>>53465000In a way, Ash is no longer a burden. He’s become someone that can stand on his own two feet. A young man worthy of respect without qualifiers, or the jab of a tsundere’s sting. Misty is able to admit outloud that she’s proud of him without mincing words. All along, the “other guys” she’s crushed on for an episode have been those kinds of men, and now finally “that boy” has become as responsible and as stable as them.
Misty’s inner turmoil between “I like him” and “but he’s such an idiot!” has finally been resolved. She can finally admit to herself that she need not worry about him when he’s away, because he can manage without mommy to take care of him. In a different time and a different place, maybe the time will be right to settle down, but Ash still has a life of adventures ahead of him, and Misty respects him enough not to try and get in the way of that.
Thanks, I love it.