further, but thought, _Impossible! How could Brock like men?! He doesn't seem like the type of person who likes men at all! Oh well, forget it. I won't think about it anymore. I should go to sleep too!_ Having thought this through, Daisy also went back to her own bed to sleep.
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The next day, after Brock's group finished breakfast, they continued starting their new journey. Subsequently, this scene unfolded: Brock and Meowth walked on one side, while Ash, Misty, Daisy, and Melanie walked on the other side. Brock looked over at Ash and the others walking separately and asked curiously, "Ash! Misty! Daisy! Melanie! Why are you guys walking separately from me?"
Hearing Brock, Ash replied, "I don't know either! Misty told me to walk over here, said I couldn't walk alongside you."
Hearing Ash, Brock thought, _So only Ash doesn't know the reason; Misty and the others all know... Sigh! It's all my fault for running my mouth! Why did I have to say *that*?! Saying I like men... Great! Now walking together with them... I'll never find a girlfriend till the day I die! Does that mean I can only... 'get together' with Pokémon?! No way! I can't bring myself to do that! Unless... they could be feminized?..._
After finishing this train of thought, Brock's group continued traveling together, maintaining that separate formation. They arrived at the entrance to the port of Vermilion City and saw many passenger ships docked there.
Just then, a couple appeared before Brock's group. They said something to Misty and the others. Because Brock was some distance away from them, he couldn't hear what they were saying at all. Wanting to hear clearly, Brock kept looking intently at them. He didn't notice Meowth at his feet staring teary-eyed at the couple, wanting to go over and greet them, but afraid of mistaking their identity. Meowth could only watch from afar.
After a little while, the couple left. Ash walked over beside Brock and said, "Brock! Let's go board the luxury liner!" As soon as Ash finished speaking, he grabbed Brock's clothes and started pulling him towards the passenger ship.
Subsequently, Brock's group found the passenger ship for which they had tickets. They then boarded the ship. Upon boarding, they discovered many trainers battling inside the ship. There was also a lot of food laid out. As soon as Ash and the others heard it was free, they ran off to eat, leaving only Brock and Meowth standing there.
Seeing the scene before him, Brock found it very familiar. He searched his memory for the plot from the anime of his previous life and realized – this was Team Rocket's ship: the S.S. Anne!
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