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Pikachu narrows its eyes as it curls around Ash's neck, watching the Professor closely.
Pikachu doesn't like this new Professor. As of lately, Pikachu hasn't really liked a lot of scientists. It just doesn't like how they look at Ash when the standard amazing adventure starts. As of lately more and more scientists have caught onto the oddities that is Ash ketchum, and Pikachu won't stand for it.
Professor Kukui seemed nice, he offered Ash a place in his home so that he could go to the pokemon school here in alola. He's been nothing but nice and answering Ash's questions without ridicule unlike a lot of other people they've met.
But then, of course, Ash's luck started kicking in, earlier than usual. And Tapu Koko decided to seek Ash out, which led to the Professor piqued interest in Ash.
Nothing good happens when a Professor decides that Ash is interesting.
Pikachu is sick of scientists deciding to use Ash as their own personal experiment. Like some stupid lab rat for them to test on and try to figure out.
Personally, Pikachu doesnt care how or why Ash does the things he does. Ash is Ash, he's strange, and weird, and so amazing. The how never mattered because Ash didn't care about the how.
Who cares if Ash tends to attract the attention of legendary pokemon, that just means there's new friends and adventures around every bend.
Who cares if Ash is aura adept or whatever, that just means he's learning to understand pokemon better in a new way.
Who cares if Ash is some chosen one, he's still a kid going on his pokemon journey.
More people should remember that.
It's inevitable that this Professor will start to understand the enigma that is Ash ketchum, and his response to that fact is what puts Pikachu on guard.
Scientists never accept it at face value, they always want to tweak, and experiment, and try to understand.
Pikachu thinks that they should mind their business, and stop trying to dig up memories or experiences Ash doesn't like. He isn't some lab rat.
Professor Sycamore is still undecided in Pikachu's eyes. He was glad he helped Ash figure out his bond evolution, but he was just a little too interested. (and maybe a small bit of Pikachu can admit that it was grumpy the entire time they were trying to figure it out. It started out with Ash being hurt for seemingly no reason, then he and Greninja had this special bond that Ash and Pikachu never had, and then suddenly Pikachu wasn't the ace pokemon anymore.)
But that didn't matter, there's been too many times, too many scary situations with Ash being too unique for some of those scientists to resist.
Pikachu glares at Professor Kukui as he reaches over to pat Ash's shoulder as he grins at something Ash said.
Pikachu can barely resist the urge to insist that they leave, they find a new place to stay at while Ash goes to school. It's sure the pokecenter would be fine, even if it's not for long term stay. Or, even better yet, they leave alola all together, away from the eyes of a curious scientist whos not only at home but also at school.
It heard galar is nice this time of year.
But it knows pikapi would refuse.
Professor Kukui hasn't done anything wrong yet, and he seems nice. And pikapi likes going to school, it knows he didn't before now. And this school does seem like fun, not like the other pokemon schools they've been to, all about facts and figures. This one seems to truly take in the wide scope that is battling. With actual classes about practical battling, and not one person has told Ash that he's battling wrong, like many other places. They all seem to think Ash battles, and is, strange, but he gets results so no one cares.
And alola is so warm, and happy. The people seem genuinely nice, and Pikachu and Ash fit in perfectly in the warmth that is alola. If Pikachu didn't know better he would have assumed Ash was from alola, considering how their raising of pokemon is so similar to Ash, nearly opposite of Kanto’s attitude.
Not one person has asked about why Pikachu is not in a pokeball! And that's because pokemon are usually let out of their pokeball at all times!
Ash is judged a lot less here, and Pikachu is glad for it.
They've always gotten by, knowing that no one was really going to understand them. Not the way they battle, their friendship, or the strangeness that is Ash. But here is the closest that anyones ever gotten.
Ash likes it here. And Pikachu likes it here too.
If only that Professor wasn't here.
Pikachu can admit that it might have a few trust issues, it always takes a few weeks before Pikachu actually starts to trust the traveling companions Ash picks up. He always ends up liking them in the end, but Ash trusts everyone around him freely. Always preferring to greet the world with open arms then with crossed ones.
No matter how hurt he could end up in, or how dangerous it could be.
But that's okay, because Pikachu is there to protect pikapi. Pikachu can be the one to keep Ash from seeing the darkest parts of the world.
They tend to balance out in the middle, like they always do. They balance out the worst parts of each other and make eachother better.
Ash is too trusting, Pikachu is too distrustful. They find a good middle ground, usually.
And Pikachu is sure that either Professor Kukui will prove Pikachu's distrust, or will end up proving Ash's trustfulness.
And Pikachu is sure that if it's the latter, Pikachu will be a bit embarrassed at how wrong it could think Professor Kukui was. But as long as there's a chance that he'll hurt Ash, try to dig too deep or get too curious, Pikachu will remain vigilant on Ash's shoulder, keeping him from harm.
Especially from other people.
And too curious scientists especially.