What can I say? Ash, who had initially been somewhat interested in the raffle, was now filled with regret. These prizes didn't seem to be of any use to him at all…
Poké Ball Seals? He wasn't participating in Pokémon Contests. Ketchup and Nanab Berries? Those would only cause him trouble.
The remaining prizes were marginally more useful. Among them, the best one for Ash was probably the restaurant voucher, right?
Although Pokémon Trainers could enjoy discounts at various restaurants, no matter how you looked at it, nothing beat the affordability of a Pokémon Center.
If he could win the voucher, Ash would definitely go all out and stuff himself silly at that restaurant.
But…
"OKI! OKI!"
"Pikapi!!"
Since the prizes included things Pikachu and Aipom loved, both of them eagerly volunteered to draw the raffle tickets. But was it really going to be that easy?
Looking at the hand-cranked raffle machine on the counter, Ash stepped forward and gauged its weight for a moment.
There had to be at least fifty or sixty balls inside, right? To draw one of the few colored balls representing a winning prize from so many…
Oh well, you've got to try everything at least once, don't you?
"Since you two are so eager to draw, I'll leave it to you. You each get two draws, and I'll take the last one. Sound good?"
"Pika~!"
"OKI!"
Pikachu and Aipom responded cheerfully, clearly desperate for those prizes.
Ash shook his head, first picking up Pikachu so its paws could reach the raffle machine's handle.
Then Pikachu began furiously spinning the machine in front of it.
"Clack, clack, clack~~"
Countless balls inside the machine collided, producing a cacophony of pings and pangs.
Pikachu stopped with a confident look, and a single ball rolled out with the momentum, landing on the prize tray below.
"White!"
The man clapped his hands, handing them, under Pikachu's bewildered gaze…
"Congratulations, a pack of tissues!"
"Pika?!"
That's it?
Pikachu couldn't help but think.
It had tried so hard, praying in its heart. Even if it didn't get the ketchup, couldn't it at least get some other prize?
"…Uh, you've still got one more try. Don't give up so soon—what if you get something next time?"
"Pika!"
Hearing Ash's encouragement, Pikachu rallied its spirits once more.
Indeed, as Ash said, even if the first try failed, there was still another chance! As long as there was a chance and it didn't give up, the goddess of luck would surely smile upon it!
Pikachu took a deep breath and, under everyone's watchful eyes, began cranking the raffle machine again.
…
"A pack of tissues! Thank you for participating!"
"Pika~…"
Faced with the same result, Pikachu curled up into a ball and slumped into the shadows.
There was nothing more painful than having a year's supply of ketchup right in front of you, yet being utterly unable to claim it.
If it had known this would happen, maybe it would've been better not to draw at all…
Seeing Pikachu's dejected state, Ash started to regret letting it draw in the first place.
Its mood had been so high after getting those two bottles of ketchup, but now… better not to mention it.
"OKI~KI~!"
Though Aipom was Pikachu's companion, it was the one laughing the hardest at Pikachu's bad luck.
Its knack for enjoying the drama was perfectly suited to its personality.
After mentally "scoffing" at Pikachu's misfortune, Aipom didn't even need Ash's help—it leapt straight onto the raffle platform, determined to win its prize on its own.
Its target: the blue ball! A month's supply of Nanab Berries!
"OKIIII!" (Let's do this!)
…
"Thank you for participating, two packs of tissues!"
Ash: "…"
Watching the huddled figures in the corner grow from one to two, Ash was at a loss for words.
Pikachu's bad luck was one thing, but Aipom's situation? It had it coming, didn't it?
Who told it to be so cocky earlier? This was a good lesson for it.
"Alright, let's see if I can draw something…"
No matter how strict his thoughts, Pikachu and Aipom were still his friends. Though one ticket couldn't win both prizes, if he could at least get one of the things they wanted, it might liven up the mood a bit.
He should've just gone to eat first.
Ash sighed inwardly.
After all this fuss with them, his stomach was genuinely growling. Better wrap this up quickly and call it a day.
With that, Ash reached out and began gently cranking the raffle machine. The clacking of the balls colliding echoed through the store.
The locals who had watched Ash and Pikachu's earlier argument were now silently observing, curious whether Ash could draw what Pikachu and Aipom wanted—or maybe win another prize.
Time passed slowly, about ten seconds or so, before Ash finally let go of the handle. With a flash of golden light, a golden ball appeared on the tray below the machine.
"This—this is!!!"
"Oh!"
"He actually…"
"Con—grat—ulations!"
The man grabbed the bell on the table and began shaking it wildly, announcing in this lively manner that the grand prize had been claimed.
"Congratulations on winning the grand prize! Here's your prize—a full set of Poké Ball Seals, currently on sale! Congratulations!"
As the man handed the prize to Ash, the crowd erupted in celebratory applause.
How should he put it? He didn't feel happy at all…
Ash felt the resentful glares from Pikachu and Aipom in the corner, and for a moment, the grand prize in his hands felt like a hot potato.
He knew Pikachu and Aipom weren't upset that he hadn't won their desired prizes but were sulking over how his luck could be so good.
Seeing him win something felt worse than their own losses!
Maybe this was the inevitable mindset of the unlucky when faced with someone blessed by fortune?
Just as Ash was about to stow the prize and leave the scene, a familiar voice—etched in his memories—suddenly came from behind him.
"Ugh—I'm a step too late? The prize has already been taken?"
Dawn…
Ash's eyes widened, and standing before him, bending over and panting, with a look of regret on her face, was none other than Dawn, his companion from their Sinnoh journey in his memories.
Ash gazed at her, while she stared at the prize in his hands.
Blue hair tips slipped past her ears, faint beads of sweat glistened on her forehead, and one strap of the yellow backpack on her shoulders had slid down to her elbow.
Dawn's appearance right now wasn't exactly disheveled, but it wasn't particularly composed either. It was clear she'd been in a rush to get here.
Could it really be… for this?
Ash's gaze now fell on the prize in his hands. After piecing together the situation, he suddenly felt things had gotten a bit complicated.